Promise for Today - Learning the Lessons

Hi! I'm back - on a (somewhat) limited basis. According to the doctor, complete healing is projected to take 3-6 months, but doctors practice medicine. Our Father is the Creator, the Great Physician, Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. And His Word is the final Word - 1 Peter 2:24 declares that Christ suffered the stripes on His back to pay for our healing, amen? So, if you'll bear with me, I will pick up with using other's encouraging words where I can copy and paste (with their permission) until my arms and hands are restored to full capacity for unlimited keyboard use. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. We don't need to always understand, but we DO need to always trust Him. His plans and timing are perfect as is everything He does. And God is faithful.

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Today's comes from Pastor Christopher Glotzbach, of Muncie, IN, USA

This morning on our way home from the gym, Brittany and I pulled out behind a truck that was going 10 MPH below the speed limit.

It should be illegal to get as annoyed as I was before 6:00 AM. But if I'm being honest, I found myself in a very judgmental place. 
Thoughts like:

"This guy shouldn't be on the road."

I was a little embarrassed by how badly I wanted to lay on the horn—just to encourage him to speed up.  But again, it was 6:00 AM.

So I slowed down and tried to be okay with not getting home as quickly as I would have liked. Then we came to the first stop sign.

He came to a complete stop and then sat there for what felt like forever before moving forward. Here comes the judgment again:

"What is going on with this dude?"

At the next stop sign, we stopped under a streetlamp and for the first time I could see the bed of his truck. It was piled high with materials. Nothing was strapped down. It looked like enough lumber and supplies to build a shed.

And then I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper something that stopped me in my tracks:

"Christopher, sometimes people are carrying heavy burdens and it requires them to move at a different pace."

Man, that was convicting. How often do I pass judgment without knowing what someone else is carrying? 

The reality is that if he had driven any faster, he would have risked losing some of that load. It could have ruined the materials—or worse, hurt someone else on the road. Suddenly, my frustration turned into gratitude. Well... for a moment.

Then I caught myself thinking, "He still could have tied it down."

Apparently the sanctification process wasn't quite finished.

But because he didn't, God used a slow-moving truck to expose something in me: how quickly I can assume, judge and criticize when I don't have the full story.

And I wonder how often we do the same thing with people.

Someone seems distant.
Someone seems slow.
Someone seems distracted.
Someone seems frustrated.
And we immediately create a story about them without knowing the burdens they're carrying.

I love what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What a beautiful invitation. When we're overwhelmed, burdened, exhausted, or carrying more than we should, Jesus invites us to come to Him. Not only that, He invites us to yoke ourselves to Him—to walk alongside Him and learn from Him.

And notice what He says we'll learn: Gentleness. Humility.

Those don't come naturally to me. Maybe they don't come naturally to you either. But Jesus says, "Learn from me."

So today my prayer is simple:

Jesus, teach me to be gentle and humble in heart. Teach me to stay tethered to You—not just on the hard days, but on the ordinary ones. The days when life is moving too slowly. The days when I'm frustrated. The days when I think I know what's going on in someone else's life.

Thank You for using a slow truck before 6:00 AM to remind me that I still have a long way to go in becoming more like You.

And thank You that Your grace meets me on that journey.

Amen

Promise for Today - The Message of Reconciliation

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV

When you want to repair a relationship that’s been damaged by conflict, you have to focus on reconciliation, not resolution. And there’s a big difference between the two. 

Reconciliation means reestablishing the relationship. It doesn’t mean you’ll remarry your ex; it just means you’re at peace with each other.

Resolution means you resolve every disagreement—and that just isn’t going to happen. The truth is, there are some things in your marriage, your friendships, and your work relationships that you’re just never going to agree on—because we’re all different. But you can disagree without being disagreeable. That’s called maturity. That’s called wisdom. That’s called being like Christ.

We can have unity without uniformity. We can walk hand in hand together without seeing eye to eye. My wife, Kay, and I have been married for decades, and we don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. But we walk hand in hand and support each other. We are at peace.

Here’s what I’ve learned from counseling married couples: If you focus on restoring your relationship, oftentimes the issues become insignificant. How many of your biggest arguments were over the smallest things? We fight about so many little things, but, in reality, the fights aren’t even about those things—they’re about bigger issues. Instead of trying to agree on every little issue, you need to get back to focusing on the relationship.

There’s a lot of conflict around us. Our world is filled with division, arguments, prejudice, racism, and partisanism. And as a result, we have broken relationships. We have broken economies, broken governments, broken marriages, broken lives, and broken hearts.

I challenge you as a believer to commit to becoming an agent of reconciliation in a world filled with conflict. Look for ways to bring people together rather than tear them apart.

Today's verses, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 in The Message, read, "All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them."

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a ministry of reconciliation. It’s your job to go out in society and say, “God’s done everything to put you back in fellowship with him. He’s already paid for all your sins. You don’t have to be his enemy. He’s not mad at you. He’s mad about you.”

Be reconciled to God. Be at peace with God. Then spread that peace - His peace - to everybody else.

Talk It Over

What is an area of disagreement in one of your relationships that you have not been able to resolve?

What steps can you take to focus more on reconciling that relationship instead of attempting to resolve the issue?

How can you work to become an agent of reconciliation right where you are in your family, work, and community?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          You are the healer of broken hearts and the restorer of peace. Where there has been hurt, bring understanding. Where there has been distance, draw us closer. Soften our words, open our ears, and guide our steps toward one another. Help us to see through eyes of compassion, to speak with gentleness, and to forgive as freely as You forgive us. Let pride give way to humility, and bitterness to grace. May Your love be the bridge that reconnects us, and Your peace the foundation on which we rebuild. With You, we seek healing, and in Your strength, we choose to love again. Help us, O God; in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Teachable Spirit

A woman of gentle grace gets respect. 

Proverbs 11:16 (MSG)

No matter where you want to be a leader—in church, government, business, home, school, or your community—you first have to be gentle. The Message paraphrase says, “A woman of gentle grace gets respect” (Proverbs 11:16)—and that’s true for men too. Gentleness leads to respect, and no one can truly lead without being respected. Gentleness is a prerequisite to leadership. 

Jesus was “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29 NIV). He was strong in every way. He could make arrogant leaders speechless and overturn tables in the temple. But he never lost his temper. He kept his strength under control. He was gentle.

Other than Jesus, Moses is one of the few people in the Bible described as deeply humble—the kind of humility that shows up as gentleness. You probably think of Moses as a strong leader. He took on Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world at the time, and demanded that Pharaoh let God’s people go. Moses had nothing but God on his side—and that was enough for him. But before Moses was a leader, Moses was gentle.

Here’s what the Bible says about Moses: “Now the man Moses was very humble (gentle, kind, devoid of self-righteousness), more than any man who was on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3 AMP). But it’s likely that gentleness didn’t come naturally for Moses. His persistent sin was uncontrolled anger; he had a violent temper, and he had trouble managing it.

One time Moses got so angry that he killed an Egyptian. Another time, when Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments, he found the Hebrew people worshiping an idol. He was so angry that he threw down the Ten Commandments and broke them. And anger kept Moses from entering the Promised Land.

So how could the guy who had a lifelong problem with anger be the only one in the Bible besides Jesus who is called gentle? Because Moses was teachable. When people spoke to him about areas of his life that needed changing, it didn’t make him angry. Instead, he learned from them. Because he was gentle,  that gentleness earned him respect. And that respect made him a leader.

Maybe you struggle with anger like Moses. Or maybe you’re too submissive, or impatient, or lazy. Whatever you struggle with, choose to have a gentle, teachable spirit. You’ll find that your humble gentleness earns you the respect of the people around you.

Talk It Over

What gentle leaders do you know?

Do you think gentleness is an admirable quality? Why?

What does it mean to have a teachable spirit? In what specific area can you ask God to develop that kind of spirit in you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

    Thank You for the gift of life and the wisdom You freely offer. Soften our hearts to receive correction without pride, and open our minds to learn from every experience You place before us. Help us to listen more than we speak, to seek understanding before giving an answer, and to value truth over our own opinions. Remove any stubbornness that blinds us, and replace it with humility, patience, and discernment. Guide us to mentors, friends, and moments that shape us for Your purpose. May our spirits remain teachable, so that we grow in wisdom, walk in love, and reflect Your grace in all we do.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Gentle Persuasion

Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. 

Proverbs 25:15 (MSG)

Gentleness is persuasive.

If you have a successful career in sales, you may know that truth already! There was a time when the hard sell—the loudest advertisement or the strongest sales pitch—might have closed a deal. But today, gentleness works. Most people today buy something because someone they trust recommended it. A trusted friend or salesperson’s gentle recommendation is far more persuasive than a loud sales pitch.

And that’s not just true in sales; it’s true in just about every area of life.

The Bible says this over and over again. The Message paraphrase of Proverbs 25:15 says, “Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.” Are you trying to convince a family member or coworker to do something that they’re feeling defensive about? Gentle words, not pushy tactics, will get through their defenses.

In my own ministry, I want to persuade everyone who hears me to live for Jesus, but I have to do that in a gentle way. If I stood in front of people yelling at them, they’d eventually stop listening. But gentleness is persuasive.

A different translation of Proverbs 25:15 says it this way: “A gentle word can get through to the hard-headed” (NCV). What does this mean for you? If you’re a parent or teacher, screaming at a child never works. Anger and frustration only create fear, resentment, and defensiveness. What does work? Gently disciplining in love.

Here’s yet another translation of the same verse: “Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem” (Proverbs 25:15 CEV). Many of us don’t live in cultures with a “ruler,” but we all have some kind of boss, supervisor, or authority in our lives. This translation reminds us that, with gentleness, we can persuade even those in authority over us.

The Bible says in Proverbs 16:21, “A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is” (GNT).

In that verse, there’s a connection between the words “pleasant” and “persuasive.” If you want to be persuasive, you must first be pleasant.

Being pleasant is a mark of maturity. Fools are rude and unpleasant. The wiser and more mature you are, the more pleasant and positive your speech becomes.

Remember this: You’re never persuasive when you’re abrasive. Gentleness is persuasive.

Talk It Over

When have you been abrasive rather than gentle with someone? What was the result?

How has someone’s gentleness persuaded you to do something?

Who do you know who is gentle? What would you like to imitate from their life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We come before You seeking a gentle heart, one that embodies compassion, kindness, and understanding. Help us to soften our words and actions, reflecting Your love in all we do. May we embrace humility and patience, fostering peace in our relationships. Guide us to be instruments of Your grace, spreading warmth and comfort to those around us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Regular Checkups

I don’t mean to say I am perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be. 

Philippians 3:12-13 (TLB-The Living Bible)

Paul knew the importance of humbly growing and learning. When Paul wrote this, he was an older man in prison in Rome. He was at the end of his life. He was an incredibly mature person. Yet he said he hadn’t arrived. If anybody had the right to say, “I’ve arrived spiritually,” it would be the guy who wrote so much of the New Testament. But Paul said, “No, I haven’t arrived. I’m still growing, learning, and becoming more like Christ.”

The Bible says in The Message paraphrase, “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith . . . Give yourselves regular checkups” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Do you give yourself regular checkups? Try this: Wake up every day and ask God, “What do I need to work on today?” This takes humility, but it’s a habit that will lead to happiness. Humble people are happy people. Why? Because they never stop growing and learning.

Pride is the trap that so often keeps Christians from following Paul’s example and continuing to grow in Christ. Why? Because when you think you’ve got it all together, it’s harder to make an effort to grow in spiritual maturity. Humility, on the other hand, leads to happiness because it makes you teachable.

Happiness and humility go together because you’re compelled to ask, “How can I be a better follower of Jesus? How can I be a better spouse? How can I be a better friend? How can I be a better boss? ” When you aren’t asking these questions, you’re missing out because you’ve stopped growing—and God made you to grow.

Take a step toward happiness today by humbly praying Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV): “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” 

Talk It Over

Who in your life do you consider a happy person? How do they also model humility?

How have you grown spiritually in the last year? What evidence of growth can others see in you?

Why is it important to have the support of a small group as you strive to grow spiritually?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into all truth and show us things to come, according to Your Word (John 16:13). Help us to grow in You by taking Your Word into our hearts. We pray for spiritual growth according to the promises in Your written Word.

Ephesians 3:16, Strengthen us in our inner man.

Ephesians 3:17, That we may be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

Ephesians 3:18, Let us grasp God’s love – the breadth and length and height and depth of it.

Ephesians 3:19, That we might be filled through all our being with the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:19, That we might become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself.

Philippians 3:10, That we may know You and the power of Your resurrection.

Ephesians 1:17, That You might grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Ephesians 1:18, That the eyes of our hearts be flooded with light.

Ephesians 1:19, That we might know the greatness of Your power in us.

Philippians 1:10, That we may learn to sense what is vital and of real value.

Philippians 1:11, That we may abound and be filled with the fruits of righteousness.

John 17:12, That You will keep and protect us from the evil one.

Colossians 1:9, That we may know Your will.

Colossians 1:11-12, That we may be strengthened with all power, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - When and Then

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18(NIV)

Fretting and fighting over the small stuff will always cause you to lose your happiness.

This is a hard habit to break because people are negative by nature and conditioned by culture. Ever since Adam and Eve, we have been going around excusing and accusing. We excuse ourselves for the mistakes we make, and we also accuse everybody else for our mistakes.

We tell ourselves things like, 'If I just had a different spouse, then I’d be happy.' 'If I had just never gotten married, then I’d be happy.' 'If I just had children, then I’d be happy.' 'If my children would leave home, then I would be happy.'

That is “when and then” thinking—when this happens, then I’ll be happy. But you are as happy as you choose to be! You can’t blame anybody else for your unhappiness because happiness is a choice. You have to stop excusing and accusing; you have to stop fretting and fighting over the small stuff.

The Bible says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure” (Philippians 2:14-15 NIV).

That may be one of the most difficult verses in the Bible. But the scariest verse in the Bible to me is Matthew 12:36, where Jesus says, “And I tell you that on the Judgment Day people will be responsible for every careless thing they have said” (NCV).

That ought to send shivers up your spine. How many times have you complained, grumbled, or argued about something when you shouldn’t have been sweating the small stuff? The first law of life is this: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Law number two is this: It’s almost all small stuff!

Study after study has shown that gratitude is the healthiest attitude.

What do you have to be thankful for? Remember, no matter what is going on in your life, God is always with you, God is always in you, and God is always for you.

That’s cause for gratitude, not grumbling.

Talk It Over

Do you think you will have to give an account to God for the “small” things you’ve complained about? Why or why not?

According to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, what is God’s will for your life?

What are some practical ways you can practice gratitude throughout the day?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

        We want to be like Jesus who obeyed You without complaint. We want to embrace the chains of humanity as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Convict us whenever we complain or compare ourselves with others. Give us an attitude of humility and thankful acceptance. We want to be like the Apostle Paul who learned contentment in every circumstance. We choose to continually offer You the sacrifice of praise, according to Your Word. Teach us the rhythm and power of a thankful heart. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - We Live to Serve

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being... He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)

Happiness comes from harmony, and harmony comes from humility. And if you want to be humble, you have to learn to ask yourself this question: “What would Jesus do?”

What would Jesus do in this problem? What would Jesus do for that person who’s hurting? What would Jesus do at the office? On the golf course? In your marriage? Ask this question, and you’ll always come up with a humble answer that builds harmony and happiness rather than difficulty, defeat, bitterness, and resentment.

So what does it look like to act like Jesus? Philippians 2 gives three examples:

First:

Don’t demand what you think you deserve. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to” (Philippians 2:6 NLT).

Do you realize how countercultural it is to give up your right to something? Yes, you have rights, but there’s a better way to have your needs met than by demanding your rights. You can be tender without surrender, and you can be understanding without demanding.

Second:

Look for ways that you can serve. “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being” (Philippians 2:7 NLT).

If you want to be like Jesus, you’re going to have to learn to serve. Serving is a habit you can develop. And it starts not in the big things in life, but in the little things. God tests your humility every day in the little things, and then it’s shown in the big things. Character is revealed in the great crises of life, but it’s built in the little day-to-day things, like returning the grocery cart to the cart corral.

Third:

Do what’s right, even when it’s painful. “He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8 NLT).

This is what it means to act like Jesus. What did Jesus do, even when he was in pain? He was understanding, not demanding of what he deserved. He looked for ways to serve. And he was a servant in every situation.

Jesus is the ultimate model of humility, and God gave him the greatest honor in the universe. God honors your humility, too, when you follow Jesus’ example.

Talk It Over

What are some ways you can be “tender without surrender” or “understanding without demanding” in a relationship?

How have you seen God honor humility in your life or in someone else’s?

How can you serve someone today without being asked?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer: (excerpts from Crosscards)

Father,

          Soften our hearts to be tender toward You and toward those around us. Prepare our hearts and minds to be willing to serve, ready and available to help others even when it is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly to ourselves.
         Open our eyes to see the needs of those around us —family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers. Help us not to get so wrapped up in our own lives that we miss opportunities to serve. Teach us to be Your hands and feet, bringing hope and healing to those who need it most.
          Give us a generous heart, that we might share what we have, acting with compassion rather than seeking praise. When we serve, fill us with a joyful spirit and help us to put others before ourselves.
Father, we cannot do this in our own strength. Empower us with Your Spirit to love, to be gentle, and to be a servant to all. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen

Promise for Today - Listen and Learn

A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
Proverbs 13:1 NLT

In both the physical and spiritual realms, there is a process. A baby learns to crawl before he walks or talks. In the spiritual realm, a new convert should listen and learn before he begins service. 

A wise son submits to the discipline of instruction. The scoffer won’t have it; he thinks he has all the answers and refuses to be corrected. Proverbs 16:18 warns us that "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 21:24 NKJV defines it, "A proud and haughty man—'Scoffer' is his name; He acts with arrogant pride." The mocker or arrogant person who refuses instruction is blatantly heading toward poverty and death. Psalm 1:6 declares that the way of the wicked will perish (referring to those who are prideful, arrogant, scoffers, mockers of God's way).

Psalm 1:1 ESV tells us, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;..." Learning wisdom brings its own rewards, including honor and life itself. God is watching, listening, and we should learn His Word in Isaiah 66:2b “But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who [reverently] trembles at My word."

Prayer:

Father, 

           Shine Your light of Truth on us if and when we find ourselves judging others. Forgive us, O God, and change our hearts to be kind and loving and compassionate. Help us to see the good in people. Help us to see YOU in mankind - those You created in Your image. We want to walk in a true posture of humility before You and our fellow man. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father, we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen

Lent - Day Seven - You Are Blessed

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025 

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Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:1-20

So often the Beatitudes are described as “attitudes we ought to be” if we want to have that future kingdom of heaven. This, however, is a misunderstanding of what is being communicated by these opening words to that sermon Jesus preached on a hillside long ago. 

These are not things we strive for, or a list of categories to see how we fit into the list. These are the characteristics of all who are followers of Christ. In realizing our sinfulness, we are poor in spirit. Seeing the reality of sin and evil, we mourn. Understanding our sin makes us realize our lowliness. By the Holy Spirit that realization works in us a hunger for Christ’s Righteousness. Christ says, “You are blessed for yours is the kingdom of heaven.” Remember that His kingdom is not simply a thing, a place, or something in the future. It is also the present reign of God in your life now and for eternity.

Prayer:

Jesus,
          You have called us into Your kingdom. Grant that our lives may demonstrate Your gracious work through humility, mercy, peacemaking, and hungering for Your righteousness. Amen.

Building Relationships - Guest Author

From the Daily Hope Newsletter.

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“Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. . . . You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”
Philippians 2:3, 5-6 NLT

The ability to be humble is a relationship builder. What is humility? It’s when you honor others above yourself instead of demanding or clinging to your rights.

Pride, on the other hand, destroys relationships—and it shows up in a lot of different ways. It can make you critical, judgmental, competitive, stubborn, and unforgiving. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride leads to destruction; a proud attitude brings ruin” (NCV).

Pride is also self-deceiving. When you have a problem with pride, you struggle to see it in yourself. But everyone else can see it in you!

What does pride look like in a relationship? One, you always offer advice but never ask for it. Two, you can’t admit when you’ve had a tough week. Everybody else is saying, “Yeah, this last week was tough.” But you can’t seem to admit you have any problems.

But how does humility play out in a relationship? Notice the five relationship builders in 1 Peter 3:8: “Live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble” (GW). The first four are really built on the fifth one: Be humble. That verse is an excellent model for relationships.

How does humility happen in your life? It happens by letting Jesus control your thoughts, heart, attitudes, and reactions. Growing in humility has to include Jesus.

The basic law of relationships is this: You tend to become like the people you spend time with. If you spend time with grumpy people, you get grumpier. If you spend time with happy people, you get happier. If you want to have more humility, spend time with Jesus Christ in prayer and reading his Word. Just talk to him. He is humble and wants a relationship with you.

Growing in humility may seem like a tall order, but it’s possible with Jesus... 

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Prayer:

Father, 

         Thank You for sending this teaching today. Please forgive us for walking in pride. We do not want to invoke destruction and ruin in our lives. Help us to see how pride can show up in our life. Help us to see and understand the connection between being humble and spending time with Jesus. Make us ever mindful of how we act when it’s been a while since we've connected with You. We want to build according to Your Word to "Live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent Day 9 - We are Gifted but Humble

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent: A 25-Day Devotional
by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.”
Luke 1:47

Mary couldn’t hide the calling God placed on her life. The child she carried was Israel’s Messiah. Mary responded to this miracle with a song to God. When Mary says, “From now on, all generations will call me blessed,” she wasn’t being proud. She recognized and accepted the Gift God had given to her.

God is pleased when we accept His gifts and use them for His glory. He created us to accomplish His special plan and purpose (Ephesians 2:10). His gifts and purpose grow in us and we can't keep that to ourselves. As we discover our spiritual gifts and embrace God’s plan for our lives, people take notice. When that happens, how do we respond?

God loves when we give Him all the credit. That’s what Mary did. Mary knew that the miracle God was doing through her was the result of God’s ability, not her own. Pride causes us to minimize God’s work in us or take credit for what God has done. It’s only through God’s strength and goodness that we can do anything of eternal value. Lift up your voice and give praise to God because He has gifted you to accomplish His purpose!

REFLECT: Read Luke 1:46-56
What are your God-given talents and gifts? How are you using them to glorify God?
How do you respond when people give you a compliment?
How can we celebrate God’s work in us without making it about us?
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Prayer:

Father,
          We recognize and acknowledge that every gift or talent we have is because You formed them in us as we were formed in our mother's womb. Help us to recognize what You have given to each of us and to use everything for Your glory. With every fiber of our being, we want to fulfill Your purpose and plan for our lives. Help us, O Lord! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Given the Option

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 10:27 NLT

It's difficult enough to watch situations unfold that are not going according to plan when we believe we have the skill set to make it happen. We believe it to be even worse when we're doing everything within our own power and it's still not enough. We think if we just try harder, push more, give 110% (which physically and logically is impossible), we could fix it. Giving up doesn't enter our minds, and to surrender is never an option. And yet...

If we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and submit (surrender) to the leading of His Holy Spirit, we would be more than victorious in every situation. “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us when we think we can do anything apart from You. Open our eyes to see clearly Your perfect will to use our weaknesses for Your glory. We surrender to You our will and selfish pride and the delusional lies we have believed. Shine Your Light on our way. Help us, Lord, to humbly follow in Your footsteps. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Disciplinary Action

God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:10b-11 NIV

It was only yesterday... just yesterday, after hearing Pastor Alan's sermon, that I earnestly prayed, "Father, I do NOT want to be critical, judgmental or prideful. I want to walk humbly with You, according to Your Word. Holy Spirit, please guide me, teach me. In Jesus' Name, I pray..." 

Oh, that all opportunities for answers to prayer would manifest so quickly!

An adverse situation came up at my day job that ultimately falls in my wheelhouse. I could have been angry that it happened. I could have come up with a half-dozen excuses... but before I got too far in the list of  'could haves', I heard the echo of yesterday's prayer in my heart. Father... I prayed again, thanking God for a change of heart, for the opportunity to walk in humility. It was not fun. It was hard. It was God's idea.

Micah 6:8 declares, He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? 

Humbling oneself isn't easy but it is right. It is righteous before the Lord. Within minutes of doing just that, the stress of it was gone from my spirit, and in its place was peace. Several times, the enemy attempted to bring up a "Yeah, but..." and by God's grace, I was able to thank God for answering my prayer and praise Him for teaching me... Thank You for loving us enough to restore a right Spirit within us. 

Prayer:

Father,

           According to Your Word, there is reward for walking in humility and holy fear of You. Thank You for Your Grace and mercy. Thank You for Your peace and for getting us through this day heart-whole. We are certain that You, who began this, will continue Your work in us until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. And it's in His Name we pray. Amen

Lent - Day Seven - Humility and Joy

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30

John the Baptist is an example of proper humility for all who follow Christ. John’s disciples seem to be envious over the fact that Jesus is now baptizing and everyone is going to Him (John 4:2 informs us that Jesus’ disciples were the ones doing the actual baptizing.). However, John has the proper perspective. He knows, and always knew, that it is not about him, but about Christ. This is exactly what he desired. Knowing that Jesus is the One sent by God, John rejoices that now people are going to Christ for baptism.

We live in a time that celebrates moving to the beat of our own drum, making sure that we are our own person, and that our voices are heard. Because of that, even though God has invited us to be a part of His ongoing mission in the world, we often get in the way of others being drawn to the voice of Christ. But John the Baptist sets a good example. He was sent to be “the voice calling in the wilderness” but is ready to set aside his own voice so that people would hear the One who has the words of eternal life. It seems simple to say, but we easily forget: It’s not about me, it’s about Jesus. When our words or actions cause people to look right past us because they see Christ and hear His words of reconciliation and redemption, we (like John the Baptist) can rejoice greatly and say, “My joy is complete.”

Prayer: 

Holy Spirit, 

                 Grant me true humility, that I may be a faithful witness to Christ. Amen.

Reading Further: John 3:22-36

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Appropriate Dress

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for 
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT

What does it mean to dress yourself in humility? Obviously, to not be a pretentious know-it-all. To not be arrogant. It is God who gives us knowledge and understanding when we follow Him. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom. So we have no reason to be prideful in what we know. By the same token, to dress in humility does not mean to dumb it down, either.  We are to have the mind of Christ - selfless, Servant Leader, obedient heart and mind, and humble. 

Humbling ourselves under God's hand means trusting Him in all things. Worry and care occur when we try to figure out how WE are going to fix things. The world may see being humble as a negative act of self-denial, but the Truth is it's a positive choice to be resolutely dependent on God for help in all things. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You that every good and perfect gift comes directly from You and is the plan for our lives. Thank You for taking what the enemy means for bad and making it work for our good. Help us to remember that ALL things work together for our good when we trust You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 19th
Genesis 39:1-41:16
Matthew 12:46-13:23
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35

Not Accidental

Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12 NLT

Commitment is not haphazard. It is intentional. Wisdom is not gained by accident. It is obtained by diligently seeking for it, by gaining knowledge of God's Word, and then actively, appropriately applying it to our lives. Do a search for Scriptures about learning, knowledge, instruction. You will quickly see how important - and necessary - it is to your life.

Proverbs 9:8b-9 tells us plainly, Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Throughout Scripture, we are advised to remain teachable, to walk in humility, and to be able to receive instruction. Proverbs 19:20 tells us, Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. We cannot grow in Christ if we harden our hearts to Godly correction and instruction. 

Prayer:

Father, 

           We pray Your Word - We will do our best to present ourselves to You as those approved, workers who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling Your Word of Truth. We want Your wisdom, Lord.  Teach us to do Your will, for You are our God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Living the New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:1-17 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for sending Your Son to pay the death penalty for our sin. Teach us how to live more fully in Your way. Holy Spirit, remind us always to make the choices to walk in mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, love, and forgiveness as we live out our role as Christ's ambassadors. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - What Do I Know?

[The Lord speaking] Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?

Isaiah 50:2 NKJV

I thought I had a pretty good grasp of how big God is - you know, the Creator of the Universe, speaking the worlds into existence, the whole nine yards... until I realized that if I really had a grasp on who God is, and what He is, and how He is large and in charge, then I would just say, "Yes, Lord" and be done with it (whatever it may be) on Earth as it is in Heaven. Instant follower. Instant obedience. Instantly compliant. Instant servant's heart...but I don't...and I think I may be safe in saying that I'm not the only one who doesn't. I'm not making excuses for me nor am I casting dispersion on anyone else...this is just a reality check to put ME back in proper perspective.

As I listen once again to the song, "What Do I Know of Holy?" by Addison Road, I am struck by the Truth of the lyrics. And as the words wash over my soul, I humble my heart before the greatness of our God. It is in humility that wisdom comes. Proverbs 11:2 reads, Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. What do I know unless the Lord teaches me?

Prayer:

Father,

          According to Your Word, in Ephesians 3, Now all glory to You, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS-bRarAZ2g