Many times in life there is something we know we should do, something we feel that God is calling us to do, but we are reluctant to start. We don’t start because we don’t know if we will have the time, the money, the ability, the support, or some other limitation, to make it work.

What we don’t realize, is that God may be waiting for us to move forward, demonstrating our faith in him, and then he will give us that time, money, knowledge, etc, we wanted before we started.

In Joshua 3 the Israelites are just about to cross the Jordan River and enter the “Promised Land” after wandering in the desert for 40 years. The Jordan River at that time was at its high, overflowing it’s banks.

Joshua 3:7,8, “The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.  Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.'” verse 13 then says, “As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

God told them to start, and once they did, he took over. He will do this for us if we act faithfully.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the knowledge that you are always there to support us when we step out in faithful response to your call. Help us have the courage to do so. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Can you think of a time when you were chosen to be part of a special group, team, or organization? Accepted by that university, fraternity, sorority you hoped for, hired by the great employer, for a select few, chosen to be a pro athlete, or astronaut. Wonderful feeling of acceptance, pride and validation of our skills, talent and hard work.

As good as those things have been for us, they pale in comparison to the significance Peter outlines in 1 Peter 2:9-10. ..for you have been chosen by God Himself- you are priests of the King, holy and pure, you are God’s very own-all this so that you may show others how God called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s very own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness, now your very lives have been changed by it. TLB

Let us be grateful for being chosen. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be someone who brings another person to a place he or she could be chosen by God as well.

Dear Lord, thank You for choosing us to be part of your team, from being less than nothing, doomed to the darkness to which sin pulls us. Now we are with you. Empower us to share the joy this brings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Some people say that reading books written by successful people is like having that person as a mentor. Although you cannot have a conversation with them, you can learn a great deal by reading the ideas that they took the time to assemble. Based on this, reading Proverbs is like having Solomon, who was granted great wisdom by God, as a mentor.

I particularly like the clarity and applicability of Chapter 27 to our modern lives. Verse 21 is something to consider, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”

Hopefully we all will have the opportunity to be congratulated and applauded for doing something excellent. When it happens, it is our opportunity to pass the test and humbly say “thank you”, and also share the credit with others who helped. This test is like other tests we are given in life, but feels much better than dealing with a tragedy or failure. It may not be as easy as it may appear. Being praised regularly easily can become a burden for some people to maintain their humility. Remember this is another blessing from God that can be used to bring him glory and not just inflate our egos.

Dear Lord, thank you for the wisdom of Solomon, recorded for our benefit in the book of Proverbs. Help us use it to improve our lives to be of better service to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

David in the Bible appears to be a bit of an impulsive person; 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.

One of the mysteries of Christian faith is the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes in Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible tells us that we can only believe in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. It also tells us that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, and allowed the apostles to perform miracles. The Holy Spirit is also how God works in us, connects us to each other, and to Him.

We therefore have God’s unlimited power in us and available to us. I believe that the biggest limit on that power is our limited faith in it.

Dear Lord, let us take the limits off of the Holy Spirit working through us, and as Paul tells us, “overflow with confident hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.” With You, all things are possible. In Jesus’ name. Amen.