The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

TUESDAY JANUARY 29
“Breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet.”
Eze 37:10 NKJV
REJOICING IN TROUBLE

Your hopes may be dead and your dreams buried, but God can breathe into them again.
Ezekiel stood in a valley of dead, dry bones. That’s about as bad as it gets! Right?
Then something amazing happened. God said to the Prophet, “Prophesy…and say…‘Thus
says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that
they may live.’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and
they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (vv. 9-10 NKJV). Any time
you see a man or woman enjoying great success in God’s kingdom, there’s a good chance
they’ve been through the valley of devastation, hurt and rejection. It was after he had
been thrown out of the city, stoned and left for dead, that Paul spoke of being taken up
into the third heaven and experiencing things too wonderful to speak of on earth (See
2Co12:2-4). It was after John was exiled to a penal colony in Patmos that he penned the
words, “I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet” (Rev1:10 NIV).
As a result, he wrote the book of Revelation. The Psalmist said, “In the day of trouble
…my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me…I will sing…to the Lord”
(Ps 27:5-6 NIV). That’s how you “glory in tribulation,” then look back and be able to say,
“Thank you for the experience, Lord. Without it I’d never have gotten to know You like I
do today.”

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30
“God has…given us…a sound mind.” 2Ti 1:7 NKJV
SOUND THINKING

The Bible says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of
a sound mind.” In order to improve your life you must change two things: (1) Your
thought processes. Gordon MacDonald says: “People who are out of shape mentally fall
victim to ideas and systems that are destructive to the human spirit. They’ve not been
taught how to think, nor have they set themselves to the life-long pursuit of the growth of
the mind, so they grow dependent upon the thoughts and opinions of others. Rather than
deal with ideas and issues, they reduce themselves to lives filled with rules, regulations and
programs.” The moment you think you know it all, you’ve merely stopped thinking. (2) Your
expectations. The story’s told of a man who went to a fortuneteller. She said to him, “You’ll
be poor and miserable until you’re fifty.” The man asked her, “What will happen then?” She
replied, “Then you’ll get used to it.” Be honest; how many successful people do you know
who are apathetic and negative? None! Faith produces excitement, commitment, energy—
characteristics that help you achieve success. If you’d like to possess these qualities then
raise your expectation level and bring it into alignment with God’s promises. “Whatever
things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them”
(Mk11:24 NKJV). Do you want to succeed where you’ve failed before? To become the person
you always hoped to be? Don’t start by changing your actions, start by changing your
mind. Renew it daily with God’s Word. Nothing else you do will have as great an impact.

THURSDAY JANUARY 31
“His compassions…are new every morning.” Lam 3:22-23 NIV
WHAT’S NEW?

Are you going through a hard time at the moment? You’re not alone! Things were so
bad in Israel that when Jeremiah wrote one of the books of the Bible he called it
Lamentations. In a positive-thinking, feel-good world, that’s not exactly a best-selling title.
Jeremiah describes God’s people as a “widow” and a “slave,” and says, “All her friends
have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies” (Lam1:2 NKJV). As you
move through the book verse by verse, things just keep going from bad to worse as God’s
people reap what they have sown. Then suddenly in the middle of all his lamenting, when
you think things can’t get any worse, Jeremiah writes, “Because of the Lord’s great love we
are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is
your faithfulness” (Lam 3:22-23 NIV). Isn’t that wonderful? God’s love, compassion and
faithfulness have been placed in an account that cannot be overdrawn, that you don’t
have to contribute to, and that’ll last as long as you live. In a world that doesn’t seem to
care, where only the fittest survive, that’s good to know. Next time somebody says to you,
“What’s new?” tell them, “God’s love, compassion, and faithfulness.” The dictionary defines
compassion as “tenderness of heart that disposes a person to overlook injuries or to
treat an offender better than he or she deserves.” So when you wake up each day, be like
the lady who prayed, “Lord, I’m glad Your mercies are new every morning, because I sure
used up all of yesterday’s.”

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1
“Let your conduct be without covetousness.” Heb 13:5 NKJV
COVETOUSNESS (1)

Covetousness begins with craving, then evolves into conniving to get what you want.
Achan, Ahab, Ananias and Sapphira were willing to steal, lie and kill to get what they
wanted. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you
have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” This Scripture means
that what you have in Christ is greater than whatever else you don’t have! Covetousness
is: (1) Wanting status but not wanting to serve; wanting control so that you can be at the
center; wanting wealth strictly for yourself; wanting praise from others. (2) Wanting the
right things but for the wrong reasons. “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires
a good work” (1Ti 3:1 NKJV). Wanting to make an impact is a good thing, but you must
want it for the right reasons. If you want it for personal recognition and power over others,
that’s covetousness. (3) Wanting the right things but at the wrong time. A young couple
says, “We love each other. We’re going to get married in three months. But we want to
sleep together now.” They want the right thing for the right reason, but they want it at the
wrong time. That’s covetousness. (4) Wanting the right things but in the wrong amount.
Covetousness is wanting more than is required for your needs, and to fulfill God’s purpose
for your life. Understand this: more of anything other than God will never satisfy the longing
for fulfillment He’s placed within you. Only when you acknowledge that, will you find
true and lasting happiness.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2
“You shall not covet.” Ex 20:17 NKJV
COVETOUSNESS (2)

Why do we keep giving in to sinful desires? For two reasons: (1) Because the new birth
doesn’t automatically do away with the old nature. Like two cars approaching an intersection
at the same time, your old and new natures are always on a collision course.
(2) Because if you dwell on a desire long enough, yielding is only a matter of time. Ever gone
to your fridge when you weren’t really hungry, but weren’t really satisfied, sort of looking
for something to grab you? As bad as that is, it’s worse when you do it in life. It’s like surfing
the web of behavior options, looking for something to make you happier than you are
at that particular moment. When you covet something you embellish and empower it,
making it more attractive and accessible. A one-night stand? You say, “Nobody will ever
know.” The Bible says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap” (Gal 6:7). As surely as a seed produces a harvest, your decisions
will have consequences. Covetousness just maximizes the desire while minimizing the
danger. It’s impossible to dwell on a desire for any length of time without rationalizing a
way to get it. Like starting the countdown on the space shuttle, it’s just a matter of time
before you get liftoff. So if you’re dwelling on it, set the clock; yielding is inevitable. What’s
the answer? Change your focus! “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on
the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit”
(Ro 8:5 NKJV).

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3
“He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.”
Ps 106:15 NKJV
COVETOUSNESS (3)

See if you recognize this pattern. As slaves in Egypt the Israelites pray, “God, get us out
of here!” So He does. Then in the wilderness, on their way to the Promised Land they
say, “God, we’re gonna die out here. We were better off in Egypt. At least there, we had
all the food we wanted.” So God sends bread from heaven. He even delivers it to their door.
It was a diet so perfect that “there was not one feeble person among [them]” (Ps 105:37).
Did that make them happy? No! They said, “We’re tired of this stuff, we want some prime
rib.” So God says, okay, “[I’ll] give you meat, and you will eat it…until it comes out of your
nostrils and you loathe it” (Nu11:18-20 NIV). Covetousness angers God because it is rooted
in pride that says, “I deserve better,” and ingratitude that says, “I want something other than
what You’ve blessed me with.” The saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for, you just
might get it.” Because they thought something else could satisfy them in a way that God
couldn’t, “He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” With God, you can
be satisfied with very little. Without Him, all your acquisitions and accomplishments will
leave you empty. What are you coveting, putting your life on hold for, or continually begging
God for? Nothing is essential but God. Material things can never take His place. What
will it take for you to come to that settled place where the central desire of your life is, “God,
I just want more of You”?

MONDAY FEBRUARY 4
“Be content with such things as you have.” Heb 13:5 NKJV
COVETOUSNESS (4)

If your goals are God-centered, He will help you to achieve them. But if you are asking
Him for something just because your neighbor has it, you’ll be disappointed. The Bible
says, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Ps 84:11). When God
withholds something from you, trust Him; He knows what He’s doing. God loves you too
much to give you what you’re not ready for, can’t handle, doesn’t fit into His plan for your
life, or will end up draining your energies and maybe even destroying you. When you
covet something, make it essential to your happiness, and beg God to give it to you, you’re
asking God to replace Himself with something you consider more important. When you
do this, God may allow you to experience the consequences Israel suffered. “He gave
them their request; but sent leanness into their soul” (Ps 106:15). Don’t reach the end of
your life only to look back with regret on a shattered marriage, children who’ve gone
astray, a blighted conscience, or the pain of realizing you missed out on God’s best. Our
problem is not that we don’t want God; it’s that we want God—plus—a house by the
lake, an impressive career, a perfect spouse, or whatever catches our fancy. That’s why
Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk 12:15 NKJV). Life is not built on things, it’s
built on relationships. And the first relationship you need to work on is your relationship
with God.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5
“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God.” 1Co 1:3
HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S GRACE

Several of Paul’s epistles open with the words, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from
God.” That’s because you cannot experience God’s peace unless you first know how
to receive His grace and walk in it. There are three things about grace you need to understand:
(a) it cannot be earned; (b) it is God doing for you what you cannot do for yourself;
(c) it doesn’t kick in until you stop struggling and trying to do it in your own strength. The
Bible says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6 NIV). The
“humble” are those who admit their total inability to succeed without God’s help, but the
“proud” are always trying to take credit. They like to think it’s their ability that gets the job
done, so they’ve difficulty asking God for grace, and even more difficulty receiving it. Peter
writes, “Grow in grace” (2Pe 3:18). You only learn to trust God—by doing it! You grow in
grace by taking God at His Word, counting on His gracious provision for each day, and His
intervention in situations that are difficult or impossible for you. There will never be a day
when you don’t need God’s grace. And if you are willing to acknowledge you need it and
receive it by faith, there will be no shortage of it. “For out of His fullness (abundance) we
have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another
and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped]
upon gift” (Jn 1:16 AMP).

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6
“He heals the brokenhearted.” Ps 147:3 NIV
HEALING FOR YOUR GRIEF

One of the most moving scenes in Scripture is Jesus weeping at the graveside of
Lazarus. It’s not that He was powerless to change the situation, which He did, but
that He empathizes with us in our time of loss. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds
up their wounds.” The Lord didn’t promise to protect us from pain and loss, but to bring
us through it. Perhaps these suggestions will help: (1) Don’t isolate. Expand your “family.”
“Better a nearby friend than a distant family” (Pr 27:10 TM). If you don’t have family nearby,
reach out to caring people who are close at hand. As part of a group you discover that
you’re not alone, that mourning isn’t sickness or self-indulgence, and that sharing brings
healing. (2) Don’t deny your loss. “The memory of the just is blessed” (Pr 10:7). When you’re
around friends don’t hesitate to talk about your loss. When you do, you’re saying it’s okay
for them to share their memories too. A burden shared is a burden lightened. (3) Don’t try
to do it all. “There is a time to cry” (Ecc 3:4 NCV). Because grief is draining, you’ll need more
rest than usual. So while your ability to function is reduced let others help with the everyday
stuff like cooking, cleaning and shopping until you feel stronger. (4) Don’t neglect your
legitimate needs. Respect your body by using the acronym D.E.E.R. (drink, eat, exercise, rest)
to help you stay focused and set healthy boundaries. Nobody knows how you feel better
than you, so give yourself permission to say, “No thanks” or “I’ll take a rain check” without
feeling guilty.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places.” Isa 32:18 NIV
DE-STRESSING

Years ago stress was considered mostly a male problem, but not anymore. Women are
experiencing the stress of pursuing perfection, looking a certain way, competing in the
workplace, attempting to do it all, never saying no, and having no time for themselves.
That’s not how God wants you to live! “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect
of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful
dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest” (vv.17-18 NIV). So, (male
or female) here are two practical suggestions for de-stressing: (1) Allow yourself more time.
Since everything takes longer than you think, having enough time to complete the job reduces
your anxiety greatly. Whenever you’re under the gun, a good rule of thumb is to
allow 20 percent more time than you think you’ll need. (2) Be content with less. A recent
study of thousands of households found that those who maintained lifestyles beyond
their means were more prone to stress-related illnesses such as heart attack and depression.
“He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house” (Pr 15:27). You say, “Does that
mean God doesn’t want me to get ahead in life?” No, He just wants you to keep your
priorities straight and to learn to enjoy where you are, on your way to where you’re going.
If you’re feeling stressed today pray: “Lord, I need to be renewed. This business of living
has drained me. Thank You for ordaining quiet times and places of rest in the midst of
hectic schedules. Help me always to put You first and to find my place of rest in You.”

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord.” Ps 107:8 NKJV
SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE

The Psalmist writes, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness.”
Notice the word “would.” A thankful attitude is a choice you make regardless of the
situation. You choose your attitude just like you choose the food you eat and the clothes
you wear each day. And there’s plenty to be grateful for. You say, “Yeah, but there’s plenty
to complain about too.” The point exactly—so you’ve a choice to make! Robinson Crusoe
spent twenty-seven years shipwrecked on an island. Here’s part of his journal entry (paraphrased).
Let’s call his lists the Gripe list and the Gratitude list. Gripe: “I’m stuck on this
desert island without hope.” Gratitude: “I wasn’t drowned like the rest of my ship’s company.”
Gripe: “I’ve no clothes.” Gratitude: “I’m in a hot climate, if I had clothes I couldn’t
wear them.” Gripe: “I’ve no way to protect myself from man or beast.” Gratitude: “I see no
wild beasts here to hurt me as I saw on the coast of Africa. What if I’d been shipwrecked
there?” Gripe: “I’ve nobody to talk to.” Gratitude: “God sent the ship in near enough to the
shore that I’ve gotten out so many necessary things as will enable me to supply myself
as long as I live.” That’s powerful stuff! If you can grasp it and put it into practice, it’ll keep
you from becoming a member of the Old Testament wilderness club known as “the
murmurers.” Your attitude is simply the decision you make about how you’re going to
approach things. It isn’t Disney-World thinking to focus on the good things of life, it’s
wisdom!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9
“That…which we have heard…seen…touched.” 1Jn 1:1 NIV
“UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL”

You can draw closer to the Lord if you really want to. You can have first-hand knowledge
of Him. You don’t have to settle for Sunday morning sound bites, second-hand
information, or a long-distance relationship. You can get “up close and personal” with Him.
John writes, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim
concerning the Word of life.” Drawing closer to God calls for developing a greater
awareness of His presence. This brings three great benefits: (1) Friendship. No human being,
no matter how wonderful, can be everything you need. But the Lord can. In Scripture He
is described as a “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Pr 18:24 NIV). He will stick by
you through every season of life, the bad ones as well as the good ones. For decades the
motto of the Marines has been “Semper Fidelis,” which is Latin for “Ever faithful.” Even
when you’re not faithful to God He will be faithful to you. (2) Compassion. As a young disciple
John wanted to call down fire down from heaven on a town that refused overnight
accommodation to Christ and His disciples (See Lk 9:54). But after a lifetime of walking
with Jesus he wrote, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love”
(1Jn 4:8 NIV). (3) Confidence.Whatever life throws at you, you can handle, confident in the
strength of God. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Php 4:13 NKJV).

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother.” Ge 2:24 NIV
ROOTS AND WINGS (1)

You’ll know you’ve succeeded as a parent when your children are able to leave you
and go out and build a successful life on their own. You will never cut them off, but
there comes a time when you must “cut the apron strings” and let them stand on their own
two feet. Remember, the children you are raising right now belonged to God before they
belonged to you. “The earth is the Lord’s…and all who live in it” (Ps 24:1 NIV). You are a
teacher, not an owner, and your opportunity to teach them is amazingly brief. Your children
were born to “leave,” not stay. You can’t control their ticking biological clock. Your job
is to prepare them for leaving. For the next few days let’s talk about giving your child roots
and wings. “Roots.” Before fruit develops, roots must thrive. And healthy roots require
healthy soil with the right elements for feeding and protecting plants. Roots also depend
on attachment to the soil. There are two kinds of families. The first offers “insecure attachment.”
Their parent-child connection is ambiguous, ambivalent, indifferent or even neglectful,
making kids feel emotionally unprotected, uncertain they’re wanted and loved,
though they desperately need both these things. These children lack confidence, selfworth,
emotional strength, and the courage to take risks. The second offers “secure attachment.”
Their parent-child connection is expressed and consistently reinforced. Even
during necessary absences their children feel safe and securely attached. Such kids become
spiritually, socially and emotionally capable, with the self-worth and courage required
to face the challenges life puts in their path.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 11
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother.” Ge 2:24 NIV
ROOTS AND WINGS (2)

On the journey from adolescence to adulthood, your kids will experience insecurity,
contradictions and mood swings. They will send you conflicting signals: needing
closeness, yet distance; connection, yet independence; all at the same time. They will pull
you in with one hand and push you away with the other. You must understand that your
kids still need to feel securely attached, even while they’re distancing from you. When
they push you away you must show maturity, remembering that it’s not personal; it’s just
how they test their ability to become independent adults. Minutes, hours, or days later
they are your child again, wanting to be up close. It’s the “tug-o’-war” of parenting youngsters,
and it will resolve itself the right way if you handle it with understanding. Above all,
contain your hurt and anger. “Fathers (mothers), do not…provoke [engage in contention,
debate and strife] your children to anger [irritation, exasperation, embitterment]” (Eph 6:4
AMP). The worst outcome of frequent run-ins with your kids is that it produces long-term
discouragement in them. Long after the “mop-up,” your child can “lose heart” (Col 3:21
NAS), and have a “crushed spirit” (TM). In some cases they give up trying altogether. In
western cultures girls hold onto the parent-child “rope” longer than boys, generally distancing
later and with less finality. Boys tend toward earlier, longer-lasting distancing.
When you deny your son or daughter the God-given need for gradual latitude, they’ll disconnect
farther and faster. Use wisdom, “let out the rope” gradually and they’ll learn adult
skills and stay more closely connected.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother.” Ge 2:24 NIV
ROOTS AND WINGS (3)

The second gift you must give your child is “wings.” They are born to fly, not stay in
the nest. By becoming overly protective and stifling them in the name of responsible
parenting, you’ll end up losing them. Jesus said children are designed to leave and go out
and build a home of their own. Their drive for freedom is God-given, not a sign of ingratitude,
disrespect or rebellion. A good carpenter works with the grain, not against it. So
what should you do? Before your child demands outright independence, teach them how
to handle it wisely. Give them opportunities to prove their readiness, and as they demonstrate
trustworthiness, increase their autonomy—and vice versa. Let them know that in life
you don’t inherit happiness, you earn it. Be flexible, but take charge. Let your child know
they can’t demand privileges like driving, dating and spending money—they have to prove
themselves worthy. Help them see how they can earn increased autonomy, or lose it,
and how they can earn it back. Make them responsible for their own freedom by letting
them know that it’s not a right or a gift, but a reward for showing maturity. A mother bird
doesn’t push her baby out of the nest until she knows it’s ready to start flying. The gift of
freedom to an unprepared child isn’t “wings,” it’s an invitation to catastrophe! Don’t sign
their “bill of rights” to autonomy until they’ve proven they can handle their agreed-upon
responsibility.