Have you ever learned one of those things that are impossible to do unless you commit completely and expect success; something that you cannot do “kind of” or “a little.” For example learning to do a flip off the diving board, if you don’t commit, you end up landing on your back; How about getting up out of the water when water skiing, if you try to do it slowly, you end up with a face full of water, and the rope yanked out of your hands; Or stepping onto a boat as it is slowly moving from the dock, if you don’t get both feet and your body all the way onto the boat, you end up doing the splits and falling in the water.

In ways, our Christian faith is similar. In a number of Bible accounts, Jesus tells people that it is their faith that heals them. Matthew 9 includes the story of Jesus healing two blind men, and in verse 29 he says, “Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”

Acts 9 tells the account of Saul’s conversion from persecutor of Christians to Apostle. Saul was on his way to Damascus to find, imprison or kill the early Christians, but on his way Jesus comes to him in a bright light and makes him blind. In another part of the town, God came to a man named Ananias in a vision and said to find Saul and heal him. Ananias was aware that Saul was persecuting Christians and did not know Saul had been converted. Ananias had to act in faith and trust that God would protect him.

In Deuteronomy 31:6 God says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

He will not leave us or forsake us if we move forward boldly to do what we hear him calling us to do.

Dear Lord, Thank you that we can know that you are always with us and will protect us. Give us the courage to do the scary things we know we should, trusting in your protection. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Many times in life we encounter issues and situations that look impossible to overcome.

The Old Testament prophet Elisha’s student had an experience like this. The Aramean army was attacking Jerusalem, but God was providing details about their location and plans to Elisha, and Elisha provided this information to Israel’s army who continued to defeat every attack by the Aramean’s? When the King of Arem found out about Elisha, he sent the army after Elisha.

Elisha’s servant awoke one morning and looked outside to find the Aramean army surrounding their city. They were looking for Elisha. When the servant told Elisha about the situation, Elisha said, 2 Kings 6:16, “Do not be afraid!” For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes and when he looked up he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Just like this young man, sometimes we think our problems are too big to be solved. At those times we need to remember Elisha’s words, “There are more on our side than on theirs!. Our problems are nothing for God to solve.

Dear Lord, you control everything we encounter and have the ability to change the outcome at your will. Help us remember this and ask for you guidance and intervention when needed, knowing that with you all things are possible. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever had a conversation with the parent of a toddler while the toddler was playing on a park playscape? The parent’s eyes are always darting back toward the toddler, ready to run and protect the child from a fall, from some other danger, or from getting out of sight.

In ways, this is what is described in Psalm 33:18 which says, “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.”

God is watching and is aware of our situations; our successes and struggles, our hopes and our fears. We are not alone, He is always there and ready when we call.

Dear Lord, we thank you for the assurance of your presence. Help us use this confidence to be bold Christians sharing your love and good news. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Paul writes to the early Christian Church in Colosse, saying in Colossians 2:2-4, “I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.”

It sounds like even early in the life of the Christian church, people were beginning to come up with their rules and their own variants of Christianity, distorting and deceiving people from the simple message of Salvation through Jesus Christ. We see the same type of thing today where people create their own versions of religion that may have started with Christianity, but has turned into the following of rules made up by people.

The message from Paul is clear, that to stay on the right Christian path, we need to go to the source, Jesus Christ, where all wisdom and knowledge originate. We read and meditate on Jesus’ words in the Gospels, and read the other Bible writings to help interpret. When our questions arise, we use the Bible and prayer to help us understand. Though there have been many authors, and teachers who have studied the scriptures and can help us understand, we must remember their writing does not carry the authority of scripture.

Dear Lord, Help us remember that you are the source of all wisdom and knowledge, and we should not be deceived into believing something that contradicts your word. Help us become more familiar with your word so we will be more effective at resisting deception. We thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

There are many Biblical principles that are counter-intuitive, meaning that they are the opposite of what the typical person might think.

An example of this is written in Psalm 119:1, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.”

I think the typical secular view is that doing what-ever you want, whenever you want, and making up your own rules, would be the way to a joyful life. But we see all around us how the Bible version is actually correct.

Those folks you see around your church, involved in lots of activities, studying God’s word, and doing their best to live lives of integrity following Jesus’ example, are the happy, content people. In contrast, it is sad how often we see people with money and fame who have the ability and means to choose anything, try to live lives making their own rules and who end up distraught and with all kinds of problems and tragedies.

We need to remember that the morality and instruction that God gave us in the Bible, and which he has put into our consciences, is there to help us have good and joyful lives, like the instructions books for operating our lives.

Dear Lord thank you for giving us conscienses and your word to guide us. Help us follow your instructions, and realize this is the way to a joyful life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.