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Friday, May 29, 2020

Humility Is a Choice

In review of 1 Peter 5:6, Peter reminds me, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” (NLT)

I often worry about my position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what I do. However Peter advises me to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. God is able and willing to bless me according to his timing. So I need to humbly obey God regardless of my present circumstances or situation, and in his good timing, either in this life or in the next, he will honor me.

When I’m successful, it’s much easier to fall hard than it is to maintain my success. I tend to get proud and forget about God, and success crumbles when I do that.

In this situation, the first step to take is absolutely critical. The Bible says, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you” (Revelation 2:5 NIV).

If I’m getting proud, I must repent. That means I change my mind. I go from thinking one way about my life to thinking another way. But why repent? Because humility is a choice. I’m never told in Scripture to pray for God to make me humble. It’s something I choose for myself.

The Bible says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT).

There’s a difference between pride and humility: Pride is when I accept credit for things that God and other people did through me and for me. Humility doesn’t mean thinking of myself less. Humility means thinking of others and God more.

If I’ve experienced some success and am beginning to get prideful, then repent, now! Change my perspective about who I am and where my success comes from. The Bible says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12 NIV).

In summary, I need to humble myself under the mighty power of God. For at the right time he will lift me up. I often worry about my position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what I do. However Peter advises me to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. So I need to choose to humbly obey God regardless of my present circumstances or situation, and in his good timing, either in this life or in the next, he will honor me. If I start to get proud, I must repent. Humility is a choice. I’m never told in Scripture to pray for God to make me humble. It’s something I choose for myself. There’s a difference between pride and humility: Pride is when I accept credit for things that God and other people did through me and for me. Humility means thinking of others and God more. If I’ve experienced some success and am beginning to get prideful, then repent, now! Change my perspective about who I am and where my success comes from.

Making the choice to be humble, even in the smallest ways, helps ingrain in me the perspective that I must keep. My role at work has undergone some changes, ones that had somewhat changed my position and status. I believe this occurred as God was alleviating some of the stress related to the job and responsibilities. However my mind tends to look at it somewhat negatively which is just addressing and I now see as a warning sign for pride. 

Father, this morning I recognize that humility is a choice I need to make constantly. I also need to make sure that I give credit to others for our success. I pray with the help of the Holy Spirit that I can recognize this when it occurs and make the conscious choice toward being humble. I pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Don’t Miss the Warning Signs of Pride

In review of Daniel 4:27, Daniel tells the king, “So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous.” (GNT)

Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways, and God gave him 12 months to do it. Unfortunately, there was no repentance in the heart of this proud king, and so the dream was fulfilled.

Too often when life is going well, I can miss the warning signs of an impending fall. Pride blinds me, and so does the spotlight.

This is why people who’ve seen some success in life need to go home and change some diapers, mow their own lawns, and wash their own dishes. When I have some success, make sure I keep in touch with my roots so I don’t miss the warning signs of a fall.

Nebuchadnezzar’s life is a clear picture of this. God cared enough about this pagan king to warn him about what was coming his way in Daniel 4. The Lord didn’t just remove him from power. God gave him a dream, he brought Daniel to interpret the dream, and Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar what was going to happen and how to avoid it. It can’t get much clearer than that! Daniel gave him three things to do and said success would follow. But the king missed the sign.

Is it possible I’m missing one, as well? Consider any possible conflicts in relationships. I may be just passing it off as the other person’s problem, but God wants to show me that I’m off track in some area of my life. It could be a temptation I’m battling against because I’m continually putting myself in a bad situation. Maybe it’s chaos and confusion. These are signs that I’m not well-connected to God. That I’m trying to do life on my own terms.

God’s trying to tell me through these warning signs: “Stop sinning! Come back to me!” If I’m heading down the wrong path, God loves me enough to give me a warning. Am I paying attention?

In summary, Daniel tells the king, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor, then you will continue to be prosperous. This is a warning for me as well. When life is going well, I can miss the warning signs of an impending fall. Pride and being in the spotlight blinds me. As I have success, I need to make sure that I keep in touch with my roots, so that I don't miss the warning signs of a fall. God will show me that I'm off track in some area of my life. Signs that I'm not well connected to Him or that I'm trying to do life on my own terms. God loves me enough to give me a warning. I just need to make sure that I'm paying attention. 

Father as I reflect on this passage and this study, I believe one sin is my attitude stemming from how I think that I’ve been overlooked and demoted in my role at work. I do battle this feeling and I see often how it affects my responses internally. I pray with help from the Holy Spirit that I change this attitude and feeling to doing what is right regardless. For it is you that I ultimately work for. I ask that help and guidance to get over this and serve others, including being merciful to those less fortunate as a result of our current pandemic. Help me recognize the warning signs of pride in my life. Help guide my thoughts and feelings to be humble. Thank you Father for giving me my work and allowing me to do it from home. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work tasks, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Learning to Give God the Credit, So People Look to Him

In review of Daniel 2:27-28 I read,  There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.” (NLT)


Before Daniel told the king anything else, he gave credit to God, explaining that he did not know the dream through his own wisdom but only because God revealed it. How easily I can take credit for what God does through me! This robs God of the honor that he alone deserves. Instead, I should be like Daniel and point others to God so that I give him all the glory.


Over the last few days, I’ve seen what Daniel did when facing an impossible situation in Daniel 2. The king had asked him to interpret a tough dream. It almost got the king’s wise men killed because they couldn’t explain what the dream meant.


The stakes were high! But Daniel followed a terrific process that can help me, too: Don’t panic, and then get the facts. Ask for more time. Gather prayer partners. Ask God for supernatural help. Worship God. And, use what you’ve learned to save others.


We also see that when God showed up, Daniel used the opportunity to point others to God.


Daniel didn’t take credit for the amazing answer to the king’s dream. He knew God had given him the answer. So he was honest about that.


If I were a 17-year-old boy and I did something to make the king happy, I’d be tempted to take a bit of the credit. Daniel did the praying. He did the listening. He did the obeying.


Instead of taking the credit, Daniel pointed people to God.


If I do this as well, God will bless me. God will do great things through a person who doesn’t care who gets the credit.


The Bible says the pagan king told Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret” (Daniel 2:47 NLT).


If I spend my life pointing people to God, miracles can happen.


In summary, there are no wise men who can reveal what God knows. It's our God in heaven who reveals secrets. Daniel gave credit to God, explaining that he did not know through his own wisdom, but only because God revealed it. How easy it is to take credit for what God does through me! When I do, this robs God of the honor that he alone deserves. Instead, I should be like Daniel and point others to God so that I give him all the glory. Daniel was honest about where the answer came from. Rather than taking the credit for himself, Daniel pointed people to God. If I spend my life pointing people to God, miracles can happen. If I spend my life pointing people to God, miracles can happen.


Father, I have to admit and ask for forgiveness for the times when I took credit and didn’t acknowledge you as the source. I need to learn to shape my mindset so that I can recognize and see that every good thing I receive is a gift from you.


I pray Father that with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life that I truly give credit and point others to you as the source. My life should not be about me, but rather about you. I ask Father for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, and my interactions. Allow me to work humbly for those I work for, knowing that it's you that I ultimately work for. I pray these things through your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.


Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Learn to Help Others with What God Has Taught Me

In review of Daniel 2:24 this morning, I read “Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.’” (NLT)

Daniel did not use his success to promote his own self-interest. He thought of others. When striving to succeed or survive, remember the needs of others.

When I’m faced with an impossibly big request, it’s easy to just give up. To figure that your boss should just find someone else. To guess that others just don't get me. To suspect my upper leadership isn’t paying attention to how many assignments they are giving me.

But what if God has more in mind? What if God put me in the situation because he wants me to help someone else?

In the story of Daniel, I’ve seen Daniel provide a great pattern for me to follow when we’ve been given an impossible task, in summary:

Don’t panic, and then get the facts.
Ask for more time.
Gather prayer partners.
Ask God for supernatural help.
Worship God

God gave Daniel the answer to the king’s dream, but Daniel wouldn’t tell the king without ensuring the safety of the wise men, the Babylonian wise men!

God doesn’t want to just save me. He wants to save others. He wants to save my family and friends. He even wants to save my competitors and enemies. God cares about everyone. And so should I.

This is why I need to continue reaching out to people with the Good News about Jesus. God wants everyone to know him and his purpose for their lives.

That’s my witness. That’s my mission in the world.

In summary, don't use my success to only promote my own self interest. Think of others. God has much more in mind. When I’m faced with an impossible task; don't panic - get the facts, ask for more time, gather prayer partners, ask God for supernatural help and then to worship Him. For God doesn't want to just save me, He wants to save others. God cares about everyone, and so should I. This is why I need to continue reaching out to people with the Good News about Jesus. That is my witness and mission in the world.

Father, this morning's study has made it clear. Not only what I should do when facing something impossible, but the reason to reach out to others to share the Good News with them about Jesus. I pray Father, with the help of the Holy Spirit that I recognize opportunities when they come my way to share about the Good News. I also ask for remembrance of Daniels' pattern for dealing with impossible odds. I ask you also for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Learning to Make the Right Decision, Not Just a Fast One

In review of Daniel 2:16 this morning, I read that when faced with an impossible situation that Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.” (NLT)

Daniel was at the crisis point. He did not shrink back in fear, but confidently believed God would tell him all the king wanted to know. When the king gave Daniel time to find the answer, Daniel found his friends and they prayed. Likewise, when I find myself in a tight spot, I should share my needs with trusted friends who also believe in God's power. Prayer is more effective than panic. Panic confirms my hopelessness; prayer confirms my hope in God. Daniel's trust in God saved not only himself, but also his three friends and all the other wise men of Babylon.

When I’m asked to do what seems impossible, start by refusing to panic and by getting all the facts. Then, ask for more time.

My biggest temptation in the midst of a crisis is to be impulsive. I’ll not be thinking rationally. I’ll be thinking emotionally. I’ll want to make a quick decision.

But it’s more important to make the right decision than a fast decision.

A wrong decision is wrong, no matter how quickly I make it. So step back, take a deep breath, calm down, and talk to God.

Daniel did this when the king asked him to interpret a dream (after the king ordered the killing of the first few people who tried): “Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant” (Daniel 2:16 NLT).

Daniel’s example gives me a great model for dealing with a high-pressure situation by asking for more time and then talking to God about it.

I’m more likely to make a better decision when I don’t rush to make a quick one. Take my time.

In summary, When Daniel faced an impossible situation, he requested more time. At the crisis point, he did not shrink back in fear, but confidently believed God. He then found his friends and they prayed. Likewise, when I find myself in a tight spot, I should share my needs with trusted friends who also believe in God's power. Prayer is more effective than panic. Panic confirms my hopelessness; prayer confirms my hope in God. When I’m asked to do what seems impossible, start by refusing to panic and by getting all the facts. Then, ask for more time. My biggest temptation in the midst of a crisis is to be impulsive. When this happens, I’ll not be thinking rationally. I’ll be thinking emotionally. I’ll want to make a quick decision. It’s more important to make the right decision than a fast one. A wrong decision is wrong, no matter how quickly I make it. So step back, take a deep breath, calm down, and talk to God and ask for more time. When I do this I'll make better decisions, so learn to take time.

Father, this is a great example for me to follow when I face what seems like impossible decisions to make. I pray that with the help from the Holy Spirit that I not panic and don’t procrastinate, but get all the facts, ask for prayer from trusted friends, ask for more time and they pray and trust God for helping me with the answer. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. These things I pray through your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.