Daily Devotion Archives — Page 3 of 16

Today’s Word Is ENTIRELY

Wed-Jun-24-2020

Psalm 121

It is amazing how much of our talk time is about what is going wrong, rather than what is going right. And sometimes it is easier to talk about what God is NOT doing for us rather than what he IS doing. King David wrote many Psalms in which he expounded profusely on the problems and the lack of God’s attention. In other Psalms he would transition from complaints in the beginning to thanks in the end.

But … this Psalm is straightforward confidence in the Lord from top to bottom. When David looked into the distance at the mountains, with all their beauty, and also with the protection they provide against invaders, it made him immediately confident that God is ENTIRELY able to watch over us and protect us.

Some days … the problems seem to dominate the day entirely.

Other days … there may be problems, but thankfully we see our way through to a better attitude.

But hallelujah, there are those days … where confidence dominates from beginning to end, from rise-and-shine until the-day-is-done. What a blessing to declare and experience God’s entirely sufficient goodness for the entire day long!!

May God give you more of those days!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

The BEMA Podcast is a great Bible Study tool from a Messianic Jewish perspective. I highly recommend it. It is a long-term study which will increase your understanding of the Scriptures in a new and deeper way.

Today’s Word Is DELIGHT

Tue-Jun-23-2020

For the Lord takes delight in his people; He crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

The radio talk show host of many years ago, Steve Brown, used to say, “God’s not mad at you, he’s really not!” But, oh, how many people think that he is! Instead of running toward God for life, peace, and victory, they run from God thinking they should avoid some inevitable punishment or escape from a life of God-imposed boredom and deprivation.

God is the perfect father. God is love. Ask yourself what a perfect father who is perfectly loving would do about you. If your answer is punishment, then you have not heard the true message of the Bible. Or maybe your ears have heard the true message, but your mind blocked it out, and preferred a self-condemning message that you learned from the negative experiences and the poor preaching you have heard in the past.

God is delighted for you to come to him, to rely on him, to be loved by him and to love him in return.

You come to him in humility … but … sometimes … you might be trying to be humble, but it is really self-condemnation. The difference? True humility leads to victory not condemnation. And this victory is not achieved, it is gifted to you, placed on you as if wearing a crown. It is God’s declaration of your worth to him. It doesn’t matter what you think you’re worth. It matters what God thinks you’re worth. It matters that God thinks you are worth dying for, worth blessing, worth crowning you with victory.

Are you a child of God, one of his people, have you been reborn through his Spirit? Well … God takes delight in his people … and thus in you! Do you begin your devotional time with self-condemnation, or does it occur to you that God your Perfect Father is delighted that you have sat down to talk, to share, to unload, to seek help and wisdom? I am not suggesting you skip the confessional part of your God time. But I am saying that as you confess, your words fall on the ears of the Holy One who understands and forgives … the God of second chances.

As you relate to the Father, your joy grows. Now you can do the victory dance!!

“Let them praise his name with dancing, and make music to him with timbrel and harp.” (Psalm 149:3)

Have a blessed day!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is COURAGEOUS

Mon-Jun-22-2020

((If you haven’t already, you should watch the movie Soul Surfer.))

On October 31, 2003, Bethany Hamilton, age 13 at the time, went for a morning surf along Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, with her best friend Alana Blanchard, Alana’s father Holt, and brother Byron, when a 14-foot-long tiger shark attacked her, severing her left arm just below the shoulder. The Blanchards helped paddle her back to shore, then Alana’s father fashioned a tourniquet out of a rash guard (protective swim clothing) and wrapped it around the stump of her arm. She was rushed to Wilcox Memorial Hospital. By the time she arrived there she had lost over 60% of her blood and was in hypovolemic shock. Her father was already at the hospital to have knee surgery that day. Instead, his surgery was cancelled, and Bethany took his place in that operating room, where her wound was closed.

Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing, and one month after the attack, she returned to her board. Initially, she adopted a custom-made board that was longer and slightly thicker than standard and had a handle for her right arm, making it easier to paddle, and she learned to kick more to make up for the loss of her left arm. After teaching herself to surf with one arm, on January 10, 2004, just 10 weeks after her accident, she entered a major competition.

Since the attack, she has appeared as a guest on numerous television shows, as she was transformed from shark attack victim to inspirational role model. The television shows she has appeared on include The Biggest Loser, 20/20, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and Dude Perfect, as well as in magazines People, Time, and American Girl. Additionally, she was the cover story in the premier issue of niNe magazine.

In 2004, she won the ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete and also received the Courage Teen Choice Award. Also that year, MTV Books published Hamilton’s book, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, which describes her ordeal. Her story is also told in the 2007 short subject documentary film Heart of a Soul Surfer. Described as a “faith-based documentary,” the film addresses her devout Christianity and her courage and faith in Jesus Christ in the aftermath of the shark attack and follows her quest for spiritual meaning.

Thank you, Lord, for courageous, inspirational people! Give us courage as well. Help us to believe in your healing and restorative power.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is FATHER

Fri-Jun-19-2020

A father and son story …

Many years ago, in the days of no indoor plumbing, a young farm boy and his friend from down the road got into a mischievous mood one day and decided to push over the outhouse.

The next day, the young boy’s father confronted him. “Son, do you know anything about the outhouse being turned over on its side? Tell me the truth now.”

The boy decided to call upon an incident in history in which George Washington made a confession to his father that he had cut down a cherry tree. So the young man said, “Dad, I cannot tell a lie. Yes, I pushed over the outhouse.”

His father said, “Come with me to the woodshed, and we will see about your punishment. You’re going to regret this, I’ll make sure of that!”

“But Dad,” said the son. “I thought I should tell you truth, you know, like George Washington admitting he cut down the cherry tree! And his father didn’t punish him, he was proud of him for telling the truth! So what’s the difference? Why do I get punished and he didn’t?”

“Well, son,” said the father. “Here’s the difference. George Washington’s father was not in the cherry tree at the time!”

Oops!

TODAY’S VERSE: The righteous who walks in his integrity– blessed are his children after him! [Proverbs 20:7]

This coming Sunday is Fathers’ Day. My father died 26 years ago. I can’t believe he’s been gone that long. He is the most genuine and kind man I have ever known. He was a pastor all his life.

It was 46 years ago that I became a father. My assistance for raising kids came from the Bible, the example of my own father, guidance from other wise people, and books by those with the gift of teaching. My failures were many, but I kept on trying.

FOR YOU FATHERS who are reading this … Happy Father’s Day! It is an honor and a privilege to be a father. Here are some things I have done regarding my father:

I have carried with me his approval. I knew he loved me.
I have forgiven him for his failures.
I have embraced his gifts and positive characteristics that ended up in me.
I have used some of his failures as inspiration for me to do better.
I retell the stories of good times and hard times, of great fun and lessons learned.

Perhaps you would like to make your own list of how you have processed the fathering you have received and in what way you can affirm your father. None of us can possibly get everything we need from an earthly father. The design is to move on as an adult from dependence on an earthly father to dependence on our Heavenly Father, who continues the fathering job for the rest of our lives.

My prayer today … Thank you, Lord, for being a perfect Father to me. Thank you for my father; he was one of the good ones. Thank you for my son and sons-in-law, and lead them to be strong fathers. Thank you, Lord, for making up the difference, for all of us, between what we “needed” and what we “got” from an earthly father. May we as a people honor our fathers this weekend, while remembering that none of us are perfect. Forgive us. We are grateful, Heavenly Father, that you are the best! AMEN.

Happy Father’s Day!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is DISSATISFACTION

Thu-Jun-18-2020

Over the years the disagreements between my wife and myself have gradually diminished to very few occurrences. And hurray! … we have been happily married for 35 of our 37 years of marriage! The first two years we had a hard time adjusting! Our disagreements during that period were almost fatal, until in a moment of breakthrough, we realized we were actually on the same team and should proceed with that in mind. Whatever skirmishes we have had since then were mostly minor and often humorous. But I can recall a day about four years ago when we hit a bump. Each of us was dealing with our own bothersome health issues, plus some other stresses such as moving to a new home.

Today in our marriage, bad days are fairly infrequent for us, and when they occur it usually works out that the one doing OK supports the one having the bad day. But … on that particular day we decided (not really) to each have our own bad day on the same day … and express it forcefully! Such times can cause intense feelings of dissatisfaction. During the first couple of years I occasionally thought I should just leave, and although I’m afraid to ask (LOL), I’m fairly sure she had the some thought a few times. (Or maybe quite a few times … gulp!)

Have you ever been involved in something in which you reached a point of being ready to leave … “I’ve had enough” … “I can’t continue this”? In the Bible (John chapter 6), the great multitude of followers of Jesus were having a rough time with some of his “difficult” teachings, to the point that many of them decided to leave.

John 6:66 sounds like a bad number … and it is … From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:66)

The “chosen” twelve disciples must have been struggling with the same inner conflict, and Jesus asked them if they, too, wanted to leave. But the disciple Simon Peter blurted out a gem of a confession at this point.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-68) Now that is an amazing, Holy Spirit inspired declaration!

Back to my story … For both my wife and I to be tired, cranky, and emotionally upset on the same day seemed like an enormous challenge, one which might have made us question if we could keep going. Frankly, this had probably been building for quite a few days. What do you do when this happens? As people of faith we can learn something from Simon Peter about what is the right question to ask. If we look to the God of our faith and into our inner being, the truth is obvious. After all, that same belief, foundation, attachment, and love that we have (and the disciples had) with Jesus, is also true for us in our marriage. … “Where would I go?” … and we know the answer … “You are the one.”

Many people give up on faith, marriages, jobs, friends, etc. because they jump without considering the question, “Where would I go?” That’s worth thinking about. Is there something you are about to give up on? Obviously, some things need to be abandoned, but in the case of faith or marriage or other things that God has a plan for, we need to ask, “where would I go?” The Holy Spirit reminded Simon Peter that the best place was right where he was, with Jesus, despite the struggle, questions, and doubts.

A few times in various circumstances of my life, I have jumped when I shouldn’t have. We all have done that. Dr. Phil would gladly jump in and say, “And how’s that working for you?” And the answer is … it’s not.

Sometimes dissatisfaction gives us the chance to realize and affirm that we are where we are for a reason.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is ANYWAY

Wed-Jun-17-2020

You may have seen this before, but it is worth rereading occasionally, just as a reminder.

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. — Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. — Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. — Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. — Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. — Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. — Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. — Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. — Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. — Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. — Give the world the best you have anyway.

Here are some related Scripture verses.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)

“… doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, …” (Ephesians 6:6b-8a)

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1^st Peter 2:15)

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1^st Peter 3:13-17)

Blessings Always!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is DUST

Tue-Jun-16-2020

Furniture likes to collect dust. In biblical days, so did feet. And according to Jesus, so can you, in a spiritual sort of way. These are leftover emotions from negative interactions with people.

Jesus once sent his disciples out on a mission – a mission with a good purpose – healing, restoring, blessing. He knew that some people would welcome them, and others would not. Thus, his instructions to them were, that if anyone welcomed them … enjoy it … and thank them!

But he also said, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14)

In biblical days, a guest that was taken in for shelter or lodging, was to be treated with kindness and respect. First order of business … get their dusty feet cleaned off. If your host did this, you knew you were welcome. However, not everyone wants to hear what you have to say. They may obviously need help, and yet push you away with … “I don’t want your help! Go away!” If you are not welcome, Jesus advised that you leave the distastefulness of this rejection behind by symbolically shaking the dust off your feet.

Take note … this is different from what the world would have us do. Wiping off the dust means … not demonstrating anger, not mocking or rebuking, and not thinking up ways to get revenge. It means refraining from complaining … not using this as an opportunity to get some sympathy points. There is no need to post your hurt feelings on Facebook or Twitter, no sharing what these ungrateful people have done to offend you.

Jesus was telling his disciples that when you have been generous or noble or honest or caring or at least sincere, and someone still has an axe to grind, a complaint to register … well, you don’t have to be rude or angry back at them as you leave. Maturity is about gaining wisdom to carry with us, while leaving the “dusty” part behind.

If you are carrying “dust” around from an unpleasant rejection, shake it off and leave it behind … No anger … No disappointment … No revenge … No mumbling … Just wipe it off and go on, at peace. If you’re still angry or resentful, you took the dust with you when you left.

I think I need a paper towel,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is SWIM

Mon-Jun-15-2020

The prophet Ezekiel lived in Jerusalem in 590 BC, as one of the Jews who had not been taken into captivity and carted off to Babylon. And he had a prophetic vision (Chapter 47) of a stream flowing out from the Temple, which was a message of hope for those being held in exile. The river in his vision flowed eastward for about 1,500 feet and was ankle-deep. As the Lord took him further, the water became knee-deep for another 1,500 feet, and then waist-deep for another 1,500 feet. (That’s a little over a mile so far. Then …

He [the Lord] measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through. He said, “Son of man, have you had a good look?” (Ezekiel 47:5-6)

Have you ever been in “over your head”? That’s where the Lord was taking Ezekiel. This is the Christian life of faith. This is when we truly begin to trust in the Lord with all we have, in a state of total dependence.

Here are some things we learn from this. First, the Lord is gracious – He starts us out in ankle-deep water. If not, we might chicken out! And it keeps us going, because there is more. I do think, however, that some of us are still in that ankle-deep water. Some of us kept getting deeper and deeper into faith, until our feet didn’t touch. Some of us have succumbed to fear and stopped moving forward in order to stay where our feet can touch the bottom.

It is interesting that while we are in the shallower water, it is easier to see what’s under there! Sometimes, that’s why we don’t go deeper. Fears can arise when we are unsure of what might happen next or how we would handle difficult moments. However, we should know that God knows everything that is under there, and he will not let us sink — or be eaten alive — or suffer mortal wounds. Being unsure of ourselves might just be a sign that we are also unsure of God’s faithfulness. Trusting in God creates courage and confidence.

This vision teaches us that God wants us in those deep waters – he wants us to swim! After all, that is where we really learn to trust! And the waters of God are fresh water. They are healing waters. The Lord told Ezekiel, “Where the river flows everything will live.” (v. 9)

If you are nervous reading this because you are someone who fears swimming, remember that this passage is about your spirit swimming in and with the Holy Spirit. It is a life of adventure and trust. In a sense, we are out of control, because the current of a river is too strong for us to go wherever we want to. God wants us to go with the flow – not to swim upstream trying to get back to some false feeling of safety. Going with the flow means following the Spirit. We don’t necessarily go where other people are going, or even where they think we should go – we go where God goes!

Have you ever been whitewater canoeing? I did a lot of that in my younger years. There are three types of experience that stand out to me. First, there are “floats.” The river moves quietly and steadily along. You can paddle and make good time, or if you like you can rest and let God carry you. Then there are “pools.” These are places where the water is deeper and calmer. You can get out of the boat and not get carried away by a strong current. It is a time to stop and play! You can empty the boat of any water you took on. And while you have the boat flipped over, you can swim underneath as you laugh and play. You can also sit on the shore and relax.

But the other experience is when those “rapids” come. There are dangers, hard work, crashes, and disasters. You may get stuck or fall out. But to a canoeist, this is the best part of the trip. Who wants to go canoeing if there are no rapids!? The hard part is also the most fulfilling part of the adventure.

Regarding the river of your life … do you spend your time trying to avoid the rapids? Do you decline the difficult things? People need us, and it isn’t easy going. And furthermore, do you fail to stop and play when God provides the opportunity? Stop struggling in the river and relax. Be ready for the rapids when they come, don’t fight them, use them.

Are you ready to head for deeper water… meaning a deeper life? Are your feet still touching the bottom? Are you all in for Jesus enough that you will go where the Holy Spirit takes you and enjoy the great adventure that he has for you?

A final thought … the Israelites in captivity were surely wondering if God had abandoned them. They were no longer in their homeland. They were enslaved with little hope of being free. And the Temple that housed the presence of the Holy Spirit of God was far away. But Ezekiel’s vision was a clear message that God leaves the Temple to come to his people. Babylon was east of Jerusalem, and the waters in the vision flowed east out of the Temple. God was reaching out to his people, heading their direction, bringing his river of love to engulf them, support them, and carry them.

You are not alone or abandoned. You are not without help. God is with you and he wants you to swim in the waters of the Spirit that he brings to you. Trust him. Enjoy him. Enjoy the adventure. Go with God’s flow. Play in the pools. Battle the rapids. Together we will make it. The river of life is a great place to be.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is IDEA

Fri-Jun-12-2020
It’s Humor Day!

Frank and Beulah don’t get out much at their age, but one day Frank gets this idea that he is going to ride horses with his best friend, Ralphie. Beulah thinks this is a bad idea. “Frank, you haven’t ridden horses in decades! You’re going to get yourself hurt, and then you’ll be out of commission for weeks!”

Nevertheless, the next day Ralphie comes by to pick him up and off they go to ride horses. After two or three minutes of riding, Frank falls off! “Oh my gosh!” Ralphie exclaims. “Are you OK?”

“Sure, I’m fine,” replies Frank. “Just a little shaken up. I’m a little rusty, you know.”

“Let’s quit and go home,” Ralphie suggests. “Maybe Beulah was right. This was a bad idea.”

“No way,” insists Frank. “You know we did this a lot when we were younger, and we always got back on to show the horse who’s boss. I can do it. I know I can.”

So, Frank gets back on and rides some more. But wouldn’t you know it, he promptly falls off again! Ralphie is concerned, of course. “Frank, that’s enough. You’re going to really hurt yourself, just like Beulah said. She will never let you hear the end of this!”

“Now Ralphie,” Frank starts. “I know this is a little unusual, but I used to be so experienced at this. I am going to try one more time. I just know I can do it.”

Back on the horse, Frank holds on tighter this time. It looks like he might last longer than before, but no, off he goes again. “That’s enough, Frank,” Ralphie says firmly. “We’re going home!”

“Aw, come on, Ralphie,” Frank pleads. “Have some confidence in me. Just one more try. P-l-e-a-s-e.”

So Ralphie explains, “Look, Frank. I know I agreed to this, but we’re done. Besides, if you want to try one more time, I’m going to have to go back into K-Mart and get some more quarters!”

Some things are just bad ideas. Did you ever have one?

In Exodus 32, the Israelites, having escaped Egypt through the Red Sea, were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, waiting for Moses to return from an encounter with God on the mountain. While Moses was in the presence of God receiving the Ten Commandments, the people below were getting restless. Moses had taken so long that they were beginning to think he might not be coming back.

So, they appealed to Moses’ older brother Aaron to take control of the leadership. They knew they were supposed to have an encounter with God. They knew they were headed for the Promised Land. So, an idea emerged.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:1-4)

Bad idea. Have you ever rushed into something because you couldn’t wait for God’s plan to play out? Theirs was a tragic mistake. And lo and behold … Moses showed up as they were dancing and celebrating the golden calf that was their new god.

And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” (Exodus 32:21-24)

If it weren’t so tragic, this could but one of the most humorous statements in the Bible! In verse 4, Aaron is “fashioning” a golden calf with a tool. But in verse 24, Aaron says, ”and I threw [the gold] into the fire, and out came this calf.” Really? That sounds like an eight-year-old trying to explain something to an adult who knows full well, that’s not what happened!

There is a phrase in this passage that describes what their impatience with God really was. Aaron said, “You know the people, that they are set on evil.” True. And obviously Aaron was not going to shoulder any of the blame. It was their fault! If you are a believer, you know that the truth will prevail. Bad ideas are just that … bad ideas. And there are consequences.

Don’t go for the bad idea. And don’t be afraid to tell someone else, “That’s a bad idea.” Be patient. God’s idea is best.

Have a blessed day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is BUILD

Thu-Jun-11-2020

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1^st Thessalonians 5:11)

Suppose you have an area of your life where you want to “get better” or “get well.” You have been inspired by some person or event, perhaps a book you have read, a sermon you heard, a difficult experience you faced. You believe God is calling you higher, toward spiritual and emotional health, toward greater faith, deeper peace, higher joy.

So, being inspired you put better things into practice in your life. You start going back to church … or you quit a bad habit … or you apologize and fix a broken relationship … etc.

Then you discover that your choice to “get better” has caused some other person to have difficulty adjusting to the “new you.” That’s because all of us are part of a system of relationships. The basic ones are family connections, and some families are healthy to various degrees while others are perhaps slightly or severely dysfunctional. The same is true for friendships, co-workers, church family, or neighbors.

To the point … There is a theory in family systems that when one person improves, another person sometimes gets worse! That person begins to act out in negative ways. The more dysfunctional the family system, the more likely this is to happen. And why would someone get worse in response to your getting better?? … Because they want things to go back to the way they used to be. They have lost some feeling of importance perhaps. Their reaction is a temper tantrum of sorts.

Suppose, for instance, that you decide to start going back to church. And someone in your family tells you that “we always have family dinner at grandma’s house every Sunday at noon, and now you have messed that up! You’re causing a problem for the rest of us. See how selfish you are!” Any number of decisions could affect others in ways they resent.

They may even react so negatively that they become angry or spiteful. This behavior makes you think they are getting ready to wreck their life … or wreck your life … or damage the whole family. You consider abandoning your plan to improve your life and going back to the way things were. You say to yourself, “This was a bad idea. I had no idea so-and-so would be against it. I don’t want to hurt their feelings or lose their friendship, etc., etc.”

But you should consider that if you give up, you are in effect giving that person control over your life, even your faith life. You may realize that this person actually has control over the whole family system. They use their switching between good and bad behavior to manipulate and control everyone else.

Everyone’s situation is different, of course, but in general this is a time in your life to stick to it. If this is God-inspired, then you can go ahead with the plan, but also step up your love and encouragement of this person. Trust God for strength and believe that you will make it, and that the upset person will finally adjust, perhaps even improve just like you did.

As believers it is our job to encourage people in these situations and to build them up. So if someone is being bullied back into regression or belittled for trying to improve, it is our privilege and a command from the Word to “go to bat” for that person. Speak up. Offer encouragement.

And if you’re the one who needs the encouragement, a good thing you can do for yourself is to make it easy for others to support you, by being open. Don’t give up on the “better” things God is calling forth in you. He will provide a way for your future. Turn the naysayers over to God. He can help them better than we can anyway.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark