As some of you may know, I was a military fighter pilot for a long time, and as a result, I was required to maintain a high level security clearance. The security clearance level required me to have a background investigation every few years, during which, an investigator would come around and talk to my neighbors, and friends, to determine if I had any vulnerabilities like financial problems, infidelity, drinking problems, etc. These types of problems could allow someone to take advantage of me through blackmail or other coercion and manipulate me into sharing secrets or other acts against the country.

In 1 Timothy 3, Paul is explaining to Timothy the criteria he should have for selecting elders and leaders of the church. Paul writes in verses 6,7, “An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.”

Just like the risks of manipulation by the enemies of our country that a soldier may face, we as Christians must be wary of the manipulation the devil will try to use against us. The devil will try all kinds of tricks, manipulating our fear, pride, jealousy, insecurity, looking for weakness to get us to compromise ourselves. Elders and church leaders must keep an even higher vigilance, because if they are manipulated by the devil, they may influence others in the church to go astray.

Dear Lord, we know we can resist any temptation when we rely on your power. Protect us from the deception of the devil, and help us protect each other from getting manipulated off your way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you ever wonder why some days, everything seems to go wrong. Flat tire, leaky faucet, late for school or work, forgot your phone, mean comment by a coworker or boss. Though these challenges may be coincidence, Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

These bad experiences may be caused by forces that are not obvious, and that are trying to break your spirit and separate you from God.

How do we overcome these forces? Paul continues in Ephesians 6:14 with the description of the armor of God. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

When the bad days come, remember to defend yourself with the shield of Faith in Jesus our Savior and protector, and fight back with the wisdom and knowledge of the Bible, the “Sword of the Spirit” which is the word of God.

Dear Lord help us remember that you have power over all things, and that your power is there for us, to protect us from the evil that tries to separate us from your Love and Salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I think we all occasionally have the need to choose between two seemingly equal alternatives, taking a new job, which college, house, which applicant to hire, or which contractor even.

Acts 1:24-26 tells the story of the process the disciples used to select a replacement for Judas, who killed himself after betraying Jesus, which we can use as a model for making our decisions.

Acts 1:23-26 writes, “So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas also known as Justus and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.”

Though the disciples decision was much more important than many decisions we may need to make in life, I believe the process is the same. With those who should be part of the process, your family, spouse, or church board, we identify the alternatives, pray and listen for guidance, then choose. Then we should move forward in faith, trusting that God will help us stay on the right path.

Dear Lord, as the disciples prayed, “you know every heart,” including our own. Help us remember to come to you for guidance with our decisions in life, trusting your guidance. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

One of the many ways the devil works to separate us from God is by using good things that God has provided, against us. An example of this is ambition and determination. When we place too much emphasis on achieving what are good desires like, academic or athletic achievement, business success, and even success at our churches, they can become more important to us than they should, displacing God as our priority.

James writes in James 4:13-15, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

As James writes if we start our plans with, “If the Lord wills, I plan to…” it will help us keep our priorities in order.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the desires and ambitions that you place in our hearts. Help us keep our priorities straight to avoid these desires from becoming our idols. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thank God for the United States of America.

Democracy by definition is “government by the people.” Democratic countries have different variations of how this “rule by the people” is conducted, but the key is that the people of the country ultimately control its direction.

Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Almost all the founders of the United States of America were practicing Christians, and for over two hundred years, the people of this American democracy have ruled to maintain the Christian foundation of America. The USA has been incredibly blessed over these years, and our Christian virtues and people have led the USA to be an incredible blessing to the rest of the world.

It is our responsibility, in our country ruled by the people, to make sure our God, and as a result, our country’s God, is the Lord. If we do, we can have confidence that God will Bless America.

Dear Lord, on this day we celebrate the independence of the United States of America, we thank you for the blessing of living here and the tremendous positive influence this country has been in the world. Help us, the people of America, to govern our country as Christians, so that your blessings may continue on this great, and grateful country. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.