God keeps His promise; He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist; at the time you are tempted He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. 1 Cor. 10:13 (GN)
If we choose to persist, God will allow us to sin. If we choose to seek God’s help, He will provide a way out.
When I’ve faced temptation, God has provided a knock on the door or a phone call from a friend. God has provided a picture of what my life would look like if I played the movie forward. What would happen to my family? What would my friends think? What would become of me? But, if I really want to sin, I always can.
A friend in Bible college traveled out of town to be in someone’s wedding. (No, it wasn’t me.) He and another groomsman decided after the wedding that since they were all dressed up, they needed to find some trouble. They wanted to be bad. Dancing, drinking and finding girls that do was their agenda. They headed into a local bar and found a table. While this was taboo in their families and churches, they were out to have a good time.The bar was full of women. They were in luck. There were so many women to choose from. In fact, there were no other men in the bar, and nobody asked them to dance. In their effort to be bad, the two tuxedoed groomsmen had wandered into a lesbian bar. They soon headed back to their hotel. Their plans were foiled. God had provided a way out.
When you are tempted, how do you need God to help you change the channel in your mind? If you ask God for help, He will help. If you ask a friend, he or she will help. If you would rather give in, you can do that too.
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Habits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Habits. Show all posts
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Playing the Victim
A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3
Why is it when we make a mess it’s always God’s fault? Do you think God hates you? He doesn’t. The Bible clearly teaches that God is love (1 John 4:16). Even God’s discipline stems from His love (Hebrews 12:6). It’s not God’s objective to ruin anyone’s life (Jeremiah 29:11).
But, the other side is that God won’t miraculously cause all of our problems to disappear. While I do believe that God does give us faith and does provide miracles, I also know that removing all of the obstacles that we've set up for ourselves doesn’t make us better. It does the opposite. Just like removing a cocoon would only harm the emerging butterfly, removing all of our self-inflicted problems would threaten our survival.
What you and I are going through today is not God’s fault. Say it outloud: “What I am going through is not God’s fault. It’s my fault.” Even if your pain or problems start with another person, what have you done to encourage it or to allow their mistreatment of you? How have you played into the dysfunction? How have you poured fuel on the fire? How do you over-react rather than respond?
Here are two very tough little words: Own It. “I am responsible for my current situation. I am responsible for my attitude about my situation. I am responsible for my life from this point forward regardless of past failures or successes.” But, it was so much easier to blame an unreasonable boss, an unfaithful friend, a critical or unreliable spouse, bratty kids, the economy, the government, and above all a cruel and unloving god.
You and I are not victims of our circumstances. You and I are not facing harder things than other Christians in history have faced. Most of us reading these words are not imprisoned or impoverished. Most are not being persecuted for their faith. Many of us are just big whiners. It’s time to grow up.
The sooner that we realize that God is God, and we’re not, the better off we will be. I cannot control what other people do. I cannot change other people into what I want them to be. The best chance that I have of changing anybody is to commit to changing myself with God’s help.
The Devil wants to keep us incapacitated. The Devil invented the blame game when he introduced sin into the world (Genesis 3:12-14). The Enemy’s battlefield is between our two ears. As long as he can keep us from realizing that we can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13) and that God is still working on us (Philippians 1:6), the enemy has won. Someone once described the devil as being a tiny bug with a big mouth. I think that sums it up.
Considering that the Master and Creator of the universe loves us deeply and is fully capable of producing in us what He has called us to be, what is really standing in our way? For many of us, what is standing in the way is ourselves and our attitudes.
Rather than throwing a pity party, which usually only has one invited guest, pour out the whole thing to God. If you're stuck, pray, “God, what in the world am I supposed to do?” If you're frustrated, pray, “God, I give up trying to change this person or situation. I give it to You for You to work on. I will live obediently to You and let You work on the rest.” If disappointments overwhelm you, pray, “God, I am very disappointed because of how _____________ has turned out. It makes me think that you don’t love me. It makes me think that you won’t or can’t help me. Please show me what to do.”
To quote the great theologian, Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Why is it when we make a mess it’s always God’s fault? Do you think God hates you? He doesn’t. The Bible clearly teaches that God is love (1 John 4:16). Even God’s discipline stems from His love (Hebrews 12:6). It’s not God’s objective to ruin anyone’s life (Jeremiah 29:11).
But, the other side is that God won’t miraculously cause all of our problems to disappear. While I do believe that God does give us faith and does provide miracles, I also know that removing all of the obstacles that we've set up for ourselves doesn’t make us better. It does the opposite. Just like removing a cocoon would only harm the emerging butterfly, removing all of our self-inflicted problems would threaten our survival.
What you and I are going through today is not God’s fault. Say it outloud: “What I am going through is not God’s fault. It’s my fault.” Even if your pain or problems start with another person, what have you done to encourage it or to allow their mistreatment of you? How have you played into the dysfunction? How have you poured fuel on the fire? How do you over-react rather than respond?
Here are two very tough little words: Own It. “I am responsible for my current situation. I am responsible for my attitude about my situation. I am responsible for my life from this point forward regardless of past failures or successes.” But, it was so much easier to blame an unreasonable boss, an unfaithful friend, a critical or unreliable spouse, bratty kids, the economy, the government, and above all a cruel and unloving god.
You and I are not victims of our circumstances. You and I are not facing harder things than other Christians in history have faced. Most of us reading these words are not imprisoned or impoverished. Most are not being persecuted for their faith. Many of us are just big whiners. It’s time to grow up.
The sooner that we realize that God is God, and we’re not, the better off we will be. I cannot control what other people do. I cannot change other people into what I want them to be. The best chance that I have of changing anybody is to commit to changing myself with God’s help.
The Devil wants to keep us incapacitated. The Devil invented the blame game when he introduced sin into the world (Genesis 3:12-14). The Enemy’s battlefield is between our two ears. As long as he can keep us from realizing that we can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13) and that God is still working on us (Philippians 1:6), the enemy has won. Someone once described the devil as being a tiny bug with a big mouth. I think that sums it up.
Considering that the Master and Creator of the universe loves us deeply and is fully capable of producing in us what He has called us to be, what is really standing in our way? For many of us, what is standing in the way is ourselves and our attitudes.
Rather than throwing a pity party, which usually only has one invited guest, pour out the whole thing to God. If you're stuck, pray, “God, what in the world am I supposed to do?” If you're frustrated, pray, “God, I give up trying to change this person or situation. I give it to You for You to work on. I will live obediently to You and let You work on the rest.” If disappointments overwhelm you, pray, “God, I am very disappointed because of how _____________ has turned out. It makes me think that you don’t love me. It makes me think that you won’t or can’t help me. Please show me what to do.”
To quote the great theologian, Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Looking for a Small Group? Find one this Sunday, January 9, 5-7 pm at the Small Group Sampler in the concourse at Brookwood Church. This is a casual, open house where you can meet small groups and sign up to try one.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Ready for a Self-Test?
Let us examine our ways and test them and return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 (GN)
Insanity is commonly defined as repeating the same actions and expecting a different result. It’s crazy, but it’s what we do. The reality is that our system is perfectly designed to achieve the result that we are getting. Unless we are honest about the nature and cause of our problems, then we won’t do anything about it, except blame everybody else. As they say, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”
The Bible says to “examine our ways and test them.” This isn’t a test to see if our way of doing things is perfect. This is simply an evaluation of “if I do A, then I get B.” We can’t really evaluate ourselves in one sitting. This is where journaling comes in handy. Simply write down what is happening, why it happened, and how you feel about it. You don’t need a high-dollar, leather-bound journal. You can just use a notebook from the dollar store. Personally, I don’t like to write with a pen, so I set up an email address for God. When I’m in the thick of it, I send God an email. (No I’m not giving out the email address. You’ll need to set up your own.)
After you’ve journaled for weeks to months, look over your journal. Do any patterns appear? What are the causes behind your circumstances? What have you tried to do differently? How has that worked? You should start seeing some things very clearly.
If you want the Reader’s Digest version (and you’re very brave), then sit down with a friend or your spouse and ask them where you could improve or what they see that’s getting in your way. Your first question probably needs to be “Do you think I have a thick skin?” If the answer is “No,” then go back to the journaling.
You can’t become the person you want to be, if you don’t take into account the person that you already are. If you are attempting to improve the better version of yourself that only exists in your own head, you are simply writing fiction. But, here’s the good news: God knows exactly who you are, where you are, and what He wants you to become.
How are you living in disobedience to God? Ask Him. He will bring it to your mind very quickly. Then, ask God for help. He’s always ready to help us.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Insanity is commonly defined as repeating the same actions and expecting a different result. It’s crazy, but it’s what we do. The reality is that our system is perfectly designed to achieve the result that we are getting. Unless we are honest about the nature and cause of our problems, then we won’t do anything about it, except blame everybody else. As they say, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”
The Bible says to “examine our ways and test them.” This isn’t a test to see if our way of doing things is perfect. This is simply an evaluation of “if I do A, then I get B.” We can’t really evaluate ourselves in one sitting. This is where journaling comes in handy. Simply write down what is happening, why it happened, and how you feel about it. You don’t need a high-dollar, leather-bound journal. You can just use a notebook from the dollar store. Personally, I don’t like to write with a pen, so I set up an email address for God. When I’m in the thick of it, I send God an email. (No I’m not giving out the email address. You’ll need to set up your own.)
After you’ve journaled for weeks to months, look over your journal. Do any patterns appear? What are the causes behind your circumstances? What have you tried to do differently? How has that worked? You should start seeing some things very clearly.
If you want the Reader’s Digest version (and you’re very brave), then sit down with a friend or your spouse and ask them where you could improve or what they see that’s getting in your way. Your first question probably needs to be “Do you think I have a thick skin?” If the answer is “No,” then go back to the journaling.
You can’t become the person you want to be, if you don’t take into account the person that you already are. If you are attempting to improve the better version of yourself that only exists in your own head, you are simply writing fiction. But, here’s the good news: God knows exactly who you are, where you are, and what He wants you to become.
How are you living in disobedience to God? Ask Him. He will bring it to your mind very quickly. Then, ask God for help. He’s always ready to help us.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Monday, January 3, 2011
Please Continue to Hold...
If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done! Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB)
If I just had a new Bible or a Bible on Kindle or a Kindle, I would read the whole Bible this year. If I just got a raise, we could have another baby. If I just had a Bowflex, I could have rock hard abs. If I had a better boss, I would be a better employee. If I had nicer co-workers, then I would be more positive at work. If I had well-behaved children, I would be sane.
If we’re waiting for perfect conditions before we choose to make progress, then the message is simple: “Please continue to hold.” We are setting ourselves up for a lesson in patience that we are destined to fail.
Conditions have never been perfect. Conditions aren’t perfect now. Conditions will never be perfect. So, let’s stop making excuses. Think about this: God orchestrates His perfect plan through imperfect human beings. Even our perfect God doesn't wait for perfect conditions.
What is holding you back from taking the next step in your life? What is the obstacle that is standing in your way? Maybe you cannot make progress at the rate you would prefer, but what progress can you make? “But, if I work that slowly, it might take years.” Okay, do you plan to live for years? Then, what difference does it make how long it takes?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
If I just had a new Bible or a Bible on Kindle or a Kindle, I would read the whole Bible this year. If I just got a raise, we could have another baby. If I just had a Bowflex, I could have rock hard abs. If I had a better boss, I would be a better employee. If I had nicer co-workers, then I would be more positive at work. If I had well-behaved children, I would be sane.
If we’re waiting for perfect conditions before we choose to make progress, then the message is simple: “Please continue to hold.” We are setting ourselves up for a lesson in patience that we are destined to fail.
Conditions have never been perfect. Conditions aren’t perfect now. Conditions will never be perfect. So, let’s stop making excuses. Think about this: God orchestrates His perfect plan through imperfect human beings. Even our perfect God doesn't wait for perfect conditions.
What is holding you back from taking the next step in your life? What is the obstacle that is standing in your way? Maybe you cannot make progress at the rate you would prefer, but what progress can you make? “But, if I work that slowly, it might take years.” Okay, do you plan to live for years? Then, what difference does it make how long it takes?
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Health Clubs, Debt Reduction, and Leviticus
Never boast about tomorrow. You don’t know what will happen between now and then. Proverbs 27:1 (GN)
Ah, New Year’s. Most of us do the exact same thing every year. We stay up late and watch the ball drop in Times Square. We wake up on New Year’s Day too tired to function. I’m assuming it was from staying up late to watch the ball drop. Why didn’t we just tivo last year’s ball drop? That was one nice thing about living on the west coast. We could call it a “New Year” at 9 pm Pacific time.
Whether your New Year’s tradition involves black eyed peas or sparkling grape juice of some variety, most of us are drawn toward making New Year’s resolutions. Often we make the same resolutions year after year. It could really be Ground Hog Day. “This year, I’m going to lose weight, get out of debt, read the whole Bible, clean out my garage, enjoy my work more, enjoy my family more, enjoy life more – but wait, I don’t have time to enjoy my life because I’m doing 10 other things.”
If you’ve been part of a health club for any time, you dread January. New memberships skyrocket. You used to walk right in and get on a treadmill. In January, you have to wait in line or get there at 5 am. But, there is hope for long-time gym members: New Year’s resolutions tend to wear off in 6-8 weeks. By Valentine’s Day or shortly thereafter, you get whatever machine you want when you want. The new members will keep paying their dues, but they won’t make it into the gym. This is the secret of health club success. I might start one in my garage if you’re interested (or if I get it cleaned out this year).
If you’re reading the One Year Bible, you’re in big trouble come mid-February. Not only are you running out of steam on your resolutions, but you’re also smack dab in the middle of the book of Leviticus. You’re toast.
Rather than making grandiose goals, why not make flexible goals? If you want to lose weight, then choose to exercise three times a week for 30 minutes and cut out snacking after 7 pm or skip a second helping. (I’ve been doing this for four months and have lost 20 lbs and kept it off).
If you want to read the Bible through, don’t use a daily reading guide. Use a bookmark instead. I’ve tried those daily reading plans. When I would get 4-5 days behind, I would quit. It was too much catching up. God is not grading you on your reading progress. Read what you can when you can, then use a bookmark for next time. Even if you skip a few days or just read a paragraph at a time. If you’d like to get through the whole Bible in less than a year, check out The Bible in 90 Days.
None of us know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We can hope for successes. We can expect a few setbacks. But, it doesn’t have to be the end. Live in today. You can’t change yesterday. There is no guarantee for tomorrow. But, you can seize the day!
What good habit would you like to begin this year? Or what bad habit would you like to forsake? Don’t wait until you have the right gym outfit or a brand new Bible. Just start today. Just start.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Ah, New Year’s. Most of us do the exact same thing every year. We stay up late and watch the ball drop in Times Square. We wake up on New Year’s Day too tired to function. I’m assuming it was from staying up late to watch the ball drop. Why didn’t we just tivo last year’s ball drop? That was one nice thing about living on the west coast. We could call it a “New Year” at 9 pm Pacific time.
Whether your New Year’s tradition involves black eyed peas or sparkling grape juice of some variety, most of us are drawn toward making New Year’s resolutions. Often we make the same resolutions year after year. It could really be Ground Hog Day. “This year, I’m going to lose weight, get out of debt, read the whole Bible, clean out my garage, enjoy my work more, enjoy my family more, enjoy life more – but wait, I don’t have time to enjoy my life because I’m doing 10 other things.”
If you’ve been part of a health club for any time, you dread January. New memberships skyrocket. You used to walk right in and get on a treadmill. In January, you have to wait in line or get there at 5 am. But, there is hope for long-time gym members: New Year’s resolutions tend to wear off in 6-8 weeks. By Valentine’s Day or shortly thereafter, you get whatever machine you want when you want. The new members will keep paying their dues, but they won’t make it into the gym. This is the secret of health club success. I might start one in my garage if you’re interested (or if I get it cleaned out this year).
If you’re reading the One Year Bible, you’re in big trouble come mid-February. Not only are you running out of steam on your resolutions, but you’re also smack dab in the middle of the book of Leviticus. You’re toast.
Rather than making grandiose goals, why not make flexible goals? If you want to lose weight, then choose to exercise three times a week for 30 minutes and cut out snacking after 7 pm or skip a second helping. (I’ve been doing this for four months and have lost 20 lbs and kept it off).
If you want to read the Bible through, don’t use a daily reading guide. Use a bookmark instead. I’ve tried those daily reading plans. When I would get 4-5 days behind, I would quit. It was too much catching up. God is not grading you on your reading progress. Read what you can when you can, then use a bookmark for next time. Even if you skip a few days or just read a paragraph at a time. If you’d like to get through the whole Bible in less than a year, check out The Bible in 90 Days.
None of us know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We can hope for successes. We can expect a few setbacks. But, it doesn’t have to be the end. Live in today. You can’t change yesterday. There is no guarantee for tomorrow. But, you can seize the day!
What good habit would you like to begin this year? Or what bad habit would you like to forsake? Don’t wait until you have the right gym outfit or a brand new Bible. Just start today. Just start.
Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/galatians419
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
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