“Don’t get tired of doing what is good.” Galatians 6:9 NLT

“Valuable blessings enrich the hearts and lives of those who serve others unselfishly.”

My thoughts today are about “lifestyle issues.”

Basically, I think everyone wants to do what is good, to be considerate of others and helpful. However, I can understand times that discourage a person from consistently doing what is right and good as a lifestyle. Good is not always recognized by those who take others’ goodness for granted and that becomes a bit discouraging. Or good is not always realized or appreciated by those benefiting most, and one’s efforts feel devalued. Also, a good deed is not always reciprocated in kind. There are times you may feel alone trying to do what’s right and good, and wonder if the effect is worth the effort. That is discouraging and makes you question whether living for the good of others warrants the sacrifice. You learn to do the right and good things because they are right and good, not because you feel like doing so.

Here’s the Bible’s encouragement to you, “Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone . .” Galatians 6:9-10 NLT. There is a natural weariness in doing what is right and good, however noble your intentions at the first. Fallen nature, within us and others, seems bent to resist good at times.

There is a very practical instruction in preceding verses that reminds you why you are not to become slack, “Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well . . you will always reap what  you sow . . those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” Galatians 6:2-8 NLT. Valuable blessings enrich the hearts and lives of those who serve others unselfishly. See Matthew 10:42 NLT.

Read those verses again thoughtfully; notice the rewards promised – “personal satisfaction, pleasing the Spirit, and everlasting life.” What could ever be more fulfilling? People search the world to find cheap substitutes for such personal reward and pay a high price in their soul while doing so, when those were readily available in one’s sincere kindness to others. Those benefits have their own intrinsic value, whatever the notice and appreciation of others, or lack thereof. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.” Proverbs 3:27-30 NKJV. Do what you can when you can in the best way that you can.

Doing what is right and good is internally satisfying unless the cost and time overshadows why and for Whom you are doing so. What you do for others, do as unto the Lord. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does.” Ephesians 6:7-8/Colossians 3:23-24 NIV. I think this single verse sums it up well, “Your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:14 TEV. Shine where Jesus can be seen more clearly.

My prayer for you today is this: let all you do be always to God’s glory and praise!

“Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT

“People more likely forget what they should remember and remember what they could forget.”

My thoughts today are about “forgetfulness.”

I have learned this about forgetfulness. Without diligence, any one of us can forget even the best of things done for us. The less time or intention to think about things now past, the easier it is to forget even what you thought you never could. Forgetfulness is more a matter of omission than commission, isn’t it? A person is more likely to forget what they should remember and remember what they could forget. I want to remember kindnesses not the disappointments, the regard not the disregard, the helpfulness not the hurt. Sometimes I need help to do that.

Everyone benefits from Godly reminders along the way. My wife, Gayle, is thoughtful and kind enough to remind me of family birthdays and anniversaries. She knows I would not mean to forget those occasions for people dear to me, but I may need reminders.  Charlotte, my secretary of many years, keeps me aware of friends and church families who have special needs or special days for an occasional call or contact. She knows I would not knowingly overlook them, and do not want to do so unintentionally. Forgetfulness occurs even when you do not intend to forget.

Have you heard of self-talk? Everyone talks with themselves on occasion, preferably not aloud. Self-talk is what you tell yourself when no one else is listening. Inwardly, you talk your way through decisions and plans before they’re made, except sadly enough, for the ones you don’t. Self-talk is the normal and useful process of contemplation, thinking, reflection, and musings – not all of which are positive. Your mind is creative; use it well and wisely. Consider Psalm 1:1-3 NIV.

It is easy to rehearse your complaints, or practice your criticism, or convince yourself of slights and oversights. Any benefit to that? Not really. I think the Psalms are largely the outworking of David inwardly processing his struggles, fears, regrets, heartache, hopes, aspirations, and intentions. And now, centuries later, we share his ruminations and learn from his intrapersonal reflections. See Psalm 19:14 NKJV.

King David, older and wiser, wrote, “Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT. Never forget the good things God and others contribute to your life.  Read on in Psalm 103 as David recalls “all the benefits” not to be forgotten – forgiven iniquities, healed diseases, life preserved, crowned with lovingkindness, satisfied with good things, and youth and strength renewed. Read Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV. That is how you remember what you must not forget.

My prayer for you today is to rehearse the mercies, favor, and provision of God to you.

“Abraham . . was strengthened in faith.” Romans 4:20 NKJV

“The obvious evidence for doubt can distract from the ample evidence for faith.”

My thoughts today are about “ample evidence.”

Faith is dynamic not static, ever changing and extending. Faith is either strengthening or weakening. And the difference between those is up to you. Faith is a very personal matter. Someone can have faith with you, but I’m not sure how anyone can have faith for you. Others can set an example for your faith, or even encourage your faith by their words and assurances, but faith is a personal experience and expression. Here’s what I have discovered. It gets harder and harder to believe a promise when delay and circumstances conspire to make you doubt the God who made the promise.

Abraham had a grand promise from God – specific, not vague. Initially, the promise seemed life fulfilling but still naturally possible, “a father of many nations . . seed as numerous as the stars of the heavens.” Genesis 22:17-18 NKJV. I think they probably started planning the nursery and choosing names for a boy or girl. Then years passed, too many years, about twenty-five years really. Now the promise seemed completely and irrevocably impossible, no natural way to accomplish their long-held dream. That’s a lot of time and circumstance to deal with when the first promise came when he was already seventy-five years old! It was a struggle believing the promise until he determined he could fully believe God. God is timeless and eternal; the passing years mean little. He minds neither man’s clock nor calendar. What are you struggling to still believe? Does something that once still appeared possible now seem unlikely?

His and Sarah’s journey had ups and downs, good days and bad, but eventually here is how God described Abraham’s faith and faithfulness, (those two, faith and faithfulness, are inseparably related, you know). Abraham “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken . . and not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what God has promised He was also able to perform.” Romans 4:18-22 NKJV.

A promise should not be your focus; the Promise Keeper alone is where true faith seeks to rest. See Hebrews 6:17-19 NKJV. Notice carefully the conclusion of faith: “being fully convinced that what God had promised He was able to perform.” Faith does not rest upon His promise to you; faith rests solidly upon God’s faithfulness and character. “For all the promises of God in Him are ‘Yes,’ and in Him ‘Amen,’ to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV.

Abraham was strengthened in faith for two reasons. (1) He did not consider the obvious evidence for doubt – “his own body and Sarah’s womb,” which presented a strong case for disbelief. See Hebrews 11:11-12 NKJV. (2) He looked at the ample evidence for faith and found that in God alone. Hebrews 11:1 NKJV. Where you are looking determines what you are seeing – things unseen and eternal or things seen but temporary. Read 2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV.

My prayer for you today is that God’s promises are sure and steadfast in your heart.

“Hezekiah received the letter . . and spread it before the Lord.” 2 Kings 19:14 NKJV

“Your crisis can become God’s opportunity.”

My thoughts today are about “bad news.”

Bad news can come at anytime to anybody – to rich and poor, young and old, and “the just and unjust, righteous and unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45 NIV. And bad news comes in many forms – unexpected expenses, a lost job, a dreaded diagnosis, or screeching tires. Bad news is not the best thing that happens in your day, but neither does it mean the worst thing is going to happen. Bad news is not the problem; your panic will be. What do you do when you do not know what to do? You can’t choose or control the circumstances that come your way; you must choose what your response will be. God doesn’t react to need; He responds to faith.

Hezekiah, King of Judah, received really bad news. Read 2 Kings 19:1-13 NKJV. The most powerful, notorious Assyrian king, Sennacherib, had ravaged surrounding nations and now approached Judah with 185,000 warriors. The Assyrian king sent his emissary with threatening letters to King Hezekiah. Judah was defenseless against such an army; make no mistake about that. When bad news comes, you will either be tempted to panic while projecting the worst case scenario, or will foolishly try to face and fix the problem yourself. Either would be a serious mistake.

Hezekiah didn’t know what to do about his problem, but he knew where to bring it. He brought it before the Lord. “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, and went up to the House of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed . .” 2 Kings 19:14 NKJV. That’s what you do with bad news. You take it seriously; you face it squarely, but you do not panic or immediately take matters into your own hands. Hezekiah’s strategy was spiritual, not military. 2 Kings 18:1-8 NKJV. I think you can learn three practical strategies for success in a crisis.

(1) Bring your bad news to the Lord first. Where better to turn than to the Lord? It is liberating to bring every care to God. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV. I think God wants to hear what you think and feel. Feel free to speak your heart in honesty and humility. Be real with God, not religious. God is not impressed with your religion. He is, however, relational. What matters to you, matters to Him.

(2) Don’t waste God’s attention; pray! Prayer is not to provide God information; He already knows “the end from the beginning.” Prayer is your opportunity to give God your personal invitation to intervene in the situation. Doing so puts your problem in God’s hand and your dilemma into proper perspective. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much . . don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything . . if you do this you will experience God’s peace . . guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” James 5:16-18/Philippians 4:6-7 NLT.

(3) Listen until you hear a true word from God. Read 2 Kings 19:20-35 NKJV. Hezekiah sought the counsel of the prophet, Isaiah, who had the word directly from God. Isaiah 37:21-35. Hezekiah and Judah would not be left to their merciless adversary; the ruthless king who troubled them was now at the mercy of their God. 2 Kings 19:36-38. Bad news can be viewed as a crisis; the good news is that in God’s hands, your crisis becomes God’s opportunity. And no one should waste an opportunity like that.

My prayer for you today is that your first thought is to turn God’s direction first.

“The smell of smoke was not on them.” Daniel 3:27 NKJV

“The minimum you can do is not good enough when the maximum is what you should do.”

My thoughts today are about “above and beyond.”

Some people are content to do the minimum they can get by with, such as when a child is asked to clean their room or a teen is required to make their bed. If people ever grew out of that, it wouldn’t be so bad. Unfortunately, that seems to remain the norm rather than the exception for people of all ages and in many situations. The minimum you can do is just not good enough when the maximum is what you should do. Our God is a wonderful example of that principle, as should you be. Every moment is an opportunity to be your best for Him in thought, word, and deed.

I know I just wrote some thoughts and comments about this verse previously, “After Effects.” (Friday, 1-20-12) From responses, the idea seemed to have connected with readers. Here is another practical way this story speaks to me. Read Daniel 3:1-30 NKJV. This story is of three young men refusing to commit idolatry who are thrown into a deadly furnace by an angry king, then are unimaginably delivered harm-free. At first, it may seem to be a story about the Godly faith and courageous obedience of Daniel’s contemporaries and companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And from one perspective it is, but I suggest it is more about the character and greatness of the God upon whom their faith rested.

God is powerful whose thoughts and ways are above and beyond your own. See Isaiah 55:8-11 NLT.  At least, God could have somehow intervened or prevented such a hurtful circumstance altogether. Instead, an angry man was allowed to do his worst to young men who were trying to do their best to be faithful to God and true to their personal convictions. Their punishment was merely a petulant king vindicating his arrogance, being arbitrary and going beyond anything just or fair. The punishment did not fit the perceived offense.

What did God choose to do? He chose to be with them where their obedience and faith placed them. He chose to deliver them in a manner that left no other explanation except that it was the work of an almighty God. God loves doing things like that on behalf of those who love and serve Him. God did not do the minimum to save their lives; God vindicated their righteousness.

God goes well above and far beyond everything expected; He always does. He will do the same for you. God made the inexplicable undeniable, the combustible incombustible, and the destructible indestructible! “These men upon whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of the fire was not on them.” Daniel 3:27 NKJV. They didn’t bow, they didn’t bend; they couldn’t burn. The fire could not burn them, nor even the smell of smoke attach itself to them or their clothing. God could have left them singed and smoky but He did not.

Whatever your circumstance, God will do the most He can do for you, never the least that is asked of Him. This verse is God’s self-description and my favorite understanding of Him: “(God) is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think, [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] . .” Ephesians 3:20 Amplified Bible. When Jesus sent out His disciples, He promised them, “I have given you authority . . to overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you.” Luke 10:20 TEV. You may be near to harm, but far from hurt.

My prayer for you today is that you ask and expect nothing less than God’s highest and best.