April 2002

Just Like Us Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 17:1-18:2 “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain. . . . Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain” (James 5:17-18).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Are your prayers answered, as Elijah's were? “No,” I answer. “Elijah was God's mighty prophet. I'm just an ordinary believer.” We have the idea that the people in the Bible were superhuman, untouched by their circumstances. We forget that they had no corner on the faith market. Like us, they too had tremendous pressures and conflicts. Their temptations were as strong, their fears and discouragements as paralyzing as ours. They had heartaches and faults that were hard to conquer. Their faith wavered, just as ours does at times. When we realize this truth, we begin to look at these people in a new light. We grow to respect and love these ones who were dedicated to God, yet were so completely human. They needed to rely on God, just as we do. Were they perfect? Were they all they could be or should be? No. In their lives we see God's grace and mercy, His faithfulness. God used them in spite of their flawed natures. He will use us too. INSIGHT: Bible heroes were special because they trusted in their special God. If you have opened your life to Jesus Christ, you are God's special child.

 

Death Wish Scripture Focus:

1 Kings 18:16-19:9 “`I have had enough, Lord,' he said. `Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep” (1 Kings 19:4-5).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Elijah had been center stage in a drama in which God sent fire from heaven in answer to Elijah's prayer. Heathen priests and their gods had been exposed as phonies. Elijah could have enjoyed his success. He did not. Death threats from the evil queen sent him running. Fear drained him physically and emotionally. We all experience down times. Extended times of pain or stress lower us into a dark place. Too many demands on our lives cause us to burn out. How does God treat His depressed, discouraged servants? He did not say, “Elijah, pull yourself together.” Nor did He say, “Depression is a sin.” He gave no rebuke or pat answers to His frazzled prophet. The last thing a discouraged person needs is to be driven down further by harsh words. He says instead, “Be still and know Me.”God will always help you when you’re trapped by a fearful, gloomy depression. You'll hear Him speak gently to you from His Word. God is faithful. The darkness will never overwhelm you. INSIGHT: When you're unable to do anything, watch quietly for God's hand to move on your behalf. God has some lessons that can be learned only in a dark place.

 

Discouraged Prophet Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 19:7-13

“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. . . . Then a voice said to him, `What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:12-13).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Elijah's marathon run lasted 40 days and nights. He arrived exhausted at the Mount of God and found rest in a cave. There God spoke to him -- not to condemn but to gently whisper the question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah poured out his complaints, and God brought healing by revealing Himself. There was a wind, earthquake, and fire. These did not reveal God to the man who was enveloped in the darkness of depression, but in the silence that followed, God's whisper was heard. We avoid stillness. We’re too busy running to settle down. Yet it is in the quiet place that God reveals Himself to us. Time spent in the Word is not meant to be a dull exercise, but a meeting with God. When we read with an expectant spirit, we can trust God to speak. As we think about what He has said, we can ask Him to show how it applies to our lives. Then we may pray the application of Scripture back to Him. As we do this day by day, we begin to recognize God's gentle voice. INSIGHT: Once we experience God one-to-one through the Word, we're forever changed. We become stronger, settled, more assured in our faith.

Go Back Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 19:11-18 “The Lord said, `Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord. . . .' The Lord said to him, `Go back the way you came'” (1 Kings 19:11, 15).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ My friend, crushed by stressful circumstances, ran to her secluded mountain cabin for refuge. There she found help for her withered soul, yet she felt unable to go

back. “I'm healed,” she said, “but I can't return.” She feared her healing would last only so long as she stayed in her retreat. Elijah met with God. He was refreshed, restored, healed. Then God gave him the command, “Go back.” Nothing had changed - Elijah still had the fire-breathing queen to deal with. There were still a lot of unbelievers in the land. Now he was healed, he could go back and face these things. God's plan for Elijah had not changed. He was still God's man with God's job to do. God's “Go back” was gracefilled. Elijah was given a second chance. Have you run to the mountain to hide? Your enemy Satan loves to make God's will seem burdensome, overwhelming. God is aware of your situation. He is not disgusted with you for running. He knows the task is too much to handle alone. That is why He promises to be with you always. INSIGHT: God can make you strong to face any situation. After healing you, He sends you back to do what He has called you to do.

Where Are You? Scripture Focus: Genesis 3 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord as he was walking in the garden . . .and they hid. . . . But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8-9).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Adam had it all: a wife perfectly suited to him, an environment where all things existed in harmony and balance, and face-to-face fellowship with God. Adam had no fears, no sorrows, nothing to hurt him. But Adam blew it! He failed the one test God gave him, and his wrong choice changed the open relationship he had enjoyed with his Creator. Gone was the happy anticipation of God's presence. Instead, he felt fear and guilt, so he hid.

People have been hiding ever since. “Where are you?” God has called to His fallen creatures down through the ages. He is calling today. If you are quiet, you will hear His gentle voice in your soul, “Where are you?” Are you looking for a place to hide? Are you afraid of what the light of His presence will reveal? You may choose to turn and yield to your Creator, who loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you. Or you may choose to be ensnared by Satan's tricks. Who will be your master? INSIGHT: When you accept God's offer of restoration, you can enjoy fellowship with Him. You may come into His presence at any time to talk with Him in prayer.

Why Me? Scripture Focus: Job 1-2 “Then the Lord said to Satan, `Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil’” (Job 1:8).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Some years ago when I was diagnosed as having a brain tumor, I cried, “Why me?” Then a friend told me, “God must love you very much to trust you with a trial like this.” Her comment turned my negative thoughts into positive ones. Satan’s goal was to drive a wedge between Job and God. But God trusted His upright servant to stand the test. He knew the strength of Job's commitment and that he could stand up under Satan's attacks. Whenever we sense wedges in our lives, we may be sure our enemy is working behind the scenes. He delights in causing irreconcilable differences. He gleefully blows apart close, loving relationships. He works to cause us to doubt God's love. Satan had no power to lay a hurtful finger on Job unless God allowed it. We are safe, protected by God's love. If He permits our enemy to touch us, it is for some

good purpose. God never allows a needless suffering in our lives. INSIGHT: God will never allow trials so overwhelming that you'll not be able to bear up under them. He loves you too much to ever be unkind to you.

Faith Problems Scripture Focus: Genesis 12 “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him. . . . Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe” (Genesis 12:4,10).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ When God first spoke, Abraham showed exceptional faith. God told him what to do, and he did it, leaving the wealth and security of civilized Ur to become a wanderer in the wilderness. He traveled to an unknown place, following his invisible God. We would want questions answered before we left our comfortable homes. Abraham's faith was so strong that he did not demand a full revelation from God. Abraham was a man of faith, but he was also a man of faltering. He escaped a famine by going to Egypt to live. We cannot fault him for wanting to take care of his family. The problem is that there is no evidence that God was directing him. Abraham decided on his own how to handle this crisis. He was not yet ready to trust God during a famine. Abraham’s faith was not perfect, but it was being brought to maturity by God. Our faith is not perfect either. Inch by inch it is growing. INSIGHT: How will you respond to God today? Will you rely only on your resources and reasoning? Or will you give yourself and your situation over to God?

Covenant Keeper Scripture Focus: Genesis 15 “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, `To your descendants I give this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates'” (Genesis 15:18).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ God meets us at our waverings and steadies us. In practical, concrete ways, He gives us the assurance we need. Abraham asked God, “How can I know for sure that You will give me what You have promised?” He needed a concrete answer. So God made a covenant with him in the way men made contracts in those ancient times. Animals were cut in halves. The halves were placed on the ground in two rows. The covenant was made when two people walked together through the path between the rows. In this case, only God passed through the middle. Abraham did not. God's promises to Abraham were not dependent on anything Abraham did. God is the covenant maker and covenant keeper. He is able to fulfill every promise He makes. God made a new covenant when His Son Jesus died on the cross. We become partakers of that unconditional covenant when we ask Jesus to save us from our sins. INSIGHT: God knew all about us before He created the world. We need not worry if God will do what He promises. He has power to keep His word to us, no matter what.

The God Who Sees Me Scripture Focus: Genesis 16 “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. . . . She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: `You are the God who sees’” (Genesis 16:7,13).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Hagar had problems. She had become surrogate mother for Abraham and Sarah. No one asked her if this arrangement was all right. When she became pregnant, Sarah's jealous anger flared. She began to mistreat the heathen slave girl. Hagar’s solution: Run. She escaped out into the wilderness, and in that deserted place, God revealed Himself to her. He encouraged her, gave her a glimpse into her future, and gave her a promise. Hagar learned about Abraham's God. He saw her and cared about her. Many of us feel no one cares about us. We're not prestigious. Our insignificant lives don't count for much. We may be outcasts from our families, from society. Maybe we've been running so long we have given up hope of ever being found. God knows your situation and cares about you. He loves you and understands completely all the difficulties you face. He is able to find you in your wilderness. In that desolate place He will speak, giving you the encouragement you need. INSIGHT: You cannot count the number of times in a day when God thinks about you, for you are important to Him.

An Act of Unbelief

Scripture Focus: Genesis 18:1-15 “Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, `After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?' . . . `Is anything too hard for the Lord?'“ (Genesis 18:12, 14).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Sarah was caught in the act of unbelief. She eavesdropped on a conversation between God and Abraham in which God said that in one year she would have Abraham's child, a son. Ridiculous! she thought. That’s impossible! She was 90. Abraham was 100. People that old could not possibly have a child. For years she had hoped and prayed for a child. Disappointment had hardened her. She couldn't believe God for the impossible - not anymore. How did God react to Sarah’s lack of faith? He confronted her, letting her know He was aware of everything about her - even her deepest thoughts. At this point Sarah told a lie to God. How foolish to try to deceive the One who sees and knows all! Do we lie to God, pretending to be something we are not? Do we pretend we're not angry, hurt, anxious, disappointed when He doesn't answer our prayers? God did not zap Sarah for her doubts, and He won't zap us either. INSIGHT: God wants you to acknowledge your fears and doubts to Him. That's how you learn, how you grow so that you become the person God wants to bless.

God's Provision Scripture Focus: Genesis 22:1-19 “Abraham answered, `God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' And the two of them went on together. . . . So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:8,14).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ God tested Abraham to show how his wavering faith had become solid. When God instructed him to sacrifice his son, it was not because God wanted to hurt Isaac. Rather, He wanted Abraham to realize how strong his faith had become. Abraham had changed. No more working things out himself. He would trust God during this testing. He did not know how Isaac's life would be spared, but he knew God could be trusted. On that mountain God revealed Himself as Jehovah means “The Becoming One,” forever the same, yet continually becoming to His people what they need. Jirah means “provision.” God provided a ram to be sacrificed. The God of Abraham is eternally the same in His character. He constantly involves Himself in our lives, becoming for us whatever we need. Do you need peace? He will be your peace. Do you need strength for a trial? A friend? Guidance? Wisdom? Protection? It's God's character to provide these - and whatever else you need. INSIGHT: Has God led you to a mount of testing? Trust Him to provide the resources you need. He will not fail you, for He is the God of provision.

Wrestling with God Scripture Focus: Genesis 32 “Then the man said, `Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome'” (Genesis 32:28).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Jacob - schemer and cheater - faced the most fear-filled moment of his life. His brother Esau, whom he had cheated out of his inheritance, was approaching with 400 men. Did Esau still hold a grudge? Jacob trembled in terror. This was the motivation behind Jacob’s prayer meeting. He was desperate. Only God could save him from destruction. Jacob needed his fears conquered and assurance that he and his family would be safe. Certainly God had not led him home to be annihilated. Jacob entered into an all-night wrestling match with the One who cannot be seduced by trickery and schemes. Jacob clung tightly, refusing to let God go until He gave him assurance and a blessing. He emerged from this confrontation forever changed. His tricks were over. He would now be known as Israel, the man who contended with God. It was more than Jacob’s fear that needed conquering. His whole personality and his motivation for life needed to be submitted to God. INSIGHT: What in your life shows you are yielded to God? Is it obvious to those around you that your life has been changed since you met with God?

Changed in a Day Scripture Focus: Genesis 40-41 “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, `I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.' Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger” (Genesis 41:41-42).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ My friend's statement startled me. “I'm tired of living,” she said. “I feel like giving up.” Several weeks later, she did. Sobbing at her funeral, I regretted that I had not told her it is always too soon to quit. Today may seem unbearable, but wait until tomorrow. You never know what change one day will bring. One morning as Joseph served prisoners in jail his situation seemed hopeless. By evening, he was second in command, ruling the nation Egypt. Joseph did not yield to whatever Satan threw at him. He kept going no matter how unfair life seemed. He kept his hopes, his dreams, his faith in God. He believed God had good planned for him, and he would wait to see what it was. Are you in prison today? Ensnared by bad habits? Overwhelmed by circumstances? It's too soon to quit. God has hundreds of promises waiting for you to grab. He has promised His presence in the experience you're facing. He promises you grace, strength - all you need for what you face today. INSIGHT: God will never allow you to have trials beyond your ability to withstand. Your crushing load will be lifted. Maybe it will happen tomorrow - or even today.

Be Strong! Scripture Focus: Joshua 1 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Moses was gone. God chose Joshua to be leader of the Israelites. The task must have seemed overwhelming. God did not scold Joshua for his uncertainties but encouraged him by promising to be with him. Joshua had reason to fear. He was coming up against mighty soldiers, giants, walled cities. Logic told him the Israelites could not win against such odds. But God said, “Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be terrified.” Joshua felt alone. Moses had been his earthly support, his mentor, and friend. God promised to be with him as his friend and mentor. Joshua seemed to need constant encouragement. He had spent his whole life as a slave in Egypt. Slavery does not tend to create high levels of confidence in its victims. God knew this. He gave Joshua all the encouragement he needed. When you are in need, God will always come to your aid. As He was with Moses and Joshua, so He will be with you. INSIGHT: God's promise is sure. He will never ask you to do anything beyond your ability without also equipping you to do the task He has given you.

No Turning Back Scripture Focus: Ruth 1 “Ruth replied, `Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God’” (Ruth 1:;16).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Naomi's husband and two sons had died, leaving her stranded in a foreign land. Homesick, Naomi decided to go back to Israel. Ruth, now a believer in the God of Israel, chose to go with her mother-in-law. It would be a strange new life. Hardships faced her. The way before her was totally unknown, but she really had no choice. Her old life held no attraction to her. She loved Naomi. She loved Naomi's God. She would remain faithful, though her sisterin-law Orpah decided to turn back. Years later we see Jesus asking His disciples, “Will you leave Me?” His disciples, like Ruth, knew there was nothing to go back to. Sooner or later we are faced with this choice. Perhaps because of a severe trial or maybe at a time of great loss, the temptation to leave becomes powerful. Before us are trials, hardships, uncertainties. But we really do not have a choice. We cannot desert our Lord. He is the only One who gives us eternal life. We must go on with Him. INSIGHT: Maybe you have made the choice Orpah did. Confess your wrong decision. Say no to your old life and say yes to God's way. Choose Christ today!

Friends Forever Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 18:1-4 “Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. `Don't be afraid. . . . You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you’” (1 Samuel 23:16-17).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ An expert on a talk show commented, “If you have one good friend in a lifetime, you are an extremely fortunate person.” Scripture records a remarkable friendship between David, God's choice to replace Saul as king, and Jonathan, Saul's son. Circumstances made it an unlikely combination for friends. One would expect distrust and jealousy, but David and Jonathan were uncommon men. Their souls were knit together so that they became forever friends. Jonathan understood that God was removing his family from the throne of Israel. Rather than grasping power, wealth, and fame, the prince released his hold and yielded to God's will. He was willing to fill a second-place position to the best of his ability. When David had to hide for his life, Jonathan searched for him in order to encourage him. Jonathan gave David his full support. If there were a David fan club, Jonathan would be president. David could count on him. INSIGHT: Does someone encourage you and remind you to trust God? Are you Jonathan to someone? We're called to bear one another's burdens, to uplift those who are down.

The Black Hole Scripture Focus: Psalm 42:1-9 “My soul is downcast within me; there I will remember you. . . . I say to God my Rock, `Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’” (Psalm 42:6,9).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Have you ever felt like asking God why He seems to have forgotten you? Depression isolates us, plunging us into black holes that absorb all joy and light. We draw into ourselves and feel cut off from God, who loves us. David, who wrote today’s psalm, seemed beyond the reach of God's comfort. All he could hear were raspy taunts of his enemy: “Where is your God? He has forgotten you. He does not love you or He would not allow this to happen to you.” Our enemy Satan mocks us in the same way. He stalks us, waiting for our most vulnerable moment. Then he pounces, knocks us down, and keeps hitting us. He tries to make us give up, to doubt God's love. When this happens, we need to follow David's example. We need to remember who God is and what He has promised. He is always aware of our needs, always caring about what is happening to us, always loving us. As we remember, we are encouraged. INSIGHT: Does it seem God has given up on you? Is your enemy celebrating your discouragement? Remember, God is on your side. He's thinking about you, caring for you.

Cure for Depression Scripture Focus: Psalm 42:8-11 “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Think about the number three,” our preacher instructed us. After a moment he said, “Do not think about three anymore.” It was impossible to get three out of our thoughts! “Now think about the number five.” That proved to be the only way to quit thinking about three. It’s the same with negative, distressing thoughts. Just telling ourselves to stop is futile. The only way is to displace negative thoughts with positive ones. That's why David tells us to hope in God, to expect His action on our behalf. The enemy wants us to think God has deserted us, that He's unaware of our situation. Or, if He knows, He's indifferent or is powerless to do anything about it. There may be times when we feel God is far away and that we have somehow fallen beyond His reach. All such thoughts are lies. We need to replace those lies with God’s promises. When we feel like we are in a pit with the sides caving in, we need to hope in God and remind ourselves that He is acting on our behalf. INSIGHT: Nothing can shake a faith that is grounded on God's promises. We will have many reasons to praise God when we see how He works things out.

We Can Be Invincible Scripture Focus: 2 Kings 18 “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us’” (1 Kings 18:29-30).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ The king of Assyria was ready to attack trembling Jerusalem. To save himself some trouble, he sent a messenger to convince the Jews to surrender without a fight. First, the messenger belittled Judah. He mocked their weakness and taunted, “Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust the Lord.” He tried to make the people distrust their king's leadership and God's protection. “Why are you depending on God? He will not help you.” The tactics used to demoralize God’s people long ago are the same ones used today. While it's true we are no match for Satan, when we depend on the Lord to fight our battles, there's no contest. When Jesus died on the cross, He destroyed the works and power of our enemy. Temptations or troubles may throw us off balance. We're tempted to tumble over rather than stand and trust. At these times we need to remember we're children of the Mighty God, who is invincible against any assault. INSIGHT: There's no need to cower in fear at your enemy's attacks. God makes you invincible as long as you rely on Him. Your enemy will not win.

Compromising Proposition Scripture Focus: 2 Kings 19 “Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern” (2 Kings 18:31).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Make peace with me and lots of good things will happen,” the king of Assyria’s messenger promised the terrified people behind Jerusalem's walls. Intimidation had not worked, so he now offered compromise. While he painted a lovely picture, he failed to mention one thing: God's people would be captives. Surrender to Assyria would mean loss of freedom. Our enemy makes it seem that following God is too restrictive, too demanding, while following the evil one would be the greatest, most freeing experience we can have. What lies! Hezekiah’s response to the enemy’s assault was prayer. He was not about to fight Assyria's army in his own strength, following his own plan. He needed God's counsel and guidance, and he sought it with all his heart. Our source of victory is the same. We need to go to God in prayer, to seek counsel from His Word. He is faithful. He will answer us. He will show us what to do, and give us the strength to do it. INSIGHT: Have you tried solving problems your own way and then faced disappointment? Rely on the Lord for victory in the battles you face today.

Yes, Lord Scripture Focus: Luke 1:26-38 “The angel answered, `The Holy Spirit will come upon you. . . .' `I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. `May it be to me as you have said.’” (Luke 1:35,38).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Mary's “Yes, Lord” carried a high price. She opened herself to reproach when she consented to God's plan for her. What would the neighbors think when they heard that she had become pregnant without being married? How would she explain her situation? And Joseph - how would he react? In simple trust, Mary consented to God’s will. She believed God enough to be willing to expose herself to rejection and ridicule. She knew God would not fail her. He would take care of her and her Baby. Mary had tremendous faith. She agreed to cooperate with God's will without having her questions answered. Without knowing the master plan, she trusted her Master's plan. And she was given the greatest privilege a parent can have. Through her Child, the Messiah, all the world would be blessed. Everyone would have the opportunity to be rescued from sin and death, to have eternal life. INSIGHT: Our world is crying for people who will trust God enough to obey Him without a complete explanation, people willing to follow Him, no matter what it costs personally.

The Waiting Father

Scripture Focus: Luke 15:11-32 “Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you” (Isaiah 30:18, KJV).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ We call Jesus' parable the story of the Prodigal Son, but let’s look at it from the father’s viewpoint. Imagine the conflicting emotions he had when his son demanded his portion of the inheritance. He must have yearned to persuade him to stay, but the wise father knew this would not cure his son's rebellion. When we offer the wrong kind of help at the wrong time, we interrupt the law of sowing and reaping. The sooner someone reaps the soured fruit of his actions, the sooner that one will want to come home. The father would have been wrong to make the pigpen comfortable. He waited, constantly scanning the horizon for his son's return. God waits for His wayward children to return. Earnestly, expectantly, He waits, for He longs to be gracious to all who have run away. He never stops watching for the slightest indication that we are returning. When we come, He hugs us in His arms of love, clothes us in His righteousness, and celebrates our return. INSIGHT: Are you a prodigal's parent? Keep on loving and praying. Are you a prodigal? Turn for home today. God is waiting for you with outstretched arms.

Unfailing Faith Scripture Focus: Luke 22:31-62

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Simon Peter boasted to Jesus, “All others may desert you, but I never will. Why, I’d even die for you!” How little Peter understood the weakness and the shallowness of his character. He didn't realize that a strong resolve is not enough to make it as a Christian. When Peter depended on his own strength, he opened himself to Satan's tricks. Confident Peter became a coward. We see him lying and swearing, then guiltridden, disappointed, discouraged. He had one thing going for him. Jesus had prayed that he would have an unfailing faith. The source of Peter's faith was not within himself, but from Jesus' intercession for him. Satan entices us to trust ourselves. Then he trips us. Have you failed? Do you feel fearful? Have you denied Jesus, either verbally or by the way you are living? Are you disappointed by your inability to do what you have resolved? Don’t despair. Jesus is praying for you that your faith will not fail. INSIGHT: Don't try to pump up your faith on your own. You can have an unfailing faith because God answers Jesus' prayers.

Look in the Right Direction Scripture Focus:

Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-8:1 “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ It's amazing what you can see when you are looking in the right direction - even in the morass of trouble, pain, and confusion. Stephen was in trouble. He had preached a convicting sermon to the religious leaders. They violently rejected what he said. Infuriated, they dragged him out of the city and began stoning him. Through it all Stephen was calm. The source of his remarkable peace? He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was given a glimpse into heaven. He saw Jesus, in all His glory, standing ready to come to his aid - ready to receive him home to heaven. Even as the rocks pounded the life out of him, he was aware of Jesus' loving concern for him. Are you going through trials today? Does it seem as if circumstances are pelting you, trying to destroy you? When you concentrate on your pain and confusion, you will be overwhelmed. Turn your eyes. Look in the right direction. By faith see Jesus standing, ready to come to your aid. Keep your eyes on Him. God's Spirit will fill you and give you peace. INSIGHT: God's Spirit will give you renewed awareness of Jesus' glorious love for you. He will strengthen you. Keep your trust in Jesus.

A New Goal Scripture Focus:

Acts 9:1-22 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Saul was bent on destruction. All his energies were focused on one goal: destroy all followers of Jesus. He pursued them with murder in his eyes. This hard-driving, firebreathing man was determined to wipe out the name of Jesus. Suddenly God interrupted him. A heavenly light engulfed him. God had his attention. “Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” He asked. Saul was confused. Wasn’t he God’s man, doing God's job destroying a false religion? “Who are You, Lord?” he managed to ask. “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.” Instantly Saul realized the whole focus of his life was wrong. He was shaken to the core. His life was turned around. We call it conversion. A person who encounters Jesus is never the same. He either yields to Jesus or he resists and becomes hardened. Saul's response was positive, the goal of his life forever altered. As hard as he had worked destroying Jesus' followers, Saul would now work to build them up. INSIGHT: God appears to each of us through Bible reading, preaching, or a friend's faithful witness. He points us to a new goal. Have you responded to Him?

Strength for the Day Scripture Focus:

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. . . . But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Paul was strong and determined. He never had problems coping - or did he? Sometimes a murky gloom-cloud descended on him. He felt powerless, frustrated, overwhelmed, crushed. Are you experiencing what Paul did? Your difficulties are not the end. They are moving you to higher ground. God allows them in your life to teach you and help you grow. When we have no strength, we find God’s infinite power. In our sorrow, we discover God's deep abiding joy. When faced with nerve-melting circumstances, we learn God's peace. When we are too weak to stand, we learn to lean on God. When we are alone, shut away from any human help, we discover that the God of all comfort is present with us. Paul was a giant of faith, not because he never failed or was never discouraged. If he had sailed through life above the petty things that frustrate us, his life would not be an encouragement to us. Paul's determination and strength came from God. INSIGHT: God is available to you for the task you face today. Will you rely on Him for the strength you need?

Sharing Comfort Scripture Focus:

2 Corinthians 1:2-11 “Praise be to the God . . . the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Aren't you glad God is the God of all comfort? The trials He allows are not meant to frustrate us or bog us down. They are allowed to draw us to that higher ground of close fellowship with Him. As our Comforter, God comes alongside to assist us. He walks in our shoes. There is no experience we will go through that He will not go through with us. The Holy Spirit is closer than our breath, our heartbeat, our thoughts. He is intimately aware of our heartaches, fears, and pain. He not only knows about them, He feels them along with us. He experiences our hurts with us. Our Comforter reaches those hidden places inside us and provides the comfort we need. He does this by speaking to us through His Word. We need to go to the Bible with an open mind and an expectant heart. We should read until the Lord speaks to us. When we know His sure promises, the Holy Spirit is able to bring us comfort in our times of need. INSIGHT: When we draw from the Lord the comfort that we need, we are strengthened to face our troubles. Then we are able to share that comfort with others who are hurting.

Negative Thinking Cured Scripture Focus:

Philippians 4:4-9 “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Concentrating on our blessings has amazing therapeutic value. That's one reason why Paul instructed the Philippian church to have a positive mindset. This truth came to life for me when my husband was hospitalized with a collapsed lung. I did not cope well. In fact, right after his surgery I selfishly began dumping my negative thinking on him. The nurse asked me to leave, and I was devastated. How could I have done that to my husband? Then as I read our verse for today I thought of the song, “Count Your Blessings.” What blessings? I complained to myself and to the Lord. Obediently I reflected on the past few days and wrote down the blessings God had given me. One, then another. Soon a page was filled with the good things God had been pouring into my life. My attitude changed so that when I visited Dick later that day I had only positive things to say. INSIGHT: Something wonderful happens when we remember the good things God does for us. It's like someone turns on an intense brightness in a pitch-dark room.

Satan's Worst Scripture Focus: Mark 14:32-42 “Jesus said to his disciples, `Sit here while I pray.' . . . He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. `My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,' he said to them” (Mark 14:32-34).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ When feeling really down, I have said, “Jesus, You don't understand how I feel.” I wondered how God's Son could possibly understand my depression, and if He could not understand, how could He help? Then I read Jesus’ agonizing prayer right before His crucifixion. Surely Satan unloaded his worst on Jesus at that time. The pressure of the darkness Jesus faced at that moment was greater than we can comprehend. The sinless Son of God was about to become immersed in all our sins. Taking a low figure of one sin per day, 365 days for 40-plus years, I get a total of 14,600. Just my sins! The sins of all humanity were about to be loaded on Him. He would be punished for them, experiencing the nightmare of separation from God. The heaviness Jesus felt at that time nearly killed him. No wonder. He asked His Father to remove the cup of horror, but there was no other way for people to be redeemed. INSIGHT: Are you sitting in darkness? Jesus understands exactly what you are going through. He will meet you, teaching you His secrets. Then in His time, He will bring you out.

Our Approachable God Scripture Focus: Hebrews 4:14-16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ In times of stress, I have accused the Lord of not understanding my feelings of insecurity and inferiority. Yet, Jesus had all the feelings we have. He understands them because He experienced them. Psalm 22 pictures Jesus on the cross saying,

“I am a worm and not a man” (v. 6). It was then He felt the full impact of the darkness that may haunt our lives. Jesus died to free us from those negative feelings and from the sins that trip us up. Because He did this for us, we never have to be trapped by them again. This month we have met some of God’s ordinary people. Though they often failed, God never let them down. He did not demand they get their act together before He would help them. He met them right where they were and equipped them to meet the challenges they faced. The wonderful truth that flows throughout the pages of Scripture is that God does not change. He is your approachable God - turn to Him in your time of need. INSIGHT: God does not change. What He has done for ordinary people in the past, He will do for you today. Trust Him.