I was listening to an interview with a former Navy Seal who has recently written a book on leadership and he made an interesting comment. He said, “Discipline equals freedom.”

Conventional thinking would disagree with this concept, believing that by having discipline, people lose the flexibility, the “freedom” to do anything that they want.

James writes in James 1:25, “However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed.”

He says, “God’s perfect laws that make people free.” Like the comment from the Navy Seal, the counterintuitive idea of following rules or God’s laws, with discipline, will result in freedom.

Dear Lord, it sounds contradictory to us that being boxed in by your rules would give us freedom, but it does, and promises that in following God’s laws, we will be blessed. Help us understand your laws, and exercise the discipline to live them. 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.

Does it ever seem to you like things in the world have gone crazy? The ridiculous things people do, the things that are considered acceptable behavior, the evil of some toward others?

Our time is not the first time people felt this was occurring, David writes in Psalm 11:3, “The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”

But we know God is in control, as David continued in Psalm 11:4, “But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.”

Proverbs 16:4 also says, “The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.”

God remains in control, and his plan is playing out in our world.

Dear Lord, When we see things appear to be going so wrong in our world, it is difficult for us to understand how these things fit into your plan. Help us remember that we do not need to figure it all out, we only need to believe your word and trust in your protection. You remain in control and will never abandon us. For this we thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Many of us have had those times of reflection, wondering what God wants us to do with our lives. For some it is an easy decision, they have a passion that drives them toward their occupation, or avocation. For others, it is not always clear.

I am coming to the realization, that for us, who wonder what we are “supposed to” be doing, we begin to figure it out as we go. A process something like, Pray for guidance, step forward, repeat…..

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another….Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.”

It may not become clear for a long time, but as Peter wrote, we each have gifts to use to bring glory to God. Serving each other “with all the strength and energy that God supplies.” This brings God Glory.

Dear Lord, You have a plan for each of us, though it is not always clear to us. Give us the persistence and faith to move forward serving you by serving each other trusting in your guidance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Question for you. Are you righteous or are you a sinner?

In Matthew 9:13, Jesus says, “For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

It is not comfortable to say, “I am a sinner,” but it is only by saying that in our hearts that we can say, “I am saved.”

Dear Lord, what great joy it is to know that even though we are sinners, and precisely because we are sinners, we can accept your gift of salvation and be saved. Thank you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.