The use of Success Coaches or Life Coaches is growing in popularity. The concept is that the “coach,” someone who has studied the techniques, behaviors, and patterns of successful people, observes their clients activities then helps and guides them to adjust and become more successful in their life or profession; much like a sports coach.

An interesting parallel can be made, that God can be our “success coach.” Psalm 25:12-14 says “Who then are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him. He makes his covenant [promise] known to them”

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a coach that knows everything and can do anything, guiding our lives…..We do.

Dear Lord. Help us submit our lives to you and follow the guidance you have promised to give us if we follow. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever noticed that it is necessary to have some humility in order to learn something new? If we think we know already, we will not accept what someone else is trying to teach us.

We must accept that we don’t know, in order to learn.

Psalm 25 tells us the same, David says in Psalms 25:8-9 “The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.”

Dear Lord, help us have the humility to learn your way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you ever notice that people who are true professionals and outstanding performers in their field embrace difficult challenges? Professional athletes enjoy a very difficult workout or practice, scientists and academics enjoy challenging and technical problems to solve, musicians enjoy the hours of work to master a piece of music. The opposite I am sure you have also seen, the people who are always trying to cut corners, cheat, and avoid facing up to the challenge.

In many ways, this is what James describes in James 1:2-4, where he writes, “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” TLB

To master our lives as Christians we need to face our difficulties and temptations the way Jesus taught us to with faith, prayer, and confidence; knowing God is right there with us and these tests are helping us master our Christian lives.

Dear Lord, it is hard to be happy during the difficulties and temptations we face, but help us remember to use the things you teach us, faith, prayer, and confidence in your love for us, to face our difficulties. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I recently watched the video of a question and answer session about Christianity that occurred shortly after the tragic tsunami in 2004 in Indonesia. That event killed over 230,000 people in Indonesia, Thailand, and India. One question and answer caught my attention. The question was, Doesn’t the destruction and tragedy in the world make you question whether there is a God? And the answer was, If Jesus had said that things would be wonderful and uneventful, I might question his existence, but he did not predict tranquility.

In Luke 21:25-26 Jesus said, “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”

It is precisely the description, of the events by Jesus in the Bible, that reinforces our faith in its truth.

Dear Lord, the Bible you gave us is an amazing resource for support and confidence of our belief in you. Give us the will to read and study it to strengthen our faith, develop our wisdom, and become more effective in bringing your message to others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

About 600 years before Jesus Christ was born, the remaining Israelites in Judah were taken into slavery by the Babylonians, and Jerusalem was destroyed. 70 years later, they were allowed to return, led by their leader Zerubbabel.

Against all odds, criticisms and harassment by neighboring peoples, Zerubbabel leads the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

Zechariah 4:6-7 tells us, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!”

I think the lesson for us in this story is; When we strive to do God’s will, and dedicate our activities to him, our success doesn’t come because of our “force or strength,” but by the God’s Spirit at work.

Paul has a similar message in 2 Corinthians 5:7 saying, “for we live by faith, and not by sight.”

If we stop and look, we will see occasions where God has made things happen according to his plan, against the odds and obstacles.

Dear Lord, help us remember to put your will first, and have faith that when we do, your Spirit will overcome all obstacles. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.