Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

One of my pastimes is reading advertisements on billboards and other outlets. As I drive through the streets, I look for the new ploys of advertising companies and commercial houses. Recently, a bottling company put up an advert with the caption, LIVE FOR NOW. As simple as this is, it stomps everything the gospel of the Kingdom stands for. The Gospel did not teach us to live for now; everything it sets up is for the future.

The Gospel did not teach us to live for now; everything it sets up is for the future… Kingdom citizens do not live for now, they live for the future.

More than anything, living for now is all the devil is putting on the front burners of many lives. He wants the young men and women to live for now in sexual promiscuity. The devil wants a new start-up to live for now and squander whatever little profit comes into the business. When you look for Bible example of a life that embraced the LIVE FOR NOW philosophy the mind will immediately race to the prodigal son. Prematurely, he asked the father to give him whatever inheritance he would be entitled to when he bows in death. He chose to live for now rather than be groomed. He became a wreck in no time. No doubt, there is a part of our inheritance that can be appropriated here on earth.  However, they cannot compare to that which is reserved for us in heaven. God’s word teaches moderation in this present world and promises a lavish reward in the world to come. Kingdom citizens do not live for now, they live for the future.

In his attempt to make Balaam curse the people, Balak brought Balaam to three vantage points in quick succession. The first was the high places of Baal (Numbers 22:41), followed by the top of Pisgah (Numbers 23:14). Rather than succeed in cursing Israel, Balaam blessed them instead. In frustration Balak brought Balaam to the third and final place, at the top of Peor (Numbers 24:28). There is a catch to this third place. Peor means a gap! This comes across to me as a pivotal truth about divination, particularly when it is directed at children of God. Generally, there is a hedge of protection around believers.

Generally, there is a hedge of protection around believers…If there is no “gap” in our lives, all of Satan’s arrows are impotent…Walking in the word is walking in the light; and those who walk in the light will constantly have the hedge of God around them.

Our passage says a curse causeless shall be of no effect. If there is no “gap” in our lives, all of Satan’s arrows are impotent. Several things can amount to a “gap” occasioning the weapons of the enemy to prove lethal. Sin is the principal avenue; it breaks down people’s defenses. Again, any work of the flesh like anger will expose us to attacks from the enemy. It is absolutely essential to walk in the Spirit in order to keep the arrows of the enemy at bay. Walking in the word is walking in the light; and those who walk in the light will constantly have the hedge of God around them.

During the Second World War, an unknown author wrote: “I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent”. Sometimes, God seems silent. Particularly when bad things happen to good people we are tempted to ask where God is. The Shunammite woman must have experienced the seeming silence of God when her son died. Why would God allow such a thing to happen to someone who had been generous to a divine cause? This brings us back to the age-long question: Why do bad things happen to good people? We may not have all the answers; but from the Scriptures, we can say that what happened to this woman further revealed the miraculous power of God in her family. Without the sickness, the woman and her household would never have known God as the resurrection power from the dead.

A few things show the inner disposition of people. The way people respond to money is a revealer of their inner life. Another is their response in times of crisis. Those who have put their trust in God have inner poise that defies explanation.

Though she experienced the seeming silence of God, she nevertheless believed God’s hand in providence. This problem revealed another side of this virtuous woman; she demonstrated some calm in the midst of her trouble. When her son died she did not raise an alarm; she only quietly laid him on the bed of the man of God. A few things show the inner disposition of people. The way people respond to money is a revealer of their inner life. Another is their response in times of crisis. Those who have put their trust in God have inner poise that defies explanation.

If you are looking for a contemporary global symbol of perseverance, you may have to consider a South Korean woman, Cha Sa-soon. In 2005, she began her quest to obtain a driver’s license. She took the written test nearly everyday, five days a week, for three years. It was not until the 860th attempt before she passed the theory. Next was the practical test. She faced the skill and road tests 100 times before she passed. She desperately needed the license to help run her vegetable business. She must have spent anything between $11,000 to $21,000 for fees and lessons to achieve her goal. In recognition of her tenacious efforts, Hyundai, the South Korean car manufacturer gifted her a brand-new car.

Sustained enthusiasm is the bottom line for success…never allow a setback to destroy your enthusiasm. In all cases of falling, you must learn to fall forward…determined to get up after each failure. That is the prime attitude of all successful people.

Sustained enthusiasm is the bottom line for success. If you fail, as you would most likely do, conduct a bit of research to determine the cause of your failure. Doing this would have taught you a vital lesson on how not to do it another time. Besides, the experience gained from your previous attempts could be the lesson someone may need tomorrow. By all means, never allow a setback to destroy your enthusiasm. In all cases of falling, you must learn to fall forward. In our text, the prophet Micah was determined not to let the enemy have the last laugh over him. He was determined to get up after each failure. That is the prime attitude of all successful people.

In the pages of the book of Psalms, four things are recommended to be done at all times. In no particular order, the first thing is longing for the word or the Lord. “My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times.” Psalms 119:20 NKJV. If the first is longing to know, the second is about doing, as a specific blessing is reserved for those who put the word to practice. “Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!” Psalms 106:3 NKJV. Most people can attempt some righteous deeds sometimes, but God is looking for those who will make it a lifestyle. Third thing to be done at all times is trusting the Lord. “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalms 62:8 NKJV. Perpetual trust is what opens us to the God of refuge.

We all daily eat God’s bread, both physical and symbolic bread, so we must learn to daily sing His songs of praises.

Finally, thanksgiving and praise must be at all times proposition. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalms 34:1 NKJV. Why must blessing God be done at all times? It is because no one can fully declare His praise at once. “Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise?” Psalms 106:2 NKJV. God is so gracious in His dealings that before you finish uttering praise for an item, He has done several other things. We will always be in arrears in praising the Lord. Recently, I learned of a Finnish Proverb which says, “Whose bread you eat, his songs you’ll sing.” We all daily eat God’s bread, both physical and symbolic bread, so we must learn to daily sing His songs of praises.