Studies have shown that people adapt and become accustomed to their situations pretty quickly. This ability has helped people survive and adapt to difficult situations, like famine, POW camps, or living through wars.

The phenomenon works the opposite way too. People who live in good times and good conditions like most of us do in the developed world today, can become too accustomed to how great life is, and not appreciate the tremendous blessings we have.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Stop and think about your day sometime, and all the amazing things that are just routine in our lives, from the time we wake up in the morning and through the day. Heat and air conditioning, a bed, electricity, hot shower, sharp razors, clean water, clean laundry, a closet full of clothes, cupboards and refrigerators full of food, cars, trains, buses with heat and air conditioning, paved streets, police departments, computer and internet technology, radio, tv, telephones, stores with anything we need, modern medicine, schools and universities. On top of all those things, the amazing beauty, complexity and balance of nature, the stars in the sky, sunrises, sunsets, birds, flowers, and the list goes on and on.

How could we not be amazed and joyful at all God has given us each day?

We praise and thank you Lord for your wonderful and amazing creation. Help us remember to appreciate all you have provided for us, every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Just Do It”, “You’re in Good Hands,” “Built Tough,” “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” “What’s in your wallet?”

These are all slogans from, well known, marketing campaigns.

God has a marketing plan too. It is us.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Our behavior as Christians should be an attraction to others. How we treat our family, friends, and others, how we deal with difficulties, and even how we deal with success should demonstrate the confidence, peace and joy that being saved and believing in Jesus to provide.

Dear Lord, how we live our lives is the first exposure others have to Christianity, and it either creates an opportunity to share your Good News, or gives people reason to resist you because of us. Help us be the light that shines and attracts people to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We all experience challenges, obstacles and even tragedies in our lives. When these things occur, God’s desire is that they bring us closer to him, and that we come to him for comfort and support.

I believe we are faced with these trials for one of two reasons. First, as James writes in James 1:2,3, “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” God is testing us to help us grow our faith, strength, and endurance.

The other cause of trials we may face, can be our own actions and bad choices. Paul writes in Romans 1:28,29, that when people ignore him, he lets them experience the effects of being on their own, outside of his protection. “So it was that when they gave God up and would not even acknowledge him, God gave them up to doing everything their evil minds could think of. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness and sin, of greed and hate, envy, murder, fighting, lying, bitterness, and gossip.”

The solution in either case is to go to God with our needs; submit ourselves to his love and direction, and we will come out of the challenge better, stronger and more confident in God’s plans for us.

Dear Lord, thank you for being there for us, help us come to you in faith, knowing that you will help us through our trials and temptations if we only ask and believe. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

When skyscrapers are built they are built on huge foundations dug deeply into the ground where it is solid, ideally solid rock.

Jesus tells those listening to him in Matthew 7:24, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.”

We build the foundation for our life on our beliefs, preconceptions, and world views. If this foundation is built on how we feel about things and popular social and cultural ideas, we are not building our life on solid ground. Jesus’ and his teaching that we learn through the Bible are the solid rock foundation on which we can build lives that enable us to successfully withstand the trials and temptations of the world.

Dear Lord, Thank you for taking the guesswork out of building our lives properly. You have given us the template which starts with following and trusting you. Help us keep you first in our lives build our lives around you, our rock. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Bible uses the word “grumble” to describe complaining by a group of people. Shortly after God brought the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt, and miraculously parted the Red Sea, the people grumbled to Moses, about not having water; God provided it, they complained about not having food and God miraculously gave them manna and quail. God heard their complaining and gave them what they needed.

You would think that they would get the message and realize God was there to support them if they only asked. However, as a result of their lack of faith and obedience, God turned what would have been a short journey to the Promised Land into a 40 year struggle, and none of the adults were ultimately allowed to enter the promised land.

Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 10:10, “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.”

We “grumble” too. When we are complaining, “grumbling,” and feeling sorry for ourselves, we are showing a lack of faith. We are indicating that we don’t believe that God cares about us.

When we are tempted to “grumble,” instead we should remember to ask God to help us. This is following God’s direction, trusting in him and praying, then wait in peace for the answer to our prayer.

Psalm 84:11 says, “For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.” TLB

Dear Lord, sometimes you let us struggle, maybe to strengthen us or maybe to discipline us. Rather than complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves, help us ask for your help to get through our struggle, and have faith that you will answer our prayer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.