Have you noticed how some people are comfortable going along with what others decide, some people are ready to criticize the actions and decisions of the leader, but few want to be the leader; the one who opens him or her self up to being questioned and criticized; the one who is responsible for the group, and to the group for the results.

This phenomenon happens in all types of groups, at work, at social functions, clubs, at church, in our families, and out in public.

When the Israelites arrived at the Promised Land after wandering in the desert for 40 years, God made Joshua the leader. In Joshua 1:6 God told him, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.”

God told him he was the leader, the final decision maker, and the one responsible for the chosen people, to get them to follow God’s direction, and the one to deal with the complains, criticisms and challenges the people would undoubtedly have.

God’s guidance to Joshua was written in Joshua 1:9, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

For all who lead, I am sure you have had fears, doubts and discouragement. These words to Joshua are guidance for us as well. “Be strong and courageous, God is with us wherever we go.”

Dear Lord, your power exceeds any challenge we could have. Help us rely on your promise, to be with us, so we can be strong and courageous leaders for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I am not sure why this is, and maybe you have experienced the same, but when I face major challenges or crises in life, or when friends and loved ones experience these major problems, I remember to ask for God help and involvement. However, for some reason when I have routine daily challenges, I tend to look at them as my sole responsibility. Rather than going to God for help and maintaining my peace, I’ll get uptight, and sometimes irritated or critical for silly little reasons.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burden’s to the Lord and he will take care of you.” It doesn’t say, “..but only the big issues you cannot handle on your own.”

God wants to be part of our lives, and wants us to include us in everything we do.

Dear Lord, Thank you for always being there, waiting for us to ask for your help. Remind us to ask in the small routine things as well as the serious. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We all know that God created us with a free will to choose. There is a constant battle going on inside each of us; a battle between our desire to choose to obey God and do what is right, and our desire to choose to follow the self-centered desires that the world would have us follow.

Think of all the modern day social issues that revolve around the “right” and “freedom” to do things that are clearly wrong according to God.

Paul writes to the church in Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

Dear Lord, please help us use the freedom you gave us to live lives that glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You have probably seen those crystal figurines in jewelry stores, one of the most famous brand is Swarovski. It is amazing how these sculptures sparkle and reflect the light. Although the crystal is just glass, it sparkles so much more than ordinary glass because it has a “secret” ingredient, lead, added to the sand that is melted to form the glass. It is the fact that the lead is in the glass that makes it different and more dazzling.

In a similar way, Paul writes about God’s mystery and secret in Colossians 1:27, “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you the assurance of sharing his glory.” It is this secret ingredient in Christians that makes them different, and which makes us look different to God. He does not see the ordinary person, he sees us with the “dazzle” of Christ in us.

Dear Lord Jesus, It is only by the “secret” of your grace changing our appearance that we can be seen as acceptable to God, and saved. What an assuring mystery this is for us. Help us embrace this secret and live our lives demonstrating Christ living in us. In His name we pray. Amen.

I heard someone say once, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” I had to think about that for a bit. I think there is truth to this concept when we think about the principles we live by. If we are honest, in one area of our lives, we will likely be honest in others. If we are caring and compassionate in one area of our lives, we are likely to be so in others as well. However, the opposite is likely true

In Luke 16:10, Jesus tells us a similar concept, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

We need to look at ourselves and evaluate whether we are living up to the standards we desire. If we see that we are slipping in small areas, we are probably slipping in big areas as well.

Dear Lord, help us examine our thoughts and actions to make sure that we are striving to be the person who can be trusted with little and with much. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.