The Daily Dose

No matter what

You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.1 Thessalonians 2:2

What are your “No matter whats?”  Maybe it is something simple like: No matter what, I am going to love my family.  Or No matter what, I am going to be a Christian.  Maybe it is even something like: No matter what, I am going to pray and talk to God.  Most likely it is something you have never considered before.  However, it is a good place to start when evaluating what your priorities are and what is important to you.

Today’s passage is about how Paul and Silas were mistreated in Philippi, but they didn’t stop on their mission.  You may remember what happened to them at Philippi?  They were beaten and put in prison.  This is when they were singing and praising God into the night hours and God shook the foundations of the jail to set them free.  They didn’t escape, but they used it as an opportunity to lead the guard and his family to salvation.  Then they went on to Thessalonica and God gave them courage and boldness to take salvation to the people there. 

This is amazing.  Why didn’t they pack up and go home?  They could have said “Obviously this isn’t God’s will because we are facing so much resistance.  Even to the point of being beaten and imprisoned.”  No, their perspective was “Obviously this is God’s will because we are facing so much resistance in the natural world”  Paul’s team knew that God had called them into this ministry.  They held on to that calling and the word they received through the Holy Spirit and no matter what, they were determined to complete that mission even to the point of death.

What about you and me?  Are we willing to hang on to the call and mission of God to us no matter what?  Do we pray for courage and boldness each day to complete God’s plan no matter what?  Or do we see opposition as an opportunity to pack up, go home and forget about what God is asking us to do?

Today I want to encourage you to consider your “No matter whats.”  What is it in this life that you are determined to complete, achieve and acquire no matter what else happens?  What is it that God has put in your heart to give, minister and bless others with?  Seek His plan and purpose and decide today that no matter what, I will get the step by step process to complete this plan and fulfill all that God has for me in this world.  You only get a short time here on this earth, finish what you were sent here to do . . . no matter what!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

What are they saying about you?

They speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1 Thessalonians 1:10

Wow!  Can you imagine if people talked this way about you?  Like in my case, I cannot fathom someone saying, “Lynette talks about how she is looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven and how He is the one who has rescued her from the terror of the coming judgment.”  Mostly because, that isn’t what I talk about.  But why not?  This is the most important thing in my life and I am looking forward to it.  The day of my LORD’s return.

The people in the Thessalonian church were excited about the LORD returning to get them.  They were looking for Jesus to come back every day.  They were also so thankful that they had been rescued, so they were telling everyone about it.  So much so that the news of their discussions got back to Paul all the way in Athens.

So why don’t we get this fired up about Jesus coming back today?  Do we really believe it?  Maybe it’s because it has been over 2000 years and we are not so confident that we will live to see that day?  Maybe it’s because people on the outside will think we are weird or maybe it’s because we aren’t in love with Him like we once were?  What ever the reason, I for one am going to take a step in that direction.  Why not talk about what I have been rescued from?  It is the best thing I have going in my life.  My biggest issue is, I have become too busy trusting and believing God to keep me comfortable in this world that if I start to speak like the Thessalonians did, it could get a little uncomfortable.

Today I want to encourage you to get uncomfortable for Jesus.  Stop praying for Him to give you the perfect day, the perfect spouse, the perfect job or the perfect home and neighborhood.  Instead start praying that He would give you a refreshing of your love for Him and His return.  Think about the eternal separation He rescued you from and ask that you would be emboldened to talk about it no matter who you are around.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

Fresh air

The word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it. 1 Thessalonians 1:8

I realized something from this passage in Thessalonians that I have not considered before. It is about the churches that Paul started and how they motivated and inspired him during his life journey. I have always considered the apostle Paul as being self-motivated and Holy Spirit led as he was transported to Rome to stand before Caesar. He started ministry as a Christian with a word from Jesus on the road to Damascus. In Acts 9:15, Jesus told “Saul” that he was His chosen instrument to take His message to the Gentiles/nations and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” It has always been my presumption that Paul based his ministry on this Word and it kept him from deviating from the plan the whole time. While I know this to be true, I also know that Paul faced many discouraging events the entire time he ministered. The news and messages that were brought to him from the churches strengthen and encouraged him. Although, I’m sure he didn’t depend on them to get him through, I know that the good reports he received were like a breath of fresh air all throughout his imprisonment.

How do I know this? Because that is the same way it works today. As we journey on our mission for the kingdom of heaven, there are many days that go by without anyone even noticing or paying attention to the hours of prayer and hard work being done in the background. Of course, it is the same with any job, but especially in missions.  Walking by faith and following the Holy Spirit are steps that are taken to ensure you are following the plan. Although no one may be watching and that is certainly not the reason you are on the mission, but when a word comes that you have impacted a life or been an inspiration to someone, suddenly there is new wind in your sails in those times that your ship may be stagnate and stuck in immobility.

My point is when you are impacted or encouraged by others, take a minute to tell them. Whether by text message, phone call or email. You can even send a thank you card to express the way someone has touched your life in a positive way. Start with your pastor or teacher. No one fully knows the hours they are spending preparing, praying and planning for the next service or meeting. You can even extend this to your boss or neighbors. Anyone who is leading with very little recognition can be reinvigorate with a kind word of thanks or even a praise report of how their message brought you closer in your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to take time to consider those who have impacted your life.  Think about those who have helped you step closer in your relationship with your Heavenly Father.  Then reach out and thank them for taking the time to pray, encourage and help you along the way.  Let them know that what they are doing is making a difference and encourage them to complete all the plans God has for them to accomplish.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Thessalonians 1:7-10

Send God’s grace and peace

This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.  We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  May God give you grace and peace.  1 Thessalonians 1:1

As I began reading the book of Thessalonians (which is the next book after Colossians), I realized I didn’t know it was written by Paul, Silas and Timothy.  I had always been under the impression that it was another letter from Paul.  It occurred to me that these three men of God were sending words of encouragement to the church in Thessalonica.  They begin their letter by sending God’s grace and peace.  Isn’t this amazing?  They are actually sending God’s grace and peace to them through the mail . . . through their letter and words of encouragement.  Of course, God’s grace and peace came to them through the prayers of Paul, Silas and Timothy, but now they are letting them know that God’s grace and peace are on the way to them if they haven’ already received it.

How comforting these words must have been to those believers when they received the letter.  To know that Paul, Silas and Timothy were thinking about them, praying for them and that God’s grace and peace were with them all the time.

We can do the same thing today too, and it is a lot easier for us.  We can pray for friends and loved one that live far from us.  We can pray for those we have shared salvation with even though we are not with them every day and we can pray for missions and ministries that we may not even know the people personally.  We can send them God’s grace and peace as we pray for them.  Then, we can message them.  We can encourage those far from us with a text or an email to let them know we are thinking of them and praying for them.  These are simple things, but sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget that we are here to love and encourage one another.  Think what a difference it would make in so many lives if each of us reached out to others every time as we thought about them . . . even if we just prayed for them, what a change it would make.

Today I want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to put someone on your heart to pray God’s grace and peace on and then reach out and encourage them with that grace and peace.  Take time in your prayer time and ask God who is struggling today that you can pray for or who may need a voice of inspiration in their life?  Then go a step further and reach out to people you know and even those you don’t know so well.  You could have the only uplifting words they ever hear in their life.  That is sure to make a impact!

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Like vision

Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.  Colossians 4:16

Paul wrote many letters to the churches of His day.  In today’s text it is clear that he wanted the Colossian people to exchange their letter with other churches.  In this way they were able to stay in agreement in the mission they were fulfilling of getting the message of salvation to the outside people and encouraging one another.

We have the same mission today.  Our assignment in this life is to share, fund and spread the message of the gospel wherever we go.  We are also to encourage each other.  This is the main reason we have the Word of God.  Much like the churches of Paul’s day had his messages to share and to keep everyone on track, we have the holy scriptures today to keep us connected.  God has made available to us His standard and manual of operation for how He set life in this world up.  As we stick to the fundamental message of God’s grace for salvation, that is where every true member of the body of Christ comes into agreement.  We can all agree that Jesus’ work on the cross was for our punishment and for our salvation.  Not only ours, but 1 John 2:2 say it is also for the whole world, whosoever will receive it.

Today I want to encourage you to first of all recognize you have a mission in life.  You are called as a child of God and a representative of heaven to share God’s good news with others.  By reading God’s word and praying for His grace, He has equipped you to complete this mission.  The second part of your assignment is to encourage others.  Be a voice of strength and inspiration to those around you and use all your words to stir up those who have lost hope and are discouraged.  Put these assignments at the top of your “to do” list everyday and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be an effective witness for Him wherever you are.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:10-18

Labor fervently

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, and is always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  Colossians 4:12

Have you ever labored fervently in prayer?  It means you spent time before God bringing a concern or problem to Him for answers, with great intensity.  Maybe for a sick friend or loved one?  Maybe for something you were facing personally?  Maybe you were stirred from sleep and felt an urgent need to pray?  I’m sure we have all had times that we felt pressed to pray when crisis came up, but how many of us have earnestly labored in prayer for fellow believers to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God?  This is new to me.  I do pray for others and especially those on the mission field that they would be protected as they carry out their ministry assignments.  However, I don’t remember ever laboring or praying to the extent of hard work for anyone where ministry is concerned.  I think I pretty much think that God has called them and He will provide and care for them.  That’s not quite right now, is it? As many as God calls to go to missions He has also called many to pray for missions.

Today’s scripture talks about a fellow minister of Paul’s who labored in prayer fervently/passionately for the Colossian believers.  His prayer was not for them to be well, prosperous or full of wisdom.  His earnest prayer for them was that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  Now that’s a good prayer.  What would happen if we as believers began to pray this for all the saints?  What if we even just prayed it for the people in our own church like Epaphras did?  What if we prayed this fervently with great sincerity?  Do you think things would look any different in the church body than they do today?  I for one am going to start my 2021 new year with a greater intensity in prayer for the believers in my church, in my groups and in my influence, that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  I believe this prayer made a difference in Paul’s day and It will make a difference in our day too.  When we pray, we open up the doorway to bring heaven’s presence into our earth’s circumstances. 

Today I want to encourage you to spend some time laboring fervently in prayer.  If you are not sure what that looks like, ask the Holy Spirit to give you an example of how to do it.  He may lead you to someone in scripture or He may have a modern-day example for you, but be watching for His answer to this prayer. While you wait for His example, set some quiet time aside and begin to lift up those closest to you with this prayer of intensity.  Ask that the Holy Spirit would empower all believers to stand perfectly and complete in all of God’s will.  Ask Him to empower you to do the same.  You will begin to feel the burning of passion on the inside of your soul that will translate into the intense desire you have to pray for your pastor, leaders and missionaries around the world.  Start today to labor fervently and let’s start sanding perfectly complete in all that God has willed for us. 

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:12-15

 Words

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.  Colossians 4: 6

Words!  The world is full of them.  Words are everywhere we go.  Some are good, some are not so good.  Some are inspiring and some are draining.  Some encourage us to move forward in life and some set us back.  Words are the key in a successful relation or a debilitating one.  Words bring growth or they can also stagnate. Words are what civilizations are built on.  In the case of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, the passage says their progress was unstoppable because they spoke the same words in agreement with each other.  After their words became confused, all progress stopped.

Today’s scripture is about speaking words of grace.  The God kind of words.    It starts out with, you allowing and selecting gracious words to come out, all the time.  You are the one who has the choice and authority to speak God’s grace into every situation.  God’s Words build up and encourage.  God’s Words motivate and inspire and God’s Words love and honor those who would hear.  The passage also speaks of salty words, words that make others thirsty for the living water.  These are not condemning words or words of foolishness.  Salty words are wise and creative, inspired by the Word of God and His Spirit within you.

Gracious, salty words are not always our first response in life, in fact, most people are prone to respond first of all with a world view.  Because it is popular or basically what we are surrounded by everywhere we go, words often come out cynical and guarded.  God’s kind of language has to be premeditated.  You have to plan ahead of time that you are going to speak encouraging and uplifting words all the time.  If you don’t have them in any given situation, you do not have to speak at all.  Many times we feel pressure that we have to have a comment or sarcastic remark, but these are not responses that are necessary for building others up.  Ephesians 4:29 says, don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up and brings grace to all who hear.  It doesn’t say, I strongly suggest you do this or whenever you feel like doing it, it emphatically starts with DO NOT LET THESE WORDS OUT COME OUT.

Today I want to encourage you to put a plan in place for speaking words of God’s goodness and grace.  Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you that you are now speaking God’s encouraging Words on purpose every time you are tempted to be sarcastic or cynical. Use your inner feelings of disappointment, disgust and discouragement as triggers that you actually need to speak something good into the situation.  Recognize that your words are influencing the direction of every conversation you have in life.  Are they leading to life causing others to look for goodness or are the pointing toward deterioration and leading others down a road of destruction.  As you make your plans for 2021, make speaking God’s kind of Words part of it.  You always have the choice in the words you speak, make the choice one that draws others closer to God, not push them farther away.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:1-6

Give yourself to prayer

Give yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  Colossians 4:2

Do you pray?  If someone were to ask you about prayer, would you know how to give some pointers?  Most people would say “yes, I know how to pray”.  Certainly, it isn’t difficult, and anyone can pray that wants to.  You don’t need an appointment, you don’t need a special invitation and you don’t need an introduction.  All you need to do is have a conversation with your Creator.  God doesn’t turn anyone away.  Even in the case of Cornelius, who was the first gentile to receive salvation after Jesus’ resurrection, God heard his prayer before he received salvation. (see Acts 10) God hears our prayers and not only that, He looks and listens for them.  Not just some of the time, but all the time.  He is always listening, but He is always guiding and directing too.  It is up to you to shut down and listen for His counsel.  This is what today’s scripture is referring to by being alert. You “tune in” or are listening for what He is speaking to your heart.

Today’s verse talks about giving yourself or devoting time to prayer.  It also instructs us to be alert when we pray, for God’s response.  The verse ends with an admonishing to be thankful. (which is part of praying)  So, what does it mean to devote or give yourself to prayer?  Is it spending all your time talking to God?  Is it just talking to God when you have a need or is it about only praying when you feel super spiritual?  Yes! And no!.  Yes, because we can talk to God all the time, anytime.  We can be in a running conversation with Him as we walk through our day.  Yes, we do talk to Him when we have a need or problem that we need help with.   No, because you don’t have to be feeling super spiritual to go before Him in prayer.  You can talk to Him when you are feeling discouraged and disappointed too. 

The real meaning of devoting yourself to prayer is about having a special time with God.  Setting time aside, everyday, to talk with God about all the different areas of your life.  Getting His thoughts and involvement on all the choices you have to make that day and letting God have an entrance into the secret places of your life. Prayer is essential to your relationship with your Heavenly Father.  Without it, you cannot have a relationship.  Think about it, the thing that brings you closer in any relationship is the time you spend talking and listening to someone.  How much more important is it in our relationship with our Father?

Devoting yourself to prayer is also being able to identify when you need to kick into prayer in times of urgency.  When a crisis arises it is not the time to panic, it is the time to pray.  It is important to know where your relationship with your Father is when difficult circumstances come. This is how you have confidence He is always ready to hear your call.

Today I want to encourage you to set some time aside to talk to God.  This is a good place to start in your New Year planning.  Schedule a time when no one else is around that you can talk to, listen to and give praise to Him.  Get close to you Father in heaven by spending time with Him.  Make it the priority of your day and your year.  Lift up 2021 in prayer and ask for Him to get all the goodness and grace to you that He has planned, despite the outward circumstances of the year.  Prayer is the essential part of your relationship with God and the most important part of your day.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:1-4

Happy New Year

Walk in wisdom toward unbelievers, redeeming the time.  Colossians4:5

Happy New Year!  It’s the new year, and a time for evaluating and assessing all the areas of your life.  What things need to change to make 2021 a better year for you and those around you.? Many think that it is the outward circumstances that determine the kind of year you will have. However, you can actually strategize with God to develop a plan to make this a year full of His goodness and grace. From faith to family, finances to friendships, and fitness to fun, all of these areas need to be examined in order to achieve maximum living.  What can you get rid of, change or add to your daily routine to make your quality of life increase?   This process can seem overwhelming, and the majority of people avoid it, but it is definitely an activity that needs to be done on purpose and with wisdom.  Wisdom is the starting point.

In today’s verse, we learn that we can actually redeem or buy back time by walking in God’s wisdom.  This is good news to me because I spent so many years of my life walking in the opposite of wisdom . . . foolishness.  How much time did I waste and loose because I failed to take the time to start with wisdom? The good news is that my Heavenly Father has provided a way for me to buy back/redeem that time.  The best explanation I can give is that it is a supernatural work of God that He has placed within my ability.  It’s not that I get to go back in time and do it all over again.  Quite frankly, that doesn’t sound like much fun anyway.  It does mean that I get to do new things that His wisdom leads me to.  As I seek God’s wisdom in every area of my life, I find that even the places I seemingly lost because of foolishness, somehow now I can use to make better choices and also to help others.

This passage says to walk in wisdom to the outside world.  Even though I used to be on the outside, now that I know how to get wisdom, I can walk toward others out there and take wisdom to them and their circumstances.  This brings satisfaction and fulfilment.  I no longer live in the foolishness of my own ideas, now I walk in the wisdom of God and can help others to do the same.

Now, the question I know you are asking is: “How do I get wisdom in all areas of life?”  The answer is by asking. James 1:5 says that if you don’t have wisdom, ask God because He gives it generously without pointing out where you have missed it in the past.  He is gracious, loving and eager to help, the only requirement is asking.  However, after you get God’s wisdom, it is up to you to follow it, even the times it doesn’t make sense to you.  Following God’s wisdom will always take faith.  You have to know and believe that He wants the best for you and when you get the thought or idea after asking your Heavenly Father, you by faith, take the steps in the direction He is pointing you to.

Today I want to encourage you to start your new year by submitting every area of your life to God’s wisdom.  Take some time to pray and get wisdom in each area and them ask God for the plan to take the steps of faith required to accomplish it.  As you walk in His wisdom, you will begin to notice that you are using your time more wisely and getting more accomplished.  You will start to eliminate the things that are stealing, wasting and killing your time and replace those with the things that will redeem it.  Take some time to study those who have follow God’s wisdom in the Bible and the many different ways His wisdom works.  This will help you to know your Father better and the way He works with people, including you.  Make 2021 your best year ever by walking in wisdom and redeeming all the time you have lost in foolishness.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:5-9

Be vigilant

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (prayer) with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ,”  Colossians 4:2–3

Prayer!  I am so thankful for it.  God, our Father made a way that we could talk directly with Him.  Not only that, if we learn to listen, God talks to us when we are in prayer and thanksgiving.  We can actually converse with God, our Heavenly Father!  What a great privilege and honor.  Prayer is also a time to talk with God about others who need His help and encouragement.  Today’s passage gives us direction on how to pray for others.  It says meanwhile, or at the same time, we are earnestly and intensely praying, we should be diligently praying that God would open the doors for us and others, that there would be new opportunities to share the Word of God, the good news and to talk about the mystery of our salvation in Christ Jesus with those around us, wherever we are.

We know we are to share the love of God with others, the problem is somewhere along the line we got the idea that we should just go out and do it, never considering that prayer and preparation are needed to be effective.  Paul told the church to pray for God to open the door for his team to get the Word out. Think about it, the Apostle Paul who was probably the greatest witness of the gospel, asked other Christians to pray for open doors for them to share the Word.  How much more do we as believers today, need that same prayer?  We can pray each morning for God to open the doors and give us the words to reach those around us, whether it is in our neighborhood, at our job or in our school, the Holy Spirit will actually go before us and prepare hearts, open doors, and give us words and timing to reach into the lives of others.  How much more effective we would be if we would remember to pray this way for our lives and those we know who have a heart to share God’s love with lost and hurting people.

Another opportunity to pray this prayer is for missionaries around the world.  Those who have chosen to spread the good news of God’s love in other nations.  We can and should be praying for open doors and hearts as they take the gospel to people who have never even heard there is a Savior.

Today I want to encourage you to begin to pray this scripture for yourself and for all believers.  Pray that we would be empowered as God opens doors, provides opportunities, and prepares the hearts of all those around us.  Pray for God’s people to have a greater love for others (the God kind of love) and that we would turn the world upside down just as the church did when it began 2000 years ago.

Today’s scripture reading:  Colossians 4:2-6