Navigate: Finding Your Way In This World

By Jay Lowder

Each of us longs for purpose, significance, and meaning in our lives. This devotional book is a tool to aid you in growing and strengthening your relationship with Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949709810

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Go and Sin No More

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.

John 8:10-11

The Jerusalem mob is condemning, evil, and thirsty for the blood of an innocent person and willing to pawn anything to entrap them in their murderous plot. Philosopher Gustave Le Bon stated in his revealing book entitled, The Crowd, that individuals in a crowd will often participate in that which they would never engage on their own and lose all sense of conscious right or wrong.

The searching need for true love and well-being of the woman is as meaningless to the mobsters as justice. In their eyes, she is an irrelevant casualty. Caught in a stolen embrace of adultery, she is dragged out of the arms of her fake lover and thrown into the vicious circle of a pack of wolves dressed in human skin. Tragically, she has been lied to and used as a pawn to entrap the God-man, the very person who would deliver her. Most of you know the story from here. The wolves demand her to be stoned according to law and prepare to crush her skull with stones. Fully aware of Jesus’ compassion for sinners, they inquired what His verdict would be. They think their plot is foolproof. If Jesus says not to kill her, then He violates the law and appears as one who validates adultery. If He endorses her slaughter, He will be seen as one without compassion.

Jesus tells the crowd that the innocent should be the first to throw a stone, and judgmental feet begin shuffling away. Grace, forgiveness, and the instruction to sin no more collide. Jesus doesn’t condemn her but bathes her in a love that is inspiring sinners two millennia later. Hope is given birth, to you and me, that scarlet sins can be washed whiter than snowflakes.

How many times have you been in the circle of fault-finders who accuse, use, and abuse you?

On the flip side, how many times have you been the one pointing the finger at someone else’s sin?

May we seek forgiveness for our criticism of others and ask God to enable us to forgive those who have criticized us.

Jesus gave us the example of love and compassion to follow. Let’s go and sin no more!

How to Make Jesus Your Own

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Do you believe that the gift of Jesus Christ is yours, free for the taking? What more could He do than to send His precious Son to die in your place so that you could live forever with Him? Scripture is clear: what you need is to agree to take this gracious offer (gift) of a loving God, who has already done everything for you, and make it your own. Place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ today, by believing in Him. This makes the gift yours (John 3:36)! There is nothing you can do to earn it; it is completely free for the taking.

It says in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son and whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Bible tells us that it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and it’s not of ourselves, but a gift from God and there is nothing that we could do to earn it.

Scripture says that there is no other name under heaven in which we can be saved except through Jesus (Acts 4:12).

The Bible tells us in Acts 16:31 to believe on the Lord Jesus and we will be saved, and so will our household.

In John 3:36 it says that if we believe in the Son, we will have everlasting life, and if we don’t believe in the Son, then we shall not see life, but instead the wrath of God.

All you have to do is accept the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only way you can receive eternal salvation. Don’t hesitate or wait until tomorrow, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. Accept this precious gift by calling out to Him in prayer and inviting Him into your life!

Have You Left Jesus Behind?

When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it.

Luke 2:43

After the birth of Jesus, we really don’t know anything about His life, until He was twelve years old and went missing in Jerusalem. In Luke 2:41-48 (NIV) it states, Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’

As a parent, I can understand the fear and panic of losing a child. Most of us have experienced the temporary scare of our children wandering off or missing in Walmart or the mall. And usually, we blame the child, just like Mary did: Why did you do this…don’t you know you scared us to death? Could it have been that Mary and Joseph were so caught up in their own activities, celebrating the festival that they overlooked the fact that Jesus was nowhere to be found? How often does this happen to us? We get so busy or caught up in our own life or our own interests that we run off and forget Jesus. How long does it take us to notice that Jesus is no longer around? It took them a day before they realized that He wasn’t among them and three days to find Him. I would like to think it only takes a day before I realize that I have left Jesus and have gone about my own business, but often it might take days, weeks, or even months. We need to be quick to return to the last place that we saw God. When was the last time that you connected to Christ? Have you run off and left Him, or is He there walking beside you each day in every task you do?

Damaged Goods

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Have you ever felt like you were damaged goods? We often get in a mindset of feeling like we are no longer good or that God has put us on the shelf, due to life circumstances or the distance we feel between God and us. I am sure you have seen the clearance aisles at the grocery store or Walmart. Have you ever come across the basket of damaged goods? Some of the contents have beaten-up cans or containers, but yet the label remains intact. Others have the labels removed with the big black X marked on them. Some are just simply missing the label, but you can’t decide which label belongs to the particular can you have picked up, because there are a ton of discarded labels lying around in the basket.

Many people would not purchase these items due to the damage or lack of label. These items are a good representation of the people all around you. Have you ever looked at someone or had them look at you like you were damaged or not good enough? Has someone ever given you a label that did not belong? Or have you ever judged someone without giving them a try? Inside all these containers are perfectly good food, but they have been discarded to the clearance rack because they are not wrapped up in a pretty package for all to see. Many people will not give them a second glance or even a thought – just like many people will not give other people who are not wrapped in that pretty package, one.

I love the way The Message reads for Psalm 34:18: If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. If you are broken (or damaged) and you feel like you’ve been all beat up and even kicked in the gut, God will be right there and even help you catch your breath. Remember, your true value, and the value of others, is not in the outside appearance. Remove the label and look on the inside to see the true value of the contents; something wonderful is on the inside of each damaged good.

Zeroes to Heroes

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. He said to him, Follow Me. So he arose and followed Him.

Matthew 9:9

Throughout the Bible and, frankly, throughout history, there are numerous accounts of how Jesus transformed someone’s life. Jesus sees the potential in each of us, and if willing, He can completely change our world. That is what He did for a man named Levi (later called Matthew). Jesus completely turned Levi’s life around.

Levi was a tax collector, and by the history of what we know about the people who were tax collectors in those days, it appears that Levi was probably dishonest and driven by greed. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all give the same account of the call of Levi, and the details are minimal. What we do know is that Levi had a tax booth by the highway in Capernaum where he was collecting taxes on goods that were probably brought by the farmers, merchants, and caravans. We also know that Levi ran with a rough crowd, because on the same day that he decided to follow Jesus, he threw a great farewell feast in his home in Capernaum, inviting his friends so they could meet Jesus too. In Matthew 9:9, it refers to Levi’s friends as many tax collectors and sinners.

Despite his sinful past, Matthew was chosen to be a disciple. Some would consider it scandalous for Jesus to pick a tax collector as one of His closest followers, but Matthew displayed one of the most radically changed lives in the Bible, as a response to the invitation from Jesus to follow Him. He did not hesitate; he did not look back. He jumped up and left behind a life of wealth and security for uncertainty and possibly poverty. He abandoned the pleasures of this world for the promise of eternal life. This account of Matthew shows us that even though he had wealth and many friends, he wasn’t completely content with his lifestyle; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so willing to just jump up and leave it all behind. He must have thought: There’s got to be more to life than this dead-end job. What is my purpose here? And when Jesus said, Follow Me, he must’ve known that if he wanted something better from life, this might be his only shot.

Matthew demonstrates how our own response to Jesus’ call should be. We should not hesitate or care about the things of this world, but instead, just get up and follow Him. It also shows us that God can use anyone to help Him in His work. We should not let our insecurities or lack of qualifications hold us back. It shouldn’t matter what our appearance is, or our education level, or even our past. Jesus looks for sincere commitment. He took Levi, the tax collector, and transformed him into Matthew, the follower of Christ – a man who helped lead many to Him. Jesus can turn a zero into a hero by just saying, Follow Me.

When Everybody Thinks You’re Crazy

Thus Noah did: according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 6:22

Has God ever told you to do something that seemed outlandish or crazy? Did you do it? God’s not going to tell you to do something that is unethical, immoral or against His biblical principles, but He will ask you to do things that might embarrass you or that are beyond your limits and capabilities. Noah saved his entire family by trusting and obeying God. I am sure people made fun of him or questioned why he was doing what he did. But he did it anyhow.

I know when God called me to go into full-time evangelism with no money and no Bible college or seminary experience, not only did everybody else think I was crazy, I thought I was crazy. I got a call one Saturday evening from Freddie Gage, one of the few full-time evangelists during that time, saying he had a job for me, but he couldn’t pay. I would have to raise my own money for travel and needed to be in North Carolina in six days and somewhere else the week after that and so on.

I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had about $100 to my name so I couldn’t even get to the first place, much less anywhere else, but I knew this is what God wanted me to do. I stayed up all night worrying/praying. So the next morning, I was tired and late to church. I normally sat on the second row, but since I was late, I sat at the back. I sat next to a guy I who had given his testimony several months prior. During the welcome time, I greeted him and told him that I had enjoyed his testimony and he asked if I was the guy who had been ministering on the streets of downtown. I confirmed it was me, and he asked if I had any specific prayer requests. I told him my situation and the opportunity and asked him for financial prayers.

That night the man couldn’t sleep. God laid me on his heart and told him that he needed to help me. The next morning, he called me down to his office and told me what had happened. He said he made a list of about 6-7 businessmen we can go see. We went right then, without any appointments! Six out of the seven men gave, and I had the money within 48 hours, and this continued for two years straight! When I was obedient and told Freddie Gage that I would be there, God worked a mighty miracle on my behalf. I am in full-time evangelism to this day. That was twenty-eight years ago.

What seemed impossible and crazy to me, actually was God formulating a plan that I would always remember during the tough days ahead. I will never forget that it was God who called me and orchestrated each step along the way. By obeying God, my entire future was changed, as well as the lives of millions around the world.

Summoned by the King

Then Ziba said to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.

2 Samuel 9:11

Jonathan and David had a powerful bond that went beyond the grave. They had a covenant between them that extended to their descendants. Jonathan made David promise that if he protected him from the wrath of his father, Saul, David would in turn show kindness and protection to his family in the future. David later became king and fulfilled his commitment to Jonathan by showing kindness to Jonathan’s descendants.

David sent his servants out to find any of Jonathan’s relatives that he could bless; anybody – he didn’t make any requirements or judgments on who they should find. He was willing to bless anyone who was from Jonathan’s household. Jonathan had only one living relative, Mephibosheth. When Mephibosheth was a child, his father and grandfather were killed, and he was taken by his nanny into hiding for his protection because it was customary for the new king to kill all of the previous king’s descendants. As they were running for protection, Mephibosheth was dropped and became lame and was crippled in both feet.

He had been in hiding for many years at a place called Lo Debar (meaning a barren wilderness for hiding or cover). When they found Mephibosheth, not only was he in hiding, but he was crippled, broken, and devastated about the past, present, and future. He was hopeless.

Then out of nowhere, the king summoned him. I am sure he was worried that he had been discovered and now would be put to death. Instead, he ended up at the palace before the king being treated like a son. David showed him kindness, fed him, and restored his status or standing in the community. He provided land, servants, and everything that a son of the king would be entitled to. Mephibosheth said to David, Who am I that you would notice a dead dog? Mephibosheth didn’t understand David’s bond or commitment to his father or why David would do such a thing. He was adopted into the king’s family and treated like royalty.

This story is an example of what Jesus has done for us. We are Mephibosheth – a broken, crippled, and devastated person in hiding, without hope. And then, one day, the King summoned us. He brought us to His table and provided for us. He treated us like His son or daughter and restored us. Where would we be if Jesus hadn’t made that covenant for us? What if we hadn’t been summoned by the King? Where would we be? Would we still be in that barren wilderness, hiding out without hope for the future? Just like Mephibosheth, we don’t deserve anything, but thankfully, for some unthinkable or unimaginable reason, we were summoned by King Jesus and adopted into His family!

When God Says Too Much

Then the Lord said to Gideon, By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.

Judges 7:7

Gideon conquered the Midianite camp with an army of 300 men, empty jars, torches, trumpets, and a yell. What seemed impossible to many people, including Gideon, was accomplished through the Lord. The Lord told Gideon that he had too many men. If He allowed Gideon to conquer Midian with these men, they would think it was by their own hand. God wanted the glory, and He knew that unless it were an impossible feat, the Israelites would try to take the credit. Gideon’s army consisted of 30,000 men. God asked him to send anyone home who was afraid, leaving only 10,000 men. But still, this was too many men for God to truly get the glory, so He cut the army down even more. Anyone who got down on their hands and knees to drink from the stream was sent home, leaving only 300 men to fight the Midianites. Wow, 30,000 men to 300?! That seems bizarre. How could 300 men defeat the Midianites when 30,000 could not? It just didn’t make sense. The Lord is not interested in doing anything in anyone’s life that can be attributed to them! Gideon’s trust in God must have been extremely high because what He asked him to do next would have had most people wondering, Am I truly hearing from God?

God had Gideon go down into the enemy’s camp to prove He was going to deliver them into the Israelites’ hands. Gideon went down there knowing that he could be killed if caught, but Gideon trusted God. When he arrived, he overheard two men discussing a dream that one of these Midianites had. The other Midianite interpreted the dream, saying that the sword of Gideon was going to destroy them, and God was giving them over to the Israelites.

Often, we find encouragement in the camp of the enemy or among our troubles and problems. This got Gideon excited, and he went back to the Israelite camp and began to tell all his men. His followers must have thought: Seriously?! You want us to believe that we are going to destroy the Midianites because of some guy’s dream or because you think you heard from God? Never doubt in the dark what God taught you in the light! Some probably thought it was a coincidence that Gideon heard that man’s dream and criticized Gideon’s decisions. Often, we call things coincidence that we cannot explain. Be careful or cautious of disregarding things as coincidence when it is really God directing your life.

The Rest of the Story

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prohet, Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make people trust in a lie. Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.’

Jeremiah 28:15-16

"For 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" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). This is one of the most quoted verses from the Bible; even non-believers can quote it. It graces the walls of people’s houses and is widely displayed across the shirts of many believers. Many people get excited because they are looking for prosperity that God promises in this verse. You may be wondering, what’s wrong with applying that to our lives? Nothing is wrong with that; God loves to give good gifts to His children, but reread Jeremiah for the rest of the story.

Let’s back up and understand the story of Jeremiah, especially Chapter 28. In this chapter, a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and another prophet named Hananiah is recorded. They are standing in the Jerusalem temple, which is empty because the Babylonians had pillaged the city. Hananiah makes a bold promise: God is going to restore Israel in two years. All the things that were stolen, all the people forced into slavery, everything will be better in two short years. The tens of thousands of people living in exile will be coming home soon. Jeremiah recognized exactly what kind of promise this was and called Hananiah out on it. I think Hananiah might have even believed the promise himself. Sometimes we buy into things that sound really good and make our flesh tingle! This sounded good because it was short term and would make Hananiah and his supporters very popular, but it wasn’t true. God never made a promise to make everything better in two years, yet Hananiah still told this to the people. He received correction through Jeremiah; God said to Hananiah, You have made these people trust in a lie.

How many times do we buy into false promises? It sounds better and makes us feel good, so we grab onto it and claim it as truth. We can’t pick and choose what we want to hear in the scriptures or even in real-life conversations, but instead, take it all as a whole. We need to start reading the entire scripture for what it is. Yes, we do have hope in Jesus Christ, but there might be many tribulations before we see our breakthrough! We can rest assured in our hope in Jesus, but that doesn’t make us free from troubles.

Jesus Would Rather Hang Out with Them

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

Matthew 9:10

Often we look down our nose at others instead of reaching out in mercy or with grace. We don’t understand other people’s circumstances, lifestyles, or attitudes, but we are often quick to judge those people instead of extending mercy or grace. Several old sayings come to mind when I think of this mentality – one is the old saying that warns us not to judge a book by its cover and the other is that you never truly know someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes.

Jesus sort of said the same thing to the Pharisees in Matthew 9:10-13. Jesus was having dinner with tax collectors and outsiders, and the Pharisees couldn’t understand why Jesus would hang out with people who were known sinners – prostitutes, liars, thieves, adulterers, tax collectors, and people with all kinds of social, emotional, mental, and physical problems. After all, the Pharisees were the righteous ones who looked the right way, acted the right way, and did everything that was socially acceptable, but yet Jesus chose to associate with those who were considered outcasts.

It was something they could not wrap their righteous minds around, so they questioned Him. And Jesus replied, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners. Jesus told the Pharisees, I would rather see you extend mercy to the lost and hurting than do all these things that you think you are doing for Me. Jesus is telling them to get their pseudo righteous lives together by showing the love of Christ to others. Next time you are quick to judge or think yourself better than someone else, remember it might be there reality that Jesus would rather hang out with them!

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.

Acts 5:3-4

I can still hear the chant in my head – takes me right back to the elementary-school playground. We all have been guilty of telling a lie at some point in our lives, but thankfully it didn’t result in the consequence of death like it did for Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 5:1-11, you can read the tragic story of the couple Ananias and Sapphira who were caught in a lie by Peter after trying to deceive the Holy Spirit. This couple was living the life; they had everything they needed, and yet they schemed together to not only deceive and steal money from their community but they also lied to the Holy Spirit. They committed numerous sins in this passage, but let’s focus on these three:

Greed – The Bible has many verses on the subject of greed, but let’s look at this particular verse found in Proverbs 15:27 (ESV): Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Deception – Proverbs 12:22 (ESV) also has something to say about deception: Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. Deceptive actions eventually will deceive the one practicing them.

Impure Motives – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2, ESV). You may be doing things right, but are you doing the right things?

What exactly went wrong with Ananias and Sapphira’s story? The lie they plotted to tell was an inward lie that had already taken place in their heart against the Holy Spirit. They were trying to hold back from the Lord what He had already freely given. What are you trying to hold back from the Lord? What are you accepting or justifying as right that you know is wrong? What sin have you allowed to take up residence in your heart or mind that God wants to evict? Remember Ananias and Sapphira’s story the next time you are not willing to freely give something up for Him, and ask yourself if it is something that you would be willing to die for.

Failure

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.

Psalm 107:6

The marriage is crumbling, the finances are in ruin, the kids are twisting off, the career is in decline, or maybe trusted friends have been discovered as frauds. Everything you touch appears to be falling apart. Sleepless nights and morning discouragement make the simplest of chores, like getting out of bed, seem almost impossible. At one time, you were hopeful about the future. Optimism that once soared through your thoughts, like an eagle, has turned into a vulture of depression. Like an escaped convict, looking to hijack his next victim, failure lurks around every corner.

Do you sometimes feel like nothing more than one big failure? Do you ever wonder if God really cares about your struggle? Do you look back with regrets instead of forward with expectancy? Are you swarmed within a hive of trouble? I already know the answer to these questions, because we have all visited, rented, or moved into the No Hope hotel.

I’ve got good news! Today is checkout day, and there are no time extensions. In Isaiah 59, God makes a promise, a guarantee, that no matter what has gone wrong, He is able to rescue you. His hands are capable and eager to carry your faults, fears, and failures. In His eyes, there are no failures if forgiveness is sought. Lessons are learned, and your relationship with Him will grow. Some of your biggest struggles will be your best opportunities to experience the love He proved when He allowed His Son to be crucified in your place.

God often allows pain, because it is the only megaphone we will listen to. You can embrace hurt if God has been allowed to first embrace you. God says that He is able to hear if anyone is willing to admit their need, confess their sins, and seek His forgiveness; then He promises deliverance. You are not your failures, and your failures are not you.

Searching

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

People are searching for purpose and love, but they also want to be accepted by those around them. In one meeting years ago in Kentucky, I had a young man approach me. The young man had really thick glasses, and part of his face was missing. He began to tell me his story of loneliness and wanting to be accepted by his peers. He told me a story about his alcoholic father who often, with no intention of ever harming him, would point a gun and threaten him.

One night his father was drunk, and they had an argument, and the father had forgotten that he had loaded the shotgun and when he pulled the trigger, he shot half the young man’s face off. He was left with 10% vision in one eye and less than that in the other. The young teen didn’t want anyone to know that his dad had shot him, so he kept it confidential. The administration knew, but the students at his school did not, and because he looked so different and his face was deformed, no one would befriend him. He wasn’t looking for sympathy or sorrow – just acceptance.

We are all looking for something, and often it is something as simple as a listening ear! At a school that I spoke at, a group of girls said to me, My mom and dad talk at me, but they never talk with me. Often when there is a disagreement, we don’t allow others to speak or explain, but instead, we just lecture. There is someone who will listen and understand, and He knows every detail about your life. The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3 that if we call to Him, He will answer us, and show us great and mighty things, which we do not know. It’s a promise from God.

People want a mission, something to believe in that is much greater than themselves. Today, you can be the compass to point others toward hope and forgiveness. With a compassionate heart and a listening ear, you can help those who are hurting end their search for purpose and acceptance. Maybe you feel unqualified to help others because you have never found true meaning in life. If so, there is Someone who loves you so much that He gave His only Son for you – God the Father. There is Someone who gave His life for you – Jesus the Son. They beat Him so that you could live and you could know forgiveness and have eternity with Jesus Christ.

If today was your last day, and you stood in front of God, would He welcome you into heaven? Are you ready to stand before Christ? Have you accepted this Man who gave up everything for you? It is the only path that will satisfy your search.

Make No Mistake

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Make no mistake, we have an enemy that is seeking to devour us! In Mark 5:1-20, we see that this man was a prisoner in his own body. He lived in the cemetery – what is eerier and more filled with death than a cemetery? This man had been taken over by the powers of darkness, and the demons were so powerful that chains could not hold him. No one could subdue him. Night and day, this man was tortured and would cry out and cut himself with stones. He was trying to end his life and be freed from this hell he was living in. This poor man was being tortured by the demons, and there wasn’t anything anyone could do about it – until Jesus.

This man was living without a real reason for life. He was just a shell from which the demons could operate. I love John 1:4, it says that in Him was life, and that life was the light of men. I remember before I got saved, I was a walking dead man. I was aimless and like a ship without a rudder. Like the demon-possessed man, I was tortured by a pointless life.

Many of us are incarcerated; we may not be down in the local jail, but we are incarcerated within the four walls of our own home and sometimes even within our own body. Many of us do not even realize this, but there is a battle taking place around us. Right now, forces of good and forces of evil are at war with one another. They are trying to keep you from fully knowing Christ and walking with Him. Often, we forget, because we can’t see the battle there is a war being fought on our behalf. Ephesians 6:12 makes it very clear that there is a wrestling match taking place in the heavens. Make no mistake about it; there is an enemy who has a strategy and a plan to do everything he can do to keep you away from Jesus Christ. But remember, if you submit yourself to God and resist the devil, he will leave you alone!

Easier to Preach Truth Than to Live it

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.

John 11:20-22

Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Their brother had become very sick and they sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was deathly ill. Jesus needed to come quick, but He delayed His return. He didn’t respond immediately to the request to heal Lazarus. One of the sisters blamed Him and said, If You had come sooner, my brother wouldn’t have died. Jesus delayed His coming by design because He knew that the greater miracle would not be for Him to show up and heal Lazarus but for Him to allow Lazarus to die and then be resurrected.

Are you going through something right now in your life and you find yourself blaming God? Have you wondered why God didn’t prevent something? Why He didn’t do something the way you asked Him to? Why didn’t He protect me? If He is all- knowing and powerful, He would have shielded me from this. These are all common statements spoken from the lips of the wounded and hurting.

Problems, challenges, and pain not only reveal things about you, but they also reveal things about God. Sometimes it is during a trial that you see God do miracles in ways that you have never seen Him before. Often, we want to pray away our struggles. As weak people, we want an immediate result, or a genie-in-a-bottle type of God. It is often the lion’s den or fiery furnace where God is made famous; or the battlefields against the Goliaths where God makes himself known.

Struggles cannot only make you see God, but they can also make you question yourself. There is something in me that never feels quite satisfied and l feel like I always fall short. Despite these feelings of inadequacy, I often overestimate my faith. The last twelve months of my life have been the hardest, and I have discovered that my faith is nowhere near as strong as I thought it was. I’ve preached to millions and one thing I have learned: it’s a whole lot easier to preach truth than to live it! It’s a whole lot easier to quote scripture than it is to live them.

I responded like Mary and Martha. Like them, I believed in Jesus, readily told others about Him, but when the shadows of death covered me, I began to cast blame. Where will you stand when trouble comes knocking at your door? Will you blame God like Lazarus’ sisters? Will you stand strong in the scriptures that you have memorized and the faith that has been planted deep within you? My faith was not as strong as I thought, but it’s the only thing that got me through the storm! What will the storm reveal about you and the perception you have of God?

Stuck in a Ditch?

And he said, Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.

2 Kings 3:16-18

Have you ever been stuck in a ditch? Country life provides many opportunities to end up in one. Sometimes you are driving too fast and fishtail out of control. Other times the roads are muddy, and you slide off-course. Even out on the highways, we often end up on the side of the road with car trouble or a flat tire. Anyone who’s been in a trench will be able to relate.

In 2 Kings 3:1-27, God uses a ditch to deliver three kings and their people from the Moabites. Basically, the Moabite king, Mesha, rebelled against the king of Israel and refused to pay his regular dues that consisted of one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams. So, the king of Israel gathered the kings of Judah and Edom and their armies to fight the Moabites. Even though they were not on the best of terms with each other, they united for a common goal. We all know that there is power in unity. Time and time again in the Bible, we read how God always does something unique when people unite.

The armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom marched around the Desert of Edom for seven days, until they ran out of water. When they were stranded in the desert, the king of Israel began to complain and whine that the Lord had brought them to the desert to hand them over to the Moabites (there is always a doubter in the crowd). Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, thankfully had the sense to seek out the help of one of God’s prophets, Elisha, for the solution.

Life is often like the ditch. You get stuck in it, not able to go anywhere. It is a place of discouragement that you want to get out of. We’ve all been stuck before – sometimes by our own doing, other times by accident, or because of someone else, and then there are times God has placed us in the ditch. Ditches can come in all shapes and sizes, and you are either in one, just got out of one, or on the verge of falling into one again.

When you find yourself in one of life’s pits, are you like the king of Israel, complaining and whining? Or are you like the king of Judah, seeking out the help of God? If you are like Jehoshaphat and call upon the Lord, you will find that you get out of the ditch much faster and not near as dirty!

Locked in an Attic of Sin

At midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Acts 26:13-14

I heard a story of some people who were locked in the attic for over 20 years. During that time, they never saw the sun, except for a small light that was projected through a porthole, nor did they ever breathe fresh air. The attic became their world. When they were discovered, the air was so vile their rescuers had to tear down walls to let the air and light in and they had to bring in fans and get gas masks just to breathe. After 20 years of confinement, they didn’t realize how toxic the air was or that it was slowly killing them. When I heard this story, I immediately thought of how their story of being locked in the attic sounded like the imprisonment of sin.

When we are sinning, it’s like we too are locked in an attic. There is light and air beyond the porthole, if only we could bust out. We don’t even realize that we’re breathing putrid air and that it is slowly killing us because this has become our world. Sometimes it takes others outside our walls to break in and show us the light and fresh air that can save us.

This reminds me of Paul’s conversion in Acts 26:12-14 where it said that Paul was on his way to Damascus with authority from the chief priests when he saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around him and his companions. It says that they all fell to the ground, and Paul heard a voice saying, Saul, why do you persecute me?

Saul was going about persecuting Christians, not knowing the Light of the World. He had heard about Jesus (the Light) but had never experienced Him for himself. Saul was lost – entrapped. He went around in darkness and in sin, acting in his own knowledge and being led by Satan. That lifestyle would have eventually led to death. Saul didn’t know that there was redemption through Christ. Jesus appeared before Saul as a bright light, and Saul was forever changed. After that, his name was changed from Saul to Paul, and he went about telling others about Christ and showing them that this Light could save them. In the same way, the people in the attic were saved from a life of darkness and death; you too can be saved from a life of sin. Don’t let sin become your world when light and redemption are within reach!

It says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus.

It’s time to kick a hole in that wall of darkness and destruction and step out of that death closet into the life-giving light!

Fearless Women

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

Women of the Bible were fearless and very instrumental to the kingdom of God. Remember Pharaoh’s daughter, who saved Moses from being slaughtered like all the other male Egyptian babies (Exodus 1:15-2:10) or the midwives who put their own lives in jeopardy because they feared God and would not obey Pharaoh’s order to kill the male children? Rahab disobeyed the authorities in Jericho, and her faith saved her household (Joshua 2). Esther placed her own life on the line because she believed God could use her to turn the heart of a king and save thousands of lives (Esther 2-3). Or maybe you remember Pilate’s wife who dreamed of Jesus (Matthew 27:19) and sent her husband a message to wash his hands of this innocent man’s blood? God used many women throughout the Bible to accomplish many things for His kingdom. Many women today are confused about their role as Christian leaders.

If we examine the Proverbs 31 woman, it’s obvious that she is not a mousy housewife or a timid wallflower. She did not allow the male population to define her worth in terms of her sexuality, her appearance, her job, or her household duties. We are told that she girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms (Proverbs 31:17). This passage is not only referring to her physical strength but her strength of character and her readiness for spiritual battle. Nowhere in the Bible are women called to be weak. A careful study of women in Scripture reveals that the women who served God in their generation displayed courage, endured hardship, and exercised the kind of faith that overcomes impossible odds. Many righteous women throughout Scripture were willing to challenge injustice and held pivotal positions within the church.

Today, many Christians have viewed 1 Timothy 2:12 (where it states that a woman is not permitted to teach or to have authority over a man) as a restriction to be applied to all Christian women at all times. This common viewpoint, has cultivated an unusual fear of strong women and allowed the enemy to discourage many women who are called into a leadership position within the church. Based on biblical history, this view can’t be valid. I challenge you to study scriptures on women and ask the Holy Spirit to show you His will through the fearless women of the Bible.

Who Are You?

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Who are you? I mean, really, who are you? Not, who do people think you are? Not who do you portray yourself to be? But who are you when no one is looking? What does your character say about you? Who are you when there are no reprimands or accolades to be given? People who live in the mountains say that the best way to measure a tree is after it has been cut down. In other words, once you have been broken or cut down, we can more accurately determine who you are. The real measure of a man is evidenced after he has gone through trouble and adversity. Successful times don’t show who you really are. It’s when things get tough or don’t go your way. It’s times when no one is looking. Again, Who are you? And who do you want to be?

C. S. Lewis was quoted as saying, Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

One of the best examples