If you have ever been fishing you know that sometimes you can throw any bait in the water and the fish bite, but other times you need just the right fishing hole, and just the right bait in order to catch a fish. Fly fisherman study the types of bugs that fish are eating and create lures (bait) to look similar and attract the fish. Even with that, the smart fish will come and take a look, but move on if the bait doesn’t look right.

In a similar way, the devil fishes for people with temptations to catch their attention and draw them into sin and disobedience to God. Some are easy to catch, others more difficult. He will search for the just the right bait to tempt each of us; pride, greed, envy, immorality, dishonesty, fear, worry, or one of many others. It may seem like we don’t stand a chance against the power of the devil, but God promises that He will always provide a way out of the temptation.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” We cannot avoid being tempted, but we can ignore the bait and not act on the temptation;
When we successfully overcome it makes us more capable to overcome the next time temptation arises.

Dear Lord, We know that we will be tempted, when we are, help us remember that you will provide a way out and help us overcome. As difficult as it may be to resist, we know as Paul says in Philippians 4:13, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I have heard it said that your life is like an echo, what you send out comes back to you, or like a mirror, a reflection of you.

Paul writes in his letter to Titus 1:15, “A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears.”

I imagine you have met both kinds of people, those that look for the best in everything, and have good positive attitudes, and those that see the negative and problems in every experience. How interesting that they both can be looking at the same situation and see such different pictures. The verse above from Paul’s letter to Titus tells us that the way people look at a situation is an indication of what is in their own heart and mind. How they look at things is as much a statement on themselves as it is a statement on the people or things about which they are commenting.

We all should do a quick evaluation of ourselves periodically to make sure we are sending out the right message, and also use this guidance to take a look at the people with whom we are spending our time.

Dear Lord, help us be people of pure hearts and find the goodness and purity you have put in our world. Help us also be a positive influence on those with evil and untrusting hearts, that they might see your love through us and desire to change. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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You have probably heard someone say, “Thanks in advance,” when asking for something that they know they can and will be done.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving in the USA. What a great reason for a holiday! I believe that one of the pieces to a truly joyful and peaceful life is having a thankful perspective. It is nearly impossible to be negative, angry, and bitter when we are approaching life with thankfulness.

Taking the thankful perspective to another level, is not only being thankful for the blessings we have today, it is being thankful for the futures God has established for us. It is an expression of trust and faith in Him.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Dear Lord, We thank you that you have truly blessed us with salvation through Jesus Christ. We thank you also that you answer our prayers so we need not worry. We can thank you in advance, because we know you have us in your care. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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General statements are statements like, “everyone knows that,” or “nobody goes there anymore,” sayings that leave no room for exceptions.  There is an expression that goes, “All general statements are false, including this one.”

There are very few things that we can say have no exceptions, which is why I think it is significant when the Bible makes some general statements.

In Matthew 12:15, Matthew writes about Jesus, “…with many following him. He healed all the sick among them.”

And in Matthew 14 after the miracle of feeding the 5000, Matthew 14:35-36 says, “And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”

The key word in both of these descriptions is “all.”  Jesus didn’t heal some of those that were sick, he healed “all”, and it wasn’t just some of those that touched his cloak that were healed, it was “all.”

One general statement that we can count on is that God is all powerful.  Put our trust in Him.

Dear Lord, like those you healed in the Bible stories, give us the faith to put our trust in you to work in our lives and answer our prayers, Your way.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

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David in the Bible appears to be a bit of an impulsive person. He is the type of person that has an idea, and just gets right after it, without lots of thought and analysis. This works for him in some cases, like striking down Goliath in the famous story of David and Goliath, but not so much in the story of Bathsheba, another man’s wife, whom David pursued and ultimately married after having Bathsheba’s husband killed.

However the one thing David always remembered was to return to God. He would go off track, but always come back, repentant.

Psalm 51:1-3 he says, “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.” then in verse 17 “You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

And after his confession and repentance, in Psalm 52:8-9 he says, “But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.”

So like David, no matter what we have done, God is always there to take us back, when we come with repentance. How great a reason to “praise Him forever,” like David.

Dear Lord, forgive us for our failures to do your will, no matter what it may be, our sin separates us from you, and we are truly sorry. Thank you that through Jesus’ sacrifice we can be made right with you again. Praise to you Forever! Amen.

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