You have probably heard people say something like, “God will never give you more than you can take.”

I think this understanding comes from the following passage in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

What do we mean by saying something is “more than we can take?” I think it means we are facing a situation experiencing fear, anger, grief, or loss, that is so intense or devastating that we might do something we know is wrong. This is a temptation.

It could be the that someone hurt us or someone we love, and we are tempted to take vengeance, or we lost someone we loved, and we think we cannot continue living without them, or a relationship fell apart and we think we cannot go on. These are all temptations to do something we know is wrong.

As the verse says, we will not be tempted beyond our ability to withstand, and we will be given a way out.

As terrible and tragic as some things may be in our lives, we can always rely on God. If we trust him, he will comfort us through the pain, and lead us past the temptations.

Dear Lord, some things in life appear to be too much for us to handle, but help us remember that you know our experiences, and our pain. Help us remember,also, to come to you for comfort and a way past our tragedies and temptations. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Somewhere along the way I read a quote that has stuck with me. “For each important action you take, ask yourself if you would be embarrassed if it were published for all to see.” I find this a good rule by which to live and it helps me avoid making bad decisions.

Solomon tells us a similar rule in Ecclesiastes, but it is not just embarrassment we need to fear. The Bible tells us that we will have to account to God for everything we do.

In Ecclesiastes 11:7-9 he writes, “It is a wonderful thing to be alive! If a person lives to be very old, let him rejoice in every day of life, but let him also remember that eternity is far longer and that everything down here is futile in comparison. Young man, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it! Do all you want to; take in everything, but realize that you must account to God for everything you do.”

There are so many wonderful things that God has put on earth and in our reach, and so few that we are told to avoid, let’s follow God’s guidance.

Dear Lord, thank you for the many blessings and opportunities we have in life. Help us enjoy these good things and avoid the temptations to do those things we know are wrong. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

How easy it is for us to jump on the bandwagon and join in when we hear people criticizing someone we don’t particularly like, or gossiping about someone’s bad behavior.

Paul writes to the Ephesians in chapter 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” NIV

It is important not only that we don’t join in, but we should try to take the opportunity to diffuse the gossip and criticism; not only for the benefit of the person subject to the gossip and criticism, but also for the benefit of those criticizing and gossiping. We may never know if our actions may positively affect the character of those listening.

Dear Lord, help us resist the temptation to criticize and gossip. Give us the wisdom to build up everyone rather than tearing them down. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The use of Success Coaches or Life Coaches is growing in popularity. The concept is that the “coach,” someone who has studied the techniques, behaviors, and patterns of successful people, observes their clients activities then helps and guides them to adjust and become more successful in their life or profession; much like a sports coach.

An interesting parallel can be made, that God can be our “success coach.” Psalm 25:12-14 says “Who then are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him. He makes his covenant [promise] known to them” NIV

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a coach that knows everything and can do anything, guiding our lives…..We do.

Dear Lord. Help us submit our lives to you and follow the guidance you have promised to give us if we follow. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

I think most people have used a microscope at one point in life or another, high school science class, or maybe a birthday present as a child. One thing I remember about using a microscope was how important it was to have light on the specimen; a bright light pointing right on it. Without the light, you could not see any of the detail through the microscope.

In a similar way, Jesus says in John 3:19-21, “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Jesus came into the world as the light of the world. Like the microscope, Jesus’ light exposes our sins, and shows us our need for forgiveness. The beautiful part is Jesus also forgives us of our sins when we repent, so that we can live our lives with the peace of knowing we will not face punishment for our sins. Jesus paid that price.

Dear Lord Jesus, expose our sins to us so that we might recognize and repent of them and become right with you. In your name we pray. Amen.