Have you ever thought you knew someone, and found out later that you were completely wrong? Maybe it was someone who had a very hard and contentious personality, but they turn out to be very caring and considerate, or as a Manager or business owner, you thought a prospective employee was friendly and hardworking, and they didn’t turn out to be the way you expected.

We don’t have the ability to read what truly makes up the character of people without spending time engaging with them, and even with time we may not truly know them. God, however, knows what is inside all of us.

In the Old Testament, God tells Samuel, a prophet, to go to Bethlehem to find one of Jesse’s sons who will be the next King of Israel. Jesse had eight sons, the youngest and least impressive from outward appearance was David.

God told Samuel after Samuel assumed the most impressive looking son, Eliab, would be God’s chosen, in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Dear Lord, You see deep inside all people and know them better than they know themselves. Give us your wisdom to see others the way you do, and not make our judgments solely on appearance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I imagine most of us have attempted to tune in a radio station on an AM or FM radio. When the radio tuner is not on the station, all we hear is static, but as we tune to the right frequency, the static fades and information from the station becomes clear.

I think this is somewhat like what Paul is describing in 1 Corinthians 2:11-12, “No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.”

As believers, we have the Holy Spirit in us, allowing us to “tune in” to God’s wisdom. In verse 16 Paul says, “But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” The more we search out God’s wisdom by reading, studying, and meditating on God’s word in the Bible, the more wisdom we can receive, and the more we will understand.

Dear Lord, we thank you for your Spirit, living in us, so that we may begin to understand your will and have confidence in your grace and salvation for us. Help us all share your Good News so others may also accept and receive your Spirit and Salvation. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Luke 13:10-13 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.!”

This was one of the texts during church yesterday, and it made me wonder, “How we determine if physical problem is caused by an evil spirit or is an illness is with a different cause?.” After studying in attempts to learn the answer this question, I thought, “Does it matter, the cause of the ailment?” what matters is that God is the cure.

When we or others face ailments, our hope should be in God for relief, cure or restoration. There is nothing, including death, that is beyond his power.

Dear Lord, You have power over all. No sickness, malady, or demon is beyond your control. Help us remember to put our faith and hope in your saving and restoring power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Have you ever had someone question whether you “really believe that stuff?,” referring to Christianity, or has someone presented the opportunity for you to share your faith when they were sincerely searching for hope during a difficult time?

Jesus told His disciples in Luke 21:13-15, that there will be times when they would be questioned, challenged, made fun of and even tortured and killed for their faith. He told them however, “but make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict” NIV

Hopefully none of us will have to face physical danger for our faith, but most of us, at some point, will be put in a position to affirm our faith to someone. Remember not to worry, God will give us the words and wisdom we need.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance you provide us, knowing we are not on our own, you are there to give us the words and wisdom we need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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We have probably all seen those cartoon situations showing the character in the midst of a decision between right and wrong, and a little angel sits on one of his or her shoulders encouraging the right action, and a little devil sits on the other shoulder encouraging the wrong alternative.

This is very much the situation that goes on in the lives of Christians. It is described in a number of places in the bible, including Galatians 5:17 where Paul writes “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” TLB

It is our challenge to follow the spirit rather than our nature, but as written in Romans 8, “the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.” We are not on our own, we need to ask for help.

Dear Lord, help us follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance and reject the temptation of our nature to do wrong and go against your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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