Devotions

Follow the Blueprint

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

In the construction world, nothing good is built without a blueprint. The necessity of a plan is a universally accepted assertion that you’d have to be nutty not to follow. Any time there is a problem or question, builders examine the blueprints. Every time there’s an uncertainty or a perplexity, every time there’s a question about what to do next, they go back to the blueprints.

Interestingly, though, the principle is not just true in the construction world, but also in life. You can’t build your finances without a blueprint. You can’t build your family or your future or your faith without a blueprint.

It’s amazing to me how professionals in the construction trades would never try to build anything of value without a blueprint, but people are always trying to slap together life without a pattern or plan. They reach for materials, cut without measuring, hurriedly nail a bunch of stuff together and up goes all kinds of craziness in their lives. Even as the horror at what they’re building grows before their eyes, most never stop and say, “I’ve got to get a clear plan for my life. I’ve got to consult the blueprints.”

Sadly, even a lot of Christians don’t get the importance of operating from God’s blueprint. God Himself authored all the manufacturer’s specifications for our happiness. He knows how we’re each put together; He knows how we work. He knows what will make us each happy and/or miserable. He knows what will satisfy and give us joy. He wrote the blueprint for our complete happiness.

Just in case you’re wondering, it’s not too late to follow God’s blueprint. Your life could be better. Some of the things you’ve dreamed about can still be yours. You don’t have to be trapped in this cycle of failing and falling and fumbling all the time. You can rise up and be who God wants you to be.

Get alone, open God’s Word, and start to read, the Scripture will wash over your mind. It will clean up your faulty thinking, set your feet on a rock, and send you out in a good direction. When I get disappointed with people, disillusioned about the way situations unfold, and frustrated with my own failures and weaknesses, I go back to God’s Word.

God’s Word washes my mind.

God’s Word renews my spirit.

God’s Word cleanses my heart.

God’s Word is the blueprint for my life’s direction

The proper study of the Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls the Father.

God saved us to make us holy, not happy. Some experiences may not contribute to our happiness, but all can be made to contribute to our holiness.

God has in himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you.

If society is to be awakened one day from its deep slumber, it will only be done by Christians who have first woken up themselves to the full splendor of their privilege and who have taken seriously the call to live wholly and entirely for God.

He is the First and Last,
The Beginning and the End!

He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be ...
unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him, and The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The people couldn't hold Him!
Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and "Oprah" can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
the power of the powerful,
the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and is to come. And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.

His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
never forsake me,
never mislead me,
never forget me,
never overlook me and
never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way.

He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine!

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.
So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...

He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side,
and that means all is well with my soul.

Failure is the Seed of Success

I've got an impressive resume of failure. Really. It's embarrassing to admit, but it's true. At one time or another I've failed in every area of my life. Seriously. I've broken things I hoped to fix, dropped things I hoped to carry, and hurt people I hoped to help. I've had failure slam dunk some of my best ideas and trash my best efforts. I think maybe that's why I avoid it so vigorously.

But should I? Is failure really something to run away from? I'm sure the enemies of Jesus believed death would spell his FAILURE. Yet, listen to what Jesus said in reference to his impending death, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (John 12:25).

Following the Lord's death the disciples were staggered by the sense that they had wasted over three years of their lives. All of their hopes disappeared like smoke in the wind. All of their dreams vanished like a sunk ship. All of their preparation seemed wasted like a bad bet. Jesus had died and they were all failures-both in their own eyes and in the eyes of almost everyone else.

They were so blind to a fundamental law of life that even when they heard that Jesus had been raised from the dead, some of them doubted. I don't blame them. Yet, when they saw the risen Lord, everything changed. The seed that had died and been buried had come to life and would produce many more seeds.

Of course, I realize Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection. But he was also stating a principle of life that his death and resurrection validated. And it's a principle of life that may bear on your current situation. Here it is: Failure is the seed of success. Once you embrace that reality you'll discover it's a limitless source of courage.

Does the law of success mean we should seek failure? Of course not! Does it mean failure is okay? No! It simply means we don't need to fear failure because it can't defeat us. I'm reminded of the startling words of M.Scott Peck which appear on the first line of his best selling book, The Road Less Traveled. He wrote, "Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand it and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters." (The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1978, p. 15).

"Failure is a part of life. When we embrace that truth, we transcend it. Once we accept the fact that failure happens then we can courageously face failure because we know it can't be completely avoided." Instead of making leadership decisions that keep us from losing, we can make decisions we think will advance our cause. And when we fail, the lesson's we'll learn will enable us to succeed later on.

All you have to do is think of the great championship football teams of the last twenty years to know what I'm saying is true. The Giants, Colts, and Patriots-and others-all lost big games before they ever won the BIG ONE. The same is true of basketball. The Spurs, Heat, Pistons and Rockets all lost playoff games before they won it all.

I hate to lose. I hope I never again experience the pain of losing. But as much as I hate losing I realize God has ordered the universe in such a way that losing is the seed of success. Once you grasp that truth your view of challenges will be transformed. Instead of fearing you'll strike out when you step to the plate, you'll concentrate on staying true to form and making contact with the ball. If you do that, you'll get your share of base hits and home runs. Rather than trying to keep from losing, you'll be able to concentrate on leading the charge.

Locking arms,

Bill Perkins

millionmightymen.com

Adapted from Awaken The Leader Within.

If God forgives us, we must forgive others. Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than him.

If you never felt pain, How would you know that I’m a Healer?
If you never went through difficulty, How would you know that I’m a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial, How would you know that I’m a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I’m Forgiving?
If you know it all, How would you know that I will answer your questions?
If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, How would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, Then how would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had known suffering, Then how would you know what I went through?
If you never went through the fire, Then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you?
If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect, Then what would you need me for

Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy; but the Father, for love!

There's a question I often avoid. Maybe too often. Sometimes just asking the question makes me uncomfortable. Here's the question: Is there a reason to hurry in my search for a friend who may not know Christ? Jesus said such people are lost. He lived like he thought they were. In fact, he said his whole purpose was to seek and save such people (Luke 19:10).

Maybe I dodge the question because I don't wake up every day with a sense of urgency. That's odd, because I always feel rushed when looking for any other lost item. In fact, I've actually articulated what I believe is the inviolable law of searching for anything lost. It goes like this: "The amount of time available to find a lost item is inversely proportionate to the time available."

Here's what I mean. Have you ever lost your car keys early in the morning and said, "Oh, don't sweat it. I don't need them until tonight. They'll turn up"? It never happens that way with me. No way! I only lose my keys when I'm already late for an important appointment. I only misplace my driver's license when I'm trying to get through security at an airport. When a hiker is lost in the mountains, the searchers don't have weeks to find him. They've only got a day or two. The uniformed search leader never comes on TV and says, "Not to worry. We won't even start searching for few days. We've got lots of time."

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those guys who tries to motivate men to connect a friend to God by saying, "What if he dies tomorrow in a head-on car wreck? Or, what if he's charred in a plane crash? Or, what if he falls off a ladder and cracks his head open and lives the rest of his life in a vegetative state? You'll have lost your opportunity, and you'll have to live with that the rest of your life."

That's not what I'm getting at here. That kind of guilt is definitely unproductive. What I'm trying to say is that God is currently working in the lives of your friends, teeing them up for an encounter with himself. When they're ready, God providentially gives each of us "moments" that are ripe with opportunity. It could be when a friend has suffered a loss, or after a victory, or on the golf course, or while bowling, or while watching a sporting event, or fishing--it could be anywhere at anytime. But when that moment arrives on the scene, we've got to be ready to gently and wisely offer the hope of Christ.

If we miss that teachable moment in our friend's life--now I don't want to sound pessimistic here--it may not happen again anytime soon, or ever.

Have you ever given up the search for a lost item, say your keys--yes, I keep coming back to them because I lose mine a lot--and one day you unexpectedly spot them in the back of the wrong drawer or sitting behind a book on a bookshelf. Instead of grabbing them, you say to yourself, "Oh, that's where they are. I'll get them later." And then later you can't remember where it was you saw them.
That's what I'm talking about here. When that key moment with our friend arrives and we have a chance to let God find a lost man through us, we've got to go for it. We must not wait.

Such readiness only occurs as we abide in Christ throughout the day. And as we do so, we must ask him to always keep us alert, ready to speak a word of life into a listening ear and open mind.

Locking arms,

Bill Perkins

millionmightymen.com

Adapted from 6 Rules Every Man Must Break.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for this stunning, heart-touching invitation! How much I need to put down my heavy burdens and receive enjoy and your rest.

I admit that I often carry burdens that aren't my own. I take on responsibility for that which you alone can accomplish. Then I worry and fret, aware of my own insufficiency. Oh, how I wish I could simply lay my burdens at your feet, so that I might be free to pick up your light, easy yoke.

Today I come to you, Lord, aching for your rest. Let nothing get in the way of my approach: not my fears, nor my ambitions, nor my desire to run my own life. I give you all that I can. Please give me back only that which I can handle, your light yoke. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the center of everything, and the object of everything, and he that does not know him knows nothing of nature, and nothing of himself.

The higher the mountains, the more understandable is the glory of Him who made them and who holds them in His hand.

God delights to increase the faith of his children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God's hand as a means. Trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.

He was created of a mother whom he created. He was carried by hands that he formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, he the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute.

A holy life is not an ascetic, or gloomy, or solitary life, but a life regulated by divine truth and faithful in Christian duty. It is living above the world while we are still in it.

The furnace of affliction is a good place for you, Christian; it benefits you; it helps you to become more like Christ, and it is fitting you for heaven.

Read and read again, and do not despair of help to understand the will and mind of God though you think they are fast locked up from you. Neither trouble your heads though you have not commentaries and exposition. Pray and read, read and pray; for a little from God is better than a great deal from men.

John Bunyan

Faith Is a Verb

“Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. . . . And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” - Matthew 13:54-58

One time in the Gospels it says that Jesus couldn’t do much in a town “because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). Wouldn’t that be an awful thing to have said about your home, about your family, about you? Jesus couldn’t do much in or through you because you just didn’t believe Him. Lord, why don’t You do more in our church? Could it be because of people’s unbelief? Why do you make good things happen so often in my friend’s life, but not in mine? Could it be because your friend believes God more?

Faith is the key. God’s promises are activated by faith. Faith is not passive—it’s an action verb. Don’t say, “Well, I’m just waiting over here. Maybe God will work; maybe He won’t.” What are you doing about it? “Well, not much,” you say.

It’s like the sick guy who needs to get better but doesn’t go to the doctor. That’s foolishness. You’ve got to do what you can.

Or like the girl who is looking for a husband but never goes to the Single Adult meetings at church. She just sits down in her basement praying for her man to show up. “My husband will have to find me here.” Yeah, that’s not a great plan. Do what you can!

Like the person who’s filled with concerns and wants to have hope but has never read the Bible.

It’s God's promises that give us hope. How many Scriptural promises do you know? How many promises have you memorized? How many are on the tip of your tongue? Not a lot? Well, no wonder you’re filled with anxiety! No wonder you don’t have any hope! You’re not holding onto anything.

Get your heart around some of the exceedingly great and precious promises of God! Hold on to what God has said in His Word. Someday you’re going to be in a difficult situation and the enemy will try to pull you down, but you’ve got God’s Word hidden in your heart. His words will flood you with courage and fill your life with faith.

“God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible but it is a biblical concept. Faith has to be active to be real. Remember the guy in 2 Kings 5 who had leprosy and God told him he had to go dip in the river? In faith, he had to do what he could. Like the woman in poverty in 2 Kings 4 who had to collect containers to hold all that oil God was giving her—she did what she could. Like a warrior heading into battle—he has to pick up his weapon.

Put some action behind what you believe and watch God work.