cannyben

Even when [Abraham] reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents.” Hebrews 11:9 (NLT) In the Bible, God made more than 7,000 promises to us—but he has not guaranteed that he’ll fulfill every one of them instantly. As a follower of Christ, you can expect that God sometimes will test your faith. And one of those tests comes when God’s promises are delayed. You know you’re facing the When Test when you’re asking, “When, Lord? When are you going to answer my prayer? When am I going to get well? When am I going to graduate? When am I going to have a baby? When am I going to get that promotion?” Abraham followed God in faith to a place he didn’t know. But once he got there, he couldn’t even settle down. For three generations, Abraham and his family were basically nomads. Even though God had promised to give Israel to Abraham, he was going to do it on his own timetable. But Abraham continued to obey because he was confident in God’s ...

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 (NLT) Sometimes, when God wants to grow your faith, he gives you the “Where Test.” If you’re asking, “Where, Lord?” and feel like God isn’t answering, you’re probably in the middle of a Where Test. God wants to see if you’ll follow him where he leads—even when you don’t understand, don’t want to go, or don’t know where you’re going. God used the Where Test with Abraham from the Bible. Hebrews 11:8 says, “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going” (NLT). Abraham was living in a big city called Ur, which is in modern-day in Iraq. God told Abraham that he was going to make him into a great nation. But he wasn’t going to do it in Ur. He wanted Abraham to go to P...

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.” Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) When God is growing your character, he sometimes will test you with what seems like an unsolvable problem. It’s when you ask, “How in the world am I going to solve this one?” God gave Abraham what seemed like an unsolvable problem. God promised Abraham that he was going to move him to a new country, give him the land in that country, and make him the father of a great nation. He also promised that Abraham would have so many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, that they would populate the whole land. In other words, he was going to give Abraham, as his heritage, a great nation. But Abraham was 75 years old and childless when God gave him this promise. He moved him to the land of Canaan, which would eventually be called Israel. While he was there, he kept waiting for his wife to get pregnant. By age 99, he still ...

[Moses] kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NLT) Many people suffer from prolonged pain, whether it’s chronic physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, or financial pain. Maybe you’re experiencing extended suffering, and you feel like you might have to endure it for the rest of your life. The Bible tells how Moses had incredible persistence. He put up with enormous pain in his life. He endured significant criticism and conflict. He had every right to say, “How long, Lord?” Hebrews 11:24-26 says, “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (NLT). Moses gave up everything that many people spend their lives trying to achieve—fame, fortune, pleas...

Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.” John 17:17 (GW) If you want to be transformed, you can’t be conformed. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:18-19, “Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being relevant . . . What the world calls smart, God calls stupid” (The Message). If you want God to transform your life, then you have to choose not to conform to what society and culture say you should be or do. But you can’t make this life change on your own power. Changing your life starts by changing the way you think, and that’s not something you can do by yourself. Ephesians 4:23 says, “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (NLT). How does the Holy Spirit do that? Real change requires learning the truth. You may already know these famous words of Jesus: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NLT). But did you know that the night before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed, “Use the truth to make them holy. You...

No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:25 (GNT) Real change requires honest community. There are some things that you will never be able to change on your own. You’re going to need people in your life for support—specifically, a small group of people who will be transparent and authentic with you. Sometimes in a football game, a player is so big that no opposing player can pull him down on his own. In the same way, some of the challenges in your life have to be team-tackled. That’s when you need a small group—but not just any group of people. Your small group should be made up of a few people you can talk with about your weaknesses and problems—all your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. That kind of intimacy doesn’t happen right away. When you first start a small group, you get together regularly. Then, over time, you begin to trust each other and develop a safe environment. Those pe...

“You have heard me teach . . . Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) Even superstars need coaches. The top singers in the world have voice coaches, and the top Olympic athletes have coaches. The top CEOs have business coaches. Coaches help you maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. This principle of coaching or mentorship is found throughout the Bible. Joshua was mentored by Moses. Elisha was coached by Elijah. Solomon was mentored and coached by David, and David was mentored by Samuel. The Paul mentored and coached Timothy and many other people. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2, “You have heard me teach . . . Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (NLT). Paul mentored Timothy, and then he expected Timothy to go and mentor faithful men who would then mentor and coach other faithful men. God expects the same of faithful men and women today, becau...

We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.” Hebrews 12:1 (GW) Real change requires cleaning house. If you’re one of those people who can’t find the motivation to get your physical house clean, then cleaning your spiritual house may seem like a bigger task. But this is where you need to use your best energy—because God wants you to spend your life becoming more like him. And becoming more like him sometimes requires you to make difficult changes. The Bible says it like this: “We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up” (Hebrews 12:1 GW). To decide what you need to clean in your spiritual house, you just have to figure out what needs to change in your life. Ask yourself questions like: What is slowing me down? If you want a healthy body, then maybe you need to keep healthier food in you...

“Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20 (TLB) Real change requires knowing God’s truth, cleaning your spiritual house, and honest community. And, like anything to do with spiritual growth, real change requires faith. In other words, you have to believe that you can change, with God’s help. How does God help you to change? There are two primary ways. He can transform you by his Spirit living in you and with his Word, the Bible. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (TLB). What is the biggest thing you want to change in your life? No matter how big it is, it’s not too big for God. Maybe you’ve tried and failed to make the change ...

“I think you ought to know, dear brothers, about the hard time we went through in Asia. We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it. We . . . saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (TLB) Everyone experiences problems at work. But sometimes those problems keep growing to the point that they become overwhelming, and you feel like they’re about to swallow you up. What do you do then? You do what Paul did when he was overwhelmed. Remember, Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, and he traveled to share the good news. He says in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, “I think you ought to know, dear brothers, about the hard time we went through in Asia. We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it. We . . . saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put ...

Do all your work in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 (GNT) Why do you do what you do? If you’re just working so you can survive, then you are wasting your life. There is more to life than working just to live! The highest motivation for any kind of work is love. When you do anything in love, that pleases God. You can run through checklists all day and please God. You can pick up garbage and please God. You can look at a computer screen and please God. You can clean a hospital or hotel room and please God. How? By doing it in love. You can do anything in love. Sometimes you do the right thing but for the wrong motivation—and God says you don’t get any credit for that. God is more interested in why you do what you do than he is in what you do. The Bible says, “Do all your work in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14 GNT). People ask me, how have you stayed motivated being a teacher for over 40 years?” The answer is simple: I do it out of love. I love God, and I love people. Love is what keeps you going ...

The quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.” 1 Corinthians 3:13 (GNT) God wants to use your job to make you more like Jesus. But learning Christ-like qualities such as responsibility, character, and love is never easy. To learn those things, you have to respond to people the way Jesus would—and that can be particularly difficult at work. So why should you make such an effort to become like Jesus in your job? First, because God is going to evaluate your work one day. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:13, “The quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality” (GNT). Everything you’ve done in your career eventually will be seen—because Christ is going to inspect it on the day of judgment. On that day, everyone’s work will be test...

There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us.” 1 Timothy 2:5 (CEV) The Bible says that every single person is lost without God. Without God, you’re directionless. Your potential eternal impact upon the world is unrealized. You’re without real joy. Your eternity in heaven isn’t secure. But the Good News is that God sent Jesus to seek and save the lost. The Bible says, “There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us” (1 Timothy 2:5 CEV). If you’ve ever spent time in church, you’ve likely heard the word “salvation” many times. But you may not know what the Bible means when it uses that word. The word salvation is like a diamond. You can look at it from many different angles. Here are just a few: • Jesus came to rescue you. You can’t solve all your problems on your own. Without Jesus you’re trapp...

Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin.” Romans 3:24-25 (The Message) The greatest gift you’ve ever been given wasn’t bought in a store. No cash exchanged hands. It wasn’t even wrapped. Yet it cost the Giver everything. The Bible says God sent his Son to Earth to give you the greatest gift ever. He came to Earth to die—so that you could be made right with God. Romans 3:24-25 says, “Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin” (The Message). So why did Jesus have to die? Let’s go back to the basics of people’s problem ...

“The LORD is good to everyone.” Psalm 145:9 (NLT) Many people think you only get good gifts from God if you are good. But that’s not how God works. He doesn’t keep a naughty list and a nice list when it comes to his blessings. The Bible says in Matthew 5:45, “[God] makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong” (CEV). God doesn’t play favorites with his grace and his goodness. God offers his grace to everyone—even to people who don’t believe he exists. Whether or not you follow him, God gives you his grace every moment of your life. You wouldn’t even draw your next breath if it weren’t for the grace of God. As Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to everyone” (NLT). This is very different from what the world teaches. The world teaches that you get what you deserve in life. Hindus call it karma. It’s the belief that there is a cause and effect for everything you do. Good things happen to you because of the good ...

“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own?” 1 Corinthians 4:7 (TLB) We’ve talked about how trusting in God’s goodness helps you face life’s struggles. But what happens when you start thinking you earned the good things in your life, forgetting goodness comes from God? In Luke 12, Jesus tells the story of a rich man who was very successful but didn’t give God any of the credit for his prosperity. And so God tells the rich man, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?” Jesus finishes the story by saying, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:20-21 NLT). That’s warning! Prideful ingratitude is the sin that got Satan kicked out of heaven, and it’s the source of all sins. When you stop being grateful to God, you get into trouble: “Yes, they knew God, but...

“Protect me, God, because I trust in you. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you.'” Psalm 16:1-2 (NCV) Not everything that happens in your life is good. But God is good—and he is pouring his goodness into your life. Sometimes, circumstances may be very difficult, but God can take the bad and bring good out of it. Even in the worst times, you can trust this: God has a good purpose, a good plan, and a good reason. Psalm 16:1-2 says, “Protect me, God, because I trust in you. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you’” (NCV). No matter where you are in life right now, you could use a reminder of God’s goodness. And sometimes the best way to remember something is to talk with God about it through prayer The greatest example of God’s goodness is Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. You won’t fully experience his goodness until you experience his salvation. If you don’t know Jesus as Savior, you can pray this right ...

Where is God When You Are In Pain “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV) God shares the pain of every single person. When you’re hurting, he isn’t distant, aloof, or unfeeling. He is aware of your pain, and he cares. And he even shares the pain with you. God the Father shares your pain so naturally because he created you. The Bible says, “The one who formed their hearts understands everything they do” (Psalm 33:15 GW). In other words, God is never shocked by your emotions or your thoughts. He understands why you do what you do better than even you understand. He is more than capable to share your pain. Jesus, God’s Son, shares your pain because he suffered it on Earth. Hebrews 4:15 says: “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are” (CEV). He understands emotional pain, like abandonment, loneliness, criticism, discrimination, rejection, and betrayal. Jesus also understands physical pain. C...

“Christ Jesus . . . gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (GNT) When Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to be dedicated at the temple, an old man named Simeon was there. Simeon had been waiting his whole life to see the Messiah. He took one look at baby Jesus and said, “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations” (Luke 2:30-32 NLT). Jesus was a gift for all people. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “Christ Jesus . . . gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved” (GNT). One day, while John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan River, Jesus came to him to be baptized. Here’s what happened: “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29 NIV) If Jesus hadn’t died for our sins, ...

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee.” Matthew 28:5-7 (ESV) If Jesus had not come back to life, then nobody in the world would have celebrated Christmas. Why? Because Jesus would’ve been a liar and a fake. Jesus claimed to be God, which a lot of people in history have done—but only Jesus proved it. He defeated death by raising himself back to life. The resurrection is the most important event in history—so significant that every other event in history is dated in relationship to it. On that first Easter morning, several women who loved Jesus came to his tomb to anoint his body with spices. A large stone had been placed at the opening of Jesus’ tomb. Suddenly there was an earthquake as an angel of the Lord came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone, sat o...

“The Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.” Psalm 100:5 (TLB) If you grew up in a Christian home, you may have learned this childhood prayer: “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen.” While simplistic, that prayer covers one key characteristic of God: his goodness. Is it really true that God is good all the time? Absolutely! But many people don’t live like they believe it. It can be hard to believe in God’s goodness for many reasons, including when you’re in pain. When you’re in conflict, you forget about it. When you’re depressed, you think his goodness is for everyone except you. And when you’re worried or stressed out, you can’t seem to find—much less think about—God’s goodness, even when it’s right in front of you. So how can you trust in God’s goodness when you don’t feel it? God’s Word, the Bible, reminds you of his goodness over and over. Psalm 100:5 says, “The Lord is always ...

“Happy is the person who honors the Lord . . . He gives generously to the needy, and his kindness never fails; he will be . . . respected.” Psalm 112:1, 9 (GNT) What does God promise to those who do everything in life with humility and generosity? They will be respected. The Bible says, “Happy is the person who honors the Lord . . . He gives generously to the needy, and his kindness never fails; he will be . . . respected” (Psalm 112:1, 9 GNT). Nehemiah lived a life of generosity and humility—and he was respected because of it. Nehemiah 5 records Nehemiah’s personal testimony of humility: “During all the twelve years that I was governor of the land of Judah . . . neither my relatives nor I ate the food I was entitled to have as governor. Every governor who had been in office before me had been a burden to the people and had demanded forty silver coins a day for food and wine. Even their servants had oppressed the people. But I acted differently, because I honored God” (Nehemiah 5:14-15...

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.’” Haggai 1:5 (NIV) After you’ve gone through a challenging season, you’ll eventually be ready to resume life again. But as you do, you should keep a few principles in mind. You should expect to feel mixed emotions and also take time to extract the lessons you’ve learned from the hard time. And here’s another thing you should do: Evaluate everything. Because hardship changes people. You’re not the same person after a trauma that you were before. Instead of returning to the same old patterns, behaviors, and habits, God wants to give you an opportunity to reset your life. There are likely some things you were doing before the hard times that you shouldn’t start up again. As the ancient Jews resumed “normal life’ after being in captivity, the prophet Haggai had a message for them: “Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but...

“Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now!” Isaiah 43:18-19 (GNT) You can’t go backward in life. You can only go forward. That means you have only two choices: You can long for the way things used to be, and not change a single thing about today, or you can trust in God to do something new. The Bible says, “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV). God is a God of newness. He doesn’t do the same old things all the time. And so, to live a better life, you need to cooperate with the new things God wants to do in your family, in your career, in your friendships, in his church, and in the world around you. But people aren’t always interested in the new things God is doing. Sometimes you’ll dream about the past and say, “I wish I lived during that era,” or “I wish I could go back to that period of my life.” But wishing for the pa...

At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting—it will happen!” Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV) What does it mean to engage slowly after a tough season? It means you shouldn’t be in a hurry. Go slowly. Just because you have the freedom to do something doesn’t mean you should be in a rush to restart it all. When you are tempted to hurry back into life, here are two things to remember: 1. God is never in a hurry. There isn’t a single example in Scripture of Jesus running anywhere. When his friend Lazarus was dying, for example, Jesus was only a half day’s walk away. But it took Jesus three days to get to Lazarus. And when he got there, Lazarus was already dead. Why? Jesus knew that God was in charge and that he had a better plan—one that didn’t require Jesus to hurry. 2. God’s timing is perfect. When you get impatient during difficult days and want to speed things along, you need to trust that God knows wha...

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) If you want to create change in your home, school, work, or relationships, the way you talk to others will make all the difference in the world. When Nehemiah left his position as cupbearer and traveled to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls, he knew he needed to identify with the people there. If he was going to get them on board with his plans, he needed to talk like an insider, not an outsider. The Bible says, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Nehemiah 2:17 NIV). Notice Nehemiah said “us,” not “I.” He said “we,” not “me.” What was he doing with his words? He was building community. When great leaders have a dream, they build a team. That’s what leadership...

Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble. And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 (TLB) God never meant for you to go through life isolated, trying to do everything by yourself. Success happens when you work alongside others. One reason Nehemiah succeeded in rebuilding Jerusalem is because he broke the work down into manageable tasks among many different people. In Nehemiah 3, it talks about 18 teams helped to make repairs. Nehemiah wanted the people to understand something. He gave them a pep talk that went something like this: “If you get tired and discouraged, just look to your left and look to your right, and you’ll see people working next to you. You’ll realize you’re not alone. You’re part of a te...

James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers.” Galatians 2:9 (NLT) Not everyone will want to be part of your God-given plans. In other words, focus on those who want to help you. That was Jesus’ strategy. He loved everyone; he fed the 5,000 and preached to the crowd. But he only trained 70, discipled 12, and mentored three. His focus grew stronger with fewer people. The three people Jesus mentored Peter, James, and John. Only Peter, James, and John went up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Only Peter, James, and John were brought into the Garden of Gethsemane “a little farther” (Matthew 26:39 NIV) to pray with Jesus. And only Peter, James, and John witnessed Peter’s mother-in-law being healed. Was Jesus playing favorites? Yes. He was investing the maximum amount of time with those who would bear the maximum responsibility. And his strategy worked. Later in the Bible—in the boo...

I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:16 (ISV) There is no complicated secret to working well with others. You just have to learn to appreciate them! How do you appreciate them? It’s simple. First, you practice recognizing someone’s value and contribution. Then, you make a habit of telling them, “Thank you.” Nehemiah demonstrates four practical ways to show appreciation for others: Recognize individuals by name. When you thank the people in your life who are making a difference, don’t just say, “You all are doing a great job. Thanks!” Get specific, like Nehemiah did. He singled out 71 people for special appreciation and called each one by name. Recognize specific work. People feel appreciated when you point out the details of their work. Simply telling them they did a good job isn’t enough. It’s better to say, “I’m proud of you for doing this specific thing.” Nehemiah recognized the detailed work of the people. He said, “The Old City Gate was...

There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents.” 1 Corinthians 16:9 (GNT) One of the greatest tests of character is how you handle opposition. In fact, opposition is part of God’s will for your life; it prepares you for the opportunities ahead. The Bible says, “There is a real opportunity here for great and worthwhile work, even though there are many opponents” (1 Corinthians 16:9 GNT). If you’re going to make something of your life, not everyone is going to like it. You’re always going to find people who feel it’s their job to criticize every dream or project God puts on your heart. Their favorite word is “no,” and their favorite phrase is, “You can’t do that.” One tactic people use to try to stop you from doing God’s will is ridicule. Nehemiah 4 shows three ways people might use ridicule to oppose you. People will attack your character and identity. In Nehemiah 4:1-2, one of Nehemiah’s critics, Sanballat, heard the wall was being ...

“Anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (CEV) Life is full of God-given opportunities. But with every opportunity, there will be opposition—especially in today’s increasingly divided culture. The Bible confirms it: “In fact, anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others” (2 Timothy 3:12 CEV). How do you respond to this kind of criticism? Tell God how you really feel. When people put you down for doing great things, don’t get back at them. Instead, talk to God—and be honest with him. Don’t hide your hurt. Tell God exactly what you’re feeling. Prayer is a great stress reliever when you feel ridiculed and under attack. Nehemiah’s habit was to always pray first. “Then I prayed, ‘Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! Do not ignore their guilt . . . for they have provoke...

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV) When people criticize you for living a life that is pleasing to God, remember: You have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. The Bible says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV). Focusing on eternity is the antidote to insult and ridicule. Because the opinions of others won’t last. Their disapproval won’t last. Yes, you can listen to their opinions, but don’t overvalue what they say. The only thing that will last is God’s church. Only God’s family will be in heaven forever. That’s why you don’t want to waste your life worrying about what people say about you. Instead, God wants you to spend your days doing the things that plea...

Come, Lord, and show me your mercy, for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress.” Psalm 25:16 (TLB) Have you noticed how discouragement sets in at the midpoint of almost anything you do? It’s true in parenting, marriage, school, and in your career. But God has called you to finish the race he has prepared for you—and to finish it well. When God put it on Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild Jerusalem after the Israelites’ returned from captivity, they began the work of rebuilding the city’s walls. But when “the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city” (Nehemiah 4:6 NLT), the people became discouraged. The story of Nehemiah describes four common reasons people get discouraged. Today we’ll look at the first two. The first cause of discouragement is fatigue. Nehemiah 4:10 says, “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired’” (NLT). Rebuilding anything, of course, is exhausting. They had worked hard on the first half of the project, but they s...

“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious.” Nehemiah 4:14 (NLT) How do you defeat discouragement in your life? By following Nehemiah’s example. In Nehemiah 4, you’ll find three things you can do to resist discouragement. Reinforce weak areas. Make an honest assessment of where you are most spiritually vulnerable. Are you most vulnerable to anger, lust, pride, or something else? What are your weak areas? When Nehemiah heard that his enemies wanted to attack the Jews who were helping to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, he “stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. [He] stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows” (Nehemiah 4:13 CSB). Nehemiah did his homework. He knew where the city’s most vulnerable spots were, and he developed a plan. Maybe an area in your life needs some reinforcement. To resist discouragement, you’ll need to reorganize and reorder a few things. Don’t give up in your weak areas....

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8 (NLT) Many people don’t see the value in getting enough rest. But God knows that, without proper rest, you’ll struggle to be who he wants you to be. Rest is so important to God that he even put it in the Ten Commandments: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:8-10 NLT). When you’re anxiously working from early morning to late night, you’ll burn out—and that’s not what God wants for you. He wants you to get enough rest. In 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah needed some serious rest after a confrontation with 450 pagan prophets of the false god Baal. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were leading the nation of Israel to follow these gods. In a dramatic moment before all of Israel, Elijah asked God to send down fire to consume a sacrifice and, thus, prove he was the one true G...

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV) You probably don’t like conflict. Most people try to avoid it as much as possible! But conflict is inevitable in life—because no one is perfect. But if you want to build a better future and pursue your purpose, God calls you to “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone” (Colossians 3:13 NIV). Before you can learn healthy ways to respond to conflict, you need to know the common causes of conflict. In Nehemiah 5, you find four common causes: 1. Unmet basic needs. Unmet needs can be physical, emotional, relational, or financial. In Nehemiah’s time, it was a physical need: People were hungry. They were working to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem but encountered a famine. The people said, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive” (Nehemiah 5:2 NLT). 2. Falling behind. When you feel like you’re not making any prog...

“A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1 One of the deepest needs in life is the need to feel respected by others. In fact, Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold” (CEV). But being respected doesn’t come automatically—you have to earn it. One way you earn it is by how you handle conflict. Why? Because any time you’re involved in a disagreement, people will watch to see how you’re going to react. Nehemiah is a great example of someone who earned the respect of others by the way he handled conflict. Here’s how Nehemiah did it and how you can do it too: Nehemiah paused to think before he spoke. He listened to the complaints and charges the Israelites had against those who exploited them during a famine. And before he responded, he “pondered them in [his] mind” (Nehemiah 5:7 NIV). This means he carefully considered the situation. He thought it through before he spoke, putting his mind in gea...

“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12 (NIV) There are many ways to earn the respect of others during times of conflict. Pause before you speak, resolve conflict privately, and appeal to the best in people. But the very first thing you should do is this: Empathize with the feelings of others. If you want people to respect you, you must respect their feelings. What you sow, you will reap. The Bible says, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12 NIV). This is especially true when people are hurting, grieving, fearful, or feel there’s been an injustice against them. People want to know that you understand what they’re going through. They don’t care what you know until they first know that you care. You don’t have to agree with someone to empathize with their emotions. When you see people protesting, for example, you may not agree with their conclusions, but you can still try to understand why they’re doing what...

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.’” Haggai 1:5 After you’ve gone through a challenging season, you’ll eventually be ready to resume life again. But as you do, you should keep a few principles in mind. You should expect to feel mixed emotions and also take time to extract the lessons you’ve learned from the hard time. And here’s another thing you should do: Evaluate everything. Because hardship changes people. You’re not the same person after a trauma that you were before. Instead of returning to the same old patterns, behaviors, and habits, God wants to give you an opportunity to reset your life. There are likely some things you were doing before the hard times that you shouldn’t start up again. As the ancient Jews resumed “normal life’ after being in captivity, the prophet Haggai had a message for them: “Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never...

We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” Ephesians 4:14 One of the most powerful forces of nature is wind. That’s why the Bible uses wind as a metaphor for so many things. There are winds of testing, trouble, conflict, and temptation. But God makes it possible to withstand each one. Ephesians 6:13 says, “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (ESV). The word withstand means “to remain undamaged by a destructive force.” One of the best ways to remain undamaged by the winds of life is to stay connected to your spiritual family. God never meant for you to withstand difficult days by yourself. One of the first things God said was, “It isn’t good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18 TLB). Whether or not you ever marry is irrelevant. You need a spiritual family for support so you can stay c...

Blessings Come From Doing Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:17 The uncontrollable winds of life—relational winds, financial winds, and spiritual winds—can overwhelm you and throw you off course. But God’s Word is filled with principles to help you withstand even the toughest winds. God doesn’t just want you just to hear his Word. He wants you to do it—to obey it, to practice it. The Bible says, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25 NIV). Notice the three things that happen in a storm. The rain comes down, attacking the roof of your life. The streams rise, flooding the foundation of your life. And the winds blow, beating against the walls of your life. You’re getting it from the top, the bottom, and ...

“No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” John 14:18 Sometimes you find yourself in situations you don’t want and don’t like. In fact, on some days you may feel like the storms of life threaten to drown you. Remind yourself how much Jesus cares. Not only does Jesus see your struggle, but he also cares about your struggle. And not only does he cares, but he also does something about it. You can see this pattern of Jesus seeing, caring, and doing in the story of Jesus walking on water in Mark 6:47-48: “Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake” (NIV). The disciples had four things going against them: It was dark, they were in the middle of a lake, they were alone, and “the wind was against them.” How did Jesus respond? He didn’t just stand on the shoreline and tell them what to do. Instea...

Planning Helps You to Live With Purpose “Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.” Proverbs 4:26 God has a plan for your life—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make plans too. He doesn’t want you to drift along, letting circumstances determine the direction of your life. He wants you to be intentional about the path you choose. Although the Bible gives many reasons for planning, here are three reasons that are foundational. God makes plans. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (NIV). God wants you to be like him. So, if God makes plans, then you should make plans too. But there’s one thing God is not: “God is not a God of disorder” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). Do you have any plans for the rest of the year? The next 10 years? If you haven’t made any plans for your life, then it’s likely your life is out of order—and that’s not how God created you...

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 Paul says, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT) He doesn’t say you should be joyful only in good times. He says you should be full of joy always. But how can you do that? The Bible teaches that—even when times are tough—you can be joyful if you follow these four simple strategies: Thank God in all things. When you pray, do it with thanksgiving. The healthiest human emotion is gratitude. It actually increases your immunities. It makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to illness. People who are grateful are happy. But people who are ungrateful are miserable because nothing makes them happy. They’re never satisfied. It’s never good enough. But if you cultivate an attitude of gratitude—of being thankful in every circumstance—your stress will lessen. Don’t worry about anything. Worrying doesn’t change anything. You learned it from your parents. You l...

“If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” James 4:15 We’ve been looking at Nehemiah’s model for making God-inspired plans. So far, we’ve learned five steps: Step 1: Ask God for favor on your life. Step 2: Prepare for an opportunity, and then wait. Step 3: Expect fear, but don’t let it stop you. Step 4: Establish a clear target. Step 5: Set a deadline. Here are Nehemiah’s final two steps in developing a life plan. Step 6: Anticipate barriers. Part of the planning process involves anticipating problems. Proverbs 27:12 says, “A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them” (TLB). Nehemiah thought through all the problems he might face. Then he said to the king, “Would you be willing to give me letters to the governors of the provinces west of the Euphrates River, so that I can travel safely to Judah? I will need timber to rebuild the gates of the fortress near the temple and more timber to construct the city wall and to build a place for me to l...

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3 God’s plans and your plans can work together to accomplish the purpose he has for you. Nehemiah is a great example of this. Here are three steps that Nehemiah modeled in developing a life plan. Step 3: Expect fear, but don’t let it stop you. When the king saw Nehemiah approaching, he asked him why he looked so sad. In those days, it was a crime to be sad before the king, yet Nehemiah was about to ask for a leave of absence to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. Nehemiah did two things with his fear: • He expressed his feelings. Nehemiah replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins” (Nehemiah 2:3 NLT). Admitting how you feel is how you grow. • He prayed quickly before speaking. “The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 2:4 NIV). Sometimes prayer can just be quickly and silently saying, “Help!” T...

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 As you look to God to do great things in your life, there are two facts you need to understand about the dreams he gives you. First, no dream is built without the support of others. Just like a building needs support, your dream needs support. True success is never a one-man show. Anything significant you do in life will require help from others. God intentionally wired us to need each other so we will learn how to work together. The Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV). Why can’t you go after your dream by yourself? Here are three reasons: • You don’t know everything you need to know. • You...

There is a right time and a right way to do everything.” Ecclesiastes 8:6 When God puts a dream in your heart, you don’t necessarily have to act on it right away. The Bible says, “There is a right time and a right way to do everything” (Ecclesiastes 8:6 GNT). Pitchers understand the importance of timing in baseball. Every pitcher throws the same 5 ¼-ounce ball and stands the same 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. But the difference between a pro pitcher and an amateur is timing. A pitcher’s timing can make or break them. Another good example of timing is found in Nehemiah 2. Nehemiah knew timing could make or break his dream to rebuild Jerusalem. He could have made a grand entrance into town with trumpets and flags, announcing the reason for his arrival: “I’m here to save the day!” Instead, Nehemiah stayed quiet for three days after arriving in Jerusalem. What was he doing those first three days? Since he was a man of prayer, there’s no doubt he was praying. He was also a planner, so...