Scripture:

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

REDEEMED

If you are like me and you know what it is like to walk in darkness, lost and without help. For me it was one bad decision after another; it was brokenness and drugs and addiction. I was lost, without hope, walking in pure darkness.    It was the entry point of Jesus into my life that changed everything; it was His great light that dispelled the darkness.   So when I read this, my heart is full of praise and worship, knowing what He saved me from and that He was the only one who could.  

If you have someone who is still lost, broken, living without hope, then this is a promise to cling to: Jesus has the power to dispel the darkness in their lives and REDEEM them from the day of their destruction.   That is the HOPE I cling to as I have known the power of Christs work in my own life.

Today's God-Shot is:  Don't lose hope for those whom you love and who are lost; His great light still shines in the darkness; His power to redeem the lost has not diminished or lost its power.  There is hope for the lost, those living in darkness.

Father, I pray that even today you would dispel the darkness in the lives of my family and friends who still need to come to the saving knowledge of your son Jesus Christ, who are living in darkness; shine your marvellous light into their lives, dispel its power, break the chains of addiction and rebellion, move heaven and earth for your Glory, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Job 23:8-10

8 “Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Better

Today, Job reminds us of some really solid truths we should take to heart.  The first being that although we don't see God or perceive Him, He is still at work.  Job in the midst of all that he was going through, pauses here in Job 23 to remind us that just because you're in a difficult time, in a rough patch, this does not mean that God is not with you in it, at work.   That brings us to something else Job teaches us today here in vv. 10. Job reminds us that what God is doing in our lives will make us better; he uses a metaphor: "I shall come forth as gold."   Well, gold does not come in the state you receive it; it is refined, the impurities are heated out of it, it is refined in the fire, in a process that leaves it purified.    This reminds you and me that what God is doing in your life is for your good, that in the end you will be better than you were before you began, He is always "REFINING" us, to make us better, to give us life, and it is ABUNDANT!

Today's God-Shot:  The PRESENCE of TROUBLE is NOT the ABSENCE of GOD.   Although we might not be able to see God through the smoke in our lives, although things seem difficult now, we will be better on the other side, today if you are in the "REFINING" process, TRUST Him, He is at work in the situation He did not cause to make you better, to refine you, to make you shine.

Lord, I pray we would always trust the process, trust you, that you are working on our behalf, that even when we can't see you through the smoke, the flames of our situation, you are there, working to refine us, make us better, we praise you, we thank you that you have not left us, and are working for us, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Job 19:20

25 I know that my redeemer lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth

What Do You See?

On your worst days, on the days when nothing has gone right, everything you touch goes badly, your friends, rather than lift you up, tell you how it's all your own fault, when you get passed up for a promotion, when your kids are making bad choices, when your in a disagreement with your spouse, and everything in your house is upside down, what do you see then?    Are you like Job this morning, through the cloudy day, can you see "the goodness of God?   Do you cling to the fact that you have a redeemer, someone who cares about your situation, be it big or small?  Is your HOPE found in Him?   See, that's Job today, although his life is upside down, he has lost everything, children, livelihood, health, even good friends, and yet he finds solace in the truth that God is his redeemer.   What do you see?

Our God-Shot today is, are you able to see the goodness of God in the midst of your trouble, or have your troubles stolen your attention, and your state is worse because you feel you have lost all hope.   Or are you like Job and you KNOW your Redeemer Lives?

Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart that pursues you, may we see your goodness all the days of our lives, my our trust always be in you and may we always declare that our Redeemer Lives, that we know that we know, you will come in our day of trouble, that you will redeem us from the pit, and that we will stand with you one day, in Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 26:16

16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Stay Humble

Things had gotten away from King Uzziah, it had great success, both militarily and agriculturally, so much so that he became famous for the weapons they created.   Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride comes before the fall."    Whenever we begin to think "Look what I have done, look what I have made!", we are on a slippery slope.   I often remind people that the gifts I have come from the Lord, that what I can do, it is because of Him, the knowledge, the aptitude, the strength are because of Him.     In fact, Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that we make plans, but it is the Lord who brings success.   Uzziah had lost sight of who gave him success, and pride entered his heart, and that led to foolish decisions, which ultimately led to his poor finish.   

Our God-Shot today is to allow God to be the one who lifts us up. Stay humble, recognizing that it is God's presence in your life that makes you great; don't let pride enter in and cause you to sin, stall and destroy your life.

But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. ~Psalm 3:3

Lord, you deserve all the glory. Everything I have is because of you; you are my source; everything I need is found in you.   Thank you for all the goodness in my life. I pray that you would not allow any area of pride in my life that would lead to destructive ends.   In Jesus' name, amen!

Scripture:

Jonah 1:3 

3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

You Cannot Resist Your Calling

Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh because it was hard. It stretched him beyond what he was willing to do; the People of Nineveh were a brutal people who showed no mercy in battle and were mortal enemies of Israel.  

So, in human eyes, it was easy to understand his resistance.   But we discover that nothing good is easy in this life, and we discover later that God is working out good in this situation through Jonah, bringing a lost people to the Lord that no one thought could be saved.  

Although Jonah was resisting God, He could not escape his calling.  

When Jonah ran, God sent a storm, a fish, and even a plant—all to bring him back.

Sometimes in our lives, the disruptions we face are invitations to pause and turn toward God. Are we paying attention? God is always pursuing our hearts, seeking to bring us into His purpose.

The God-Shot for today is that we cannot resist the plans God has for our lives; they run deep, they cut deep, we will always feel the pressure of Him pushing us toward our purpose like Jonah, but the result is the impossible becomes possible, the lost get found, the Kingdom gains ground, your heart changes, your life changes.

I guess really the question is:  

"What have you been resisting that God has been calling you to?"

Lord, thank you for that which you have called us into; may we never be resistant, always trusting that your plan is better than us.  Let us not be surprised when you call us to reach into places we did not expect, accomplish things we did not think we could, let our hearts be sensitive and obedient to your leading in Jesus' name. Amen!