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.

Have you had the opportunity to work closely with a team to accomplish a common objective. It could have been with a sports team, an informal team of people at work or church, a startup team for a new business, a band, a military unit, or overcoming a challenging time with your family as a team. There is something particularly fulfilling, hopeful and uniting in these occasions. Often, the more difficult the challenge, the more powerful the experience is for us.

Paul writes about this to the Church in Philippi, in Philippians 2:1-2, saying “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

It is that working together with “one mind and purpose” that makes all the difference. How much more fulfilling it will be for us when that purpose is God’s work, in our family, church, community, or friendships.

Dear Lord you made us and you put this trait into each of us, that when we join together in a team with trust and respect for each other and take on a challenge, your love is shown through us and builds bonds between us, making us even more capable of doing your will. Give us all the opportunity to experience this, and use it in your work. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It sometimes surprises me when I find that a few well known Bible verses that seem to be about different topics are actually found together. One example which summarizes how we should approach challenges in our lives is found in 1 Peter 5. This chapter contains three texts that are familiar, but not always recognized to be part of the same theme.

1 Peter 5:7-11, “Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

I underlined the three texts that are often remembered separately, but reading them together helps us understand how to deal with difficult life experiences. First give them to God, second, while waiting for resolution resist the attempts by the devil to break your faith and your spirit, and finally know that it won’t last forever. God will bring us through.

Dear Lord, thank you for the comforting words Peter gives us. Help us take his lesson into our hearts and have confidence in your promise to take our anxieties and bring us through our trials. All Glory to you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16-17, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.”

And he says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control.”

It would be reasonable then to believe that the opposite of these characteristics “fruit” would go something like this: “The fruit of our sinful nature is hate, gloom, stress, worry, fear, impatience, meanness, dishonesty, harshness, and lack of self-control.”

So when we see characteristics from this second list in ourselves or others, it is not from God.

Dear Lord, Help us model our lives on the example Jesus gave us. The perfect example of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, a day we set aside to appreciate those who have served, all of us, in the U.S military. Thank you to all those veterans!

Jesus teaches us about service in Mark 10:44-45 saying, “and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.”

Though Jesus’ service was to save our souls, US soldiers commit to serve an if necessary give their lives to save other’s lives. Jesus also tells us in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The United States and the world would be a much different and more dangerous place for peaceful people if it were not for the service of our veterans.

Dear Lord, we thank you for all those who have served, putting others before themselves and following your example. Bless them, their friends, and families. In Jesus Name, Amen.