I have heard it said, “coincidences are God’s appointment book.

Have you noticed that when you are keeping your priorities right, keeping your focus on God and his will, things that seem like random circumstances bring us into contact with someone who is just the right connection for something on which we are working; or we run across someone who needs just the experience or expertise that we have.

Acts 8 tells the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian. After Jesus had risen, and ascended, the disciples become inspired by the Holy Spirit to split up and begin telling the good news to people everywhere. Phillip goes to Samaria and while there he is led to help an Ethiopian official understand some prophesies in Isaiah. Philip uses this opportunity to tell the Ethiopian the Good News about Jesus.

Acts 8:29 says, “The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” and verses 34-38, “The Ethiopian asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”

It is interesting to note that Ethiopia has a population of about 100 million people today, and the population is over 60% Christian. Could this have been a result of this witness by Philip?

Dear Lord, You are always working through us and others to complete your plan. Help us realize your work in the coincidences that occur in our lives, and look for the reason, and our role in the plan. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 40:4 says, “Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who trust in idols.”

I think a modern day description of the “proud or those who trust in idols” may be, “the brilliant people and their awesome technologies.”

I am as fascinated as anyone by the incredible discoveries being made by brilliant people, and the amazing technologies they are developing. For some people following these smart people and their technologies can become like worship. It is important for us to remember to put our trust in the God who created these people and the wonderful inventions. As the verse says, our joy comes from putting our trust in the Lord.

Dear Lord, thank you for the brilliant people you put in the world, and for the amazing technologies they have developed for us. Help us remember to put our trust in you as you work through them to bring us joy and bring you glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Many of us have had occasions in life where things looked so bad we had no idea how they could ever work out well. Then as time progressed, things changed and worked out. I like the expression, “even when we can’t see a way God can make a way.”

In Mark 10:27, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

We need to remember that no matter how bad things may seem to us, “all things are possible with God.”

Dear Lord, help us to remember that you can always make a way for things to work out for us. Help us put our trust in you and believe that with you all things are possible. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Most of us have heard or read 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.” This verse sometimes seems a little over simplified, like telling someone..”don’t worry about it, everything will work out.”

However, I recently read Romans 10:11, which the Living Bible translates, “For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed.”

I have experienced this, and maybe you have too. A situation appears to have no possible positive outcome, late for a meeting, behind in class, missed a flight, bills that you cannot cover, but when we fully give the concern over to God, unexpected events occur and things work out in ways we never imagined.

God will not disappoint us, if we trust Him.

Dear Lord, we often wait until, we think, we have no alternative before coming to you with our concerns. Help us remember to come to you first, and when we trust you, you will not let us down. What peace this knowledge provides. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I believe that most of the challenges we face in life are temptations to do things we know we should not be doing. Resisting some of these temptations is often just a matter of commitment, self discipline, and habit, such as using foul language, lying, gossiping, etc. Some temptations, however, cannot be overcome with our own strength. Things like the many addictions that are often more than people can overcome on their own. I think in many of the cases of addiction, it is not possible to overcome without God’s help.

We stand in the checkout line at the store and see the tabloids telling about the continuous relapses of addictions many celebrities deal with, and many of us have our own friends and loved ones who battle with addictions, never seaming to be able to overcome. I believe in order to overcome these challenges; they must have faith in God and His power.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

These forces are stronger than us on our own, but as John writes in 1 John 4:4, “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

With God’s spirit in us we can overcome the forces that pull us toward these evil temptations.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us your Spirit to teach us and give us strength. Help us rely on you and your spirit to overcome temptation and live lives that glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.