It is almost impossible to remain optimistic these day about the future if you constantly listen to the politics, news and talk shows of our day. How do we rise above the frequency of doubt, fear, and unbelief, in our time? How can we dream dreams, and see visions, at a time when many are saying the best years are behind us? The answer is by living according to the “good news” and not the “bad report.” Joshua and Caleb were focused on the “good news,” God’s promises and not the potential problems they faced in the promise land.
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”Numbers 13:30 NKJV
I challenge you, to dream, to see visions, to believe the best is yet to come! To examine yourself before God and dare to believe His plan for your life. Have you stopped believing? Have you given up and settled for the status quo? Are your dreams as big as your God? There is some challenging days before us; that’s not a warning, but a preamble to a great adventure designed and orchestrated by a benevolent and powerful God!
In Ezekiel 11:3 the people doubted God in their time saying: “The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.” The Lord God sternly refutes their unbelief in the verses that follow. In verse 11, 12a the Lord God says: “This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the border of Israel.” (God judges those who do not believe). “And you shall know that I am the Lord…”
May we repent of the world’s outlook and look forward to what our God is able to do. This is the time to build, to be about our Father’s business. Tomorrow is just another way of procrastinating, today is the day of salvation, and “now” is the acceptable time!
For His Glory,
Pastor Al
VICTORIOUS LIVING
The following is a devotional from E. Stanley Jones, the famous missionary to India. I hope it’s a blessing to you.
Your Chief Slave,
Pastor Al
“In our request for victorious living, one of the most important things to learn is to live inwardly relaxed. This age seems set against it. Its whole demand is high tension, high pressure. So, we do not die of the diseases our forebears died of; we go at high pressure until the boiler bursts. Nervous diseases and heart failure are the outcome of inner tensions. And all this destroys not only the body but the mind and soul as well. For freedom and efficiency depend upon relaxation.
