Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

I once heard a successful business man quote what he supposed to be a verse from the Bible. He said, “the Bible says if you ask God for three things and God grants you one, you should be thankful.” Well, I know the Bible speaks extensively of giving thanks to God; but I have never come across a verse stipulating what the man referred to. That was another attempt of how we try to read rhyme into scripture. You probably know of other human opinions being held as God’s word. Not a few believe that “heaven helps those who help themselves” to be a verse of scripture. You may have others accredit to the Bible that money is the root of all evil.

A little infraction can make entire mess of God’s word and render it ineffective…Rhetoric or human opinion cannot defeat the devil; only God’s word can do that. The power of the word lies in its accurate rendering.

Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew‬ 5‬:18‬ NKJV‬‬. God cares for every provision in His word and wants it preserved that way. A little infraction can make entire mess of God’s word and render it ineffective. On three different occasions that the devil tempted Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry, he was rebuffed not by hearsay or popular opinion. Jesus got the victory by accurately relaying what was written. The devil had no answer to the authentic word of God, and he had no choice but to leave Jesus alone on that occasion. Rhetoric or human opinion cannot defeat the devil; only God’s word can do that. The power of the word lies in its accurate rendering.

My wife and I had our first experience of riding on a cart in Aswan, a southern city of Egypt, some years ago. Prior to that experience, I had noticed several other horses drawing carts that were veiled partly on either side of the eyes. It was therefore an opportunity to ask our coachman why the horses had to be veiled by the sides. He told me it was to prevent them having “sideway” vision of vehicles moving. If they saw vehicles by the side, they may skip uncontrollably and cause havoc. The idea was to help horses maintain just a frontal vision of where the coachman had intended.

Focus also helped Him avoid being forced to become a king. No one is truly set for success until they have conquered distractions.

Success coaches would often tell you of the need to set goals. As important as that is, it is not the only thing that leads to success in life. It is equally important to maintain singularity of vision. Divided attention will destroy the best of goals and intentions. Jesus maintained focus. He deliberately avoided the allurements of other interests and kept the main purpose of coming to the world. He went only where was necessary and attended to the things that the Heavenly Father ordained. That level of focus helped Him from being dragged into family disputes like when one man invited Him to adjudicate over their estate. Focus also helped Him avoid being forced to become a king. No one is truly set for success until they have conquered distractions.

Most Marines who had been to warfronts find it hard to return to normal life when their duty is over. Some of them are always on guard, reading everything and everyone from the view point of war. When they are among family members where they ought to fill the hour with jovialities, they stand aloof and look distant. In extreme cases they have mental breakdown. These and many more are a manifestation of ghost of battle which haunts them and makes it hard for them to adjust to normal life.

Allowing the ghost of past battles in your heart will dim your vision and dip your energy. Consign the battle of the past to the past; and let Christ give you a clean slate to work with.

Well, if you are like most people you have probably known some battles in life. The battles in question are not the ones fought with physical weapons of war, because they are spiritual in nature but having physical consequences. Our text says we wrestle! Battles are a universal phenomenon; so if you experienced some in recent time, you are in good company. What you must avoid is the ghost of battle. It must never be allowed to ruin the rest of your life. Marines who return from battle undergo extensive therapy just to regain the handle on life. They also count heavily on the support of friends and family members to navigate that terrible season of their lives. Wherever you can get help, go for it. Allowing the ghost of past battles in your heart will dim your vision and dip your energy. Consign the battle of the past to the past; and let Christ give you a clean slate to work with.

David was a man after God’s heart. Apart from heart contrition, I believe another factor that earned him that title was his impeccable zeal towards God. David would certainly be a course instructor with regard to being zealous for God. In Psalm 42,  he states that as the deer pants after the water, so does his soul pant after the Lord. When there is zeal, the language will express it. In Psalm 63, he does not only express a longing for God but states a desire to seek Him early. Genuine zeal will lead to a pursuit of God at whatever cost, even if it means giving up some time of sleep.

Genuine zeal will lead to a pursuit of God at whatever cost, even if it means giving up some time of sleep…Zeal is a general attitude which we demonstrate towards God and His cause. It is a trait that cannot be hidden.

What he says in Psalm 69:8-9 is revealing. He says he is become an alien to his brothers and his mother’s children because of his zeal for the House of God. It is not uncommon that people who are zealous toward God get misunderstood by their loved ones. Relations and friends may even cut off from them. This is one of the prices you pay for the zeal of God. For a final consideration, mention must be made of the enormous financial and material preparation which he made for the building of the temple. This teaches us that genuine zeal towards God will reflect in your giving towards His cause. Zeal is a general attitude which we demonstrate towards God and His cause. It is a trait that cannot be hidden.