OCTOBER 21 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 21, 2011.
ACCEPT
DEFINITION:
To receive willingly; to receive with approval or favor; to take or receive something offered.
SCRIPTURE:
Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When Jesus was here on this earth the Jewish people hated the Samaritans and did not accept them. In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well and began to talk with her. When Jesus asked for a drink she was surprised and wanted to know why He was talking to her as no Jewish man would ever talk to a Samaritan woman. But Jesus continued to talk with her and she believed and accepted His gift of “living water.”
She went back to her village and led many Samaritans to become believers in Jesus. The good news that we can learn from this, is that Jesus came to this earth for all of us. And He accepts all who come to Him in faith believing for forgiveness of their sins.
In Romans 15:7 we are told to accept one another just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise to God. As Christians we are to accept and encourage other Christians. Also we must be willing to accept others who do not know the Lord without condoning what they do, so we can introduce them to Christ. It is important for children to understand the difference between accepting someone and accepting what someone does, when that person is doing things that are against Biblical principles.
Jesus knew that the Samaritan woman was an immoral woman. He did not shun her for her race, social position or her sins. He accepted her as someone who needed His saving grace.
People today are hungry for acceptance. Children in school do every thing they can, including lowering their standards, to be accepted by their peers. Adults are much the same. They want to be included in “THE GROUP” just as children do. There are certain groups that it is better that we as Christians are not part of.
Paul tells us in Romans 14:1--- “Do not refuse to accept someone who is weak in faith. And do not argue with him about opinions.
We, as Christians, need to make people feel important and needed. This way they will feel accepted and will more than likely be open to hear about Jesus.
Back when we attended school at Wheaton College in Illinois, I (Ken) remember being in an ethics class where we had a discussion about a small group of students who were not living up to the standards set by the college and they were not being accepted by many of our peers. As a class we began praying for this group and about a week later one of the students in the class told us that she had approached one of the people in the group.
The one thing I remember her saying was that they did not feel accepted at the school so why should they change their life style? This small group had all come from home situations where living a much looser life was acceptable. We believe that because of our prayers and the fact everyone began to let them know they were being accepted, soon the group came around and everyone could see their lives being changed. Fellow students approached them with love and not with criticism with the result that soon they all felt accepted.
This is an example that should remind each of us to do all we can to make people we touch shoulders with feel accepted.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Help me to find people today who need to feel accepted. May these people see Christ through my words and deeds. Help my children to stand up for what they believe and not to be swayed by the crowd. Help me to do what is good and acceptable in Your sight so that I may know beyond any doubt the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for my life.
October 23, 2011
Encouragement: October 20 ,2011
OCTOBER 20 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2011
ENCOURAGEMENT
DEFINITION:
The act of encouraging; to inspire with courage, spirit or confidence; to stimulate by guidance, approval etc; to spur on; to promote.
SCRIPTURE:
“That I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” Romans 1:12.
“That your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love.” Colossians 2:2.
“We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” I Thessalonians 3:2
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey established a church for new believers in Thessalonica. Paul knew the importance of encouraging new Christians so that they would not be drawn away from their faith by the pagan society they lived in. Since he could not return, he sent Timothy to encourage and strengthen them in their faith.
People today continually go through times of discouragement and they need friends like us and friends like you to give them a word of encouragement. Many children today never receive a word of encouragement from their parents. This was verified by a recent study released by UCLA that said that the average father spent FOUR minutes a day talking to his child and FOUR hours a day watching TV. Children who receive no encouragement and affirmation at home will seek it elsewhere, and most likely it will be in the wrong places and from the wrong people. How then can that child feel encouraged to be successful in life and do what is right?
Look at what children are surrounded with today. They live in a POP culture, with drugs and alcohol available to them almost wherever they go, including on their school campus. They have the trash on the internet and unless a parent filters what they can see, they see the worst. They are not allowed to read their Bible or pray at school. The Ten Commandments have been banished and now an attempt is being made to take off our money the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST.
Our children live in an immoral society with all their peers looking out for themselves and they are doing only what will make them happy. And most important they live in an anti-God and anti –religious society.
Communication is one of the most important elements of a successful marriage and family. Families today are breaking up because no one gives another family member any word of encouragement. We are so quick to criticize, but so slow to encourage. Stop and think right now --- when was the last time you gave an encouraging word to your spouse, to your children, to your extended family or to your associates. No doubt there is someone you know right now who is going through a time of discouragement. What a blessing an encouraging word from you could be to that person.
Begin today by making it a point every day to call someone on the telephone and leave an encouraging message. Think about stopping on the street just to say “hello” and “how are you?” to someone. You will have scores of opportunities to be friendly and to give someone a word of encouragement. Those you talk to will feel so much better and you will feel even better. When we encourage someone there is a positive result --- we are united in love.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Put me in situations today where I can be an encouragement to people. Help me to seize every opportunity possible to show people that someone cares for them. And then may my life, by my words and actions, glorify Your name and bring honor to You.
ENCOURAGEMENT
DEFINITION:
The act of encouraging; to inspire with courage, spirit or confidence; to stimulate by guidance, approval etc; to spur on; to promote.
SCRIPTURE:
“That I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” Romans 1:12.
“That your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love.” Colossians 2:2.
“We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” I Thessalonians 3:2
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
The Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey established a church for new believers in Thessalonica. Paul knew the importance of encouraging new Christians so that they would not be drawn away from their faith by the pagan society they lived in. Since he could not return, he sent Timothy to encourage and strengthen them in their faith.
People today continually go through times of discouragement and they need friends like us and friends like you to give them a word of encouragement. Many children today never receive a word of encouragement from their parents. This was verified by a recent study released by UCLA that said that the average father spent FOUR minutes a day talking to his child and FOUR hours a day watching TV. Children who receive no encouragement and affirmation at home will seek it elsewhere, and most likely it will be in the wrong places and from the wrong people. How then can that child feel encouraged to be successful in life and do what is right?
Look at what children are surrounded with today. They live in a POP culture, with drugs and alcohol available to them almost wherever they go, including on their school campus. They have the trash on the internet and unless a parent filters what they can see, they see the worst. They are not allowed to read their Bible or pray at school. The Ten Commandments have been banished and now an attempt is being made to take off our money the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST.
Our children live in an immoral society with all their peers looking out for themselves and they are doing only what will make them happy. And most important they live in an anti-God and anti –religious society.
Communication is one of the most important elements of a successful marriage and family. Families today are breaking up because no one gives another family member any word of encouragement. We are so quick to criticize, but so slow to encourage. Stop and think right now --- when was the last time you gave an encouraging word to your spouse, to your children, to your extended family or to your associates. No doubt there is someone you know right now who is going through a time of discouragement. What a blessing an encouraging word from you could be to that person.
Begin today by making it a point every day to call someone on the telephone and leave an encouraging message. Think about stopping on the street just to say “hello” and “how are you?” to someone. You will have scores of opportunities to be friendly and to give someone a word of encouragement. Those you talk to will feel so much better and you will feel even better. When we encourage someone there is a positive result --- we are united in love.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Put me in situations today where I can be an encouragement to people. Help me to seize every opportunity possible to show people that someone cares for them. And then may my life, by my words and actions, glorify Your name and bring honor to You.
Vision: October 19, 2011
OCTOBER 19 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2001.
VISION
DEFINITION:
The act or power of sensing with the eyes; the act or power of anticipating that which or may come to me; an object of sight.
SCRIPTURE:
“When your eye is good, your whole body is also filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your body is also full of darkness.” Matthew 11:36
“Your old men will dream dreams and your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28.
“Where there is no vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When we think of the word “vision” two things come to mind. First is the “vision” we have when we see things as they are. Secondly, we think of “vision” as it relates to things in the future that we want to accomplish. In life today most people see things only as they are now and cannot, for the most part, see past today.
Someone once said that worse than blindness is living without vision. As we think back on our lives we have seen God do so much through our lives and this has been mainly because we had a vision to accomplish what sometimes seemed impossible. We must remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 20:26, “With God all things are possible.”
We can remember after our sixth child, a woman Dottie knew, came up to her and asked how were we ever going to get our children through college on the income we were getting from our ministry? From the day each child entered Junior High School we continually encouraged them to do their very best so that they could get the financial aid they would need to attend college. Each one responded to our vision and they all went to a private college because they excelled at every level of school so that they were able to receive financial aid and low interest loans.
For us, life would have been unproductive and unsatisfying if we did not have a vision for our family and a vision even today for the world around us that needs to know Jesus.
Columbus had a vision to find the new world and he set out on a course that was unknown to man and his vision resulted in finding this new world. We have known a few Christian leaders in our life time that had a vision for the impossible. Then God took over and those visions became a reality.
Where there is no vision the people will perish. Leaders that we have known well include: Dr. Billy Graham, Dr Bob Pierce, Dr. Torrey Johnson, Dr. Bill Bright and Dr. Henrietta Mears. They all had visions that when first talked about were thought to be impossible. But look what God has done because these and others had a vision that God had given them and then they acted upon that vision. We all know about the ministries of Billy Graham. Dr. Pierce founded with my [Ken] father World Vision which today is one of the top five charities in the world. Dr Johnson founded Youth for Christ, a youth organization that made a dramatic impact on teenagers lives for over 40 years. Dr. Bright founded Campus Crusade that started as a college ministry and today is a world wide ministry. And finally Dr. Mears founded Gospel Light Press, the first major Sunday school material publishers in America. These people all were ordinary people that had a VISION and acted upon it believing God for the impossible.
We challenge you and your family to ask God for a special vision to further His work here on earth. Whether your vision is large or small it is important to God. We can remember our prayer over 50 years ago. It was simply for God to use us and give us a burden for a world that needed Jesus. Then we watched God open doors and we were ready to march through those doors as God led us. God needs you to think and pray this way today.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Open my eyes so I can see the world around me with a new vision of how I can reach this world with the message of Your love and Your free gift of salvation. Enable me to step out in faith believing that I can fulfill that vision because You have promised to be with me and help me. Bless my family and help us to make an impact on the world we live in.
VISION
DEFINITION:
The act or power of sensing with the eyes; the act or power of anticipating that which or may come to me; an object of sight.
SCRIPTURE:
“When your eye is good, your whole body is also filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your body is also full of darkness.” Matthew 11:36
“Your old men will dream dreams and your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28.
“Where there is no vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When we think of the word “vision” two things come to mind. First is the “vision” we have when we see things as they are. Secondly, we think of “vision” as it relates to things in the future that we want to accomplish. In life today most people see things only as they are now and cannot, for the most part, see past today.
Someone once said that worse than blindness is living without vision. As we think back on our lives we have seen God do so much through our lives and this has been mainly because we had a vision to accomplish what sometimes seemed impossible. We must remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 20:26, “With God all things are possible.”
We can remember after our sixth child, a woman Dottie knew, came up to her and asked how were we ever going to get our children through college on the income we were getting from our ministry? From the day each child entered Junior High School we continually encouraged them to do their very best so that they could get the financial aid they would need to attend college. Each one responded to our vision and they all went to a private college because they excelled at every level of school so that they were able to receive financial aid and low interest loans.
For us, life would have been unproductive and unsatisfying if we did not have a vision for our family and a vision even today for the world around us that needs to know Jesus.
Columbus had a vision to find the new world and he set out on a course that was unknown to man and his vision resulted in finding this new world. We have known a few Christian leaders in our life time that had a vision for the impossible. Then God took over and those visions became a reality.
Where there is no vision the people will perish. Leaders that we have known well include: Dr. Billy Graham, Dr Bob Pierce, Dr. Torrey Johnson, Dr. Bill Bright and Dr. Henrietta Mears. They all had visions that when first talked about were thought to be impossible. But look what God has done because these and others had a vision that God had given them and then they acted upon that vision. We all know about the ministries of Billy Graham. Dr. Pierce founded with my [Ken] father World Vision which today is one of the top five charities in the world. Dr Johnson founded Youth for Christ, a youth organization that made a dramatic impact on teenagers lives for over 40 years. Dr. Bright founded Campus Crusade that started as a college ministry and today is a world wide ministry. And finally Dr. Mears founded Gospel Light Press, the first major Sunday school material publishers in America. These people all were ordinary people that had a VISION and acted upon it believing God for the impossible.
We challenge you and your family to ask God for a special vision to further His work here on earth. Whether your vision is large or small it is important to God. We can remember our prayer over 50 years ago. It was simply for God to use us and give us a burden for a world that needed Jesus. Then we watched God open doors and we were ready to march through those doors as God led us. God needs you to think and pray this way today.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Open my eyes so I can see the world around me with a new vision of how I can reach this world with the message of Your love and Your free gift of salvation. Enable me to step out in faith believing that I can fulfill that vision because You have promised to be with me and help me. Bless my family and help us to make an impact on the world we live in.
Knowledge: October 18, 2011
OCTOBER 18 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 18, 2011.
KNOWLEDGE
DEFINITION:
Acquaintance with facts, truths or principles; familiarity or coversance; the fact or state of knowing; the sum of what has been learned or discovered.
SCRIPTURE:
“Wise people store up knowledge.” Proverbs 10:14.
“It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge.” Proverbs 19:2.
“But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who possess it.” Ecclesiastics 7:12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Knowledge is not the same thing as wisdom. We have a lot of knowledge in this world, but real wisdom is scarce. Knowledge is knowing the truth, the facts and the principles. Wisdom is discernment and understanding in the use of our knowledge. Both wisdom and knowledge come only to those who seek it.
In the book of Proverbs chapter two and verses three to five it reads: “If you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.” God is the source of knowledge and understanding.
It is interesting to note that when God planted a garden in Eden he included a tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Geneses 2:9). From the beginning of time, God was the source of knowledge. Before they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve knew only good. Satan told Eve that if she ate the fruit from the tree, her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. Adam and Eve had the knowledge of good and received the knowledge of evil by doing evil and they suffered the disastrous consequences. The lesson for us is to make sure we pursue the right kind of knowledge.
Knowledge comes to us in various ways. We learn from schooling, reading books, and observing life experiences. Education equips us and helps us gain earthly knowledge. But it is more important for us to depend on the knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, through His Word, because it is based on truth and does not change.
We read in the Old Testament about Daniel. After Daniel was taken captive to Babylonia, he was chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to be taught the Babylonian culture. We read in Daniel 1:17 that God gave him knowledge and understanding in all kinds of literature and wisdom.
When the King had a dream that troubled him he called in all his magicians, sorcerers and astrologers and demanded that they not only tell him what the dream meant but to tell him in full the dream. When they told the king that no man could do what he ordered, the king ordered them to be executed. When Daniel heard about what the king was doing he went to the king and asked for some time so that he might be able to interpret the dream.
Daniel realized that all of the education that he had been given was not sufficient to do what the king asked. Daniel turned to God in prayer and asked God to reveal the meaning of the dream to him. Daniel knew that God was the true source of all knowledge. As a result of his faith, God revealed to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the meaning of the dream.
We can learn from this illustration from the life of Daniel that all the knowledge we might get from schooling and books is not sufficient. The knowledge that comes from God and His Word is true knowledge and always sufficient to meet our every need. Knowledge without values is like a canoe without oars. In your pursuit of knowledge make sure you look to God for His direction and make sure you develop Biblical values in your understanding of knowledge.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6: 10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Help me dear Lord to pursue knowledge that will not only honor You but that You may use through me to further Your kingdom. Help me to learn Your Word, and as the scripture says, to hide it in my heart so I may not sin against You. Help me to follow Your words to Your disciples when You washed their feet saying: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
KNOWLEDGE
DEFINITION:
Acquaintance with facts, truths or principles; familiarity or coversance; the fact or state of knowing; the sum of what has been learned or discovered.
SCRIPTURE:
“Wise people store up knowledge.” Proverbs 10:14.
“It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge.” Proverbs 19:2.
“But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who possess it.” Ecclesiastics 7:12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Knowledge is not the same thing as wisdom. We have a lot of knowledge in this world, but real wisdom is scarce. Knowledge is knowing the truth, the facts and the principles. Wisdom is discernment and understanding in the use of our knowledge. Both wisdom and knowledge come only to those who seek it.
In the book of Proverbs chapter two and verses three to five it reads: “If you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.” God is the source of knowledge and understanding.
It is interesting to note that when God planted a garden in Eden he included a tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Geneses 2:9). From the beginning of time, God was the source of knowledge. Before they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve knew only good. Satan told Eve that if she ate the fruit from the tree, her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. Adam and Eve had the knowledge of good and received the knowledge of evil by doing evil and they suffered the disastrous consequences. The lesson for us is to make sure we pursue the right kind of knowledge.
Knowledge comes to us in various ways. We learn from schooling, reading books, and observing life experiences. Education equips us and helps us gain earthly knowledge. But it is more important for us to depend on the knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, through His Word, because it is based on truth and does not change.
We read in the Old Testament about Daniel. After Daniel was taken captive to Babylonia, he was chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to be taught the Babylonian culture. We read in Daniel 1:17 that God gave him knowledge and understanding in all kinds of literature and wisdom.
When the King had a dream that troubled him he called in all his magicians, sorcerers and astrologers and demanded that they not only tell him what the dream meant but to tell him in full the dream. When they told the king that no man could do what he ordered, the king ordered them to be executed. When Daniel heard about what the king was doing he went to the king and asked for some time so that he might be able to interpret the dream.
Daniel realized that all of the education that he had been given was not sufficient to do what the king asked. Daniel turned to God in prayer and asked God to reveal the meaning of the dream to him. Daniel knew that God was the true source of all knowledge. As a result of his faith, God revealed to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the meaning of the dream.
We can learn from this illustration from the life of Daniel that all the knowledge we might get from schooling and books is not sufficient. The knowledge that comes from God and His Word is true knowledge and always sufficient to meet our every need. Knowledge without values is like a canoe without oars. In your pursuit of knowledge make sure you look to God for His direction and make sure you develop Biblical values in your understanding of knowledge.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6: 10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Help me dear Lord to pursue knowledge that will not only honor You but that You may use through me to further Your kingdom. Help me to learn Your Word, and as the scripture says, to hide it in my heart so I may not sin against You. Help me to follow Your words to Your disciples when You washed their feet saying: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Problem: October 17, 2011
OCTOBER 17 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2011
PROBLEM
DEFINITION:
A source of distress, vexation or perplexity. Any question or matter involving doubt; uncertainty or difficulty; a question proposed for solution.
SCRIPTURE:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (problems), knowing that testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:6-7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In life today everyone seems to be constantly talking about the problems they are facing. Many just think that the best way to solve a problem is to avoid it. Problems weigh on us even to the extent they can make us ill. Possibly the problems you face today include issues with the economy, your career or your family.
Do you have problems in your life? If you hear someone answer “NO” to that question, you can be certain that they are in denial. Problems are part of living in a sinful world. Everyone has problems at one time or another. James doesn’t say “IF” you fall into trials, he says “WHEN” you have trials. (Verse above)
The book of First Peter is the letter that Peter wrote to encourage believers who were going through trials. Peter calls problems trials in I Peter 1:6-7 where he says: “So be truly glad, there is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” Trials test how genuine and how strong our faith really is.
Peter goes on to say that trials test our faith like fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Just as gold is made more valuable when it is put through fire, we are made more valuable to God because we are strengthened by the problems and trials we go through. When your faith remains strong through trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
Also in I Peter 4:12, Peter says: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening with you.” People often ask: “Why is this happening to me?” when they have a problem. Peter warns us to expect problems or as he calls them trials.
God allows us to have problems to test and refine our faith. Problems come in many forms and each one brings pain, anguish, stress and worry. How we cope with problems depends a great deal on our attitude.
In our family we say that we never have problems. They are only situations. Situations seem to be more solvable than problems. They are solvable if we seek the Lord’s help. Get our book, “NO PROBLEMS ONLY SITUATIONS!” (click below) so you can learn more. Trials are for a little while and Peter reminds us not to let problems (situations) rob us of our joy. God is faithful and will reward us with His gift of eternal life. God uses situations to bring us closer to Him. He wants us to bring our situations to Him and then ask Him for help. He will respond.
We need to do several things according to the verse that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison (Philippians 4:6-7 above). First we need to admit that we have a problem. Then we need to turn that problem into a prayer. We need to face the problem straight on and do not let it linger.
When we turn it over to God in prayer, He will go through the problem with us and He will give us strength to endure the problem. He will use the problem to strengthen our faith and to give us peace that is beyond our understanding. Remember problems are not God’s fault and there is no limit as to what God can do in solving your problem, if you turn it over to Him.
We had the privilege of coordinating a convention for over 1000 former Youth for Christ leaders in October of 1988 in Chicago. We took with us two secretaries to assist in all of the convention details. One was our daughter and the other Ken’s personal secretary. On the first day we had several problems, some that seemed insurmountable. The four of us sat down and agreed that from that moment on we had no problems, just situations. That one conversation changed all of our concerns into solvable situations and we went forward with a smooth running and most successful God honoring convention. What we did was to turn everything over to the Lord and He got us through each situation
In life we also learn that we are to attack problems not people. Every day each of us face problems in life. Unfortunately, we somehow divert the problem to a person. We need to learn to let go of our problems and let God take care of them. So many times when we try to solve a problem without thinking it through, we cause greater problems. We have learned to pray every day for God to take care of SITUATIONS that we may face before they become a PROBLEM for us to face.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Help me today to face life with an attitude of wanting to please You in all that I do. Thank You for your promise to never leave me nor forsake me, so that I am assured that as I go through a problem You are going through that problem with me. Use my problems to strengthen my faith so that I can glorify Your name in all that I do.
PROBLEM
DEFINITION:
A source of distress, vexation or perplexity. Any question or matter involving doubt; uncertainty or difficulty; a question proposed for solution.
SCRIPTURE:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (problems), knowing that testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:6-7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In life today everyone seems to be constantly talking about the problems they are facing. Many just think that the best way to solve a problem is to avoid it. Problems weigh on us even to the extent they can make us ill. Possibly the problems you face today include issues with the economy, your career or your family.
Do you have problems in your life? If you hear someone answer “NO” to that question, you can be certain that they are in denial. Problems are part of living in a sinful world. Everyone has problems at one time or another. James doesn’t say “IF” you fall into trials, he says “WHEN” you have trials. (Verse above)
The book of First Peter is the letter that Peter wrote to encourage believers who were going through trials. Peter calls problems trials in I Peter 1:6-7 where he says: “So be truly glad, there is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” Trials test how genuine and how strong our faith really is.
Peter goes on to say that trials test our faith like fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Just as gold is made more valuable when it is put through fire, we are made more valuable to God because we are strengthened by the problems and trials we go through. When your faith remains strong through trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
Also in I Peter 4:12, Peter says: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening with you.” People often ask: “Why is this happening to me?” when they have a problem. Peter warns us to expect problems or as he calls them trials.
God allows us to have problems to test and refine our faith. Problems come in many forms and each one brings pain, anguish, stress and worry. How we cope with problems depends a great deal on our attitude.
In our family we say that we never have problems. They are only situations. Situations seem to be more solvable than problems. They are solvable if we seek the Lord’s help. Get our book, “NO PROBLEMS ONLY SITUATIONS!” (click below) so you can learn more. Trials are for a little while and Peter reminds us not to let problems (situations) rob us of our joy. God is faithful and will reward us with His gift of eternal life. God uses situations to bring us closer to Him. He wants us to bring our situations to Him and then ask Him for help. He will respond.
We need to do several things according to the verse that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison (Philippians 4:6-7 above). First we need to admit that we have a problem. Then we need to turn that problem into a prayer. We need to face the problem straight on and do not let it linger.
When we turn it over to God in prayer, He will go through the problem with us and He will give us strength to endure the problem. He will use the problem to strengthen our faith and to give us peace that is beyond our understanding. Remember problems are not God’s fault and there is no limit as to what God can do in solving your problem, if you turn it over to Him.
We had the privilege of coordinating a convention for over 1000 former Youth for Christ leaders in October of 1988 in Chicago. We took with us two secretaries to assist in all of the convention details. One was our daughter and the other Ken’s personal secretary. On the first day we had several problems, some that seemed insurmountable. The four of us sat down and agreed that from that moment on we had no problems, just situations. That one conversation changed all of our concerns into solvable situations and we went forward with a smooth running and most successful God honoring convention. What we did was to turn everything over to the Lord and He got us through each situation
In life we also learn that we are to attack problems not people. Every day each of us face problems in life. Unfortunately, we somehow divert the problem to a person. We need to learn to let go of our problems and let God take care of them. So many times when we try to solve a problem without thinking it through, we cause greater problems. We have learned to pray every day for God to take care of SITUATIONS that we may face before they become a PROBLEM for us to face.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10-11.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
PRAYER:
Help me today to face life with an attitude of wanting to please You in all that I do. Thank You for your promise to never leave me nor forsake me, so that I am assured that as I go through a problem You are going through that problem with me. Use my problems to strengthen my faith so that I can glorify Your name in all that I do.
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