The desire of the righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.

Proverbs 11:23

In  this episode, we’ll meditate on Proverbs 11:23. Do I have a mindset that expects failure or success in my life? Does what we think and say influence our reality?

Perhaps you’ve wondered this same thing. Finish listening to this 5-minute meditation by clicking on the arrow below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. If you’d like to, we’d appreciate it if you’d leave us a review.

Thanks for listening today. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. May your soul’s meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’ Mark 2:3-5

The healing of the paralytic man is an incredible story. Jesus is in Capernaum, where so many healings happened. Not coincidentally, the people in this region had a strong faith. That realization made me stop and ask myself this question:

Do I have a faith that allows miracles to grow and blossom, or is mine a stunted, puny faith where the seeds of miracles whither and die?

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What is God wanting to do in my life, but He is waiting on my faith to grow up and catch up?

Perhaps you’ve wondered this same thing. Finish listening to this 5-minute meditation by clicking on the arrow below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. If you like it, we’d appreciate if you’d leave us a review.

Thanks for listening. May your soul’s meditation be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!

When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.” Luke 1:57

Elizabeth and Zacharias had waited a lifetime for their son to be born. In fact, they were both past the childbearing years. Elizabeth thought the Lord had denied her the blessing of being a mother. Yet God had big plans for them–they were just in His timing, not hers.

What Kind of Time?

The New King James refers to the mention of time in this verse as full time with the meaning of “being fulfilled.” God knew that their son John the Baptist would be a special child, the prophet of the Most High (Jesus), so John’s birth had to be at just the right time, at the same time as Jesus’ birth. God’s plans can’t be rushed.

When I compare Elizabeth’s story to our lives, to my own life, I empathize with some of her challenges. After all, it feels like we spend much of life waiting for things to happen …

To hear the rest, simply click on the arrow below or subscribe to this podcast in iTunes.

Thanks for listening. May your soul’s meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!

Today’s verse is Nehemiah 9:31, but if you have time, read all of Chapter 9. 

It helps to know a bit of Israel’s journey to the promised land as we discuss this reflection.

Three thoughts stand out to me from Nehemiah’s reflection on Israel’s history.

1) God had set aside the promised land for Israel, but they still had to go in and take possession of it.

2) God sustained them in their exile on the way to the promised land.

3) Once they were in the promised land, their sin caused them to be taken from their promised land as slaves to a foreign country.

Even though I don’t like to admit it, my reactions to life’s circumstances aren’t always that different from the Israelites’. Listen below with Only By Prayer  to see how this may apply to your life too.

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Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:40-41

In the middle of this time of Holy Week, it seems appropriate to ask ourselves the same question Jesus asked his disciples, “Could you not watch with Me one hour?”

These two verses show us the utmost importance of prayer. Jesus knew what was ahead

of Him, and He set aside time to pray in the garden of Gethsemane for His Father’s will. He also asked his friends to pray with Him. Jesus needed prayer to give Him the strength to endure the ordeal of the cross.

We know that Jesus came back to find that His friends had fallen asleep, and it is then that He asks them the important question, “Could you not watch with me one hour?”

Jesus Calls Us To Watch with Him Too

As I apply this question to myself, I realize that if I want to increase my effectiveness in my kingdom work for Jesus, than I need to increase my time in prayer.

Results are first prayer-planted before they can be work-achieved.

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To listen to the rest of this podcast, click on the arrow below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Let us know what you think about how prayer helps you in your work for God. Do you have any tips to share on how you work prayer into your day?

Have a blessed Easter!

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The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies!  On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed. Jeremiah 51:17-18 NLT

In this passage, God is disgusted with the craftsmen. Why?Because the metalsmiths have been using their talents and gifts to make worthless idols. God just couldn’t understand how people could make an object of wood or metal, call it a god, and then worship it as if it had created them or loved them or cared for them! They were taking the gifts and talents God had bestowed upon them and were using them to disrespect God and lead others astray.

That lead me to evaluate my talents and gifts, and I realized that ultimately there are only three ways I can use mine:

1. I’m not using them.
2. I’m using them in a worthless way.
3. I’m using them in a “worthful” way.

Listen to the podcast below to finish our reflection on The Craftsmen. Just click on the arrow or subscribe on iTunes if you’d like to get Reflections delivered to your podcast library every week.

Resource

In this podcast I recommend a book I’m reading called Called to Create, A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk by Jordan Raynor. Perhaps you’re an artist or maker and you struggle with how to use your gifts. This book will help you! I’ve included links to both Amazon and Christian Book Distributors in case you’d like to check it out.

Thanks for listening. And may your soul’s meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!

Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk By Jordan Raynor / Baker BooksReimagine your work as service to God and others! Best-selling author Raynor helps artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and other creative professionals tackle difficult questions of importance, reputation, discipleship, and eternal significance as he discusses calling,creating, challenges, and Jesus’ command. Includes stories from the Christian founders of TOMS Shoes, Chic-fil-A, Sevenly, and others.

*This post contains my affiliate links to Amazon and Christian Book Distributors highlighting today’s resource.

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