Day 1
40 Days of Prayer and Fasting
Any God or One God?
You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:2
Very seldom in human history has atheism been a live and
popular option. The battle lines have not been drawn
between those who believe in God and those who do not
believe in God. Rather, the conflict, if one may call it that, has
been between those who believe in the God revealed in
Scripture and those who believe in other gods.
None of the Ten Commandments prohibits atheism. But
what the first two commandments do outlaw is the worship of
all gods except this one who spoke at Sinai. To this degree,
scriptural monotheism is fiercely non-tolerant.
The Ten Commandments clearly demonstrate that
mankind is incurably religious. If people do not know the true
and living God, they will invent their own deity — either
themselves, or their accomplishments, or some natural force, or
some ethical principle.
Scripture also recognizes that a wrong god can be even
more fatal than no god at all, just as the wrong medicine can be
more fatal than no medicine at all. Why put one's trust in a
god who cannot speak, or move, or save?
Blaise Pascal (1623 – 62), the great French mathematician,
scientist and philosopher, after God had made Himself known
to him, began his testimony with the words "FIRE! God of
Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers
and scholars." He later would sew these words into the lining
of his coat, and carry them about until he died. Of course
Pascal believed in the importance and value of philosophy and
science. But the God who appeared to him and who forever
after transformed his life was the only God who could change
an individual's life.
– –Victor Hamilton
Day 2
An Imcomparable God
To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?Isaiah 40:25
It is not uncommon for people to say, “We'll never have another President like... ;” or, “We'll never have another pastor like... ;” or, “There will never be another baseball player like...” This is a way of saying that a certain person's gifts, abilities, and charisma are so incredible, so unique, that we think it is unlikely any other person will be able to duplicate their performance.
This kind of comparing is found in the Scripture too:
- Moses — an incomparable prophet: “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses...” (Deuteronomy 34:10).
- Solomon — an incomparable wise man: “I [God] will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:12).
- Hezekiah — an incomparable man of trust: “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord... There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him” (2 Kings 18:5).
- Josiah — an incomparable seeker after God: “Neither before
nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the
Lord as he did...”
(2 Kings 23:25). But all of these comparison statements pale in significance when placed alongside of these: - The Lord Yahweh — an incomparable God: “‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One” (Isaiah 40:18–25).
- Jesus — an incomparable Savior: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
– –Victor Hamilton
Day 3
A Jealous God
I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.Isaiah 42:8
When our children were young and we were making a long automobile trip, we would help pass the time by playing games like the one that begins, “I spy with my little eye something that begins with ________” We also played the “word association” game. One family member would say a word and the rest of us would say the first word that came into our minds that would associate with that word.
What is the first word that pops into your mind when somebody says “God”? Loving? Holy? Merciful? Just? Gracious? Forgiving? Father? Long-suffering? I would be very surprised if you said “jealous.” Yet, the Scripture does not hesitate to speak of God as jealous. Consider these passages:
- “You shall not bow down to them [idols] or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:4).
- “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is
Jealous, is a jealous God”
(Exodus 34:14). - “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24).
- “For the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 6:15).
- “They made me jealous by what is no god”
(Deut. 32:21). - “You are not able to serve the Lord... He is a jealous God” (Joshua 24:19).
– –Victor Hamilton
Day 4
A God Who Carries or Must Be Carried?
Even to your old age... I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you.Isaiah 46:4
In Isaiah 46 the prophet describes a powerful historical scene. The Babylonians are evacuating their beloved Babylon in the face of the conquering Persians, led by their king, Cyrus. What catches Isaiah's attention is that as they flee, the people are carrying their gods on oxcarts or donkeys (verses 1-2).
Let's interview some of these people and ask them why they are carrying their gods. One answers, “Because they're my gods. I paid for them. I own them and they are valuable to me.” Another answers, “If I don't save my god, who will?” Another responds, “Its life is in danger.” Of course, Isaiah's point is that any god whose physical representation has to be carried off by humans will be of absolutely no help when one stands in need of deliverance.
The biblical God does not need to be carried or protected. On the contrary, He carries us as a shepherd carries a lamb (Psalm 28:9); as a father carries his child (Deuteronomy 1:31); and as an eagle carries its young (Exodus 19:4). Imagine having a religion that becomes a burden rather than a religion that relieves us of our burdens!
It is not we who made God; it is He who made us. It is not we who need to take care of God; it is He who takes care of us. It is not we who bought God; it is we who have been “bought at a price” (I Corinthians 6:20). It is not so much that we Ureasure God as that God treasures us, and that is why He carries us. I like the way Martin Luther put it: “When God made me He made something out of nothing, and when He saved me, he put something into nothing.”
– –Victor Hamilton
Day 5
What is Truth?
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked.John 18:37 – 38
Picture this. It's the last question of the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? The contestant has answered all the previous questions correctly. The lights dim and the music fades as Regis Philbin, the host, focuses on his monitor. “Are you ready?” he asks. With nervous anticipation the contestant replies, “Let's do it.” “Okay,” Regis responds. “Answer this correctly and you walk away with a check for one million dollars. (pause) What is truth?”
No, you won't hear it on a game show, but it's the million- dollar question of our time. It's the search that defines our society. From kindergarten to graduate school, from bookshelves to talk shows, answers are being given. Yet inquiring minds still want to know... “What is truth?”
Our culture is in conflict. Sides are being drawn over where to find the answer to this question. Worldviews are clashing. As Christians, we believe there is an external, objective math that defines reality for us. Truth is found in God as revealed through Jesus Christ. Since Christ is the source of all truth, we are accountable to Him (Colossians 1:15 – 20; 2:9 –10). Our naturalist neighbors are convinced that we must look inside ourselves to discover truth. They define reality individually as each person finds truth within themselves. Some people are so confused in their search for truth that they can't decide who is telling them the truth!
“What is truth?” People want to know! Are you prepared to give them the Answer?
– –Richard Meeks
Day 6
Whose Truth?
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.Ephesians 4:17 – 18
Times have definitely changed. It's not your grandmother's world! Post–Christian — you've heard the term. It is used to describe our country and our culture. When we say that North America is post–Christian, we mean that our public philosophies and moral principles are no longer based on Judeo–Christian truths. As a post–Christian culture, many people are not only resistant to Christian truth claims but also to any claim of universal, absolute truth. In such a world, all truth is individual and everything becomes relative.
Some years ago, I heard this incredible comment, “There are positively, absolutely no absolutes.” Such foolishness is the result of denying the existence of objective truth — the reality of God and His order. We are witnessing the fulfillment of Scripture as it says that people will be “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). When we take God out of the picture, things get ugly. Without Him, we are lost. Life doesn't make sense. We really are ignorant, and it shows!
These are the times in which we live. Most people believe in truth, but whose truth is it? For many, it is the “truth” of their own making (Romans 1:20 – 25). The challenge you face is to accept and believe the truth as revealed by God, and then to help others do the same. Will you do it? Begin by reaffirming your faith in the only God — the God of all truth.
– –Richard Meeks
Day 7
Salad Bar Truth
Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.John 14:6
Dave was one of my Army buddies. During our military service, we spent quite a bit of time together. Dave was very interested in spiritual things, and he would often spark conversation about God. Dave wanted to go to heaven. More than once he asked, “How can I go to heaven?” I always gave him the same answer. “Dave, if you want to go heaven you have to believe in Jesus Christ. He's your only way.” This infuriated him every time. In his anger, he would respond, “What about Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius and all those other guys? I can't believe that you are so narrow–minded!”
We don't define the truth. Jesus Christ made this claim Himself when he said, “I am the truth.” He didn't claim to be just one truth on a multiple–choice list. He's not one way among many ways. Jesus is exclusive! Those who pride themselves on being spiritually open–minded find His truth–claim to be offensive. In their arrogance, they reject Him (1 Corinthians 1:19–31).
How many people do you know who are like Dave? They take the salad bar approach to God and spirituality. They go through the line choosing what they want from each religion. It's a “create–your–own–truth” experience. When they're finished, they believe they have it all, when, in reality, they have nothing. So they keep searching.
Jesus really is “the way, the truth and the life.” There's no reason to make apologies for that, and you don't have to be ashamed of it. You never need to feel intimated by those who challenge your faith. Be thankful that you know the Truth!
– –Richard Meeks
Day 8
Truth is a Person
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.John 1:1 – 4
I live in the New Age capital of the United States. Nestled in the red rocks of northern Arizona is a small community that draws thousands of travelers from around the world. For some, coming to Sedona is a spiritual journey. Their purpose is to hike the canyons and climb the rocks. Many seek to encounter a vortex or achieve higher god/self–consciousness. They believe that this place, with its potpourri of spiritual experiences, holds the secret to their inner peace. Here, they will discover the truth about life's deeper meaning.
Unfortunately, many of these pilgrims leave disillusioned and disappointed (especially since they have to purchase a “Red Rock Pass”). Life's meaning is not found in a place. Life is found in a Person — Jesus Christ. He is the living Word — the embodiment of all that we would call intelligence, reason and truth. In Him is life and light. He is the ultimate reality. Everything we know about the origin and order of life — all meaning — flows through Him (John 8:12 –32).
Our faith has a firm foundation! It's not based on the whims of political correctness. It's not the “truth of the day” as defined by changing feelings or current fears. Truth, as understood by Christians, is the truth of the sovereign God as revealed in Jesus Christ. He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:6). You can rejoice that you don't have to come to the right place. Simply come to the right Person!
– –Richard Meeks
Day 9
A New Way of Thinking
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:2
True or false: What you believe determines how you behave? I say true. Which raises a serious issue for Christians. It's been suggested that one of the major problems facing us today is the lack of a distinctively Christian mind. We say that we know the truth, but we fail to support our testimony with actions. Think about it. In today's world, those who profess faith in Jesus Christ must engage their minds so that they think and live with a Christian worldview.
A friend of mine is a consultant for pastors and churches. In referring to some of the people in our churches, he uses the term “believing non–followers.” These are people who say they believe in Jesus Christ, but they never actually become His disciples. For all practical purposes, there's no real transformation, so their spiritual (and mental) immaturity sabotages their testimony. The world scoffs in rejection.
In our pluralistic society, it is imperative that Christians have their minds transformed and renewed by the truth found in Christ. Every day the world tries to seduce us into its way of thinking. We are constantly confronted by the argument that truth comes from within and is individually defined. Such thinking produces chaos and confusion. It does not conform to reality. Don't buy it! The only safeguard is a mind that is engaged in the Word and aligned with the Truth
(2 Peter 3:17–18).
– –Richard Meeks
Day 10
Living the Truth
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.Ephesians 5:8 – 10
It could be argued that spirituality is at an all-time high in our society. Spiritual issues are being addressed in magazine articles and television programs as never before. There's interest in angels, life after death, destiny, and the end times. The Left Behind book series has become a national blockbuster, being purchased and read by multitudes of non–Christians as well as Christians. There's no doubt that people are searching for answers to questions of spiritual significance.
Where will they find answers? In the search for truth, who will lead the way? Will it be the psychics, or the saints? It's been observed that while the world is screaming for answers, many Christians are being silent. Why?
This is our time to stand up and step forward with the Answer. In a land shrouded in the darkness of deceit, we must shine the light of God–centered truth. You may be thinking, "Come on, I'm no Chuck Colson. I don't understand the issues of our culture like he does. I can't articulate the Christian worldview with his clarity and passion. How can I really impact a
post–Christian culture?"
Don't be paralyzed by what you don't know. Share what you do know, and get help with the rest. Talk about Jesus, and live the truth (3 John 1:3–4). Along the way, seek input from wise Christians. Help confused people understand what you already know: truth can be real without being relative! That's why the one and only true God is the Answer to every question. Our culture is counting on you.
– –Richard Meeks
Day 11
What does the Lord Require?
He has showed you, 0 man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8
Imagine yourself stranded in a desert, parched and thirsty. You come upon a rusty water pump sticking out of the sand. Next to the pump is a sealed glass jar of glistening water and a handwritten note with instructions. It reads, “Required: pour the water into the pipe, then pump like crazy. Soon, you'll have all the fresh, cool water you want. When you're finished, remember to fill the jar for the next guy.” What would you do?
A little water is required to get a dry pump functioning. Yet, too many people spend their lives in a spiritual desert, pumping hard to quench their thirst for pleasure. You may be that little taste of living water they need to get real faith flowing again. Others may see you and realize that Jesus in you really does bring out the living water. Jesus said that if someone believes in Him, “streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:38).
Requirements are bottom–line, must–do instructions. Pour out your heart for others. From the way you drive in heavy traffic, to the way you treat a cashier, to the way you greet your family in the afternoon — examine your behavior before the Lord. Develop a keen awareness of mercy. Being merciful to, not competitive with, your neighbors and colleagues may take spiritual effort. It will take a strong commitment to Christ not to compromise your business ethics or faith principles.
“Walk humbly with God.”
– –Gary Cart
Day 12
Persistent Example
In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming?’Luke 18:1 – 8
Christ used a vivid illustration of the need for persistent prayer. A widow was persistent, despite feeling unprotected, defenseless, and disrespected. Her sudden loss of a mate meant the loss of friends, family, and status. She faced a financial and social struggle.
Do you remember the character “Sam I Am” from the children's book by Dr. Seuss? In the story, Sam entices his friend to eat green eggs and ham. Sam's persuasion proves irresistible, as he concocts one new scenario after another for tasting the ham and eggs. The friend eventually gives in and eats the eggs and ham. Life after green eggs and ham is totally transformed, thanks to the persistent encouragement from Sam. The story is really about an “egg sample.” Have you ever considered that the example you make each day by offering the transforming presence of Christ to others is like the plate of green eggs and ham?
Pray and do not lose heart. Just as a godless judge valued the righteous persistence of the widow, so the Lord values your persistent prayer life. You may be tempted to give up, but today's persistence may mean the difference between seeing a matter delayed or resolved. When your prayer does not get the answer you expect, are you tempted to quit? Don't!
– –Gary Cart
Day 13
God's Silence
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it... . Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him !Isaiah 30:15 – 18
Isaiah's words are the words of a prophet speaking in a time of political crisis. The nation was spiraling downward in moral decay. The Babylonian Empire was lurking on the horizon, poised for war, ready to force the people of Judah into exile. The people clamored, “How can we rest when the enemy is at the door? What in the world is God doing? What does this prophet of God mean that we should seek repentance and rest?”
You may have seen a poster in a religious bookstore that displays a pastoral setting with the caption, “In quietness and mast shall be your strength.” It is a marvelous passage for spiritual reflection. But notice the rest of the verse, “but you would have none of it.” The passage shows how well God understands human fear.
The Lord longs to offer us grace and compassion. He desires that we should anchor our strength in Him in the quiet times of our lives, but most of us do not do that so easily. We would rather worry and fret first. When faced with threats at work or at home, we arm ourselves for battle. Before we can find this quiet consolation, we must intentionally choose to seek repentance and rest from our daily activity.
– –Gary Carr
Day 14
The Final Promotion
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.With justice He judges...
Revelation 19:11
We spend our careers working for the promotion and pay raise that will finally get us to the top. Have you paused to consider what your theology of work happens to be? King David declared, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:5-7).
In business, promotions can become political schemes. I serve in the armed forces where promotion boards meet annually to examine the personnel reports of candidates who are up for promotion. Men and women make costly decisions affecting their careers and their families' well–being on the chance that if an assignment goes well, their promotion is assured.
While promotions may sometimes seem unjust or unfair, they are not bad things. They may be the means of motivating employees to do their work effectively and well. But sadly, not every one gets promoted. Some must be passed over.
The company may have made a mistake in not promoting you, but God never makes mistakes. Autograph your work with righteousness and excellence, as unto the Lord. God provides the only promotion that really matters. Whether you are employed or unemployed in this world, the final book of the Bible tells us that as we work faithfully unto the Lord, we will receive our new promotion from the Rider who is called Faithful and True.
– –Gary Carr
Day 15
Divine Demonstration
God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.Romans 3:25 – 26
The term ”justice“ is used 132 times in the New International Version of the Bible. In this particular passage, the Apostle Paul says that God demonstrated ultimate justice when Jesus Christ died on the cross for us.
At fairs and conventions, people cluster around numerous small booths where sales representatives demonstrate the unique capabilities of their products. From steel steak knives, to household cleaners, to computer software solutions, making the sale depends on the effective demonstration of the product. People do not buy a product until they know it works.
Seeing is one way of believing. In the Christian faith, we are entrusted with a unique document, the Bible, that explains for ns the way of eternal salvation. While we live almost twenty-one centuries after the personal demonstration, we rely on the solid testimony of the immediate witnesses.
For us, believing is seeing. Because in believing the message of faith in Christ, we see God's purpose for Christ's death on the cross for our sins. The Christian faith works. It made sense to God to delay justice until the right moment — the fullness of time. God allowed His only begotten Son to suffer, to die, and to rise again on our behalf as a demonstration of His justice. God's forbearance is the counterbalance to His justice. God is very patient with us, lavishing upon us a measure of grace so that we might respond now by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ.
– –Gary Carr
Day 16
Interceding Justice
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised...Hebrews 11:32 – 34
Throughout human history, there have been men and women of faith who have administered God's justice in a fallen and broken world. Today there are missionaries and lay workers administering justice in foreign places that may not know the freedoms we enjoy. Their stories may never be told, but their devotion to the work of the Gospel is making a difference in countless lives.
Today, as you set aside time with the Lord, consider interceding for those whose faith in Christ is making a huge difference on mission fields around the world. You will probably never hear about all the glorious work they are providing on behalf of Christ and the Church, but you can be assured your intercessory prayer is supporting them.
In what ways do they administer justice? They offer the ministry of medical care where there is a tremendous need for doctors and nurses. They provide education in remote areas, sharing knowledge and wisdom, as well as the good news of the Gospel. They bring relief to people in areas of disaster, helping them rebuild their broken homes and recover their shattered memories. The offer of health, education, housing, and a house of worship, coupled with the love of Christ, is a testimony of true justice in a broken world.
The unfinished ministry of the Lord awaits you today. Through intercessory prayer and practical ministry, you can share in the joy of administering justice for Christ in your community. Consider your most Lmportant work today to be a labor of Christian love.
– –Gary Cart
Day 17
Flying With Clipped Wings
I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest — I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.Psalm 55:6 – 8
He would fly in wide, frantic circles, our “Queebo” of the perpetually clipped wings. He was unlike any of the other twelve parakeets living in our two room apartment. The others were, by and large, trusting souls who would casually hop onto an offered index finger, bobbing and dipping their little heads as you brought them to eye level.
But not our Queebo. Having been raised by a group of guys in off campus housing (a possible explanation for his skittish nature), a nearby hand only produced panic and induced flight.
He would fly into the closed window (we learned to draw the drapes). He once climbed into a gas space heater (we learned to turn down the thermostat). He mastered the skill of clinging to the tiniest scrap of wallpaper way up in the comer of the room (we bought a step stool and a butterfly net). We soon learned that Queebo could hurt himself in his panic if he didn't learn to trust.
So he became Queebo of the clipped wings. Come to think of it, not both wings. Just one. One wing was clipped so he would fly in circles, wear himself out, and end up pretty much where he started. After several frantic laps around the room he'd wind up panting on the sofa or cabinet and, finally, meekly climb aboard a finger.
Flying in circles is how Queebo carne to trust his owner and provider. Come to think of it, that's how I came to trust mine.
– –David Leitzel
Day 18
The School of Hard Knocks
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.Psalm 119:67
Maybe you can help me. I am trying to figure out how to display my diploma. It would be pretty simple if it were just a paper certificate. A frame, a nail and we're all set. But how do you display a degree from the School of Hard Knocks?
I know! I know! A lot of people hide theirs. They're ashamed to be a graduate. I was, too. I used to think the School of Hard Knocks was for those dummies who flunked the School of Soft Knocks — kind of a remedial school for life. I have changed my opinion as I have grown older. I've found that experience is the test we must all pass to demonstrate that we learned the lessons we testify to in church.
My son sold his 1973 Chevy Nova Super Sport a few weeks ago. It was the dream car he bought with hard earned money and planned to restore to mint condition. But Andrew isn't a mechanic. Graduate Degree from the School of Hard Knocks, Division of Reality.
My daughter cut up her credit cards the other day. (applause!) Certificate in Consumer Spending, summa cure laude, School of Hard Knocks.
So here I am with my latest degree, and I have no intention of hiding it. I plan to use it every day. What are you doing with yours?
– –David Leitzel
Day 19
Find The Pill
Open your mouth and eat what I give you.Ezekiel 2:8
God said, “Open your mouth and eat what I give you,” and what He put into the mouth of Ezekiel was a message of coming disaster -- of impending judgment. A tough pill to swallow! What's more, Ezekiel would now have to feed that same message to people not particularly hungry for truth.
Ever had the pleasure of giving medicine to a dog? You try to be nice. You hold the pill out, smile and say, “Here Teka! Take the heartworm pill.” Teka sniffs it and turns away. Getting clever, you bury it in a pile of gooey dog food. Teka eagerly gobbles it up, pauses, then spits the sticky pill onto the floor. You discover that all you're doing is teaching her a wonderful game called “Find the Pill” — and she is a very good player.
For me, at least, it always came down to doing just what the doctor ordered. You hold her mouth open. You take the pill, place it at the back of her throat and clamp her mouth shut until she swallows it. It's not fun for either of us, but the alternative is worse.
Ah, Teka, you weren't the only one to play “Find the Pill.” How many times your owner has squirmed and fought to avoid doing the one thing necessary to heal a situation. Perhaps we both have finally learned something.
– –David Leitzel
Day 20
Speaking the Language of Pain
Why is my pain unending?Jeremiah 15:18
Os Guinness wrote, “What faith is asking reveals what it's been assuming.”
What do my questions reveal about my assumptions? Have I assumed that pain is simply the result of failing to get the right answer to the problem I am facing? Get the answer right, and the pain will disappear.
What if there is another reason, at least one other reason, for pain?
Have you noticed the way people who struggle to lose a pound hate lectures on dieting that come from scrawny folks? You know, the ones who could eat their way through a gallon of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice–cream and not gain an ounce.
Is it possible that only people who have endured similar pain can speak the same language as the sufferer? Is it true that only the parent who has lost a child can begin to grasp the agony of a mother standing beside a small casket?
If God sometimes speaks through us, how would He teach us the language of the sufferer? Is there a book I would read? A class I would take? Or might it be a place we are sent to live for a while?
My oldest daughter spent ten weeks in Ecuador last year. She wanted to learn to speak Spanish fluently.
I spent ten weeks with my friend John as his wife died from cancer. Every day I wished I knew what to say.
– –David Leitzel
Day 21
Fruit out of Season
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.Mark 11:12 – 13
So why did Jesus go looking for figs when it was not the season for them? Growing up in Suriname and Guyana, South America, I remember how well every school boy knew the seasons. We pretty much knew when each tree in the area would be in fruit.
Am I assuming too much to think that every disciple in the group was thinking, “What is He looking for? This isn't fig season.” Were there quick glances back and forth followed by shrugs?
Why is my God poking among the leaves of a tree looking for fruit out of season? Even more, does He ever poke through the leaves of my life expecting to find fruit out of season? Come to think of it, those were the mangoes I enjoyed the most — the ones found when and where I didn't expect them.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior– –David Leitzel
(Habakkuk 3:17–18).
Day 22
In Its Time
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
The writer's list of times and seasons continues far beyond what I have noted, and he concludes with a cryptic comment. “What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:9–11).
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Pause and let those words settle in. Let them sink deep. Beautiful in its time.
But what if I ignore clocks and calendars? What if I choose to think I can, by sheer effort and determination, make my own time?
Imagine a farmer who decided to ignore the seasons. Winter. Spring. No matter. He'd treat them all the same. Care to make any predictions?
How about a fisherman who treated all days alike? Gale warnings? No matter for him. Sunshine and rain, storm and clear. Those are distinctions for other people.
Care to invest with the broker who ignores whether its a bull or bear market?
What if your fifteen year old decided that mowing the lawn at 2:00 a.m. is really no different than doing it at 2:00 p.m.?
He has made everything beautiful in its time. I pause and wonder how much of my pain has been self–inflicted because I refuse to acknowledge the times and seasons of my own life.
– –David Leitzel
Day 23
Persons of Reality
Whatever is true...think about such things.Philippians 4:8
Most of us long for a life where pretense is left behind and being real with each other is the norm. We don't want to worry about whether we will be misunderstood, mishandled, or misquoted. We want to feel secure with those who surround us every day. We long for trust with our friends and family. We want the guts — as well as the grace — to speak with firmness regarding issues that touch us deep in our souls. We need the confidence that is essential to face the world without masks, without fear, without separation, and without alienation.
Living “real” is a process. These days of focused fasting and prayer provide us with an opportunity to be honest with ourselves about our questions, confusions, doubts, fears, and angers — as well as our joys, convictions, hopes, and passions. Each time we bring these issues to God, praying for His help, understanding, and affirmation, we become people living in the light. We know more surely who we are.
When we are called upon to be honest and authentic with people, and we make the tough decision to live a transparent life (even when it scares us to death!), we are being Wansformed into the image of God. Confidence comes from having nothing to hide from God, from ourselves, or from each other.
During these days of focused prayer, pray honestly; pray with integrity; pray “real–ly,” — if you will. Face squarely your memories of humiliation and ask God to redeem those events. Bring to Him your fear of failure, your pride, your shame, your guilt, and trust Him for forgiveness and healing.
It will be of small value to pray for the needs of the world if the needs of your own soul remain unaddressed. Let God help you to become a real person.
– –Chris Conrad
Day 24
A Child of God
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.Jeremiah 31:3
My grandfather was a country preacher. Tent meetings, sawdust “trails,” slightly out of tune gospel quartets... you get the picture. He died when I was young, so I haven't had the joy of having him sit in one of my Sunday morning services, or of begging him for some sermon ideas when mine have dried up. But if there is one memory I have of Grandpa, it is of his constant singing around his house.
It's a whole lot easier for me to quote those words than to live that truth! When I pray, I often need to be reminded that God is my Father — that I am not approaching Him as a stranger would, but I can “come inside” without knocking — just like I did at Grandpa's house. My heavenly Father loves to see me — anytime! And when I do my best to enter into worship but feel awkward and inexperienced, I remember that He considers me His child. God used the term “child” so we would understand the relationship. If being God's child is only a doctrinal truth to you, then you're missing out on a whole lot of good family time!I'm a child of the King! A child of the King! With Jesus, my Savior, I'm a child of the King!
Or
I belong to the King, and He loves me, I know For His mercy and kindness so free Are unceasingly mine wheresoever I go And my Refuge unfailing is He.
As you move through this day, remember what your Father says to you: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”
– –Chris Conrad
Day 25
Forgiven By His Grace
On the other hand, if we admit our sins--make a clean breast ofthem--He won't let us down; He'll be true to Himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.1 John 1:9 The Message
As teenagers or young adults, many of us said, “When I get married (or have children, or join the church, etc.), I will never do that!” Most of the time, that type of statement was made as a reaction to soraething someone said or did that was offensive to us. But then one day, with a slap of unexpected shock, we find ourselves doing or saying the very thing we vowed we would never do. At this point we have a real dilemma. Because we were so judgmental and unforgiving of the original action, it is manifestly difficult to confess, repent, and receive God's forgiveness for our own deeds.
I have watched persons very close to me deal with desperate situations where God's forgiveness and mercy became the only hope for spiritual, emotional, and even physical survival. Perhaps for the first time, I became aware of how formidable the crushing load of sin and guilt can be. The words “forgiveness” and “mercy” took on a weight and substance unknown to me before. I have been privileged to see God's rederuptive plan displayed in Technicolor. It is an amazing sight!
As we ask the question “Who Am I?”, the acts of introspection, confession, repentance, and of receiving God's forgiveness are essential to our discovery. In radical vuinerabihty we need to invite God to ”search us and know our hearts,“ and to pay careful attention to what the Holy Spirit says in response. Then in simple, even weak, faith, believe the truth: “if we admit our sins — make a clean breast of them — He won't let us down; He'll be true to Himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.”
– –Chris Conrad
Day 26
Full of Potential
I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted... Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And l said, &lduo;Here am I. Send me!”Isaiah 6:1a, 8
One of the blessings of spending more time in prayer and fasting is that we have opportunity to see ourselves in a clearer light. Prayer has a way of making us face truth about ourselves that has gone undiscovered or has been forgotten. The sense of destiny, of calling, of potential can slip away in the arena of the routine — of the urgent — of the distasteful elements ofjnst plain life.
During these days of prayer and fasting, revisit the concept of being a person of potential. Essential elements to discovering and living out our potential are found in praying,
“Father, give me:
- A new vision — of Yourself. I must see You before I see the need, or my part in meeting that need.
- A new cleansing — of my own soul. Lord I want to be righteous in my thoughts, in my speech, in my actions.
- A new calling — of your task for me. Remind me, or make clear to me for the fzrst time, what You have set before me to do.
- A new understanding — of the source of power. I want to
be
convinced in my spirit that You will provide the resources for all You are calling me to be and do.”
– –Chris Conrad
Day 27
Precious in His Sight
I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... you are precious and honored in my sight... love you.Isaiah 43:3 – 4
How long has it been since someone called you ”precious?“ How long since someone put their arm around your shoulders and told you nothing mattered more than that they loved you?
Precious is one of my favorite terms of endearment. It carries with it the thoughts of value, costly, prized, and dear. As I write today, I can look on some things in my home that are costly, prized, and certainly have value. But they aren't dear. A couple in our last church gave Mary and me a large painting by Thomas Kincade of a stormy sea and lighthouse. It hangs in our dining room where we see it nearly every day. The print is valuable and prized, but of itself, it is not dear. What is dear are the memories of the couple who gave it to us. New believers, courageous in their determination to live righteous lives, and now firm in their faith, they are dear, they are loved, they are genuinely precious.
And so it is with us and our relationship with God. We may bring gifts of great value — souls to the Kingdom, our goods to feed the poor, time and intense effort invested in ministry — but that is not what makes us “precious in his sight” (Isaiah 43:4).
We were precious to God long before we were capable of doing anything for Him or bringing anything to Him. Our preciousness is solely based upon God's sovereign choice to love us, to prize us, to value us, to call us “dear.”
Without question, one of the most critical, consuming answers to the question “Who Am I” is that you and I are “precious in His sight.” – –Chris Conrad
Day 28
A Velveteen Christian
I am already being poured out like a drink offering...I Timothy 4:6
In Margery William's children's classic, The Velveteen Rabbit, an imaginary conversation between simple toys reveals the complex, beautiful truth about what is involved in living with a full understanding of who we are. The Rabbit asks, in bottom-line fashion:
“Who am I... really?”
The Skin Horse responded: “Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become real.”
The Rabbit asked if it hurt to become real and if it happened “all at once, like being wound up... or bit by bit?” The very wise Skin Horse acknowledged that it may hurt to become real, and that the process generally takes a long time. He said, “ That's why [knowing who we truly are] doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
As people who are sincerely seeking to discover who we are really... I propose we label ourselves “Velveteen Christians.” We are the children of God, whom He holds close as we are robbed to shabbiness by sandpaper people. We are people whose joints are continually being loosened by the shaking of disappointments, failures and struggles. But we are people who, as a result of the process, are being transformed by the love and power of the Holy Spirit into persons unashamed of who we are — unafraid to expose our challenges — and unwilling to stop celebrating our victories.
– –Chris Conrad
Day 29
In The Image of God
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Romans 12:2
North Americans are consumed by appearances and are constantly searching for something to prove their worth. They reveal their hunger for significance by annually spending millions of dollars liffing, tucking, reshaping and dressing their bodies so as to more closely conform to the counterfeit values mirrored by clothing magnates on Rodeo Drive. A thin layer of brand recognition, body size, and outward appearance lies between them and the depressing feelings of inferiority and low self–esteem.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the first century church at Rome, he knew that true significance could never be found in the latest offering of a fashion designer. He understood that true significance is discovered and enjoyed when a person surrenders to the influence of a personal and loving God, who has revealed His interest in humanity through the offering of His Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Today you will be tempted to measure your self-worth by the clothes you pull from your closet, or the jewelry you wear on your wrist, or by the appearance of your least attractive physical attribute. But don't be fooled!
You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). Your significance is bound inextricably to the Person of Jesus Christ and the garment of righteousness given you at the counter of personal, spiritual salvation. God endows you with the ability to look at yourself differently than those enslaved by the world's values. The Holy Spirit is constantly renewing your mind so that you may test and approve God's “good, pleasing and perfect will” and not be dragged under by the dictates of a vain and superficial culture.
– –Dean Brown
Day 30
Loving God With Everything
Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'Matthew 22:37
It is intriguing to observe people who are totally devoted to a cause. Whether it is education, art, politics, labor, or religion, human beings seem to give themselves wholeheartedly to something as a way of proving their relevance and desirability.
As a member of the Baby Boomer generation, I have often observed my father's generation living out the philosophy of Proverbs 18:9, "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." To that generation, only one's best effort could be viewed as worthy of acceptance. More than once I have received the signal that work was complete only when I had given it my all.
While I am glad that God does not measure our worth by how hard we work for Him (Ephesians 2:8-9), He does suggest in Matthew 22:37 that He desires a relationship characterized by complete devotion to Him. Our relationship to God is founded chiefly upon the cornerstone of love—His eternal love for us, and our undying love for Him.
Your day will be filled with challenges to this love relationship. Your family may demand your all. Your employer will require devition to your company's mission and core values. Even your church may unwittingly commit you to loving its ministry through dedicated service.
Be reminded, however, that your first love belongs to Almighty God. While Hie provides you with the blessings of acceptance, forgiveness, and peace, what He really desires, above all else, is for you to love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.
– –Dean Brown
Day 31
Part of the Family
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.1 Corinthians 12:18
You never know what you will find when you explore your family history. Stories may emerge that cause the chest to swell with pride or the head to hang in embarrassment at the antics of those who populate your family tree.
The story is told of one of my ancestors who struggled with alcohol abuse and thus lived as a recluse. He would rise in the morning to complete his daily chores, and as soon as it seemed appropriate, would hitch his horse to a carnage in order to visit the local watering hole for some libation. He would remain until the effects of the drug lulled him to a drunken sleep and then would be carried to his buggy by the locals. The horse, given a slap of encouragement, would carry the man home to his lonely cabin in the woods. He lived alone and died alone, never recognizing the need or value of allowing others into his life.
Sometimes history repeats itself. You may admit that your life is lived in similar fashion to that of my ancestor. Not that you abuse alcohol, but that you have been holding on to certain attitudes that are keeping you from enjoying the relationships available through your local church family.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the author admonishes us as members of the body of Christ. We cannot claim to be complete in Him as long as we excuse ourselves from active church life. We should accept our unique contribution to its functioning by sharing our lives with those who also participate in the Body. There is no reasonable excuse for us to ride solo in life's carriage while we have the Church to make the journey with us.
– –Dean Brown
Day 32
Using Your Gift
From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.Ephesians 4:16
Do you ever wonder if your spiritual gift is valuable to your local church? Have you ever questioned whether you really make a difference there?
God has called our family to plant a new church and He has sent wonderful people to help us reach others with the good news about Jesus Christ. Many of the people He has given us have very public gifts that are recognized as important to the body of Christ. We thank God for their contribution and benefit from their willingness to use them in our church.
One lady in our church, however, has a very quiet gift — the ministry of baking. She often arrives at church with a cake she has made in honor of some event occurring that morning. She recently reminded me that she desires no public recognition for her baking skills. Following church though, we enjoy the gift of hospitality God has entrusted to her! Although she cannot sing a note of music, God has placed her here to remind us that every gift is a necessary gift and none is to be viewed as unimportant.
The Bible is clear that “God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be” (1 Corinthians 12:18). He has given you at least one spiritual gift to help the church fulfill its mandate in the community (1 Peter 4:10). Without your gift, the church will be lacking. God is sovereign, and the gift(s) given you will benefit His body if you discover what they are and exercise them under the lordship of Christ and the supervision of your pastor.
Do you wonder if your spiritual gift is contributing to the ministry of your church? Believe me, it is!
– –Dean Brown
Day 33
Waiting to Hear From You
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!Matthew 7:11
In the early years of my ministry, I served as a police chaplain. Initially it was a heady experience — wearing a uniform, patrolling in a police cruiser, and serving the Lord through this unique ministry.
But I soon discovered that there were many people living around me who believed no one cared whether they lived or died. The psalmist read their heart's cry when he wrote, “Look to the right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life” (Psalm 142:4). On too many occasions I was called to scenes where people had reached the end of their ability to cope and made the fateful decision to violently end their lives.
Whatever life may drag across your path today, remember that there is Someone who cares about you. He is willing to enter your frustration and loneliness and offer concrete solutions to your concerns. He is the only one who will never leave or forsake you, no matter what you have done or where you've strayed
(Hebrews 13:5).
I often took early morning calls from police dispatchers who needed assistance with someone in despair. I would listen patiently to the callers' concerns and offer a word of hope about a God in heaven who loved them. I would tell them how Jesus Christ, His Son, died on a cross so that peace with God could be their daily portion. It always seemed to help them face the day with renewed perspective. This same God is available to you today and is awaiting your call.
– –Dean Brown
Day 34
Children of God
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.John 1:12 – 13
The Bible tells us that God created people for relationship with Him (Genesis 3:8-9). But through the disobedience of our first parents, that relationship was broken and sin entered the place where God once reigned (Genesis 3:1-7).
Generations of people have sought to restore this injured relationship by acts of piety too numerous to mention. Failure and floundering have characterized the experience of too many seekers after God
(Hebrews 10:1-4).
God knew that a plan was needed to make relationship with Him possible. That plan involved Him stepping into the pages of human history, which He accomplished when His Son, Jesus Christ, was born into the world (Luke 2).
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and challenged the spiritual paradigm of many people by His demanding teachings and controversial encounters with the religious people of His day. He spoke as One who knew God, telling us how we could know Him too (John 14:6). His teaching and example elevated the worth of humankind and gave hope to even the most hopeless. Jesus gave His life to pay the price for human sin and to open the way for people to come to God by faith. Because of this, God can be known through Jesus Christ and life can be lived in victory.
You may wonder about your value before Almighty God. Life may have taught you that you are not worthy to call Him your Father and enjoy the blessings of being His child. Jesus challenges your thinking! His death settles the question once and for all — you are God's valued son or daughter through your personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
– –Dean Brown
Day 35
The Wisdom of God
His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.Ephesians 3:10 – 11
In one of the stories of the Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor failed to recognize the danger he faced as he guided his ship into the Indian Ocean. He was sailing in calm conditions when a magnetic rock rose from the surface of the placid waters. Unknown to him and the crew, the ship was being mysteriously drawn closer and closer to the rock. Bolts began to be pulled from the ship's side. The crew was oblivious to the fact that little by little every clamp was being loosened. Finally the whole structure of the bulwark, mast, and sails tumbled into the depths of the sea. The confused sailors thrashed and scrambled for safety, but, one by one, sank to their watery graves.
We face a similar threat in the spiritual realm. We are constantly faced with tough decisions that demand true wisdom. As we seek wisdom for right decisions, we need to be aware that there is a form of worldly, unspiritual, and often even demonic wisdom that can raise its head above the surface of our culture and try to attract anyone who passes within its range.
Satan has a slick way of packaging lies in the skin of truth until they seem convincing. But a lie is still a lie, no matter how it is packaged or how rational or logical it may appear. Only God's Word is the eternal source of absolute truth.
– –Marlin Hotle
Day 36
A Resting Place for Faith
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.1 Corinthians 1:25
A tourist waded into the Louisiana backwater for a little swim when he spotted an old man standing on the bank. The tourist asked, “Are there any alligators in this water?” “No, not a single one,” responded the weathered old man. The swimmer, still a little unsure of himself, remained troubled. Again he asked, “If there are no alligators, then what are those gray shadows I see ahead of me in the water?” The seasoned onlooker replied, “Those gray shadows you see are the sharks that chased the alligators away.”
We often tend to think that answers to the tough questions we face can be found in education, psychology, or modern technology. But we generally discover that none of the answers they provide have solved our problems or brought us any satisfaction. We have simply traded our alligators for sharks.
We will never find true peace until we discover that Jesus Christ does not simply know the answers to life's great questions — He is the answer! He, and He alone, can be fully trusted never to let us down. The nineteenth century Norwegian hymn says it well:
– –Marlin HotleMy faith has found a resting place; not in device nor creed:
I trust the Everlasting One; His wounds for me shall plead. I need no other argument; I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.
Day 37
Living in the Light
Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.John 3:21
Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? These questions have been asked over and over again through the ages. Where can we turn for true answers to these big, eternal questions?
Instead of looking to the Bible, most modern–day thinkers insist on using human wisdom alone. But eternal questions cannot be answered by anything short of divine wisdom. The tragedy of looking to human wisdom for these answers was graphically illustrated in a humorous skit performed by German comedian Karl Vallentin. He walked onto a stage that was completely dark, except for a small area under a street lamp. Walking into the light, he began to look for something on the ground. A policeman walked into the scene and asked him what he is doing. His answer was that he was trying to find a key, whereupon the two began to search together. After awhile, the officer asked, “Are you sure you lost it here?” “Oh, no,” answered Vallentin. As he pointed into the dark he said, “I lost it over there, but here is where the light is!”
Are you looking for all the right answers in all the wrong places? You'll never find them until you go to the right source. And when you do turn to God, He will not leave you in the dark. It gives Him pleasure to reveal truth to those who are earnest and sincere in their search.
– –Marlin Hotle
Day 38
Saved in Hope
For in this hope we were saved.Romans 8:24
I wish God healed every believer of every illness, but He doesn't, at least not before death. Some wonder, “If God doesn't heal me, how am I any better off than I was before becoming His child?” It is because, unlike the sinner, we have hope. Paul deals with universal suffering in Romans 8:18–25, and in verses 24 and 25 he tells us that it is “in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
The story is told of a philosophy professor who became curious about the old adage, “Where there's life, there's hope.” He decided to conduct an experiment. He took a large container and filled it half full of water. Then he put a rat in the water to see how long it would last before giving up hope. He repeated the experiment several times and each time the rat would swim around the container until it became sure there was no place to escape. It would then simply give up, quit swimming, and drown. Next he took a container and cut down one side until it was nearly level with the water. Then he created an air current just under the low place of the container that would force away anything that approached the edge. He again placed a rat in the water to see how long it would take it to give up hope under these conditions. Time and time again the rat would swim until it found the low spot. It would fight against the current, trying to reach freedom. It would swim for hours until it expired, not from drowning like the rats in the first experiment, but from exhaustion. The professor reached a simple but logical conclusion. It is not “where there's life there's hope” but rather “where there's hope there's life.”
– –Marlin Hotle
Day 39
A Safe Source for Answers
The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.1 Corinthians 8:2
The ancient philosopher Socrates once stated that he was the wisest of all the Athenians. Everyone was shocked because he was revered as a very humble man. Knowing they must be missing something, they asked him what he meant by this. He gave them an answer that went something like this: “There are a great many of the Athenians who think they know the answers, but I know that I do not know them, thus I am the wisest of all the Athenians.”
No man is as foolish as he who is sure he has all the answers. There is only One who can lay claim to such a distinction. God, and God alone, is the source of all knowledge. I may not have the answers, but I can claim the next best thing. The One who has the answers is my best friend, and He has written me an intimate letter that gives me all the answers I will ever need.
Being wise is not a matter of having the answers, but of understanding the questions and knowing where to find satisfactory answers. If you trust any earthly source you will often find yourself disappointed.
Members of my family have struggled with diabetes for years. Forty years ago my grandmother was told by her doctors that she could eat all the honey she wanted and it would not hurt her because it was a natural sugar. Now we know that they were wrong. They were sincere, but were simply limited in their knowledge. Their mistaken conclusion was actually dangerous. When it comes to the decisions that affect your spiritual life, you had better turn to the only safe source for your answers.
– –Marlin Hotle
Day 40
Answers that Please
A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.Proverbs 14:16
My wife was raised in a large university town that was known to be quite liberal in its social and political views. While visiting her parents a few years ago, I was surprised to see a headline on the front page of the newspaper that stated, “More professors believe in heaven than ever before.” The article explained that each decade, for a number of years past, a survey dealing with spiritual beliefs had been given to the local university professors. According to the article, belief in heaven had climbed more than 17% since the previous survey had been given. I was encouraged by this.
But the last paragraph, which seemed to have been added almost as an afterthought, was the one that really got to me. The writer casually mentioned that while belief in heaven, and even angels, was at an all time high, belief in hell had never been lower. How vividly this points out the inconsistency of our time. We claim we want to know the answers to the great questions of life, but we pick and choose the answers we will hold on to based on whether or not we find them agreeable. God's Word is either the absolute truth or an absolute lie.
Trust it completely or don't trust it at all. Robert Ingersoll, a famous lawyer and atheist of the nineteenth century, once delivered a critical lecture on hell. He called hell the “scarecrow of religion” and told the audience how all intelligent people had decided there was no such place. A drunk in the audience came up to him afterward and said, “I liked what you said about hell. But, Bob, I want you to be sure about it because I'm depending upon you.”
– –Marlin Hotle
Daily Devotional Contents
Day 2–An Incomparable God | Day 3–A Jealous God
Day 4–A God Who Carries or Must Be Carried? | Day 5–What is Truth?
Day 6–Whose Truth? | Day 7–Salad Bar Truth
Day 8–Truth is a Person | Day 9–A New Way of Thinking
Day 10–Living the Truth | Day 11–What Does the Lord Require?
Day 12–Persistent Example | Day 13–God's Silence
Day 14–The Final Promotion | Day 15–Divine Demonstration
Day 16–Interceding Justice | Day 17–Flying With Clipped Wings
Day 18–The School of Hard Knocks | Day 19–Find the Pill
Day 20–Speaking the Language of Pain | Day 21–Fruit Out of Season
Day 22–In Its Time | Day 23–Persons of Reality
Day 24–A Child of God | Day 25–Forgiven By His Grace
Day 26–Full of Potential | Day 27–Precious in His Sight
Day 28–A Velveteen Christian | Day 29–In The Image of God
Day 30–Loving God With Everything | Day 31–Part of the Family
Day 32–Using Your Gift | Day 33–Waiting to Hear From You
Day 34–Children of God | Day 35–The Wisdom of God
Day 36–A Resting Place for Faith | Day 37–Living in the Light
Day 38–Saved in Hope | Day 39–A Safe Source for Answers
Day 40–Answers That Please | E-Mail Webmaster
Fory Days of Prayer and Fasting
is the call for you to come face to face with God. Bow before Him! Tremble before Him! Yield to Him! Embrace Him! Know Him! Love Him! Enjoy Him!This daily prayer calender will encourage you day by day as you experience the wonder of God's presence Keep it near your Bible or devotional book as a reminder to draw nearer to the Lord during the next forty days (Forty Days of Fasting and Prayer).
Forty Days of Prayer and Fasting
An emphasis of the Wesleyan Church Evangelism and Church Growth Department
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