Being Glad

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. —Psalm 118:24

One of my favorite childhood books was Pollyanna, the story of the optimistic young girl who always found something to be glad about—even when bad things happened.

I was reminded recently of that literary friend when my real-life friend fell and broke her arm while riding her bicycle. Marianne told me how thankful she was that she was able to ride all the way back home and how grateful she was that she wouldn’t need to have surgery. It was her left arm (she’s right-handed), she said, so she would still be able to work. And wasn’t it great, she marveled, that she has good bones, so her arm should heal fine! And wasn’t it wonderful that it hadn’t been any worse!

Whew! she is an example of someone who has learned to rejoice in spite of trouble. She has a confidence that God will care for her—no matter what.
Suffering eventually touches us all. And in times of difficulty, thankfulness is usually not our first response. But I think God looks at us with pleasure when we find reasons to be thankful (1 Thess. 5:16-18). As we realistically look for the good despite our bad circumstances, we can be grateful that God is holding us close.

It is when we trust in His goodness that we find gladness.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!Often when earth has no balm for my healing,There I find comfort, and there I am blessed. —Cushing
Thankfulness finds something good in every circumstance.

Godly Friends

(Prov 12:26 NIrV) Godly people are careful about the friends they choose. But the way of sinners leads them down the wrong path.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon contrasts how the Godly choose their friends wisely, while the ungodly make friendships with the wrong people. My mother was very concerned about who I chose to be my friends The people we choose to associate ourselves with says a great deal about us and more importantly, their influence can (and most likely will) directly affect our lives.

Solomon is teaching us that if we DO NOT choose our friends wisely, the friends we choose (the ungodly) will eventually lead us down the wrong path. Countless people have wrecked their lives by connecting with the wrong crowd.

In the next chapter Solomon explains this well by saying, “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces” (13:20). From this verse we learn that both wisdom and foolishness can be transferred by association. There are clear advantages to choosing the right friends. Let’s look at a few:

1. You get the safety of wise counsel: Earlier in this series we learned: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). When you surround yourself with the right people, you will receive the right feedback when you bounce your ideas off of them.

2. Your character is protected: In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he was addressing a myriad of issues within their church. The church had allowed unruly conduct to spread like wildfire. Paul addressed the issues in many ways, but one thing he said that I want to highlight is: “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character” ” (1st Corinthians 15:33). He did not mince words. He was clear that if you hang with corrupt people, you will eventually be corrupted.

3. You remain sharp: One of the greatest benefits of having Godly friends is that they keep you sharp. You are able to grow together. Later in Proverbs Solomon said, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (27:17). If you want to remain sharp, you must surround yourself with sharp people. A true God-friend can help keep you sharp in the Spirit, letting you know when you are getting off track. We all need that!

So what does this mean to you ? It means having the right friends is awesome. We all need people to share our life experiences with.

Everyone needs a Paul: a mentor, guide, someone who is already where they want to be, and who is willing to pour into them.

Everyone needs a Timothy: someone they can mentor, who wants to be where they already are, and who is willing to be poured into.

Everyone needs a Jonathan: someone on equal par with them, someone to share life experiences with, someone they can sharpen and to keep them sharp!

Do you have all these in your life? If not, ask God to lead you to them. When you have Godly friends the Father can use them to help keep you on the course to His desired destination for your life!


Father, I thank You for Your Word. Your Word is awesome and it applies to every area of my life. I declare, right now, that I have a Paul in my life. I have someone I look up to, who is already where I want to be, who can pour into my life! I have a Timothy, someone who wants to be where I already am, someone I can pour into and make an investment in. And I also have a Jonathan, a covenant sister, someone on my same level that can keep me sharp and who I can sharpen. I surround myself with the right people, who give me the right input, that influence me in the right way, so that I can arrive at the right destination for my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Do Not Worry!

(Prov 12:25 NLT) Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

This morning we continue our series, in this verse Solomon contrasts the destructive affects of worry, with the positive impact encouraging words can have on people. I often say that worry is a form of negative meditation. Biblical meditation is powerful. Spending time meditating on God's Word, His promises, His wisdom, His opinion of us, and His desired end for our lives is awesome. Meditating on His Word feeds our faith (Rom 10:17) and starves our doubts.

That's why the Bible tells us to meditate on God's Word day and night (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1). But just like meditating on God's promises can build us up, meditating on negative situations can tear us down. Uncontrolled negative thoughts can lead to psychological, physical and emotions problems. They create an instability that can be damaging to the person and everyone around them.

Solomon makes it plain when he says, "Worry weighs a person down." Instead of sitting around thinking about the problem and telling your God how big your problem is, why not sit around and think about you God, so that you can tell your problem how big your God is?It is clearly NOT God's will for us to worry. The Bible has a great deal to say about it.

Let's take a look at what John MacArthur said on the subject: "Jesus categorically prohibited worry in a familiar portion of the Sermon on the Mount-Matthew 6:25-34. Three times in that short passage He commanded, "Do not worry!", and the way He said it shows the comprehensiveness of His charge. In verse 25 He acknowledges worry as a common practice and says, "Stop worrying;" in verses 31 and 34 He uses the same word, but in a way that means "Don't even start worrying." To continue worrying about anything, or to start worrying in the first place, is to violate the Lord's command... When you worry, you are choosing to be mastered by your circumstances instead of by the truth of God... When you worry, you are not trusting your Heavenly Father."

Jesus also said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Mat 11:28). It is simply NOT God's will for His children to walk around burdened, frustrated and disillusioned. Paul said, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything... Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Phil 4:6,7). Peter said, "Turn all your worries over to him. He cares about you" (1st Peter 5:7). Another translation of that same verse says, "Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you." So, instead of carrying your cares around, you should simply cast them to God. Turn them over to the Father. When you do that, you will be free to be the example of peace and love He desires for you to be.So what does this mean to you? It means that the Father needs you to be worry and stress-free, so that you can be the witness He needs you to be.

If all people see in you in stress, struggle and strain; pain, pressure and problems, then how will you ever draw them to God? He needs you to be encouraged, so that you can speak the encouraging words to others that will pull them out of their discouragement!

So don't sit around today meditating on your problems, meditate on the promises of God, build your faith, cast your cares upon God, encourage yourself, and then go out to encourage others!

Father, I meditate on the right things. I fill my mind and my heart with Your Word and Your promises. I know You love me. I know that You will not allow me to face what I cannot handle. I know that by Your grace I can overcome every obstacle - by faith. I know that I am destined to win. I know who I am and whose I am. Therefore, I refuse to worry. I don't carry care, I cast it! I turn it over to You. I encourage myself in the Lord and after doing so, I seek to encourage others by speaking life into them. I do all this by faith and with Your help! Use me Father me be light in someone's darkness today! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Hard Work will be Rewarded

(Prov 12:24 MSG) Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon reminds us that hard work is rewarded, laziness is not. In Solomon's time laziness could actually open the door to slavery. Without getting too deep into the slavery discussion, I will simply say that when nations fought against nations, kingdoms and against kingdoms, or armies against armies, the losing entity often had to surrender up a portion (if not all) of their people to serve as forced labor.

So, in context, Solomon's words make sense when he tells us that the lazy had a better chance of winding up as slaves than the hard workers. But even if we forget the political practices of the time, the proverb indicates that laziness inevitably leads to poverty and servitude. In chapter 10 Solomon said, "He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth" (10:4).

If you look at any of the people that Jesus selected to be on his staff, you will quickly find that they were all working. They were all doing something. They were all industrious. Even if we go back to the Old Testament and look for examples within the strange political and social climates of the time, it will not take you long to find people that were rewarded for working hard. Let me give you a couple of examples:

1. Daniel: In the book of Daniel Israel became one of the nations on the losing side I mentioned earlier. Daniel would up as an Israelite slave under the hand of the Babylonians. But Daniel worked hard and his hard work would not go unrewarded. He made his way up the ranks quickly, to the point where chapter six says: "It pleased Darius to appoint 120 royal rulers over his entire kingdom. He placed three leaders over them. One of the leaders was Daniel. The royal rulers were made accountable to the three leaders. Then the king wouldn't lose any of his wealth."


Did you get that? King Darius setup a system where he had 120 rulers over provinces and three rulers over them. Daniel - a man who was supposed to be a slave in captivity - wound up being one of the three rulers over the 120.

But wait, it get's better. The Bible goes on to say, "Daniel did a better job than the other two leaders or any of the royal rulers. He was an unusually good and able man. So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom." Wow. Daniel did so good of a job that the King decided to place him over the three. There was no one above Daniel but the King himself. A man who was supposed to be a slave would up being the second in command, because he worked hard.

2. Joseph: Joseph's story is too powerful to tell it all, so I will only mention a portion of it, the part about his work in Potiphar's house. In Genesis 39 we learn that Joseph was sold as a slave to an Egyptian officer named Potiphar. The Bible says: "The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did... Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so... He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned." The only thing Potiphar concerned himself with was what he was going to eat that day. Joseph was in charge of everything. Why? Because the Lord blessed all that he DID! But that's the point. If he was lazy and did not do anything, the Lord would have nothing to bless!

So what does this mean? It means that God expects you to work diligently. Later on in Proverbs Solomon said, "Observe people who are good at their work - skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone" (22:29). If you will be faithful to work, God will be faithful to bless the work of your hands!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to be able to work. I work diligently and faithfully. I put my hands to DO all that You have blessed me to do and I know that You will bless the work of my hands. I overcome laziness, slothfulness and procrastination. No matter what others may think of me initially, my work will speak for itself. Because I work hard and Your hand is upon my life, I can't help but move up. The higher I go, that more You can be glorified in what I do! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Hold Your Tongue

(Prov 12:23 MSG) Prudent people don't flaunt their knowledge; talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts how the wise, in their prudence, are able to hold back their words and only speak them at the right time; whereas the foolish are so talkative that they broadcast their silliness. Have you every met a truly wise person? Who do you consider wise? Whoever they are, the chances are that they are not people of many words. They carefully think through what they are going to say and how they are to say it. Their words are premeditated and they come across as insightful and thought provoking. The thought behind their words causes us to think. They have spent years learning and accumulating knowledge and they are at the point in their lives that they are wise enough to only share what they know, when it needs to be shared. I often say, "The right thing at the wrong time becomes the wrong thing." I guess in this case I could say, "The right words at the wrong time become the wrong words." The wise hold back their words until the right time, so that when they speak their words can be received, understood and applied.

The Good News Bible translation of this verse says, "Smart people keep quiet about what they know, but stupid people advertise their ignorance." If it is true that the wise man is able to hold his tongue and only speak the right words at the right time, then the opposite is also true. The fool has no control over his tongue. The saying, "He can't hold water," applies to the fool in this case. He is always flowing. His mouth is stuck in the "on" position. Just like the wise person is a person of few words, the fool speaks non-stop. This is dangerous behavior for anyone, but much more for the fool. He does not have the wisdom the wise man has, and therefore, his constant speech exposes his ignorance.

There is a saying (attributed to too many people to give any one person credit) that says: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." The fool speak so much that everyone knows that they know, and the sad reality is that they don't know much. Invariably their much speaking gets them in trouble. If you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that it is prudent to be careful about what you say and how you say it. Only share what needs to be shared, when it needs to be shared. This way your words will matter to others, because they will realize how much they matter to you. If you spend your days babbling, you will eventually get to the point where you won't even believe what you say!

Father, I thank You for Your wisdom. I am the prudent wise woman, not the talkative fool. I take the time to ensure my words are premeditated and calculated. The thought behind my words inspires thought in the hearers. I am dedicated to life-long learning and I thank You for teaching me Your wisdom, found in Your Word, but I will not allow arrogance to cause me to dilute what I know, because of a prideful spirit. I will speak out of humility and grace and my words will be received, believed and applied! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Operate in Truth!

(Prov 12:22 GNB) The LORD hates liars, but is pleased with those who keep their word.

This morning we continue our series The Lord, through Solomon, has already said quite a bit about lying, and here He addresses it again. Whenever you see something repeated over and over again in scripture, it is because the Father is driving home a point. I believe that by now the point is clear: The LORD hates liars!

Now, you may be thinking, "Hate is a strong word." Well, if you think that is strong, let's take a look a the King James Version. It says, "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD..." How's that for being strong? Maybe Solomon learned to take this strong stand against lying from his father David. David said, "You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors" (Psalm 5:4-6).Back in chapter six (verses 16-19) we learned about the seven things that God hates and "A lying tongue" was listed among them. It is not that He hates the sinner, but He does clearly hate the sin. He actually loves the sinner and commands us to do the same, but that does not mean that He will overlook sin and bless mess. Why? Because He expects us to do better. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and to deliver us from the very power of sin.

John explained it well when he said, "When people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God" (1st John 3:8,9). Later on, in the last book of the Bible (The Revelation of Jesus Christ) John spoke of all those condemned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Guess what? Liars are listed among them. Let's look at what he said, "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars-their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death" (Rev 21:8). That's pretty bad company.

If you read to the word of the day, then I assume that is not the type of company you want to be grouped with. The second part of the verse is what you should focus in on.The Father is pleased with those who speak the truth. The Message Bible says, "... He loves the company of those who keep their word." He is the Truth; therefore He enjoys spending time with those who operate in truth. If you want the Father to enjoy spending time with you, you must be a person of truth. Learn to love what God loves and despise what He despises. Your displeasure with lying and liars will keep you from crossing the line and become one.

So what does this mean to you? It means that your actions matter to God. The Lord is not going to simply overlook sin. If you want to walk with Him and you want Him to walk with you, then you must take His Word seriously. He wants to spend time with you, but He will not spend time with a liar. Now, does that mean that you, as a believer, are sinless? No. But it does mean that you should sin less! You should not practice sin. Sin should no longer be your lifestyle. So, speak the truth, seek to live a life that is pleasing to God, and you will find that He will enjoy spending time with you!

Father, I am not a sinner, I am a Blood-bought, twice-born, Spirit-filled believer! I don't practice sin. Lying is not my lifestyle. I am a person of integrity. I speak the truth in love. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I refuse to allow my words to entrap me. I walk in the light, as You are in the light, and the Blood of Jesus, Your Son, cleanses me from all sin. I walk in the newness of life today and that newness requires me to operate in truth! In Jesus' name. Amen!

God Never Sends You Out Alone

When you place your faith in Christ, Christ places his Spirit before, behind, and within you. Not a strange spirit, but the same Spirit: the parakletos. Everything Jesus did for his followers, his Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Spirit teaches. Jesus healed; the Spirit heals. Jesus comforted; his Spirit comforts. As Jesus sends you into new seasons, he sends his counselor to go with you.
God treats you the way one mother treated her young son, Timmy. She didn’t like the thought of Timmy walking to his first-grade class unaccompanied. But he was too grown-up to be seen with his mother. “Besides,” he explained, “I can walk with a friend.” So she did her best to stay calm, quoting the Twenty-third Psalm to him every morning: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”
One school day she came up with an idea. She asked a neighbor to follow Timmy to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, lest he notice her. The neighbor was happy to oblige. She took her toddler on morning walks anyway.
After several days Timmy’s friend noticed the lady and the child.
“Do you know who that woman is who follows us to school?”
“Sure,” Timmy answered. “That’s Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy.”
“Who?”
“My mom reads about them every day in the Twenty-third Psalm. She says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Guess I’ll have to get used to them.”
You will too. God never sends you out alone. Are you on the eve of change? Do you find yourself looking into a new chapter? Is the foliage of your world showing signs of a new season? Heaven’s message for you is clear: when everything else changes, God presence never does. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit, who “will teach you and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26 NLT).

by Max Lucado