Monday 11-4-02

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. - James 1:19-20

When we choose to listen we are choosing to love, understand and accept people just as our Savior did. Listening, that is, really contemplating what someone is saying to us, does not exempt us from speaking the truth in love, rather it helps us to keep our emotions in check. When our emotions are in check, we are free to speak the truth as we need to. This James says, keeps anger at bay and brings about the righteous life that God intends. Pray today that God would give you ears to really listen, that you would control your emotions, and that He would bring forth a greater harvest of righteousness in your life.

Tuesday 11-5-02

I thank my God every time I remember you. - Philippians 1:3

Wednesday 11-6-02

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:4

Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible clearly tells us that it is okay to take care of our own needs and interests. However, many people feel guilty when they take care of their own needs, wants and desires. They believe it is being selfish which the Bible clearly teaches against. But according to Merriam Webster's dictionary, selfish means "to be concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others." You see, selfishness does not consider the other person's well-being at all. Selfishness is totally self centered. On the contrary, healthy relationships require us to look out after ourselves and others. Unless we do so we will be depleted emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. Pray to God today and ask Him to reveal to you the difference between being selfish and being a good steward of your mind, body, spirit and emotions.

For further study: Philippians 2:3, James 3:16

Thursday 11-7-02

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. - Hebrews 3:13

Encouragement is a gift that keeps on giving. Encouragement strengthens the inner person and fuels motivation. Zig Ziglar said, "A lot of people have gone farther than they thought they could because someone else thought they could." The author of Hebrews said that encouragement is like a preventative medicine. It keeps our hearts from being hardened by sin's deceitfulness. When we grasp the magnitude of this wonderful gift we will begin to employ it in the lives of others to build them up, help them to stay the course and become all God created them to be. Pray today that God would give you words of encouragement to speak into the lives of those you love.

For further study: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Acts 14:21-23

Friday 11-8-02

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

Unfortunately, most of us need a guard over our mouths. We are more likely to pour critical words out of our mouths that only serve to tear others down than we are likely to speak encouraging words that build others up. I find a good rule of thumb, when deciding whether you should say something about a third party or not, is to ask yourself a few questions: "How would you feel if the person you were talking about heard what you said about them?", "What is your purpose and intent in sharing this information with the listener" and "How do you think this information will benefit or build up the person listening to you." The scriptures tell us our words have the power of life and death, we ought to use them carefully. Pray today that God would give you the mind of Christ pertaining to how you perceive and speak about other people.

For further study: Luke 6:45, Proverbs 18:21

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