Esther 5:2

As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his approval. The king extended the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther needed to make an appeal on behalf of her people in order to save them from annihilation. Under Persian law, she could only approach the king if he called for her. He had not asked for her in 30 days. If he was not pleased to see her when she approached him, he could order her to be put to death. Her appearance in the courtyard was certainly an act of bravery.

Immediately, when the king saw her, she won his approval. She did not have to do anything to impress him or earn his favor. He was delighted to see her, and in the following verses, he offered her anything she wanted – up to half the kingdom. That is some serious favor!

There are times when God does not seem to be asking for us. We may not see His working in our lives, and everything we do seems to fail or have no effect. While we may feel He is not pleased with us, we should never fear approaching His throne in our time of need. When we come before His throne of grace, we have His approval.

God is not mad at us, and He will not destroy us for asking in our time of need. While He may take measures to correct us if needed, His intention is to draw us into a closer relationship with Him and to increase our faith. He may not give us everything we ask, but He is working everything in our best interest. We need merely to submit the matter to Him and leave it in His care.

Approach the throne of grace with full assurance that God will be pleased to see you. His golden scepter is extended toward you, and He will welcome you into His presence. Don’t mistake your failure or your current struggle for disapproval. You are His chosen bride, and He approves of you.

Have a blessed day!

Philippians 2:1-2

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

It is human nature to notice and even dwell on the negative. As Christians, however, we have a new nature in Christ, and we are called to live and grow in that new nature. Much of our spiritual warfare is in fighting negative thought patterns. These verses challenge us to overcome our negative thoughts by focusing upon one goal – taking on the attitude of Christ.

A greater revelation of Christ will change our perspective. When we realize how great and powerful His sacrifice was for us, we will begin to see our problems becoming smaller and smaller as we rely upon His love for us. As Matthew 19:26 states, all things are possible through Christ. We must learn to concentrate on this encouragement and direct others to the same revelation of Jesus Christ.

When bad things happen or challenges face us, we must look to what we have in Christ to encourage us.  We have a love that never fails us and has promised to always be with us. We have a Messiah who lives to intercede on our behalf and who is on our side. We have a healer and a deliverer who works all things together for our good. We have a protector who has promised that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. So, when negative thoughts swarm us and instill fear for our future, the last thing we need to do is to succumb to its intimidation. We must fight the devil on his own ground by turning our thoughts to the truth of God’s word and concentrating on His promises. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!

Encourage one another in Christ. Console one another in love. Fellowship with other believers. Share affection and mercy with one another. It is easy to follow the negativity. We all need a greater revelation of Christ to overcome life’s hurdles, and we are called to comfort others with the same comfort God has given us. Determine to look on the Christ side of things, and help someone else do the same thing. The greater the army we build with each other, the more of a force we become to the enemy. Our victory awaits in taking on the attitude of Christ.

Have a blessed day!

John 20:31

But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

This one verse describes the whole purpose of the Bible. It was written so that we might believe Jesus is the Son of God and that we may have life in Him. The whole reason God sent His word was to reveal Jesus to us. The greater revelation we have of Jesus, the greater life we have in Him.

We were not created to merely survive in life. We were created to thrive. Jesus is our Creator, and in Him we are able to truly live, move, and have our being. His desire is to awaken us to Him so that His glory might be revealed in us.  

The Bible foretells the coming of Christ in the Old Testament. It reveals God’s law and shows us how we cannot measure up to its standards on our own. We need a sacrifice for our sins. The New Testament reveals the first coming of Jesus – His miracles, life, teachings, death, burial, and resurrection. It also describes the formation of the church and instructions on growing in the knowledge of Christ. It closes with the promise of His second coming. All these things were written so that we might believe Jesus is the Messiah, and the entire book points to Him. The Bible is powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, able to divide the very soul, spirit, joints, and marrow. It has the power to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart, according to Hebrews 4:12. The Bible has the power to change a life from a mode of mere survival to that which thrives, engages, and truly lives. 

If you are tired of merely surviving and ready to start living, open your Bible today. Believe in Jesus, God’s Son, and know that He died so that you might live for Him. You were created for more than the mundane. You were created to live a life of great purpose. Find your life in a greater revelation of Jesus Christ. All these books were written just for you.

Have a blessed day!

Daniel 1:19

The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve in the king’s court.

These four Israelite young men were selected as the cream of the crop from the Babylonian capture of Israel and taken to King Nebuchadnezzar. They were to be indoctrinated with the doctrines of Babylonian culture and religion. These young men, however, refused to eat the king’s food and defile themselves. In turn, God granted them favor and placed them directly in the king’s court. Indeed, the gift makes way for the man when God is the giver (Proverbs 18:16). 

These young men were taken away from their homeland and were not placed in the best environment to nurture their faith. Their new home would, in fact, test the faith they already had.  At times God will nurture and grow us in our faith by placing us in a safe place where people believe as we do. There are also times when He will take us out of our safe environments and test what He has placed in us. In the testing place our faith produces power. 

When God begins a work in us, He may place us with people who will influence us, encourage us, and help us grow. Once that seed is ready to harvest, however, He may relocate us to an environment that is hostile toward our faith.  In such places He wants us to be the influencers. We can have influence in certain places only through His power. To receive His favor and His power, we must remain faithful to what He has already taught us and not allow the world to discourage us or to cause us to compromise our faith. Like Daniel and his friends, we can stand firm and love and respect those who do not believe as we do. 

Where do you find yourself today? Does God have you in a safe place where you can grow, or has He moved you to a place where others do not share your beliefs? Don’t become discouraged if you find yourself in the latter. Remain faithful to those things you know to be true, and watch God move you to a place of influence. Allow Him to work through you. Don’t compromise to follow a new master. Become God’s Masterpiece!

Have a blessed day!

Luke 1:80

The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

This verse describes John the Baptist. God brought him into the world through a miracle as a special messenger to prepare the way of the Lord in preaching repentance and forgiveness of sin to Israel. Although he had a distinct purpose, he was alone and isolated until the day God commissioned him forth into ministry. He is proof that God does keep us hidden or even isolated for a season until He is ready for us to walk forth in the special calling He has planned for us.

As most of us well know, isolation is not always a good thing. If it keeps us buried in depression, loneliness, or insecurity, isolation can do more harm than good. We were created to be social beings who interact with each other in order to grow. Interdependence with others helps build a sense of family and community, which is how God ordained us to live. How can we know if our times of isolation are good or bad for us?

We must look at what isolation is producing in our lives. John the Baptist grew up and became spiritually strong. If our isolation is bringing us closer to God and strengthening our relationship with Him so that we have something to share with others, then that isolation may very well be God ordained. If our isolation, however, is causing us to doubt or even be angry with God and hindering our relationship with others, it is not a healthy isolation.

When I was in seminary, I went through a season of isolation where I was deep in the word of God and doing research for classes. I worked from home via my computer and left home mainly just to go to Wal-Mart and church. I had almost no social interaction at all, but I was not lonely. I loved doing research and was excited about all the things I was learning. In fact, I couldn’t wait to get started on a new research paper because I knew I would enjoy all the things I would gain from it. I lost touch with many family members and friends during that time because of work and school demands, but I drew much closer to God and gained a better understanding of my Christian faith. God didn’t leave me in isolation forever. I was only there for a season to finish those classes, and God placed me back in the midst of people again. I believe God separated me from the world for a while to teach me some things. Once I gained what I needed from that experience, He placed me back among people to use what He gave me during my wilderness journey.

If you find yourself in isolation, you should ask yourself these two questions:  “Am I growing spiritually in this place and closer to God? Is the wilderness I’m experiencing giving me something I can share with others later?” If your answer is, “Yes,” this wilderness season may be God ordained for you, and He will make it worthwhile and even enjoyable. If you feel your isolation is hindering your relationship with God in some way and leaving you lonely and depressed, then reach out to someone. Find a support group, Sunday School class, or Bible study that will help you interact with others and delve deeper into God’s word. Isolation should last only for a season and should never be a permanent place for you. God wants you to become spiritually strong, and He will lead you to seasons of isolation from the world if necessary. Just know that His ultimate intention is to draw you closer to Him, and that should be your measure in understanding where you are. What God has planned for you is good, and it will increase your faith. If He has placed you in a wilderness season, He will surely draw you out when the time is ready.

Have a blessed day!

Exodus 33:21-23

The LORD said, “Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen.

When Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai, he refused to take the people into the Promised Land if God did not go with them. Moses found favor in God’s sight and asked God to reveal His glory to him. God promised to show His glory by hiding Moses in the rock while He passed by. Moses would be able to see where God had been, but he could not see His face and live.

Notice carefully the words of the LORD in this passage – “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock…” God has a place near Him – a rock – where He commands us to stand. He hides us in the crevice of this very rock while He passes by, and we may see His glory, as well. The rock near Him is Jesus Christ. All of our promises, our hope, our future, and our purpose are found in Him. God hides us in Christ and performs His work in our lives to reveal His glory.

To see God’s glory in your life, just take a look back. Where were you, and where are you now? How did you get here? What events and phases did God weave together to bring you to the place you are now? You may not be able to see what He is currently doing in your life, but if you are standing on the rock of Jesus Christ, you can certainly tell where He has been!

The rock is a hiding place – a place of safety from the adversary. Remain in the place near to God, and wait for His glory to pass by. This is one view you will not want to miss!

Have a blessed day!

Ezekiel 36:33-34

“This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by.”

God does not rebuild in our lives until He first cleanses us of iniquities. He will remove anything destructive in our lives before He builds something of permanence. That often means that we have to come to the very end of ourselves before He will start to rebuild. Rest assured, however, that if God tears down, His plan is to rebuild, and we would be wise to submit to His plan in hopes of gaining something entirely new and anointed.

God’s desire is to display His glory in us, and He will cultivate something beautiful in our desolate places once they are fully surrendered to Him. If you feel you’ve lost everything, you might very well be in a position for Him to rebuild. Don’t despair; look up and rejoice!

We often don’t realize just how much God has already done in our lives until we look back to our place of loss. If you’ve been a widow for a while, just think about how much God has done in your life since you first lost your husband. He has provided for every need. He has given you new opportunities. He has increased your influence, and He has grown you spiritually. Whether you realize it or not, He is cultivating your land and displaying His glory in you for others to see that there is life in Christ after loss.

If you’ve just encountered loss, rest assured that God is beginning a rebuilding process in you. Let go of anything that hinders your relationship with Him. His intention is to bring life to the dry and desolate places in your life so He might be glorified. As the old adage goes, when you are down to nothing, God is up to something! We all need a little renovation from time to time, and His work is glorious!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 118:22

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

David gave a profound prophecy in this statement as he spoke of the coming Messiah. While the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees were busy controlling the temple and the synagogues with Jewish traditions, they failed to recognize the very thing for which they hoped. In doing so, they rejected the cornerstone for which their faith was to be built – Jesus. While they succeeded in building religion, they rejected the relationship that gives us the key to the kingdom of God.

Our faith is meaningless without the cornerstone of Jesus Christ. This one crucial relationship gives us access to the throne room of heaven and stands as a mediator for our sins. Without His righteousness and His sacrifice, we have nothing in which to place our faith. All of our rituals, traditions, customs, and motions of religion are null and void.

With Christ as our cornerstone, however, we have everything! He came to give life abundantly and will withhold no good thing from us. He came to make us whole and not fragmented people who strive to maintain empty religious practice. He gives our lives purpose and will fill us with passion to really live. He changes every test into a testimony and gives us hope through His resurrection that God is at work in the most difficult places we must face.

Psalm 127:1a

Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain…

If we are building on anything less than the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, we are building in vain. We must put our relationship with Him first in everything we do, or we are bound to fail. God will not build upon any other foundation, and if He isn’t in it, we don’t want it. Without Him, we have nothing but rubble in the making.

Put Christ first on your schedule today. Make sure you spend quality time with Him at the beginning of each day. His is the relationship you should nurture most because from it flows all other relationships. When your relationship with Him is held together firmly, He holds all others together in their proper place. Enjoy your time with Him today, and build upon the things He shows you.

Have a blessed day!

Acts 5:38-39

And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.

Members of the Sanhedrin were outraged and jealous of the fact that people were responding to the Apostles’ teaching, and many were being healed and delivered from demons. The Apostles displayed a power that the religious leaders did not have. They wanted to kill them, but a wise Pharisee named Gamaliel stopped them with these words. They had encountered false teachers before, and their teaching came to nothing. If these were, in fact, false teachers, the same would happen to them. If they were from God, however, the Sanhedrin could do nothing to overthrow them and would be fighting against God.

The Sanhedrin took the same approach many Christians do today. They automatically assumed that if they did not like it, God didn’t like it, either. They had come to worship a god made in their own image, rather than fully submitting to God, in whose image they were made. A god made in our own image will never have the power to make a difference in this world, and the power of the Holy Spirit will outshine it every time.

We don’t have to take up arms against someone we fear to be a false teacher because there will be no lasting power in the teaching. If we have family members or friends we suspect are involved in a cult, we should pray. Most cult leaders seek to dominate, control, and isolate, and communicating with loved ones involved can be difficult. Communication with God, however, is always open, and we should take full advantage of it.

When God begins to move, He may choose to move in non-traditional ways. He doesn’t always do exactly what we expect Him to do. One thing is for sure, however; He will not move contradictory to Scripture or in a manner that opposes Christ. If Christ is truly at the center of it, God will multiply it. If man’s selfish ambitions are at the root, it will surely die because God will not share His glory with another.

We don’t need to hop on board with every trend of church growth we see. If there is no substance to it, you will soon see it fade and fizzle. When God is truly moving, you will see lives transformed among a refreshed and motivated people. Everyone will experience the freedom, hope, and joy of God’s hand. If the leaders are the only ones excited and the members are being pushed to perform, chances are there is no real power moving. Committing the matter to prayer is always the right stand because God will make known what is and is not His work.

Have a blessed day!

Genesis 30:3-6

Then she said, “Here is my slave Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she’ll bear children for me so that through her I too can build a family.” So Rachel gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; yes, He has heard me and given me a son,” and she named him Dan.

Rachel mistakenly thought her barrenness was due to disapproval from God and the community, so she tried to manipulate a boost in her own self-worth by giving her maid-servant to Jacob to bear a son. In reality, her barrenness had nothing to do with her worthiness as a wife or a woman, rather a part of God’s individual plan for her. Why could she not be happy with the love and favor she had from her husband? After all, this is what Leah truly wanted. Could she not be happy for herself and for her sister? Her insecurity drove her to compare and compete, which hindered her happiness.

When we compare ourselves to others, we miss learning to appreciate ourselves for who God made us to be. Jealousy and envy are sure to arise in the places where we feel we are inferior to someone else, disabling us from seeing the value God has placed in us. Trying to manipulate a blessing in an area where God is not working will create only a temporary, shallow substitute for that which only God can fill in us. He has already given us grace and favor in Christ, who promises us living water that will permanently satisfy. Unless we drink from His well, we will feel the need to manipulate again. 

Stop comparing yourself to others. Life is not a competition, and you will only destroy relationships by blaming others for your own insecurity and trying to become vindicated in an area where you were never judged. Be who God made you to be, and develop the gifts He has given specifically to you. I can’t sing worth a flip, but if I compare myself to Carrie Underwood and think I can never accomplish anything unless I sing like her, I will never rise to accomplish what God has planned for me. 

Spend some time with God today thanking Him for the gifts He has given you and the plan He has for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us His plan for us is good. If you aren’t sure what your gifts are, just ask Him to reveal them to you. Accept the way God made you, and know that He will bring forth glory in your life according to His plan and His timing. Why settle for a temporary substitute or makeshift blessing when He has the real thing for you? God values you and has a wonderful plan for you. Don’t let the success you see happening in someone else’s life prevent you from discovering it.

Have a blessed day!