Today, You Are Loved!

When you find yourself truly in love with another individual, it is amazing how the imperfections disappear. You become so caught up in the beauty of love; you don’t recognize anything that might be wrong with the person’s image, personality, attitude or actions. Your world is that person!

When I see two people deeply entrenched in love, I can begin to get a picture in my mind of how GOD feels about us. He looks beyond the imperfections, the faults and the shortcomings. He looks beyond our daily failures preferring to gaze at the beauty and perfection He designed and created with His own hands.

In the Song of Solomon, we see a picture in words of God’s thoughts about us. Solomon wrote: “You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace. Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices” (SoS 4:9-10 NLT).

You are not simply a face in the crowd today. You are more than just a number. You are important to GOD. He enjoys watching you. He enjoys beholding the beauty that others fail to see. GOD is deeply in love with you and cherishes you as none other has ever done nor ever will. Today, you are loved more than you will ever know!

His intense desire is to have an eternal relationship with you. He made that possible by giving the ultimate gift for you—the life of His Son, Jesus Christ! Rather than write you off, He sent Jesus. Jesus paid for your sins and shortcomings, failures and disappointments with His own life blood so that GOD the Father could have that desired relationship with you.

God’s love for you cannot be changed by anything you say or do. He will love you if you turn and walk away, desiring only that you recognize your departure and return to the Father who waits with open arms. His arms are always open for you because He loves you today!

Scripture Reading: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, Your intense love for me is beyond my ability to fully comprehend. Why You love and desire me, I don’t understand as I look at my life, as I look at the mess I have made of my life, as I look at how I so often walk away from Your perfect will and way for me, trying my own path, only to discover how wrong I have been. Yet, You do love me with a greater intensity than I will ever understand. Please, help me to love You, to long for You as You do me. Thank you for the forgiveness of my sins through Jesus and for not giving up on me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

What Will You Do with Today?

You have awakened to your new day today! Realize it is the tomorrow you fretted and feared about but now you have the opportunity to stare it in the face and to conquer it. Perspective goes a long way. Your new day has the potential to be filled with new adventures, new opportunities and new blessings from the Lord or it can turn into a day of intense trials, difficulties and indecision. The answer you give to the question, What will you do with today?, begins to set into motion the outcome of your today.

As you consider these things and what you will do with today, think about the words of the Psalmist: “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:23-25 NLT).

Today, the Lord desires to guide your steps and to delight in even the smallest details of your life because He cares for you. When you run up against problems and difficulties, don’t allow them to overwhelm or overcome you as He is holding your hand because He is concerned about you. He will not abandon you; He will remain right beside you because He loves you.

The real question is simple, what will you do with today? The Psalmist says: “Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever” (Psalm 37:27). As you map out you day, begin by determining this to be the best day of the rest of your life! Determine to seek out and do good to and for those around you. Determine to make your life a blessing to others. Think before you speak; temper your words with love and compassion. Determine to make a positive impact upon every opportunity you are faced with.

See your problems as faith-building opportunities. See those determined to persecute you as individuals who need serious love and kindness shown towards them. See the hindrances and difficulties of life as times when GOD’s power is going to come through at just the right moment. When you lie down to sleep tonight, you can look back on your day with no regrets and look to you tomorrow as another day of great opportunity!

Scripture Reading: “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm” (Psalm 37:3-8 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I thank You that You have given me a new day filled with new opportunities to impact my world in a positive way. I pray You would fill my words with love, kindness and compassion. Fill my heart with an intense desire to do good and see good in all that comes before me. Help me to reach out and help those who would seek to harm me so that somehow they may see Your love and Your gracious deeds fulfilled through my life. Help me to recognize that it is not about me at all; it is all about YOU!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Sincere Seekers

How often do you find yourself wondering if GOD really even cares about your situation? You’ve been searching for answers. You’ve been crying out to GOD for help in your dark hour and yet it seems like your prayers aren’t getting past the ceiling?

GOD, are You really there? GOD, do You really care? It seems we all find ourselves in these situations at times. So often it seems as though GOD is holding out on us or maybe holding back on us. But, I don’t believe it’s either of these.

I believe GOD uses these pivotal moments in our life-walk to strengthen our faith—to intensify our trust in Him. He challenges our level of sincerity in order that we might learn that no matter how difficult things may get, we can and must continue to trust in Him regardless of His answer or response.

In Jeremiah 29:13, GOD tells us: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (CSB). That word “when” places an emphasis on the type of searching GOD desires from His people. Certainly, GOD could quickly respond every time we cry out to Him, but He desires a people who are sincere seekers—a people who don’t simply see Him as a genie-in-a-bottle waiting to be summoned at our every whim and want.

GOD must be recognized as the all-knowing GOD. A GOD Who knows the exact moment of our need. We must learn to place our faith and trust in His perfect timing for His intervention into our moment of need.

Jesus established a precedent for us by telling us to: “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10 CSB). We should certainly never give up on our appeal because our continual appeal is developing and strengthening our faith. At just the right moment, GOD will come through with the answer that He knows to be the very best for us!

Scripture Reading: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distress. He sent His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for the human race. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and announce His works with shouts of joy” (Psalm 107:19-22 CSB).

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You always hear me. I know I get in a hurry for an answer from You too often and have even been guilty of trying to make my own answer appear. Help my unbelief! Strengthen my faith so I may be prepared for whatever trial or tribulation may come my way. Help me to seek You and Your will with all sincerity of heart and mind and to not give up but to continue seeking until You provide the needed answer—whatever it may be. I love You and thank You for all You do for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Making the Impossible Go Away!

Every day you and I find ourselves confronted by new challenges, problems, and difficulties. Some of these “obstacles of life” are such that you can climb over and out of them on your own while others appear as a wall with a top beyond your reach. You struggle throughout your day to find a door to pass through, often to no avail.

You may have situations standing in defiance in your life right now that you have ceased to struggle against any longer—you’ve given up! Maybe it’s a sickness, a financial situation, problems with your children or spouse? Satan has overwhelmed you with whatever it is and he seems to have won the victory.

You have been taught to accept too many things as they appear to you to be. You’ve been programmed by your society to give up on things easily rather than becoming too overwhelmed by them. If the obstacle appears to be beyond your ability to overcome, you quickly accept that as fate and give up. If the situation appears beyond your own ability to work out, you throw up your hands and accept the defeat and walk away. The time has come to make impossible go away!

Making the impossible go away involves recognizing where the struggle comes from. Paul said: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT). As a believer in Jesus Christ, you must recognize that your struggles arise from evil spiritual forces that are aligned against you. Recognizing the source enables you to recognize you need something more than simply yourself to win.

Making the impossible go away involves meeting the challenge head-on in the strength and power of the One who is able. When confronted with a difficult situation, Jesus made this powerful statement: “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God” (Mark 10:27 NLT). You have a power available to you that will overcome every obstacle, break down every wall, tear down every fortress that may be standing in our path. Jesus said “Everything is possible with God”—no if’s, and’s or but’s about it!

The challenge you are facing can be brought down and overcome through Jesus Christ today. Face your struggle head-on in Jesus’ name and allow His power to take over your situation and usher you into victory!

Scripture Reading: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I often find myself confronted by impossible situations. Too often, I am quick to give and run. But, I know that is not Your will. Please give me the strength and tenacity to stay in the battle and to fight through to victory. Help me to trust in You and the promises in Your Word. Help me, Lord, in everything I am facing this week to stay strong and to not allow anything that comes against me to overwhelm me in any way, through Your strength…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Gimme that Moment Back, Please!

How often do you find yourself wishing you could retrieve a certain moment in time? Maybe you said something, did something, responded wrong—whatever it may have been you just wish that moment had never taken place. You would love to be able to say, “Gimme that moment back, please?”

I think about what is perhaps the biggest “Gimme that moment back” moment ever. The Scripture says: “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too” (Genesis 3:6 NLT).

How often did Adam and Eve reflect on that moment in time when they silenced the voice of GOD in their hearts and allowed worldly influence to creep in? When they were confronted by GOD the first time about their sin? When they were forced out of the garden in shame? When their son murdered his brother? When they saw the world falling apart around them?

All of these were reminders to them of GOD’s warning: “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (Genesis 2:16-17 NLT). Their world began to die around them and the significance of GOD’s words became reality. Everyday this warning sounds for us but do we listen?

Every day we toy around with things in life that we know we should stay away from. And every day, we get bit by them. We find ourselves wanting that moment back—wanting a do-over, please, only to find it is too late, the sin has been committed the consequences have arrived. The sad truth is we seem to never learn! We go right back to the tree and take another look at the forbidden fruit and try to justify why we need to reach out and take another bite—only to discover we are the one to truly get bit.

Paul warned us to “Stay away from every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NLT) for a reason. He understood the cost that had to be paid. He understood the repercussions of disobedience that would continue to resound from generation to generation.

Instead of needing to retrieve a bad moment in time, take your eyes off the deadly fruit, quit toying around with sin and follow Jesus Christ and allow right living to consume your total being.

Scripture Reading: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, my life is filled with moments I wish I could take back. My mouth has said things it should’ve never said; I have carried out things in life that should’ve never been done. I just wish that I had a do-over. I am thankful that You have redeemed me through Jesus Christ. I am thankful that I am forgiven and my past is washed away by the blood of Jesus. I ask for Your strength to just say NO! when temptation comes my way. Help me to say NO! to the things that easily distract me and pull me away from Your truth. Help me to focus on You and to remain that way…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Just Another Number?

In a great big world with billions of people scattered all about, it is very easy to find yourself overwhelmed with life and feelings of insignificance. It is easy to lose hope, to lose a sense of meaning, to forget how special you really are. You may be asking right now, “Who me—special?” I feel so insignificant, how can I be special?

You walk out on a dark, cloudless night; look up into the sky and before you a gorgeous tapestry of trillions of stars light the sky. The Scripture says: “God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars.” (Genesis 1:16 NLT). You begin to think about a GOD big enough to speak such beauty—such majesty—into existence. You begin to find yourself becoming even smaller and more insignificant than before.

But, GOD’s plan didn’t stop there. Certainly, He created all the beauty; He created all the majestic scenery around about us. He created a great diversity of living things and scattered them all across the earth. But, GOD’s plan was still incomplete. The Scripture tells us GOD had a crowning achievement in mind. All of these other things were created so that this soon coming “crowning achievement” could enjoy it all and rule over it.

Consider that crowning moment as you grapple with thoughts of your own insignificance: “God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27 NLT).

You are precious, vital and significant to GOD. He knows you in a special way. He who counts the stars and call them each by name (Psalm 147:4) knows the exact number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7). He personally put you together according to His plan in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13); He knew you before you were born and gave you a reason for being, significance and purpose (Jeremiah 1:5).

You are a special person with special meaning and a very special reason for being. GOD calls you His child and looks favorably upon you as a very special creation. You are a person of significance!

Scripture Reading: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to become overwhelmed by life—easy to become a victim of life’s clutter and simply to forget that this is not really what You designed my life to be. I try to find some semblance of significance for my being but in human eyes, I seem like just another number. It can really get me down. LORD, help me to not look down but to look up and to realize that no matter what others in this world may say about me, I am special to You! You know me; You love me; You designed me for a reason. I am not just another number to You. Father, help me to understand all this and to learn to live my life as the person You have designed me to be. Thank you, LORD, for caring and loving me!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!   

Cheap Talk Needs to Stop!

We are living in a world of cheap talk. Politicians spew cheap lies to gain a vote. Sales people overrate their products to make a sale. Way too many pastors and preachers have cheapened the gospel message to prevent people from being offended. Everywhere you look, cheap talk is flowing!

I often find myself reciting these words from a song that was popular back in the 80s: “You’re the only Jesus some may ever see. You’re the only words of life some may ever read.” It often acted as a reminder to me of the importance of right words and right actions in my everyday world. It helped me to focus on what the right thing to say is even when my mind is telling me to tear ‘em up with harsh, unnecessary words.

Another little saying that goes around occasionally is: “You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?” A good thought if implemented into our lives. But, we find ourselves flippantly spouting off these and similar sayings without truly considering the depth and meaning reflected in them—without considering whether our own lives are reflecting the true intent. The WWJD (What would Jesus do?) phenomenon of a few years back was based upon an awesome premise but soon became so flippantly overused that it lost most, if not all, of its meaning and impact and, sadly, has become a societal joke.

What am I saying to you today? Talk can be so cheap and yet painful. Cheap words flow out of the mouths of fools like water from a fountain. I believe it is vital that you understand these words of Jesus: “What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45b NLT). The Proverbs writer put it this way: “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words” (Proverbs 15:28 NLT).

So, what can we learn from this? Flippant, foolish talk is a reflection of what is truly in the heart. We can learn a great deal more by considering all Jesus said: “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45 NLT).

Good things flow out of the mouth of the individual who has a good heart; whereas, evil flows from an evil heart. How often do you think before you speak? How often do you consider what the impact of what you are about to say may have on those around you—positive or negative? How often do you look back and wish you had thought it out better before you let it spew out?

The Psalmist put it out there this way: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 NLT). Eliminate your life’s cheap talk by asking GOD to give you a clean heart which will produce clean thoughts and clean conversation that ultimately please GOD.

Scripture Reading: “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:18-20 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, too often I find myself talking without thinking. My mouth seems to have a mind of its own and often spews things which shouldn’t be coming out. Help me, LORD, to consider my words before they fly from my lips. Help me to choose my words carefully so that what I say may encourage others rather than discourage them. Help me, LORD, to glorify You with all that I say and all that I do carefully considering how Jesus would respond in my every situation of life. May my heart be pure so my words may be pure…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Too Overwhelmed by the Problems to See the Answer!

How often do you find yourself wandering in a wilderness of despair? You feel no one cares, often rejected, ridiculed, and taken advantage of, maybe even feeling like an outcast? Problems surround you.

Worse yet, there seems to be a wall between you and GOD? You feel you are drying up; you thirst but you never find satisfaction? You hunger but what you have never seems to fill the void? The spiritual dryness that has swept in and taken over your being seems to be destroying you from the inside out. What can you do? Where can you find relief?

Take a look at a similar situation found in Scripture. Genesis 21 tells us: “Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. ‘I don’t want to watch the boy die,’ she said, as she burst into tears” (Genesis 21:14-16 NLT). We find this young woman with her young son wandering in an arid desert with nothing to survive on. Life appears hopeless! When what little she has is gone, she faces the inevitable for she and her son with deep grief in her heart.

But the story doesn’t end there. As we continue to read: “God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, ‘Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.’ Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink” (vv. 17-19). GOD heard Hagar’s cry and He got her attention. He spoke to her. Her eyes were opened and she discovered the answer to her need was right there. Hagar had become so overwhelmed by her problems she failed to see the answer!

The same happens in our lives. Satan blinds us to the answers we desperately need by overwhelming our lives with problems. Instead of being able to see the answer, we just see problems—everywhere. GOD is trying to get through to His people today. He is trying to get us to Wake-Up and recognize He has the answers. We must simply trust in Him and His ability for that is the key to survival for all believers in this world.

Scripture Reading: “The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands” (Psalm 25:8-10 NLT).

Prayer: Father, too often I allow problems to overwhelm me. I find myself so enshrouded by them; I cannot see a way out. They encumber me and cloud my vision, leading me to a sense of insecurity and a loss of closeness to You. May I learn to look beyond the issues of life and to look to You, the Life-Giver! May I trust in You and Your ability to help me and even deliver me when the problems arise. You are my GOD, my Savior and my King! I love You and praise You for always being there for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Relief from Life’s Overwhelming Pressures!

Life can be tough! Life can be exhausting. Perhaps you are feeling it pressures today? Overwhelmed by life? Feeling as though making it through another day is gonna be really tough? You are not alone!

Mark helps us to understand pressure by sharing a part of a day in Jesus’ earthly life. It says He healed many of their diseases, cast out many demons and the whole town where He was, gathered around Him (Mark 1:30-34). How did Jesus have the strength to carry this heavy burden day after day? Stressful? Overwhelming? Absolutely! But, Jesus knew the answer to receive the relief He needed. He understood the key to peace of mind in the midst of overwhelming storms.

The following verse says: “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35 NLT). He could’ve slept in. He could’ve just locked Himself away for a time; but, He didn’t. He needed strength that could only come from One Source. He went to His quiet place and communed with the Heavenly Father. He prayed and as He did, the Father overshadowed Him with His peace, strength and security. The Father’s arms of love helped Him in His hour of need.

When we become overwhelmed by life, we tend to lock ourselves away and just grieve in our problems. We lie around and sulk and allow our difficult circumstances to overcome us, depress us, and eventually destroy us, if we do not get a handle on things. The key is to start everyday communing with the Father and also to go to Him immediately when the pressures begin to build.

Prayer recharged Jesus and prepared Him to continue ministering and impacting lives. Mark tells us that following His prayer time, He went straight out and began touching lives through ministry once again.

That is what prayer will do for you today. It prepares you to face your new day, your new hurdle, your new problem and to end your day victorious over everything that was thrown at you.

Scripture Reading: “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love” (Jude 20-21 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I am so aware of the fact that I fail to pray and commune with You as I should. I tend to use prayer as a crutch to get me out of difficulties rather than being prayed-up in advance of the problems so I may be victorious even before they come. Forgive me for this. Help me, LORD, in my prayer-life and prayer-time to understand the importance of praying as I recognize the importance JESUS placed upon it. I desire to serve You, love You and commune with You more every day, Father…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Listen for the Whisper!

It’s easy for believers to become disillusioned in today’s messed-up world. One moment you are experiencing GOD’s great power and awesome presence only to find yourself wondering in a dry, arid desert the next. You go from the mountain-top to the valley-low in a very short time and wonder, “What happened?” Where did GOD go? You’re not alone!

Consider Elijah’s situation for a moment. He had just come off the mountain-top. He had witnessed GOD’s glorious power unleashed on the ungodly only to find himself a short time later wandering in the desert of gloom. He cried out to GOD: “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too” (1 Kings 19:10 NLT).

What happened? His prerogatives got all messed up. Church, we have been programmed to believe that the only time GOD is really moving is when the building is rocking, the lights are flashing, the sound is deafening and people are wandering around in a daze. We have been taught to create an environment that places people into the experience which is not necessarily all wrong, but not all right either.

Consider GOD’s response to Elijah: “Go out and stand before me on the mountain. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire” (vv. 11-12a).

Too often, man makes vain attempts to conjure up the presence of GOD through worldly ways only to discover GOD is not found in these things. These experiences fall short of meeting the true needs of the people. Certainly, GOD can and will work through man’s vain attempts but GOD’s way is much different. He desires to touch and impact the heart of man in a personal way. This is done through a thorough teaching and preaching of the Word of GOD from the man of GOD!  

Notice what happens next: “After the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, What are you doing here, Elijah?” (vv. 12b-13). In a gentle whisper, GOD spoke to Elijah; Elijah recognized GOD’s divine presence and was brought back to reality. Then, GOD was able to once again commission him to go out and fulfill his ministry call.

We have gotten so loud at times that we’ve drowned out the still small voice of GOD. GOD has called His church to impact its world, but the church too often has relegated itself to impacting the people that happen to make it through the doors.

The problem with today’s church is that too many church leaders have forgotten what the true mission of the church is. Believers have been duped into thinking that it’s all about me—what I can get, what blessings I can receive, what GOD wants to give me.

But, that isn’t it. It’s all about Him. It’s all about hearing from Him. It’s all about serving Him. It’s all about doing His will in and through the church. The mission of the church is to make disciples and to send them out as evangelists. Churches have lost their outward focus and turned inward. They’ve gotten caught up in trying to make something happen that was never really meant to be.

Scripture Reading: “And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16 NLT).

Prayer: Father, too often I get caught up in the moment and forget Your call, purpose and plan for Your church as well as for me. I find myself being entertained rather than inspired to listen and hear from You. Help me, Lord, to just sit still for a while and enjoy Your presence and to lift up praise to You and to hear everything You have to say to me. I desire to do Your will, Oh, my GOD!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!