Promise for Today - A Better Approach

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.
Ephesians 6:7-8 NLT

(Devotional by Pastor Rick) Have you ever been forced to take a job you didn’t really want? Maybe you couldn’t find your dream job or financial needs made you take the job that was available but not the one you wanted. You had to settle for what you thought was best.

This was one of the many setbacks Joseph in the Bible faced—to a much greater degree than we will ever experience. Genesis 37:36 says, “Meanwhile, in Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh—the king of Egypt” (TLB). In a matter of days, Joseph went from being a pampered son in his father's home to being a slave in someone else's home in a foreign country. He was doing work he never expected to do, without having any say in the matter.

You may be in a job right now that you really don't like or don’t want to do, that you wish you didn't have to do. You wish you were doing something else somewhere else. Maybe on your worst days, it even feels like forced labor. It seems like a setback, and you don’t see an end in sight.

If that’s you, then you probably can identify with Joseph and how he felt.

But Joseph made a pretty remarkable decision: Wherever Joseph went and whatever he did, he chose to do the best he could with what he had for God. Even as a slave, away from his home, he served with his whole heart and tried to honor God with good work and good character. Joseph took the work of a slave and gave it meaning. He did this by working for God and not for his human master. He saw God as his boss, and so he gave God his best in his work. And it didn’t go unnoticed: Joseph’s excellent work stood out and led to promotions by his master that eventually landed him in the service of the king [even though he had trials along the way].

Ephesians 6:7-8 says, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do” (NLT).

No one else may notice your efforts, and you may not see your reward until you get to heaven. But your diligent, faithful work in your job will never go unnoticed by the One whose opinion matters most.

Talk It Over

Do you need someone to notice your hard work for it to be worth it to you? Why or why not?

How often do you have to make the decision to work diligently?

In what ways does staying connected to God through Bible study and prayer help you stay focused and diligent at work?

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your provision in our lives. For those of us who work outside our homes, according to Your Word, let us do all things without grumbling or disputing, that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom we will shine as lights in the world, holding fast to Your Word of life.  And let Your favor be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Request - Change of Heart

 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world...

Philippians 2:14-15 KJV

Do you ever catch yourself grumbling or complaining for no real reason? Do you get irked because somebody cuts you off in traffic or because someone needs something "right away" when you had planned that time for chilling out? 

I've found myself doing that and I don't like it. My prayer has been like the song, ♪♫ Change my heart, O God.  Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like You. ♪♫  I don't want to be a malcontent. I want to be blameless and harmless - a light in a dark world. 

What I have realized is that God is not going to change my heart by causing others to quit cutting me off in traffic. That's the way I would like for Him to do it. But no, His ways are not my ways...

It has taken me a little while to realize that God has arranged ample opportunities - a veritable onslaught of interruptions and less-than-polite drivers - so that I may be able to practice and overcome not grumbling and/or complaining, and also, to lovingly provide more opportunities to change my heart.

Prayer:
          Thank You for Your everlasting love and for the hope that we could be like You. ♪♫ Change our hearts, O God.  Make them ever true. Change our hearts, O God. May we be like You. ♪♫ In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

I Have to Do Everything

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

I don't know when it happened. I'm not even sure how it happened, I just know that I've caught myself doing it, and I don't like it. Grumbling. Complaining. Being negative. I told my sister today, that is NOT who I want to be. I have to rip out that bad seed by the root, get rid of the thorns and re-work the hardened soil of my heart and soul! Jeremiah 4:3 tells us, Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. I am thanking God this day that He shines His light on the Truth of His Word and loves me enough to correct me.

Michelle offered that we should refocus our hearts and minds by actively communicating every day what we are thankful for. Knowing my sister and I are two peas in a pod, I readily agreed with one stipulation: We have to be truly grateful, not negatively grateful. What do I mean by that? Well, none of this - "I'm grateful I didn't smack the snot out of anyone today who ticked me off, even though I had ample opportunity." To which she replied, "Yeah, I was thinking no - 'I'm so grateful God gave me good perceptive skills so I could see an idiot coming from a mile away' kind of thing, either." (Yes, you can see for yourself we needed to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God... Confessing our faults one to another, praying for one another that we might be healed.) It is God's Word - His Living Word - that changes the hearts and minds of mankind.

Yes, I have to do everything - without grumbling and complaining or arguing! We choose to control what comes out of our mouths by following Your Word, I will bless the Lord at all times: Your praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Philippians 4:7, we choose not to worry about anything, but to tell You every detail of our needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and Your peace which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over our hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. Make our hearts pure so that when we speak out of its fullness our words will be pure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Mumbling, Grumbling and Stumbling

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24,25

Ever had one of those days where nothing goes the way you had planned? That's been today. I'd like to tell you that I took it in stride, kept my peace, and kept moving forward. I'd like to, but I can't. That would be a lie.

I have mumbled, grumbled and stumbled my way through most of this day. It started when my eyes were wide open and my brain on fast-forward a few minutes before 5am. MY plan was to sleep in until at least 7. Instead of giving God thanks that for the first morning this week I was awake and ready to go, I mumbled about it. 

Instead of thanking God for the strength and health to accomplish some Harvey-related restoration tasks, I grumbled because I could not complete all of them to my satisfaction. 

I may not have physically stumbled, but I sure stumbled when it came to maintaining walking in peace. Did I stop and correct? No, I just kept pushing, trying to accomplish what I wanted to get done... what I want...what I want...

And I was reminded of what my mother would say to me as a child if I complained about not getting what I wanted. "People in hell want ice water, but they're not getting it. Life is not about what YOU want. It's about helping others."

God forgive me! I cannot help anyone if I have nothing to give in the way of God's peace and His mercy and His grace. Thankfully, I have received all in abundance - once I humbled myself under His mighty hand...

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive me for mumbling and grumbling - I have found what Your Word has to say about those. That's not who I want to be. Thank You for the promise You have given me tonight - that to You - the One who is able to keep me from stumbling and to present me before Your glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen

Worth the Effort - reposted on request

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8 KJV

It's been said that anything worth having is worth fighting for. There are several different connotations to that, but the one I'd like to focus on is the one that relates to making the extra effort to obtain and keep something of value.

Did you ever notice how easy it is to be grumpy? It takes hardly any effort at all. For some, all they have to do is open their eyes in the morning and poof! Without even trying, they're grump rumps. And have you ever noticed how contagious that can be?!? God, have mercy on us!

Recently, I was talking with someone at work and trying to get her to see the positive side of a challenge. Her response was that she was positive that it was bad and nothing good would come of it. The sad thing is - with that attitude - she's right. Nothing good will come of it, because her outlook won't allow it.

I'm not talking about living in "la-la land" or being a pollyanna. I'm talking about focusing on the goodness of God in the midst of the ugly. Life's circumstances change on a daily basis - God is eternal. His faithfulness doesn't change because the world does or people do. His pure, unselfish, never-ending love doesn't end - even in a world that for the most part doesn't want it, let alone understand it.

Whatever we focus on becomes larger, no matter what it is. Look for the good in those around you. If what they're doing is annoying and we focus on it, we're tempted to squeeze and squeeze until their little eyeballs pop right outta their head. If we focus on the wonderful, it almost threatens to overwhelm us with the "wonderfulness" of whatever it is. If you don't believe me, pay attention to yourself the next day or so. Or listen to those around you. 

Let old hurts die. Let the past go. Forgive. Quit piling up offenses by holding on. It's not Scriptural.

And finally, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on THESE things.

It won't be easy, but it'll be worth the effort.

Prayer:

Father,
       Shine Your light on our words and expose any malingering malady of grumbling. Let our focus be on You and Your Words of Light and Life, and help us walk accordingly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen