Written by TWFYT
Tuesday May 12

"My voice You shall hear in the morning O Lord." Psalm 5:3 NKJV

How do you start your day with God? If you're not a "morning person," don't put pressure on yourself to have an extended time of reading Scripture and praying first thing in the morning. Frank Laubach, a modern-day master of practicing the presence of God, said, "If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are." Instead of forcing yourself in the morning, try to arrange—as early as you can after you wake up—to have just a few minutes alone with God. Do three things: First, acknowledge your dependence on God. Second, tell Him about your concerns for the day. Third, invite God to spend the day with you. The Psalmist said, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord...I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Then he added, "I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word" (Ps 119:147 NKJV). So how can you start your day with God? Don't attempt to do a lot of new or heroic things. Just do the things you normally do—only do them with God. In our culture, we often talk about embracing the moment and seizing the day. But we are not meant to embrace moments; we are meant to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything but good. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" (Ps 118:1 NKJV) Remind yourself that today God is with you, and that He will be good to you and for you.

Written by TWFYT
Monday May 11

"We count them blessed who endure." James 5:11 NKJV

James wrote: "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (Jas 5:10-11 NKJV). Here we are reminded to look back and be challenged and encouraged by those who went before us as we await the Lord's coming. Look back at Hosea: His wife deserted him, but he faithfully hung in there and God restored their marriage (see Hos 3:1-3 NKJV). Look back at Daniel: He was thrown into a lions' den for standing firm in his faith, but God delivered and promoted him (see Da 6:1-28). Look back at Jeremiah: He was arrested, accused of being a traitor, and thrown into a well to die (see Jer 37-38) But he looked up, and God delivered him. Then there's the roll call of the faithful listed in Hebrews eleven! Those of us who have been rejected by family members can look back to Abel (see v. 4). Those who are misunderstood can look back to Noah (see v. 7). Those battling a crisis of faith and who seem to be up against the impossible can look back to Abraham (see v.v. 8-10) If you've been used or abused, look back to Joseph (see v. 22). Those confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life can look back to Joshua (see v. 30). Those seeking to move beyond a sinful past can look back to Rahab (see. 31). So, this is the word for you today: Look back and be encouraged.

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Mother's Day - Sunday May 10

"Then He said to the disciple [John], 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciples took her to his own home." John 19:27 NKJV

The Bible says: "now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother...When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple [John], 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her as his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished...said...'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit" (vv. 25-30 NKJV). Jesus was about to speak some of His last words as He hung on the cross. He was about to perform His last act. What would he do? What would he say? He had the power to call legions of angels to His defense, but He didn't. He could have explained the theology of His incarnation, His sinless life, and His vicarious death, but He didn't. This is what He spoke: "Woman, look—your son. Son, look—your mother." There is much discussion about how Mother's Day began, and where, and who was responsible for it. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. And in America, more phone calls are made on Mother's Day than any other day in the year. But the Scriptures indicate that Mother's Day began with Jesus, who honored His mother till His dying breath and who did all He could to care for her. And the Bible says: "He is your example, and you must follow in his steps" (1Pe 2:21 NLT).

Written by TWFYT
Saturday May 9

"Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:5 ESV

Neuroscientists tell us that every sound, every experience, every conscious thought, and every subconscious dream is recorded and literally engraved on our external hard drive, the cerebral cortex. Now juxtapose that with this: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Php 2:5 NKJV). Simply put: the mind of Christ is the Word of God. After all, Jesus is "the Word" (Jn 1:1). When you pray, or meditate, or memorize Scripture, you are engraving Jesus on your brain. Neurologically speaking, you are recruiting new neuro connections and rerouting old ones. Slowly but surely, your brain is being rewired and renewed. Think of it as mind sync. You are downloading the very words, the very thoughts of God. And over time, those downloads are upgrades that form the mind of Christ in us. Note what author Mark Batterson says about how he reads the Bible, "I continue until I come to any verse that may suggest pausing. It's often something I need to think about or pray about. Sometimes it's the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and I need to have a conversation with God before I continue...When I come to one of those verses, I do three things: First, I underline it or circle it in my Bible. Second, I write it out in longhand in my journal. Third, I journal thoughts, confessions, and ideas associated with it. Then, when I feel like the Holy Spirit brings closure, I go in to the next verse." Those are three great ideas that will work for you too.

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Friday May 8

"He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness." Colossians 1:13 NLT

Jimmy Wayne never knew his father, and his mother spent more time in prison than out. When Jimmy was twelve, his mother was released from jail and took up with a troublemaker. They loaded him into the back seat of their car, and for a year that was his home. Then one day, they dumped him at a Pensacola, Florida, bus station and drove off. He had no home, no future, and no provision. While wandering through a neighborhood, he spotted and older man at work in a garage woodshed. He approached the elderly gentleman and asked if he had any work. Not only did he give Jimmy Wayne a job, but he also took him in to live with him and his wife. Having a home to live in was like heaven to Jimmy. Still, in spite of their kindness, he refused to unpack his bag. For four days, his plastic bag sat on the floor, full clothes, ready if eh husband and wife changed their minds. It took several days, a dozen or so meals, and more than one heart-to-heart conversation. But they finally persuaded Jimmy to trust them to care for him. Perhaps you question your place in God's family or His love for you. What if He changes His mind? God answered that question at the cross. When Jesus died, the heavenly vote was forever cast in your favor. "He has rescued [you] from the kingdom of darkness and transferred [you] into the Kingdom of his dear Son." P.S.: What happened to Jimmy Wayne? He took his place in the family, got an education, and became a country music singer and songwriter. 

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Thursday May 7

"When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me." Psalm 56:9 NKJV

In the early days of America, a stranger asked how he might identify George Washington among those present at Congress. He was told, "You can easily distinguish him when Congress goes to prayer. Washington is the gentleman who kneels down." Washington was known as a man who prayed. When the fate of the new nation hung in the balance at Vally Forge, he frequently found rest and relief in prayer. One day, a farmer approaching Washington's military camp heard an earnest voice. When he drew nearer, he saw Washington on his knees, his cheeks wet with tears. The farmer returned home and told his wife: "George Washington will succeed, and the Americans will secure their independence." His wife said, "Isaac, what makes you think so?" He replied, "I heard him pray out in the woods today, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah, rest assured, He will!" When we have less, we're more aware of our need and pray more. But as we acquire and achieve more, we become more self-sufficient and pray less. That's a mistake. The more God entrusts to you, the more you need HIs strength, His wisdom, His guidance, and His grace. David sat on a throne and ruled Israel. Was he proud or arrogant? No. "When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me...In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid" (vv. 9, 11 NKJV). So this is the word for you today: More responsibility calls for more prayer.

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Wednesday May 6

"You do not have because you do not ask." James 4:2 NIV

From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion we see absolute evidence that God answers prayer. Things that we think are impossible, God does when people pray! When we pray, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and tap into the power of the Almighty. Because we pray, God works through us in ways He wouldn't otherwise. God has made certain things dependent upon prayer, things that will never be done unless we pray. Could God do whatever He chooses without our prayer? Of course. But God has determined that He will use the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes. When we do not pray, we limit what God will do in our lives. Some may not like the sound of this, but if it were not true, what could James mean when he writes: "You do not have because you do not ask?" Why would Paul ask some friend to, "Pray for us that the message of the Lord mat spread rapidly and be honored...that we may be delivered fro wicked and evil people" (2Th 3:1-2 NIV), if he did not believe their prayers had the power to change his circumstances? Both James and Paul believed that God might well withhold His hand of blessing from them if they neglected to pray. Since they wanted all the blessing available to them, they not only prayed themselves, they recruited others to pray for them. They never wanted to limit what God might be pleased to do in and through them by failing to pray. And if you want all the blessing God has available, you too must pray. 

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Tuesday May 5

"In vain you rise early and stay up late...for he grants sleep to those he loves." Psalm 127:2 NIV

In western culture, we think of a day beginning when the sun comes up. But the creation account says: "The evening and the morning were the first day" (Ge 1:5 NKJV). Each day began with evening. Author Eugene Peterson noted that in this way, the biblical writers help us to remember: "Everything doesn't depend on me. I go to sleep; God goes to work. It's His day. the world keep spinning, tides ebb and flow, lives begin and end even though I am not there to superintend any of it. God is present when I sleep." So, the Psalmist wrote: "In vain you rise early and stay up late, tolling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Ps 127:2 NIV). It's estimated that each year in America, 24,000 people die in car accidents caused by sleep deprivation and fatigue. So, here's how to "have a good day."  Before you go to sleep, take a few minutes to review your day with God. Seek to resolve any household conflicts before bedtime. Paul wrote: "Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil" (Eph 4:26-27 NLT). Confess any sin that comes to mind and ask for forgiveness. Where you were blessed today, take time to savor it and say thanks. In other words, give God the last word in your day. 

Written by TWFYT
Monday May 4

"Therefore be patient...until the coming of the Lord." James 5:7 NKJV

Patience, from the biblical perspective, embodies these four things: (1) Confidence in God's unfailing love and faithfulness to us: "His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness" (Lam 3:22-23 NKJV). (2) Confidence that He will keep His promises to us: "There has not failed one word...which He promised" (1Ki 8:56 NKJV). (3) Confidence that He has everything that concerns us under control: "The Lord will vindicate me" (Psalm 138:8 NIV). (4) Confidence that even in the most difficult of circumstances, He is working for our good. "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God" (Ro 8:28 NKJV). Confidence in God enables us to live by the Word: "He that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa 28:16 KJV). Impatience is at the root of so many of our failures. Hence the apostle James wrote: "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord." Look at Simon Peter: He came close to committing murder in the garden of Gethsemane in a vain attempt to protect Jesus (see Jn 18:10). Look at Abraham: His impatience caused him to strike the rick instead of speaking to it as God commanded; hence he forfeited the Promised Land (see Nu 20:2-13). Look at Abraham: His impatience while waiting for God's promise of a son to be fulfilled led to the birth of Ishmael and serious complications in the family (see Ge 16:1-16). Hence Paul wrote: "Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Ro 15:4 NKJV). So, the word for you today is—exercise patience!

Written by TWFYT
Sunday May 3

"Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" Amos 3:3 NLT

Here are three things you should be clear about before you commit to a lifetime relationship in marriage: (1) Does your partner have a strong relationship with Christ? "Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" (Amos 3:3 NLT). To stay together, you must walk in step and in the same direction. (2) Is your partner growing spiritually? "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pe 3:18 NIV). If you are not growing together, you will eventually grow apart. Looks may bring you together, but a shared faith and values will keep you together for the long haul. (3) What kind of family background does your partner have? God can help us overcome our handicaps caused by family dysfunction. But you need to know what you are dealing with before you vow to love one another "For better or for worse." Paul wrote: "Carry each other's burdens...this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2 NIV). But you need to know upfront what those burdens are before committing to a lifetime of helping to share them. Do you know about your partner's past relationships? "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2Co 5:17 NIV). But that doesn't mean you can cover up the past or lie about it. Mutual transparency is the name of the game! When you know the whole truth about one another, the past loses its power to sabotage your present and your future. No spouse is perfect, but don't settle for less than God's best.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday May 2

"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26 NKJV

Some of the world's greatest achievers went through life with physical disabilities and overcame incredible adversities. Sir Walter Scott was crippled. John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, was imprisoned. George Washington, America's first president, almost froze and starved to death in the snows of Valley Forge. Abraham Lincoln ended the scourge of slavery in America, yet he was raised in abject poverty and died prematurely from an assassin's bullet. British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli was subject to bitter religious prejudice. Franklin D. Roosevelt was struck down with infantile paralysis. Ludwig van Beethoven became deaf. Glen Cunningham, an Olympic runner holding many world records, had his legs badly burned in a school fire. Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman, Marion Anderson, Enrico Caruso was from a large, poor Italian family where only a few children survived past infancy. Itzhak Perlman, concert violinist, was paralyzed from the waist down at age four. In the eyes of his father and family, biblical David wasn't considered worthy to be Israel's because of his violation of Bathsheba. Yet God referred to him as "a man after my own heart" (Ac 13:22 NIV). And here's what David said about God: "My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...I have put my trust in the Lord God" (Ps 73:26, 28 NKJV). The word for you today is: with God's help, you'll succeed.

Written by TWFYT
Friday May 1

"Truly my soul silently waits for God." Psalm 62:1 NKJV

The contemplative pathway. If you relate to God best through the contemplative pathway, you love large blocks of quietness and uninterrupted time alone. It is very likely that when you were a child, your parents would tell you to go outside and play with other kids more. Reflection comes naturally to you. You often feel like an observer in life. Here are some Scriptures you easily identify with: "Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Selah" (Ps 4:4 NKJV). "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret" (Ps 37:7 NKJV). "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps 46:10 NKJV). "Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation." God is most present to you as you pray. If you get busy or spend too much time with too many people hanging around, you begin toffee drained and stretched thin. You do not require much external stimulation. Making time to listen to God in silence and solitude is vital to the health  of your soul, and it's necessary for you to experience a deepening sense of His presence. You need regular, protected, intense undistracted time alone. But here's a word of caution: And love takes time and effort. Sometimes it requires sacrifice. One of the best ways to show your love for God is to show it to the people around you whom God loves. 

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Thursday April 30

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your mights." Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV

The activist pathway. When you're on this spiritual pathway, you have a high level of energy. This may be one of your favorite Scriptures: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." But one of the dangers of relating to God best through the activist pathway is that a big chunk of your motivation can be self-fulfillment and self-satisfaction. Hence Paul wrote: "Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church" (1Co 14:12 NLT). When you an activist, you love a fast-paced, problem-filled, complex, strenuous way life. At the end of the day, you want to be able to say, "I ran really hard. I used every ounce of effort and zeal at my disposal, and it's all for You, God." One biblical example of an activist is Nehemiah. When he heard that the walls of his beloved Jerusalem were in ruins, he wept, he prayed, he petitioned the king for the resources to rebuild them, and then he rolled up his sleeves and went to work. If you are an activist, you need a cause. Without it, your spiritual life will stagnate. But here is a word of caution: Don't get so excited about your cause that you run over people or exploit them. And here's another word of caution: If you are an activist, you may have a hard time discerning God's true calling from your own strong impulses to action. If that's the case, take added time to pray and hear from God and have a qualified friend in your life whose counsel you trust.

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday April 29

"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'" Psalm 122:1 NKJV

The worship pathway. When you're on the worship pathway, you resonate with the Psalmist: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house the Lord.'" Something deep inside you feels released when praise is given. Your heart opens up and you come alive. You find yourself in tears, sometimes moments of deep joy, because God seems so close. But here are two cautions if you're on this pathway: (1) Don't judge people who are not as outwardly expressive as you. Some of them grew up in churches where no one raised a finger, let alone a hand on worship. (2) Guard against  an experience-based spirituality that has you always looking for the next "worship high." C.S. Lewis wrote about that fatal sin of saying, "Encore!" by demanding that God reproduced an experience to an emotion. He said that of all prayers, this may be the one God is least likely to grant because it can lead us to worship an experience rather than the God to whom our experience points. Music, for instance, can be a great gift to worship. But because music affects our feelings so powerfully, we can grow dependent on it to produce a certain emotional response. In this case, you may need to spend some time worshiping God without music, so that your worship is based on who God is and not a matter of getting swept up in certain sounds. Also, you may need yo engage more in Bible study so that you heart is deeply rooted in the knowledge of God.

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday, April 28

"I thought about my ways." Psalm 119:59 NKJV

The serving pathways. On the serving pathway, you find God's presence seems most tangible when you're helping others. You identify with the words of Jesus: "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these...you did it to Me" (Mt 25:40 NKJV). And you may find that you are uncomfortable in a setting where you don't have a role to play or a service to perform. An example of this would be Dorcas, whom the Bible says, "was full of good works and charitable deeds" (Ac 9:36 NKJV). Mother Teresa would be a modern counterpart to Dorcas. She said the primary reason she was so involved in serving was not that it was something when she was alone; but that it brought her joy. She often felt her own inadequacy when she was alone; but she never felt the presence of Jesus more strongly than in the presence of those she served. President Jimmy Carter has probably inspired more people as though such channels as Habitat for Humanity. People on this pathway find that if they're just attending church but have no place to serve, God begins to feel distant. They need to be "plugged in." Two dangers faced if you are in the serving pathway are: (1) You will be caught up in being God's servant and forget that you're His beloved and redeemed child. Hence you have to stretch by learning to receive live as well as to offer it. 

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Monday April 27

"Make me walk in the path of Your commandments." Psalm 119:35 NKJV

The relational pathway. People who follow the relational pathway find that they have a deep sense of God's presence when they are involved in significant relationships. Jesus' words, "For when two three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Mt 18:20 NKJV), makes perfect sense to the relational type. If you are on the relational pathway, you may feel guilty when you hear other people speak of long periods of solitude with God and think: "Solitude wouldn't be so bad if I could just bring a bunch of other people along." You have often experienced key spiritual moments, such as being convicted of sin or being encouraged to persevere, as God speaks to you through other people. You are much more apt to practice prayer or acts of servanthood when you can do it in a relational context. When you are on the relational pathway, you tend to hear God speak to you more in a conversation than from a book. And you stagnate spiritually to the degree that you feel isolated. But there are two dangers you must guard against. One is superficiality—getting spread so thin relationally that no one gets past your external self to know you and love you and challenge you deeply. The second is becoming so dependent on the thoughts and counsel of others that you don't develop the sensitivity and ability to hear God for yourself. "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left" (Isa 30:21 NKJV).

Written by TWFYT
Sunday April 26

"Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!" Psalm 119:5 NKJV

A spiritual pathway has to do with the way you most naturally sense God's presence and experience spiritual growth. We all have at least one pathway that comes most easily to us. And there's enormous freedom in identifying and embracing your spiritual pathway. It means you can focus on relating to God in that way. For the next few days, let's looks at some different spiritual  pathways and see which one's yours. First let's examine the intellectual pathway. When you are on this pathway, you draw closer to God as you learn more about Him. You love to study Scripture. When you go to church, you often find yourself marking time during the musical worship until the sermon starts. When you are faced with a crisis or a spiritual challenge, you tend to go into analytic, problem-solving mode. You identify with the words of Jesus when He said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your...mind" (Lk 10:27 NKJV). The danger of this pathway lies in becoming all head and no heart. Dallas Willard once observed that it is extremely difficult to be right and not to hurt everybody with it. That's why Paul wrote: "Knowledge puffs up while love builds up" (1Co 8:1 NIV). The New Living Translation says: "While knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes" (1Co 8:1-3 NLT). So be sure your growth in knowledge is balanced with growth in humility and love.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday April 25

"I have the right  to do anything'...but not everything is beneficial." 1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV

God can deliver you from anything in a single day, but you've got to back it up with daily discipline. If you don't practice spiritual discipline day in and day out, your deliverance will be short-lived. You'll fall back into whatever it was that God delivered you from. Anybody can set a life goal; the hard part is going after it every day. You get into shape one workout at a time. You get out of debt one paycheck at a time! Notice that Paul didn't just say, "Walk not after the flesh"; he also held the battle. The other half is deciding you are for something. Dallas Willard once said, "Not going to London or Atlanta is a poor plan for going to New York." That's obvious, but that's how many of us approach spiritual formation. We try to not sin by not sinning. But if you're focused on what you shouldn't do—you probably won't do what you should. Jesus said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mt 16:18 KJV). Jesus didn't say you will build your church. It's not yours; it's His. And that goes for your business, your school, your family, etc. It's not yours; it's His. So, the pressure is off you. And if you're focused on walking on obedience, he will fight your battles!

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Friday April 24

"By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish." Hebrews 11:31 NKJV

Much could be said about Rahab without mentioning her profession. She was a Canaanite. She provided cover for the spies of Joshua. She came to believe in the God of Abraham before she ever met the children of Abraham. She was spared in the destruction of her city. She married a contemporary of Joshua's, bore a son named Boaz, had a great-grandson named Jesse, a great-great-grandson named David, and a descendant named Jesus. Yes, Rahab's name appears on the family tree of the Son of God. Her résumé needn't mention her profession. Yet in five of the eight appearances in Scripture, she's called a "harlot." Five! It's even attached to her name in the book of Hebrews' Hall of Faith (chapter 11). The list includes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses—and then, all of a sudden, "the harlot Rahab." No asterisk, no footnote, no apology. Her history is part of her testimony. "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish." Think about this carefully: her profession of faith mattered more than her profession as a harlot. Maybe your past pedigree is one of violence and you ancestry one of rebellion. If so, then Rahab is your model. We don't drop scarlet cords from our windows, but we trust in the crimson thread of Christ's blood. We don't prepare for the coming of a Hebrew army, but we live with an eye toward the second coming of our Joshua—Jesus Christ. And the God who redeemed and redirected Rahab will do the same for you of you surrender your life to Him.

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Thursday April 23

"Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us." 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NLT

In his class book called Prayer, Dr. O. Hallesby wrote: "Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only those who are helpless can truly pray...Prayer therefore consists simply in telling God day by day in what ways we feel helpless. We are moved to pray every time the Spirit of God...emphasizes anew to us our helplessness, and we realize how impotent we are by nature to believe, to love, to hope, to sacrifice, to suffer, to read the Bible, to pray, and to struggle against our sinful desires." Now let's be clear: Feeling helpless is different from feeling hopeless or worthless; it's simply acknowledging our total dependence on God. Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5 NKJV). God will never give you an assignment that does not require His input, His favor, and His enabling grace. Every action of God in your life is designed to increase, not decrease, your dependence on Him. If you can do it without God, you should stop and ask yourself, "Is this truly of God?" Paul wrote: "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification does from God. He had enabled us" (2Co 3:4-6 NLT). David enjoyed all the privileges of being a king, yet he wrote: "I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my helper and y deliverer" (Ps 40:17 NKJV). So, the word for you today is - never, ever, lose your sense of dependence on God.

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday April 22

"Jonathan...David's brother, killed him." 2 Samuel 21:21 NIV

After David killed Goliath, four other men, including his nephew Jonathan, killed giants that rose up against the Israelites. "In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty four in all. He was also descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him" (2Sa 21:20-21 NIV). David had raised the bar. Witnessing the defeat of what others had previously deemed impossible gave them strength to overcome their own giants. Until 1954, no one had ever run a mile in under four minutes, and most people assumed it was virtually impossible. But on May 6, 1954, at an Oxford University track meet, Roger Bannister completed the distance in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. He had slain the giant. Two months later, Australian John Lady broke Bannister's record, proving that the four-minute mile was as much a psychological as a physical barrier. In the first half of the twentieth century, many people attempted to climb Mount Everest and failed. It was the unconquerable giant in the world of mountain climbers. On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, were the first humans to reach the summit. Since then, over seven thousand climbers, ranging from age thirteen to eighty, have competed the expedition. David, Bannister, and Hillary all conquered giants of their day and inspired others to match and excel in their feats. You do yourself and others a disservice when you run from your giant. You need to stop being afraid to tackle hard takes and reming yourself, "If God did it before, He can do it again, and if He did it for others, He can do it for me."

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday April 21

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Pslam 118:8-24 NKJV

the greatest moment in your life is now. Not because it's pleasant or happy or easy, but because it's the only moment you've got. Every past moment is irretrievably gone. It's never coming back. If you live there, you lose your life. And the future is always out there somewhere. You can spend an eternity waiting for tomorrow or worrying about tomorrow. If you live there, you likewise will lose your life. This moment is God's irreplaceable gift to you. Most of all, this is the moment that matters because this is the moment where God is. If you are going to be with God at all, you must be with Him now—in this moment. That is why the Psalmist says: "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." That is why the prophet Jeremiah said God's mercies never fail because "they are new every morning" (Lam 3:23 NKJV). That is why the apostle Paul said, "Be careful how you live...Make the most of every opportunity...Understand what the Lord wants you to do
 (Eph 5:15-17 NLT). Frederick Buechner wrote, "Morning, afternoon, evening—the hours of the day, of any day, of your day and my day. The alphabet of grace. If there is a God who speaks anywhere, surely he speak here: through waking up and working, through going away and coming back again, through people you meet and books you read, through falling asleep in the dark." All of this means one thing—the greatest moment in your life is now.

Written by TWFYT
Monday April 20

"O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!" Habakkuk 3:2 NKJV

The Bible likens the Christian life to a marathon. The writer of the book of Hebrews said: "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with the endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured" (Heb 12:1-2 NKJV). Paul wrote the Philippian believers: "There is one thing I always do. Forrgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me" (Php 3:13-14 NCV). Chances are you aren't at the starting line, nor are you at the finishing tape. You're somewhere in the middle. When running a race, the start is always filled with such enthusiasm and energy. And the finish holds such promise as we run the final stretch and reach our goal. But the middle of the race—when we are long past the start and not sure how far away the finish might be—is what often tests us. That's why the prophet Habakkuk wrote: "O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!" It's in "the midst" or the middle of the race that we need encouragement that we need our second wind, and that we need to refocus on the prize that awaits us. Those who have run before us have passed the baton through the centuries, from generation to generation—without dropping it. What are you to do? Take the baton, run and keep running!

Written by TWFYT
Sunday April 19

"For God does speak...in a dream." Job 33:14-15

God is the giver of dreams. "For God does speak...In a dream, in a vision...when deep sleep falls on people" (vv. 14-15 NIV). Unless you want the rest of your life being unfulfilled and uninspired, take your dream out of the closet and blow the dust off. It's easy to get caught up in the "have tos" of life—working, caring for children, spouses, and aging parents; taking care of homes, etc. But you must believe that you can resurrect your life and your dreams and believe you have the ability to tap into the enthusiasm you once felt for life. You must have the courage to face the disappointments of the past, take a good look at how you got off the path, and see where you are headed. Then you have to silence the voice in your head that says: "This is all there is. Who are you to want more from life? You can't do it, it's too late for you." We give up on our dreams because we think that's what grownups are supposed to do. But as we mature, we realize that reaching for our dreams is what makes us feel alive. The truth is that with love, prayer, and great attention, your dream, like Lazarus, can be resurrected (see Jn 11:43). The secret of recapturing dreams is to enjoy the pursuit of the dream rather than focus on the outcome. Achievement in this case is not about position, fame, or financial compensation, but about doing what you love. That's what Jesus promised: "I am come that they might have life, and...have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:10 KJV).

Written by TWFYT
Saturday April 18

"Whatever things are...of good report...meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Marcial Losada is an organizational psychologist who studies the power of positivity. He argues that we need a negative feedback loop to survive. Without midcourse corrections, we mindlessly make the same mistakes. But if you want to thrive, you also need a positive feedback loop. His studies have produced what is known as the Losada ratio: it's the ratio of positive feedback to negative feedback in a system. It doesn't matter whether that system is a church, a family, or your workplace, there needs to be at least 2.9 positive feedback's for every one negative. So what's your ratio as a spouse, a parent, a worker, a friend? Part of the reason for the disparity id that negative feedback tends to carry more weight and last longer, so it has to be counterbalanced. A pretty good rule of thumb is this: dish out three compliments for every complaint. Instead of looking for faults, train yourself to catch people doing things right. And here are a few more things you can do to stay positive. (1) memorize and meditate on the promises of God's Word and anchor yourself to them. (2) Keep a gratitude journal. It will let you know how blessed and how well-off you are. (3) Cultivate the habit of sending a heartfelt note to people you appreciate. It'll only take you two minutes, but you can make someone's day, or even someone's year. (4) Find a way to share "wins" with your family and your workplace. It has the power to shift the focus and shift the culture. It'll also anchor you to your kids and to your colleagues in a powerful new way.