There is an expression I have heard from some veteran public figures, which is, “Don’t read your own press clippings.” The reason is that they don’t give you an accurate picture. You are not as bad as your critics say, and you are not as good as your fans may say.

It is interesting that thousands of years ago Solomon wrote in Proverbs 27:21, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”

It is arguably more difficult to maintain one’s priorities and character when everything is going great and people think you are amazing, than it is when things are going terribly. When people praise us, it is easy to let it build up our egos, and make us begin to feel superior to others. Before this happens, we should think about where our ability to succeed originates. God gave us the talents and opportunities to allow our success. We should direct the glory toward him.

I have noticed this frequently with some Christian athletes, who make an obvious gesture to point toward the sky after a great play, giving God the credit and thanks for their successful performance.

There is a Latin phrase that I like to keep in mind when I do something “praiseworthy.” Soli Deo Gloria, which means to God Alone the Glory.

Dear Lord, You gave us the ability to achieve. Help us pass the test of being praised, and remember we are not better than others, we are blessed by you. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Have you ever completed a personality assessment.  There are a number of different types, but all of them have you answer a large number of questions about yourself, and after your answers are analyzed, the results are used to help you understand yourself better, and hopefully use the information to improve yourself.

David writes in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”  

He is asking God to assess him, both his heart, those reflexive feelings, impulses, and preconceived ideas, and his thoughts.  Then he is asking God to show him where he needs to work on himself to be a better follower.

We should have the same prayer, asking God to show us our shortcomings, and keep us on the right path.

Dear Lord, Search our hearts and minds and show us where we are not following your will.  Then help us make the improvements, stay on your path and accept your gift of Salvation. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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Throughout history, there have been people who have made incredible contributions to all of us. Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Jonas Salk, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and many others. However, their contributions are insignificant compared to the actual creation of the universe.

Psalm 124:8 says, “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

The Psalm sounds so simple and understated, but God created all the intricacies of science and biology as well as the vastness and majesty of the universe, and the psalm says he is our “help.”

Do you think there is anything God cannot do?

Simple little verse tells us that the incredible power of the creator of everything is there for us.

Dear Lord, we cannot begin to comprehend your power. Help us remember you are there for us, which unlimited capability to do anything; and help us remember to ask for the help you promise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Paul writes, a familiar text, in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” The NLT version puts it, “For we live by believing and not by seeing.”

In the context of his letter, Paul is discussing the promise of a new life in heaven after death; That we live with the faith in this promise.

However, I think he may also be stating a fact of life. We live by faith in our daily lives. When we wake, we turn on the water with faith that it will run. We turn the key on our car with faith it will start. We send an email, text, or make a phone call, with faith that it will connect with someone. We get on airplanes and boats, believing in the physics that they employ. We count on “seeing” these things happen because we first believed they would. We all live by faith, whether Christian or not.

As Christians we have additional beliefs that we count on “seeing” just the same. We pray with faith, counting on God’s answer. We attend worship with faith that it will renew our spirit. We make commitments to serve, witness, and contribute with faith that God will provide and protect. Most importantly, we have faith and believe first, that we will have eternal life, and we are counting on “seeing” this when our life on earth is over.

Dear Lord how common it is for people to think “I’ll believe it when I see it,” but they have things backward. Life now and eternal life is actually, “you’ll see it when you believe it.” Give us the strength to believe first so we will see your promises fulfilled. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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How many times have we, golfers, reminded ourselves to keep our heads down during the swing, but still occasionally still make that mistake. Or were you ever told, not to end a sentence with a preposition, or to count to 10 before speaking when you are angry.

There are many things in life that sound simple enough, but are very difficult to achieve in practice.

Paul gives us another rule in Philippians 4:6, that sounds easy, but is challenging to practice. he says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

“Don’t worry,” is not as simple as it sounds, but it is worth practice. When we feel the concern becoming worry, remember to pray, and put the issue in God’s hands.

Dear Lord, you tell us in 1 Peter 5:7 to “cast our cares on you, because you care about us.” Help us keep practicing this skill of giving our worries to you in prayer and thanking you for addressing them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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