God's Favor

“When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” Genesis 39:3-4 The Lord’s favor rests on His followers who remain faithful to Him. It is humbling to know that God extends wisdom and grace to those who go hard after Him. Though someone is separated from loved ones by a long distance, the Lord is nearby to impart His calming presence. Rest assured Jesus brings success to souls who submit to His will. Moreover, favor with God leads to favor with man. A heart connection on earth takes place when there has been a heart connection in heaven. People of influence are on the look out for those whom they can trust. It is not a small thing to delegate management and leadership responsibilities—hence those with character are entrusted with more. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). Therefore, stay faithful in your responsibilities as a servant leader at work and home. It’s a joyful attitude in the middle of junk that Jesus blesses. Your boss may be unreasonable, your spouse insensitive or your child disrespectful, but the Lord and discerning people see your humble heart and will reward you with respect, rest and responsibility. What are you to do when God prospers you and your family? What are His eternal expectations? Certainly the Lord looks for His glory to be revealed through a life that reflects praise and thanksgiving. When we smash the idols of materialism, sex and power replacing them with modest living, love and service—people want to know why. Questions about our “peculiar” lifestyle are meant to point people to Jesus. “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:11-12). So, instead of seeking the world’s favor—submit to God’s authority—and His favor will follow. Blessings become bountiful in a life that longs to love the Lord and people. As the moon is a reflection of the sun’s light, be a reflection of the Son’s light—you will illuminate the Lord’s ways to worldly wisdom and to wayward souls. The Lord is on the look out to extend His blessings on those who fear Him, trust Jesus and love people. “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). Prayer: Am I in a position of humble obedience and trust, so I can experience the favor of God? Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 28:19; Isaiah 62:3; Luke 1:66; 1 John 2:8-10 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Forgiveness of Sin

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” (Ephesians 1:7). The forgiveness of God is far-reaching and without limitation to anyone who believes. He forgives the worst of sinners and the best of saints. Atheists, adulterers, murderers, liars, the hot-tempered, and the mild-mannered can all receive the free forgiveness of their heavenly Father. The good, the bad, and the ugly are all candidates for God’s grace. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross bought us back or redeemed us from the penalty of sin. By faith in Him we no longer have to be burdened by our own indiscretions against almighty God. All sins of omission, commission, and ignorance can be laid at the foot of the cross and left for our Lord’s pardon. Have you been freed by His forgiveness? Will God forgive years of religious neglect? Yes. Will God forgive a life that lives for itself alone? Yes. Will the Lord forgive divorce, irresponsible living, and laziness? Yes. Will he forgive my chronic complaining, my bad attitude, and my tendency to gossip? Are my pride in my good works and my self-sufficiency covered by Christ’s blood? Yes, God will forgive anything that is an enemy of His grace. His death gives peace. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19–20). Forgiveness is free to all who believe, but it came at a great cost in Christ’s death. God gave His Son for our salvation from sin. So have you personally appropriated faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If so, since your salvation do you regularly bow to Him in confession for the cleansing of your heart? Unconfessed sin clouds clear thinking. Since you have believed, you are rich in God’s grace and have a robust remedy for sin. Do you take advantage of your Lord’s forgiveness? As a Christian, do you sit daily at the feet of your Savior and receive freedom through His forgiveness? At the cross you were set free from the eternal penalty of sin, and now His forgiveness frees you from the guilt of sin. Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38). Prayer: Have I trusted Jesus for the salvation of my sins? What hidden sins do I need to repent of and confess to Him? By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Relational Equity

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10 Relational equity is the trust and goodwill we build up over time with those we love. The goal of other centered people is to make more relational deposits than withdraws. They serve more than they are served. They love more than they are loved. They honor more than they are honored. They care more than they receive care. They give more than they take. They generate emotional energy more than they withdraw emotional energy. They pray more than they request prayer. Yes, when we honor another above ourselves we grow our relational equity. When we are devoted to one another in love we develop our relational equity. But, what happens when we overdraw our relational equity? How are we to correct our misaligned expectations? There are two options. Either we make additional relational deposits by speaking their love language or they forgive our debt of love. Ideally, both of these options can by God’s grace, occur together. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 Genuine affection flows freely like an underground spring regularly refreshes a lake or pond. Thus, quietly but deliberately look for ways to sow seeds of service into those the Lord brings into your life's path. Be a blessing in small things like reaching out to encourage a child of your adult friend. Lead them in Bible study. Perhaps you pray for a person who seems alone in their singleness. Pray for them to feel the camaraderie of Christ and the closeness of a community. Your deep heartfelt love is determined to love like Jesus loves. He loves: Sacrificially, yes. Sensitively, yes. Sacredly, yes. Sincerely, yes. Soothingly, yes. Secretly, yes. With a servant-spirit, yes! Indeed, the love of the Lord builds up relational equity in all who surrender to His heart of affection. The relational equity of Jesus is eternal. Because His love is everlasting, He never runs out of compassion for people. Thus, your devotion to Christ creates unending relational equity. Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me to invest in people with relational equity that points them to You. Related Readings: Psalm 133:1; John 13:34, 15:12; Philippians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 John 4:10 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Reality Check

For I can testify about them that are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. (Romans 10:2) Activity without reality leads to futility. This is a frustrating and demoralizing place to live. Finances can be like this, as you can sincerely spend yourself into false affluence. Reality is you have to pay for the assets that have been obtained by debt. Credit may cause you to check out of reality, but its consequences will roar back in real bills. Reality is you cannot continue spending more than you make. The only way for the math to work: income must exceed expenses. Debt may suspend reality for a time but will eventually come crashing down from the overwhelming weight of credit’s pressure. Finances are a reality check, for they are an indicator of God’s will. God speaks through money, or the lack thereof. Do not be afraid to wait and save before you spend. For example, take a low cost vacation you can afford instead of an extravagant one you can’t. Furthermore, be careful not to allow busyness to distract you from reality. Make sure you are engaged in the right activity, and are not just busy for busyness’s sake. Verify information before you take a person or circumstance at face value. Before you hire someone, call his or her references. Sincere commitment without collaborative understanding leads to dysfunction and anemic outcomes. This could not be truer than with religion. A religious zeal without engagement in reality becomes extreme, even fanatical. So go with God’s definition of reality, as He defines reality in His Word and validates it with His will. The most effective way to remain in touch with reality is to stay connected with Christ. Alignment with the Almighty assures reality. He is a reality check, along with wise counselors. This is why a humble and teachable spirit is a prerequisite to understanding reality. Do not allow your experience, success, and intelligence to blind you from reality. Ask questions and really listen for a reality check of where you are and where you need to go. People vote with their time and money, so don’t blame them if they are not responding, but ask them why. Most importantly, make sure your church activity is grounded in the reality of a relationship with God. Religious activity does not equal relationship. Spirituality without faith in Christ skirts the real need for repentance and redemption. Sincere spirituality based on wrong assumptions will get you into trouble. No amount of good deeds can substitute your need of a Savior. Confessing your sin and receiving Christ into your life is, in reality, the way to begin a relationship with Him. Relationship with God, by faith in Christ, is foundational to understanding the world’s realities. His perspective positions you to engage in reality with an eternal mindset. Prayer is your guide to what’s real; so go to God often for His reality check. Let Him define for you your need for change and maturity. Ask Him to use the realities of your situation to make you more like Jesus. Instead of denying or rejecting reality, embrace it. Reality is God’s reason for dependence on Him and others. Accept by faith the Lord’s reality check and rely on His grace. Activity grounded in reality is rewarding, so thank Him for keeping you in a place of blessing. Jesus stated this reality: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Direction From God

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” Exodus 13:17-18 The Lord’s path for His people is not always a straight line from point A to point B. In His wisdom He may allow us to go through the wilderness, before we arrive at the promised land. He knows preparation precedes the blessing of the destination. He desires that we learn trust in Him—along the way to where He wants us to go. It’s when the Lord’s will is a non-linear route that we begin to doubt and wonder why He has led us through a desert experience. However, if life were that easy we could easily take credit for our successes and grow demanding and proud, instead of grateful and humble. Thank the Lord that He has you in a process that requires intense prayer and faith. He knows what’s best to grow your faith, so you are able to handle His blessings. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Do you find yourself in a wilderness, unsure of your next steps? Are you overcome with doubt and uncertainty? If so, do the next right thing and trust God with the future. Remind yourself of His history of faithfulness to lead you into the very best plan. The timing may not be to your liking, but you can trust the Lord that His timetable is for your best. If it’s a job transition—let go and let God—because He is your pilot to navigate the next steps. If it’s relational upheaval—figure God in—and He will figure it out. If you still wallow in anger from past hurt—get over it by God’s grace and forgiveness—and get on with your life. Above all, follow by faith your heavenly Father’s gentle leading. Remain in the palm of His protective hand, as you traverse up and down His trusted pathway. “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5). Lastly, make the Bible your roadmap for righteous living. It is in His holy writ that the Lord lays out clear boundaries as you travel through life. The route of His will involves exit ramps to rest, driving at night with limited vision and occasional car wrecks. But throughout your travels in this life keep an eye on eternity’s prize in the person of Jesus Christ. Keep your faith in Jesus for He will never let you down. Get directions from Him. “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3b). Prayer: How can I better let go and let God lead me along His best path for my life? Related Readings: Proverbs 12:28; Isaiah 55:8-9; 64:5; Jeremiah 32:19; Hebrews 3:8 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Do God's Will

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 The fortitude to press forward in the face of resistance is the mark of a steady saint. God’s will is momentarily celebrated on the mountain top, but most of the time is lived climbing a rocky face or regaining balance along a slippery slope. Traversing up or down requires perseverance. Yes, it’s reassuring to walk with someone who has plodded along a similar path. They know when to go boldly and when to wait patiently. God’s will normally works out in a round about way. What is the will of God for you right now? You can’t go wrong doing the next right thing. Don’t be overwhelmed with what needs to happen six months from now, rather focus on living today to its fullest. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with faith and wisdom for today. Daily obedience leads to weekly goals, leading to monthly objectives, leading to quarterly milestones and finally leading to annual accomplishments. Doing God’s will today leads to doing God’s will tomorrow. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:27 For example, if you are a husband or wife begin each day praying for your spouse to feel loved by their Heavenly Father and loved by you. If you are a parent pray the same for your child. If you are single ask the Lord to give you a singular focus to trust and obey. Stay pure by being washed daily with the cleansing power of prayer and God’s word. If you are a supervisor at work ask those you serve how you can help them. God’s will is fully obeying Christ’s commands. Your Heavenly Father sympathizes with your tension over two conflicting options. He wants you to use this test to lean into His heart and mind. Maybe there is a third option He wants you to discover through the wise counsel of a trusted confidant. Make sure your motivation is not to run away from a problem or conflict, but to persevere as the Holy Spirit reveals what to do next. As you wait out an uncomfortable circumstance the reward of God’s promise awaits you. You do God’s will by doing the next right thing. Walk close with Christ and He will lead you in His will! Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead me with thanksgiving into the next steps in Your will. Related Readings: Proverbs 20:7; Mark 3:35; Romans 1:10; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Sharpened Skills

If an ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 10:10 Life is not meant to be full of endless activity and busyness, without pause it loses its edge. A life worth living is one that takes the time to sharpen its skills. Skill-sharpening is an investment that will serve you well the rest of your life. Do not settle for mediocrity, by God’s grace seek to be the best in your life roles. Your commitment to sharpen yourself is much like that of a farmer. A wise farmer will use his seasonal down time to upgrade, replace, and repair his equipment. He literally sharpens the tips of his plow, rebuilds the tractor engines, and upgrades and cleans his equipment. A prepared farmer will not only survive, but will thrive with this type of motivation to always improve. In the same spirit, there is a time to execute and a time to regroup and sharpen yourself for the next initiative. A person with sharpened skills is an effective tool in the hand of God. He wants to use you to your full potential. Your part is to continually improve. Your activities and work will produce more lasting results when you take the time to hone heaven’s gifts. God wants to use your life to cut through life’s issues the way a sharp knife slices through a juicy ripe tomato. A skilled concert pianist practices the piano. A skilled writer searches out new words and becomes engrossed in sentence structure. A skilled speaker learns how to understand his audience and communicate his point in a variety of ways. A skilled mom quizzes other moms on how to become a better mother. A skilled golfer continues to hit balls way after the tournament ends; he smashes the little white spheres into the night. So, seek out new ways to keep your mind sharp and engaged in new ideas. Read about and learn from wise leaders of the faith whose writings have stood the test of time. Books are tremendous skill-sharpeners. Join a book club to ramp up your commitment and accountability. You can attend seminars or pursue a graduate degree. Use a variety of tools to stay sharp. Sparks fly when steel is sharpened, which means there will be some discomfort and growing pains. You are either moving forward or shrinking backward; there is no standing still. As you sharpen your skills, you are moving forward. You are stewarding God’s talents and gifts to their fullest. Swinging at issues with a dull life will lead you to the brink of giving up. Sharpen your mind with the Word of God. Nothing sharpens a mind like wisdom from above. God’s principles are like a whit rock on a battered blade. He smoothes the jagged edges of your roughed up life. Like an axe that has become chipped and blunt over time, your life is refurbished by God till it regains its radiant and shiny silver edge. Discover your skills through assessments and the counsel of others. A hint: when you operate within your skill set, executing the plan is almost effortless. Stay sharp, and your skills may swing open some impressive doors. Wisdom says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29). By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunter

Faith Living

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Faith living is focused on God living. It is the road less traveled. Even for believers in Jesus Christ, faith living is not always predominant. Why settle for anything less? If we limit ourselves to our efforts, our logic and what we can see, then we only tip God with our faith. He is calling us beyond the honeymoon stage of our faith to mature faith. A faith that only thinks of the past is anemic and stunted. Faith alive is focused on God’s vision for the future. It is caught up in the possibilities of today with no fear of tomorrow. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). Faith living enjoys God’s ability to create. For example, He can create resourceful relational opportunities, as He is the connector par excellent. By faith He can be trusted to lead you to just the right people. People whom you can serve and people who can join you to accomplish God’s will. Determine ways to bring value to the other person. It is not about what you can get from them, it is all about how you can serve them. Moreover, faith living is not irresponsible living. This is not some blind excursion that ignores the needs of your spouse and children. It is wrought with prayer and godly advice. This implies that faith living is not lived in a vacuum. It is living in concert with those around you. Abraham went by faith to a new country and cared for his family. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise” (Hebrews 11:9). Yes, it requires sacrifice and service, but not in the guise of unwise decision-making. Faith living trusts God’s timing. It does not rush into battle without weapons or a plan. You trust God to prepare you and provide you the needed resources to carry out His will. You are no match for Satan without the weapons of spiritual warfare. Furthermore, trust the Lord with how He has gifted you. Your part is to become more self aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Allow God and others to leverage your strengths and shore up your weaknesses. Be who God created you to be and come alive in Christ. Pursue Him, live by faith and execute His will. Live by faith and not by sight. Faith living is the only way to live for God. You are not really alive until you live by faith in Jesus! Prayer: How can I better position my life to live by faith and not by sight? Related Readings: Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; 3:11; Hebrews 10:38 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Wise Beyond Youth

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel 1:17 Youth is not just a passive pass through into adulthood. It is an opportunity to be a world changer and not a world gamer. God gives the young He can trust His knowledge and understanding to impact the culture for Christ. Like Daniel and his friends, the eternal energy and enthusiasm of those with less experience is an opportunity to experience God! A tidal wave of spiritual transformation is ready to be unleashed by the Spirit in the tender hearts of young trusting souls. What has the Lord laid on your heart that is outrageous to the status quo? What is your big idea that requires the humility of teachability, the grace of prayer, the discipline of focus and patient persistence? Wherever God has for you, be your best and always think big for His glory. It is an insult to our Lord to limp through life, as if we had no support from our Savior. Ask Jesus for wisdom beyond your youth. Use technology and your relational equity to connect others to God. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. Colossians 1:9 Furthermore, let’s release those who have yet to grace the age of thirty to engage the grace of God in a gigantic way. Help their dreams and visions come true by investing prayer and money in their ideas. Mentor them to be servants of the Most High and lovers of the most lowly. Encourage their hearts, challenge their minds, starve their egos and feed their faith. If we hold back those hungry for God, we may hinder holy outcomes. Yes, lift up the youth to believe big! Above all, train and encourage your children in the ways of the Lord. As they get older keep pouring prayers and God’s principles into their lives. When they are married invest in their marriage by sponsoring them to attend a marriage retreat or intensive. Give them the tools, resources and relationships to be wise beyond their years. When God blesses them with children invest time and God’s word in your grand babies. Ask the Lord to make them wise in their youth! Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me to empower youth to be everything You’ve called them to be. Related Readings: Esther 2:8; Psalm 89:19; Ecclesiastes 4:13; 2 Corinthians 4:1; Hebrews 12:1-3 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Too Sensitive

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 Pride is too sensitive. It easily gets its feelings hurt, because pride has a very high opinion of itself. Indeed, those who are overly sensitive believe they are beyond questioning or criticism. When someone asks for clarification or questions their actions, the proud move quickly to a defensive and/or attack frame of mind. Self focus causes hyper sensitive people to easily get their feelings hurt. Proud people have a protective process of projecting an image of perfection. Are you vulnerable and open to other opinions? Or, is your mind made up and no one can persuade you to think differently? Furthermore, how can we think soberly about ourselves? Sober mindedness is a healthy blend of humility and confidence in Christ. Humility sees even in our imperfection, we are loved by a perfect Savior. Confidence in Christ means we can be assured where He calls us, He will empower us. Humility is sensitive to the Spirit and not to self. My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Psalm 131:1-2 There is a calmness that accompanies our heart when it is content and void of conceit. Our spirit is quieted under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit gives us compassionate sensitivity to other souls. The Spirit’s influence keeps us from being consumed with ourselves. We quickly admit our offenses, own them and ask others for forgiveness. We laugh with others at our goofy remarks or silly mistakes. Humility is not easily offended. Lastly, look to the Lord for affirmation, approval and acceptance. His nod of approval, His smile of affirmation and His hug of acceptance still your spirit. Your Heavenly Father has given you the faith to forge ahead for Him. Many will support your efforts, some will be indifferent and a few will resist. Regardless, do not take the feeling of rejection personally. Remember, like Jesus stay focused on bringing glory to God. It is not about you, but Him. Be sensitive to the Spirit. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. 2 Samuel 22:8 Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead me to be sensitive to Your Spirit and not to selfish desires. Related Readings: Psalm 101:5, 116:7; Isaiah 2:12; Romans 8:14, 12:16; Galatians 5:18 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Walks

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). With whom do you walk (figuratively or literally) through life who offers you wisdom? Do you walk with your father or father-in-law, or mother or mother-in-law? When you walk with them are you slow to speak and quick to listen? Indeed, wisdom comes to those who listen more and talk less. Wisdom is a product of the people who pour into you. Your wisdom walk may be over the phone with a mentor who lives in another city or a neighbor across the street who, by God’s grace, has already raised God-fearing children. Look around you and learn from those wise ones the Lord has placed in your life. Pray for a “Paul” who can be your spiritual instructor. “Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17). No one is ever too old or too wise to need a regular wisdom walk. Perhaps you take the time to walk with your spouse after dinner or a co-worker during the lunch hour. Vacations are ideal to walk with a wise family member. Walk while the brilliant sun arises or a majestic sunset kisses the horizon. A wisdom walk allows your soul to catch up with the hectic pace of your body. Indeed, walk with the wise, and you will grow wise. Talk about topics that are relevant to your season of life. Maybe it is insight into parenting a teenager, financial management, decision making, how to love and respect your spouse, books to read, or devotion to Christ. Ask your wise walkers what mistakes they made and how you can learn from them. Listen to their ideas, process them in prayer, and apply them to your life. Otherwise, unused wisdom becomes fodder for foolishness! Above all, have wisdom walks with almighty God. Unlike Adam and Eve, learn to live in the intimacy of the moment with your heavenly Father. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Walk with Jesus, and you will become much the wiser. Keep Christ your closest companion. Prayer: Who are wise people in my life with whom I can enjoy regular wisdom walks? What does it look like for me to have wisdom walks with my heavenly Father? Related Readings: Deuteronomy 8:7; Jeremiah 7:23; Luke 6:13–17; 1 Corinthians 15:33 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Unlearn Untruths

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 God calls His children to think anew,not like they did in the past with old prejudices and skewed perspectives,but with renewed thoughts captured by Christ. Like medical science that discovers new remedies for old illnesses, the Christian mind grows under God’s influence. We love the Lord with our mind when we humbly unlearn untruths. The mature follower of Christ learns to unlearn beliefs that are untrue. For example, the Bible does not teach: “God helps those who help themselves.” Yet, because we hear it repeated multiple times without rebuttal, it begins to blend into our belief system. God helps those who die to themselves, and who come alive by faith in Jesus Christ. Yes, the Lord wants us to work hard, but not as a substitute for our utter dependence on Him. “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Another untruth that needs to be unlearned says, “If you have enough faith you will be physically healed or you will prosper materially.” Jesus can of course do either of these, but your faith does not guarantee that He will heal you (though the ultimate healing is heaven) and He will bless you financially. Some with great faith, die of disease and some filthy rich in faith live a life of poverty on earth. True faith trusts God to do His will. Often repeated but wrong is: “bad people go to hell and good people go to heaven.” Saved people go to heaven and lost people go to hell—only belief in the blood of Jesus Christ as the payment for our sin can gain us eternal life with God. No amount of moral acts can justify a life before Him—it requires grace not goodness. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isaiah 64:6). “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). Therefore, rid your mind of old thinking that assumes something that is not true, and replace it with Scripture’s timeless truth. A mentor or teacher may have meant well but a sincere heart that delivers half-truths can confuse your mind and emotions. Read the Bible to validate what you believe,and have the courage and faith to unlearn untruths. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Prayer: What belief do I currently embrace as true that does not align with Scriptural principles? Related Readings: Job 6:24; Psalm 119:15; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Timothy 2:25-26 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Stay In Process

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 Are you struggling to stay in the process? It may be the engagement process—he or she cannot make up their mind on a date, time and location for the wedding. Perhaps you feel trapped in the process of a job search—a promising door opens and then just as quickly closes. The process at work is a challenge, because the project never seems to be completed on time and not up to your standards. Or, for years you have prayed for the salvation of a loved one and they seem further away from the Lord than when you first started petitioning for their soul. It’s in the process that God purifies our heart and gets our attention to go deeper with Him. The process may not seem perfect, but it is necessary to draw us near to Jesus in utter dependence. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10). We all are a work in process that requires a prayerful process. It’s through a prayerful process that relationships are strengthened, lessons are learned and patience is produced. We may not like the process, but later on we will appreciate the wisdom we gained from God. Indeed, treat process as a friend, not a foe—see it as Jesus molding your mind and heart into His image of integrity. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Be careful not to bypass the process because you may miss God’s best. The flesh faints along the way of His will, but the spirit is energized by faithfulness to Christ’s course. Success comes as you see the destination with eyes of faith and stay focused in prayer. Your patient endurance is momentary and makes a difference in those who watch you. “If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:6). Prayer: What process do I need to persevere in and trust that the Lord is in control? Related Readings: Jeremiah 29:4-6; Proverbs 25:4-5; Matthew 13:23; James 1:2-4 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

A Godly Legacy

“When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” Genesis 49:33 Jacob gave his dying instructions to his sons as they waited at his beside. They lingered there out of love and respect. They had observed his life. And though not perfect by far, it was a life of overall faithfulness to God. The sons of the father wanted to receive his blessing and they were proud of the legacy left to them, a legacy of faithfulness to God. What legacy will you leave? If you died today, how would you be remembered? These are important questions for your children’s sake. Maybe your parents did not leave you a godly heritage. Nevertheless, you have a wonderful opportunity to start a new tradition, one based on the principles of Scripture. Lord willing, your legacy will start a godly lineage that will reach across the future for generations to come. Yes, your name will probably be forgotten, but what you stand for will be held in high esteem for all to remember. Perhaps you can start by documenting your family vision and mission. Write down outcomes you are praying for related to your family. Pray that your parental example of character compels your children to walk with Christ. Hold the Bible in such high regard that its commands and principles are lived out in love and obedience. Love your children with acceptance, discipline, training, and kindness. Follow the ways of God, and your children will see and secure a clear path of purpose to pursue. Moreover, consider a family credo that defines what you value as a family. Character traits like humility, hard work, community, forgiveness, communication, and relationship. Weave these beliefs throughout the language and behavior of your family. Challenge each child to be intoxicated by Scripture, so much so that God’s word is on their breath and seen through their behavior. Slow down and be intentional in legacy building. Then your children and your children's children are more apt to love Christ. “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children” (Psalm 103:17). Prayer: Do I live life with legacy in mind, and do I uniquely and fully bless each child? Related Readings: Daniel 10:19; Joshua 24:27-29; Luke 2:29; Hebrews 11:13-22 By Wisdom Hunters, Boyd Bailey

The Lord's Requirements

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 God has expectations for His children: justice, mercy and humility are three of His requirements. These are not electives for the student of God’s Word, but three virtuous attributes that are required. Furthermore, the Lord does not ask His followers to behave in any fashion that He has not already modeled before them. He acts justly, He loves mercy and He walks humbly. He does not expect any behavior from His followers that He has not already exhibited. His justice is sure, right, and fair. His mercy is fresh, deep, and everlasting. His humility is authentic, tranquil, and service oriented. Jesus came to earth from heaven to give us a picture of God’s glory. We worship an awesome God who has shown us the way. Look at the life of Jesus and He exemplifies this trinity of character traits. He was a man who despised injustice and He confronted unfairness with passion. Jesus was a man on a mission of mercy. He could not wait to extend His grace to some unsuspecting and undeserving soul. He served humanity's worst with humility. He did not condone sin, nor was He condescending towards those caught in their sin. He spoke with conviction laced with glory to God,in real life application. He was a man of humility. “Gentle and humble” (Matthew 11:29) are the only two recorded words in scripture that Jesus used to describe Himself. God has modeled the way for us. He does not require what He does not do. For Christ followers, He is your life. As you walk with Him that realization becomes more apparent. You cannot walk with God and not change, as you become like the one you walk with. When you walk with the Lord you begin to grow in justice, mercy and humility. When you walk with God you are transformed into the image of His son Jesus. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29). So what does it mean to walk with God? First, you quit striving in your own strength. Slow down and prayerfully channel that same energy heavenward. By faith trust God to work out the people and circumstances beyond your control. This is a walk of faith. Secondly, as you walk with Him listen to His voice and enjoy His presence. His voice is reassuring and His presence is calming. Justice, mercy and humility will come as you walk with your heavenly father. Walking with God meets His requirements, as He provides what He requires. Isn’t this just like our gracious God? Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. His requirements are rewarding and good! Prayer: Do I have a humble walk with the Lord that exhibits mercy, love and justice? Related Readings: Genesis 5:22-24; Joshua 22:5; Luke 24:1-35; 1 John 1:7 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Result of Worry

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:27 The results of worry aren’t redeeming, productive, nor helpful. Worry doesn’t assist today and it only complicates tomorrow. Its ultimate sideways energy sidetracks us from our Heavenly Father’s loving comfort. Worry is a dark alley in a loud, confused city. It's an untrodden trail off the beaten path of God’s will. Worry has a way of putting a wrench into the works of Christ. It's a subtle and not so subtle way to place our efforts ahead of God’s. Worry leads to a victim mindset. Worry can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Yes, we can work ourselves into a frantic state of self reliance, so much so that we begin to believe and live out lies. We predict the worst case scenario is imminent and then we act in ways that move us in that direction. We simmer in self pity, talking like a victim, then we become a victim. Worry whispers statements like, “What if you lose your job?”, “What if you have a disease?”, “What if he/she leaves you?” Worry’s results wreak havoc. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 Praise the Lord there are remedies to worry! Shifting our focus from self to our Savior is a foolproof way for faith to preempt false thinking. Self is like a jealous lover who wants to be the center of attention, but Christ alone deserves this highest status of affection. When our idols of security, money, control and comfort bow to Jesus, worry runs away rejected. Worship embraces hope as courage for the heart. Courage and hope are fraternal twins that birth in us a living faith. Furthermore, the Lord sustains you when you cast your cares on Him. Your humility in confessing your ongoing need for Christ leads to spiritual sustainability. Healthy soul care requires you to invite your Heavenly Father to care for your anxious heart and nervous emotions. Submission to Sovereign God precludes a position for your pride to perch. Yes, Jesus’ spoken word in Scripture soothes your soul and brings peace to your war of worry. The result of trust is peace and calm. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Prayer: Heavenly Father, I bow in humility to You, trusting You with my cares and concerns. Related Readings: Psalm 55:22; Proverbs 12:25; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 13:5-6 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

An Uncompromising Life

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8 Does every person really have a price? Their purity? Their integrity? Their lifestyle? Their identity? Daniel’s price was death. He was willing to die rather than defile himself with ungodly influences. Behind enemy lines he could have easily blended in with the culture. However, fear of the Lord is not conditional on the cultural mores of the day. An uncompromising life resolves not to be bought by any force outside of faith in Christ, Not bowing to money or status, only God. What is your price? Are you willing to be a little dishonest to gain a lot of authority? The enemy does not try to destroy your good name in one fell swoop. He shrewdly chips away at your character with questions like, “Did God really mean this for me?” “Haven’t I grown beyond the need to be accountable?” Indeed, a weakened character is set up to fall, but a character grounded in God withstands the Tempter’s trysts. The Bride of Christ is faithful to One, Jesus alone! And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 Yes, be shameless and humble to declare your focused allegiance to your Heavenly Father and no one else. Take your marching orders from your Master Jesus. Let the Lord define your lifestyle, not those whose style of life tip God and flirt with sin. Culture and less honorable friends and family will attempt to mold you into their definition of a meaningful life. But, you look to heaven for your standard of living on earth. Embrace by grace an uncompromising lifestyle. Above all, accept and enjoy your identity in Christ alone. Yes, rest in the way your Creator has created you. Be who you were made to be. Be content with the lot in life the Lord has given you. If you strive to be someone you’re not, you will have an inner knot of anxiety that haunts you. However, you enjoy peace when you accept yourself for who you are in Christ. Indeed, you are loved and forgiven by your Heavenly Father. His Spirit strengthens your uncompromising life! He [Job] is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you [Satan] incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. Job 2:3 Prayer: Heavenly Father give me the righteous resolve to stand uncompromising for Christ. Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 25:21; Proverbs 11:3; Mark 12:14; 2 Corinthians 1:12 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Trained For Service

They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Daniel 1:5 Thorough training precedes effective service. Even the most gifted need their skills developed under the watchful eye of a wise mentor. As a virgin blade of steel is honed down to its sharpest condition, so a novice to a new field of study or work needs time to gain understanding, acquire wisdom, grow accustomed to the culture and increase in physical, emotional and spiritual maturity. Wise are those who take the time to prepare, before rushing off unequipped to serve. Daniel and his friends made sure not to compromise their conviction in God, as they trained under a hostile authority. The Lord also continued His hand of favor on their faith. He worked through a sympathetic supervisor to carry out His purposes. Perhaps you face a college professor who dismisses your beliefs in Jesus, or you have a boss who blames God for a tragic event he experienced. Regardless, use your training time to learn and grow into a skilled leader for Christ. I [Paul] studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. Acts 22:3 Your training may seem laborious and long, but in the Lord’s big picture it is a small dot on His eternal thread. Stay mentally engaged where you are and do not become distracted by overly anticipating the future. Maybe you engage a mentor outside of your formal training, so you have a trusted advisor to help you process what you are feeling and learning. A seasoned sage can help you clarify your calling, coach you in your commitment to Christ and your wobbly convictions. Above all, stay in the training process, so you become a better ambassador for the Almighty. If you give up, you are giving up on God. He is faithful! He will see you through! He will not put on you more than you can bear! If you stay true to the process, you will use a similar process the rest of your life to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The Lord is using this defining season to place His faithful fingerprints on your life. He is preparing you for His purposes! Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 Prayer: Heavenly Father keep me in Your training process, so I can represent You better. Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 25:7; Luke 6:40; Hebrews 5:14, 12:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:24 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Hearing and Listening

Then they asked him, “What did he [Jesus] do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too? John 9:26-27 Hearing does not guarantee listening. Eye contact and engaged body language can still lead to no heart comprehension. Someone can act like they are listening without really understanding. People who lack humility and empathy lack the ability to really listen well. Pride and ego run over another’s sentences before they finish. An unbridled intellect interrupts with solutions and new ideas before they truly listen to the heart of the one making conversation. Hubris is deaf. So, there is skill involved in learning to listen with understanding. Good listeners lean into the one speaking and seek to know what the one speaking knows. They take in the spoken words, but simultaneously they process the emotional meaning behind the speech. Listeners hear without any preconceived notions or preemptive conclusions. We hear and listen well when we enter into the emotional world of the speaker. We learn to listen by asking clarifying questions. After three days they found him [Jesus] in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Luke 2:46 The Holy Spirit is also involved in illuminating true meaning and providing discernment to humble and wise hearts. So, we prayerfully listen beyond the logic of the spoken language to the unspoken promptings of God’s Spirit. A person’s words may say they want one thing, but in their heart of hearts, they know they need something different. The Lord’s Spirit working through your spirit will give you insight into what they need to consider. Listen for the Spirit’s quiet leading. Most of all, be a hearer, listener, and a doer of God’s word. Scripture is like fertilizer for your faith. If the Bible is only revered on a bookshelf it is useless, but if it is spread over your life it makes things grow. Therefore, hear, listen and apply God’s Holy Word to your life. Once you listen and learn then allow His truth to transform your being. Wise listeners of Christ’s words integrate His principles into their behavior. They pray, “Speak Lord for I am listening for You.” Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:9 Prayer: Heavenly Father speak to my heart and I will truly listen to You and obey. Related Readings: Deuteronomy 34:9; Job 38:1-3; 1 Corinthians 14:21; Hebrews 4:12; 1 John 4:6 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Contentment's Concern

My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 131:1-3) Contentment is not concerned with matters out of its control. Anytime you try to manage circumstances out of your purview, you grow discontented. The world of discontentment is a dangerous place to live because it may lead you to make a hasty or unwise decision. Decisions made under the duress of discontentment are not always the best. Contentment, on the other hand, is patient and prayerful in decision-making. Most things do not have to be decided right away. You can wait and watch God unfold His will. It may be time to make a bold move, but execute your transition smoothly, not in a jagged fashion. Contentment does not try to change people. That’s God’s job. Contentment accepts the fact that some people are best left to themselves. God will deal with them in His way and in His timing. Contented people do not have to be "in the know" about everything around them. Too much information can get you into trouble for you are responsible for what you know. It may be that you are not ready for that level of authority. Be content and trust God with those issues that exceed your capacity to understand or implement. There will come a day when you are prepared for that role of confidant, but for now, be content with where you are. Do the best in your current position and let opportunities come your way. The world of contentment is a great place to live in peace and quiet. Contentment is found by placing your hope in God. Hope in the Lord can never be taken from you. All hell can break loose, but He is there. Hope in God is a perk for today. If you can trust Him with your soul for eternity, you can trust Him during this incredibly brief time on earth. Hope feeds contentment the way an appetizing meal feeds a hungry body. When you lose hope you grow discontented. Hope can be found in Jesus Christ, so don’t make it hard. He is not illusive or hiding; He is available for you. Contentment’s hope is in God. If you place your hope in anything other than God, you set yourself up for major disappointment. Everything else in life is capable of letting you down, but not your heavenly Father. He is there for you, and His desire is contentment. He desires contentment because He knows that pure joy and happiness are nurtured and able to grow there. Sad are the discontented; glad are the content. Driven are the discontented; called are the content. Restless are the discontented; peaceful are the content. Addicted are the discontented; satisfied are the content. Pessimistic are the discontented; hopeful are the content. Be content and enjoy the outcome. Contentment’s concerns are few. By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Spiritual Receptivity

“Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Mark 4:9). Spiritual receptivity is necessary for the growing follower of Christ. Jesus knew that there had to be a willingness to want to know and understand before there could be any comprehension of His teachings. This hunger for God is an innate appetite that only He can satisfy. Even if you do not hear, you can want to hear. This is the attitude of a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. A willing heart is what the Holy Spirit infuses with insight. Spiritual receptivity is born out of your attitude and validated by your actions. Actions are an indicator but not an initiator of openness to the Almighty’s agenda. Have you ever grown weary working for the Lord, struggling to have a patient attitude? Yes, we all have from time to time, but it is a patient and grateful attitude that hears Christ communicate the most clearly. Gratitude for His grace, love, and forgiveness leads to hearing His voice. His Word lodges alive and eventually bears fruit when the ears of your heart humbly listen to the Lord with an attitude of obedience. Jesus explained the results of a spiritually receptive heart; hearing and understanding His Word, thus finding faith and healing. Indeed, the comprehension of His ways is not limited to a select few “professional Christians.” In fact, their ministry vocation can become a stumbling block to belief. “‘For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:15–17). Spiritual receptivity means I submit to the Holy Spirit’s prodding to preempt my pride. Instead of reacting to raw data, I wait and process with prayer so I am able to gain God’s perspective and not be rushed by the world’s way of doing things. Spiritual receptivity sees the face of God and hears the heart of heaven. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). Prayer: Do I hear with a heart toward hearing from heaven? Is my heart humbled to hear from the Holy Spirit? Related Readings: 2 Samuel 7:22; Jeremiah 6:10; Romans 11:8; 2 Timothy 4:3 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Love Does

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 Actions born out of love speak like a megaphone of compassion to those in need. Words of concern are empty unless they are backed by involved behavior. A need does not necessitate a call, but Christ's love compels us to engage in another’s messy situation. Love does what is necessary to bring hope and healing to those who feel hopeless and hurt. Those moved from within by the Spirit initiate intimacy. They are a solution looking for a problem. How is your capacity to love? Is it limited to your immediate family or does it overflow into acquaintances, even strangers? Ask the Lord to endow you with extravagant love from heaven for those on earth. Yes, you are a conduit for the enormous love of your Heavenly Father. After you sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer, you can’t wait to wash the feet of those who are soiled by sin. Serve in a way the world cannot explain. Hallelujah, love’s outcomes are outrageous! My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Ezekiel 33:31 I have to check my motivation to make sure I am not giving to someone expecting a favor in return. If my love is conditional then it is tainted by my personal agenda. However, pure love does not discriminate, it is determined to meet needs as they arise. Everyday encounters are seen as divine appointments to engage the Lord’s limitless resources with those in need. My attention to another is not a bother, but an opportunity to be Jesus to one distant from Jesus. Lastly, look to the Lord Jesus as your example of "love does". Love those who are rejected by religious snobs by going into their homes and having dinner together. Rich or poor may feel isolated from the church because they don’t believe they measure up to right standards of conduct. Love those deeply hurt by sin by looking into their lost hearts with genuine compassion and mercy. Weep for the wounded and do good for those who do bad. Love does! The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead me to love unrestrained and unconditional for Your glory! Related Readings: Leviticus 19:18; John 13:34; 2 Corinthians 6:6; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:17 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Concerns of God

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. Mark 8:33 What concerns God? What does the Almighty deem as the most important? The Lord is concerned that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. He accepts those who submit their will to His, but He rejects those who impose their will onto His. God is concerned with building His kingdom, not man’s kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven begins in our hearts with love and obedience to King Jesus. A citizen of Christ’s country is concerned about promoting His fame. Moreover, our Heavenly Father is concerned with keeping His promises to His people. For example, He shows up in answered prayer to assure us that we are not alone. He is concerned for us when we fear giving a public speech. Not only does He give us insight and clarity in our preparation, He prepares the hearts of the people who hear our talk. He blesses our words of instruction and inspiration. He wants us to feel His peace, as we present His timeless principles. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. Exodus 2:24-25 Your Heavenly Father is also concerned about your suffering. His heart goes out to you when your heart has been broken. The Lord longs for wholeness in your body, soul and spirit. If you are detached from your true feelings, He wants to reengage you with your emotions. He wants you in touch with your feelings, so you can feel the needs of others. Your Savior Jesus meets you in your place of suffering with His sensitive comfort. He empathizes with your cry for His care. Furthermore, you partner with the Holy Spirit when you keep the concerns of God in the forefront of your mind. Yes, keep Christ’s concerns your priority and your human concerns will not keep you from Christ. Jesus bluntly brands self seeking distractors as agents of the enemy. Beware of people who talk spiritual talk, but are more concerned about their own agenda, than God’s. Concern yourself with His concerns and your human concerns will fade away. Be concerned where He’s concerned! The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. Exodus 3:7 Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep my concerns in line with Your concerns. Related Readings: Exodus 4:31; Luke 1:25; Acts 7:31; 1 Corinthians 7:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Trust or Suspicion

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. Revelation 22:6 When expectations are unmet, a gap of concern is created. It could be a promise that was made, but lacked follow through. Or a person uncharacteristically acted in an incompetent manner, but took responsibility for their actions afterward. Perhaps a spouse was inconsistent in their behavior, but when all the facts were factored in, all made sense. When facing these life disconnects we can chose to bridge the gap with trust or suspicion. Trust is relational lubricant that assumes the best. Can our Heavenly Father be trusted when there seems to be a chasm between what He has said, and our reality? Of course, we are finite in our understanding, but He is infinite. We never need to hold our Savior suspect over something that doesn’t make sense. On the contrary, we rest knowing Christ has already connected the dots and He can be trusted with the outcome. The Lord’s track record of trustworthiness is unblemished. Trust Him to inspire your next steps. Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:28 What happens when someone breaks your trust? It takes time for a broken trust to be repaired. Chronic offenders can be forgiven, but they lose their status of trustworthiness. Indeed, to be trustworthy is to be worthy of trust. Relational equity builds over time and is not overdrawn due to broken promises. Trustworthiness is a gift you give to those you love. Yes, your consistency to do what you said you would do is a gift of security to those who love you. Therefore, by God’s grace, make it your emotional default to trust, not suspect. Take the high road of valuing the relationship over an outcome. However, make sure there is clarity regarding expectations. Discuss and then write out expectations, so all parties are aligned. Most of all, fill in the gap of uncertainty with faith in your Heavenly Father. He is true to His word and will not leave you in a state of insecurity. He is true to what He told you He will do. He is worthy of your trust! The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. Proverbs 12:22 Prayer: Heavenly Father, grow me in my trustworthiness and mature me to trust You and others. Related Readings: Exodus 18:21; Psalm 19:7, 111:7; Job 15:31; Acts 12:20; 2 Timothy 4:11 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Memorial Day

In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4 A nation born out of the womb of religious liberty has much to thank Almighty God for. We can thank Him that man's tyranny lives oceans away and we are free to worship, vote and treat our fellowman with civility and respect. “With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish” (Psalm 44:2). He is the initiator and sustainer of our nation’s freedom; without the Lord we lose. A large lump fills our throats with the memory of men and women whose blood saturated the soil of foreign fields to preserve our freedoms. A nation like ours that encourages free enterprise, free speech, free press and free worship comes with a severe sacrifice. When was the last time you thanked the Lord for those on the front lines who risk their lives for your liberty? His blessing remains where gratitude is retained, so thank Him often. Indeed it is a country with character that positions itself for God’s blessing. Therefore, don’t just ask God to bless America, but in addition thank Him for already blessing America. “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever” (Ezra 3:11a). A grateful nation gives God the glory for His goodness. Out of our national appreciation the world wonders what God can do for them. So when the United States of America appreciates Almighty God we become a shining light from shore to shore, as men and women around the globe take notice of our humble dependence on Him. Jesus described the collective role of God-fearing people, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). If we extinguish our light by abandoning the faith from which we came, He will raise up other nations to take our place. However, He smiles when He sees a nation acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior; it sets a standard for those who admire our freedoms to see where they originate. Memorial Day is an opportunity to privately and publicly give God the glory and gratitude for His incredible favor and blessing on our nation. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).” Prayer: How can I lead our extended family in a sincere prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord? What are some specific freedoms I can thank God for in blessing my country? Related Readings: Psalm 102:15; Malachi 1:14; Acts 10:34-36; Revelation 15:4 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Trust Enough

“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them’” (Numbers 20:12). A mature and robust trust in God can open the door of opportunity, while a flippant, immature, or irreverent trust can slam shut the door of opportunity. I have to ask myself an honest question: “Do I trust God with my whole heart or only when it is convenient?” There is such a thing as not trusting in God enough to honor Him as holy. How can I make sure I trust in God enough? I can say I trust God, but do I really mean it? Do I, deep in my heart of hearts, trust Him? Do I really trust Him with my job, my boyfriend or girlfriend, my future, my health, and my finances? If my trust is contingent on how I think things should go, then I really do not trust God. My trust has to be unconditional, good or bad, pretty or ugly. I will trust Him, even when I disagree or I am confused with my circumstances. Sometimes God tests you to authenticate your trust. “Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28). He wants you to know if He is sufficient or if you find Him lacking. The test is for your benefit because He already knows if you trust Him enough. You may be failing, just passing, average, or an honor student in God’s school of faith. Are you convinced that you trust in God enough? Or is yours still an infant faith wrapped in insecurity? Moving to the next level of trust is not always easy, but it is necessary for the maturing follower of Christ. The easy part is becoming a Christian; the hard part is being a Christian. This happens over time as God tests our trust to grow us up in Him. We can complain, or we can thank Him that He cares so much He does not want our trust to remain raw and disfigured. He is all about developing us into dedicated disciples of Jesus. Even enemies of Jesus recognized His total trust in His heavenly Father. “He trusts in God” (Matthew 27:43). Prayer: Is my trust wholly dependent on the Lord alone plus nothing else? Related Readings: Psalm 37:3–5; Isaiah 12:2; John 14:1; Titus 3:8 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Rejection To Restoration

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’. Mark 12:11 What is rejected for God can be restored by God. People can reject a good person, even a godly person, only to see themselves discredited and their object of contempt reinstated. The majority may miss the right conclusion, because the facts were withheld by a jealous few. Thus, beware of someone or a group with persuasive powers, but shady motives. Make sure all the facts have been flushed out, before sides are chosen. Those whose power is threatened, threaten their foes. Jesus was rejected by the religious elite, only to be resurrected as Lord by His Heavenly Father. A few green with envy branded Jesus and His followers as power hungry political fanatics. However, heaven did not sit still in the face of these false accusations. The One whose character was assassinated and whose body was crucified became the payment for His critics' sin. We can reject Jesus as our Savior, but belief in Him is still required for a right relationship with God. So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16 When we accept Christ, He brings us back to God. Our arrogant intellect rejected the existence of a personal God, but since He restored us to Himself we crave His company. Our self reliant spirit dismissed dependency on the Almighty, but now we are strengthened in Him. Our drive to accomplish ignored grace, but now having tasted God’s grace, we hunger for more. Our pride looked down on spiritual people, but now our humility compels us to look up to heaven for help! Therefore, be a restorer of relationships, not a rejector. Who needs your intentional investment of time so they can be brought back into your good graces? You are the Lord’s minister of reconciliation. Because Christ is the capstone of your character, you have the honor to lay His cornerstone of convictions in the life of your children and grandchildren. Invite those who have rejected Jesus to accept Him. Like a refurbished piece of furniture His restoration is beautiful! If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. Job 22:3 Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for receiving me into Your family of faith. Related Readings: Job 42:10; Psalm 51:12; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7

God Is Able

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 God is able. He is able to abundantly bless in all things at all times. God is able to provide what is needed for every good work. He is able when I am unable. He is able to soften my heart when I am unable to listen. He is able to illumine my thoughts when I am unable to understand the truth. He is able to love me when I am unable to love myself. God is able. Yes! His Spirit is able to intercede on my behalf when I am unable to pray. My Lord Jesus is ready, willing and able. God is able to supply the needs of His people through His people. He is able to make us rich in every way so we can be generous on all occasions. Thus, we have emotional, physical, spiritual and financial capacity to give to others. Yes, margin (extra) gives us space in our brain to be creative, room in our heart to be compassionate, and surplus money with which to be generous. Indeed, we have more to give to others when we steward our resources for the sake of service. Spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10 So, what are we to do when God is able, but unwilling? What if His help seems delayed or unresponsive? First, we are reassured knowing the character of our Heavenly Father is 100% trustworthy. He is good and He desires what’s best for His children. Furthermore, our will does not always align with the Lord’s will. Free will is free to chose badly. Thus, we require the Spirit’s ‘will alignment’ by renewing our mind and purifying our heart. Clarity comes from cleansing and repentance. God is able, but we may not be ready, so we remain steady in prayer. Whatever you are facing, your Heavenly Father is able to face down. In your fear He will give you faith and courage to meet your challenge with grace and commitment. In your new opportunity He will teach you the skill of listening, so you can learn to go further, faster. In your conflict He will model for you the art of peacemaking, so you can bring harmony to a hurting home. In your success, He will keep you grateful and humble through your generous giving. God is able to bless you beyond measure, so you can be a trusted pass through for His ample supply! Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You are able to bless me to be a blessing to others. Related Readings: Daniel 3:17; Psalm 18:48; Jeremiah 1:8; Mark 1:40; 1 Corinthians 4:19

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 Sometimes God is silent, even when His children cry out for answers. The unfair becomes a test of faith that grows the prayer life of those who stay persistent with the Lord. No, He is not too busy answering the billion other prayers bombarding heaven, but He does want an unfeigned faith in His followers. God is not a cosmic “google” waiting to give unlimited information to all requests. Too much data can break a spirit, puff up a mind or confuse a heart. Our Heavenly Father knows what’s best in how we process unanswered prayers. We may not be ready to receive what we want or think we need. We seem stuck in a stage of suffering because we are learning the depths of dependency on God. We feel like we are dog paddling in a phase of waiting because our patience needs to progress to perseverance. Our aloneness can suffocate us, but we breathe better spiritually in a close walk with Christ. Unanswered prayers produce prayer. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 Jesus says that even an unjust judge can be convinced of the right thing to do, but our Heavenly Father does not have to be convinced of good actions. He is all good and He knows what’s best for His children. He wants us to be convinced of the next right thing. So, a prolonged prayer process creates new convictions we cherish and cling to for comfort. For example, in prayer the Spirit may reveal anger in a pocket of our heart that He replaces with forgiveness. Unanswered prayer pushes us to unknown places that need soul care. Humble prayers are always productive. Lastly, we remain in prayer to remain in Him. Our perspective grows in Christlike clairvoyance as we focus on our Heavenly Father in His liberal love and holiness. Trust wins, not suspicion, when we grow familiar with the dynamics of faithful living. Prayer becomes like oxygen for our soul, lest we smother ourselves in worry. Like a needy widow we need assurance from our righteous judge, Jesus! Yes, our Lord never sleeps, He listens intently and loves us passionately. While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep. Daniel 8:18 Prayer: Heavenly Father, while I wait on You, I will pray to You and remain in You. Related Readings: Isaiah 40:31; Luke 11:5-8; Romans 1:10; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Schrewd For Jesus

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. Luke 16:8 Christians can be guilty of not being shrewd for Jesus. I can falsely feel like the Lord will take care of things without my best efforts. On the contrary, Christ expects us to be as innocent as a dove and as shrewd as a snake (Matthew 10:16). Gentleness and astuteness go hand in hand. The gullible miss out on God’s best, but the shrewd know how to manage well the wisdom of God. Engaged and mature thinking considers creatively and calmly how to capitalize on a difficult situation. Apathy breeds despair and panic creates contempt. However, we who know God, have the mind of Christ. The Holy Spirit is our advocate, whose insights transcend conventional solutions during tough times. The Spirit will lead us as we move forward by faith, but if we remain immobile in an anxious state, we will fail. As children of the light we have heavenly resources at our disposal. God’s favor rests on us when we attempt to influence people for His purposes. Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 1 Corinthians 14:20 How do you use your resources to reach people for Jesus Christ? One gauge of your effectiveness for the Lord is how well you make friends who grow in their faith. People are attracted to your authenticity and audacious faith. Bold risks breathed over in prayer become trophies of God’s grace and work. Use your business or work as a platform of creativity for Christ. Shun the status quo and lean into innovation. Last year’s success needs this year’s relevance. Lastly, do business with other believers who are excellent in their field. You support the economics of God’s Kingdom when you support other brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, Christians will let you down, but learn how to work together and look for those whose values and maturity are similar to yours. Unite your community of faith around Christ. Use the synergies of other Jesus followers to leverage service to society and in the process build eternal dwellings! For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me Your wisdom to be shrewd for Jesus. Related Readings: Exodus 1:10; Psalm 18:26; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Ephesians 5:8 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Heartfelt Forgiveness

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart. Matthew 18:35 Forgiveness is a serious matter to our Heavenly Father. It is so significant that He gave His only son, Jesus, on a cruel Cross as forgiveness for our sins. Forgiveness wipes clean a debt that was humanly impossible to pay: only the sinless One can forgive sin. Because of God’s monumental mercy on us, He expects us to extend this unconditional grace to our offenders. Gratitude has a long memory of His great grace. We forgive freely because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us! Our heartfelt forgiveness gives us freedom. It frees us to be who God wants us to be. Forgiveness frees us from the need to pay back or heap guilt and condemnation on the one who hurt us. When we let go of anger, even bitterness, our emotional energy is free to comfort and care for the needs of other searching souls. A heart bound up in its own hurt cannot even care for itself. Indeed, forgiveness shifts our focus from the idol of self pity to the praise of God’s mercy. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 You sin when you chose not to forgive. Furthermore, your fellowship with your Heavenly Father is stifled without your heartfelt forgiveness. Your intimacy erodes without the clean slate of forgiveness from Christ. So, how can you know if you have truly forgiven someone who has hurt, even violated you? You begin to bless them instead of curse them. You talk well about them behind their back. You pray for them to grow in God’s grace. Forgiveness frees you to love well. There is a risk involved in your heartfelt forgiveness. Your offender may continue their disrespectful, potentially harmful behavior. They may take advantage of your goodwill. Your forgiveness is no guarantee they will change, but you will change. Christ will conform you into His work of grace, mercy and love. God will deal with the unruly ones in His timing. Their conscience is the Holy Spirit’s auditor who will bring them into account. Your heartfelt forgiveness reveals God’s heart. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your great forgiveness compels me to forgive freely. Related Readings: Luke 6:37; Ephesians 4:2, 4:32; Colossains 2:14; James 2:13 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Love Initiates

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4 Love takes the lead in looking out for the needs of another. Grace is a prayerful process of anticipating how someone may be hurting or feeling insecure in their loneliness. Love does not wait until a suffering soul solicits relief, rather compassion is a cure in search of a wounded spirit. Friends or family may wander away to do their own thing, but love keeps up with them. Mercy connects creatively with a cavalier comrade. Love leaves the many to care for the one. Is one person really worth our effort? Absolutely! Jesus died for us as individuals. A schoolmate or relative probably reached out to us when we were outside the faith. Yes, our prayers for a single soul need to be followed up with expressions of their worth to God and to us. Your love is irresistible in its affect on those sucked into the world’s system. Thus, give without expecting anything in return and you will see some return to their Savior. Go love for God. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. Ezekiel 34:11 Moreover, your Heavenly Father is relentless in His love for you. Sin may have scattered you to the fringes of His green pastures, but He still desires you. Your soul may feel distant from faith’s security, if so, surrender back to your Great Shepherd’s care. If your confidence is crippled let Christ lift you in His arms of love and carry you back to the care of His faith community. The Lord of the Universe is concerned about your one concern, so cast your cares on Your Lover. Above all, receive the love of the Lord and the love of others. Pride resists help, but humility invites support from Jesus and His followers. Love retained is hope regained. Other green pastures beyond the fence posts of faith are a fallacy. Nothing can compete with Christ’s love. Allow Him to shepherd your soul through anger, conflict, rejection and disrespect. Your Heavenly Father initiates love for you, so you can propagate His love to lost people. Love initiates! He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely. Micah 5:4 Prayer: Heavenly Father thanks for pursing me when I drift away from your love and care. Related Readings: Psalm 23:1-6, 119:176; Jeremiah 31:10; Luke 19:10; Hebrews 13:10 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Less Is More

But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” Judges 7:4 Less of some things can mean opportunity to trust in God with more things. This is why the sifting by your Savior need not be discouraging. His goal is not to harm you, but to strip you from any dependence on yourself or others and to rely solely on Him. Your financial limitations are an occasion to watch Him provide in ways that give Him the glory for your life. Less money means you have the occasion to trust Him with His creative provision. When some of your friends fall away it stings; but your best friend, Jesus, still remains. You can become involved with numerous relationships and miss engaging in intimacy with your Heavenly Father. Fewer true friends will lead to richer relationships and more time with God. If your life is driven by one new relationship after another you will drown in shallow living. Having fewer earthly relationships means you have more time for your Heavenly One. Less is more. Take the time to shed the weight of worry and watch God work. A surrendered life can be efficiently leveraged. However, a life independent of God is severely limited in its influence. He is positioning you for unprecedented leadership and influence. Now is the time to quit mourning your losses and move on. You have a new lease on life with the Lord, so follow His lead. Watch Him take your “five loaves of bread and two fish” (Matthew 14:17-19) and multiply them way beyond your efforts and enthusiasm. What God breaks He rebuilds to be dependent on Him, and more influential. This rebuilding process has simplified your life; so don’t revert to complicated living. Less is truly more. If “more is more” is your motto, you can easily become mean-spirited and hard to live with. A “more is more” mantra eventually becomes meaningless. You achieve and receive more, but to what end? There is no fulfillment outside of Kingdom-minded motives. If it is all about you, you will become miserable. If, on the other hand, it is less of you and more of Him, everyone is happy. This is how God works. “‘He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble’” (Luke 1:52). Therefore, lower the volume of activity and wait in quietness. It may be time to talk less and listen more. The calming presence of Christ is priceless, so tap into His reservoir of renewal. Less worldly thinking and more heavenly thinking leads to discerning the will of God. Don’t just stand in awe of His robust accomplishments through your meager efforts. Now is the time to use this momentum generated by your Master. God is on a roll and you have the privilege of joining Him. By faith, stop doing two things before you add one. Slow down so God can speed up. Focus on quality and watch Him multiply the quantity. God wants to do more with less so He gets the glory. Decrease, so He can increase (John 3:30, KJV). Less is more—less of you and more of Him By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Work Struggles

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. Genesis 3:17 Work, many times, is work. Painful toil is a consequence of what happened in the beginning—God cursed the ground because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Labor became laborious; instead of paradise in the sinless Garden of Eden there was blood, sweat and tears mingled with sin. Work is not meant to be ease, but intense effort. “So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken” (Genesis 3:23). Is your work a struggle? Are you in one of the most stressful seasons of your career? If so, God doesn’t waste pain. It’s in your discomfort that He comforts and in your unease that He gives courage. If the Lord has your attention in an environment out of your control, stay true to what you can do and leave the results with God. In stress seek Jesus. “So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:20). Furthermore, see work as worship to Almighty God; a sacrifice of service you lay before Him for the Holy Spirit to ignite with power and effectiveness. Lift your heart and head in humility; present your hands and feet by faith—all for God’s glory. Silently sing in sincere worship while you work. Worshipful music does for the ears what the Sistine Chapel does for the eyes—it's lovely to listen to for the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ. Lastly, look at your work as a testament to excellence on behalf of Jesus. Your ministry is your work and your work is your ministry. Monday through Saturday are not secular days of service, but a Christian’s sacred obligation to model their faith with first rate work. Perhaps you facilitate a Bible study at lunch, or before or after hours. Your outstanding effort in the enterprise earns you the right to prayerfully and graciously share your faith. So—when job security is jittery and insecure—exhibit God's peace in the form of calm contentment and patient perseverance. Work struggles are the scenario where others can see you act out what you say you believe. Perhaps your bold belief during adverse work conditions activates believers and leads unbelievers to begin their belief in Christ. “Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you” (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Prayer: Do struggles at work lead me to worship my Savior Jesus and model excellent work? Related Readings: Ecclesiastes 8:15; 2 Corinthians 11:26-31; Revelation 9:19-20 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Worldly Wisdom

“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace” 2 Corinthians 1:12. Worldly wisdom has a way of reducing heaven’s wisdom to an afterthought. After our worldly wisdom doesn't work, we pray and seek to discern the Lord’s ways.. It’s tempting to rely on what seems to work instead of seeking the principles to live by based on God’s economy. Worldly wisdom is not only inferior, it is also a competitor with God’s grace. The Lord sees the world’s wisdom as foolishness and the world sees His wisdom as foolishness. Some who embrace the wisdom of the world say there is no personal God, but God says in His wisdom that this thinking flows from a fool. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). Sadly, the world’s wisdom has no room for Jesus. “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21) Worldly wisdom is flashier and sexier in its appeal—it invites pride to perch over those who have not yet achieved a superior standpoint. Ironically, the created dismisses the Creator as antiquated and out of touch. The traditional tenants of an all knowing and ever present sovereign God are silly and irrational to this irreverent system of belief. But what worldly wisdom embraces as truly enlightened, the Lord defines as educated fools. “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20) Therefore, do not try to outsmart your Savior Jesus Christ with intelligence void of humility and the fear of God. Academics, without an infusion of faith in Almighty God, leads down a reckless path of disconnection from Deity. However, wise is the man or woman who is full of the grace of God, and who studies truth long and hard for the glory of God. Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is not a leap into the dark; rather it is a step into the light. Christian belief is based on the historical fact of His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. For some the Lord’s wisdom wins out over their own and they begin to seek out people and places that possess His knowledge. “I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:13). Prayer: Am I embracing and believing the wisdom of the world or Almighty God’s? Related Readings: Isaiah 29:14; Jeremiah 8:9; James 3:13-18 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Hypocrites Exposed

This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:49-50 There are posers who profess to know God, but He will one day say to them, “I never knew you.” It is scary to think an individual can believe they are ok with the Lord when they are not. Maybe they heard the truth of the Cross, but they did not receive the truth by faith into their heart. There has not been an exchange of trust in themselves to a total dependence on Christ. Fools may have good religious feelings, but they have not surrendered to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Have you truly trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Is your love and affection captured by the love of your Heavenly Father? If not, it is wise to be circumspect about your commitment to Christ. As Jesus stated, mingling with the good fish does not make you a good fish. A bad fish smells like a fish, looks like a fish and tastes like a fish, but it remains in its original state until it's drawn to heaven by God. Make sure the scales of sin are removed from your spiritual eyes. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. Acts 9:18 It is uncomfortable to picture a loving God having a system of judgment that includes hell. However, would He really be loving if He did not punish sin and expose religious hypocrites for pretending to be something they're not--true followers of Jesus? We water down the Word of God when we feel like we have to apologize for the Lord’s consequences that accompany improper beliefs. Oh how He loves us, because on Judgment Day, wrongs will be made right in His sight. Therefore, in the meantime, pray for those who genuinely believe they are right with God but have yet to be born again. Teach those who are religious but lost about a desperate desire for the Lord that follows submission to the Lord. Help fellow church members move from a head full of knowledge to a heart full of passion to pray. Information about Jesus becomes alive, when you experience Jesus in a personal, loving and intimate relationship. Ask the Holy Spirit to flush out impostors today, before it is too late to change. Better a hypocrite’s exposure now, than then. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 Prayer: Heavenly Father lead me into a genuine relationship with You through Your son Jesus. Related Readings: Matthew 7:21, 25:32; Romans 14:11; 1 Corinthians 14:21; Revelation 20:15 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Bigger To Better

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 A wise and patient process is required to build a quality life or organization. Everything begins on the foundation of Jesus Christ. His glory, His salvation, His teaching and His example are all foundational for a better life and a better company, church or ministry. Values that flow from the Lord focus on excellence, work done as unto the Lord. The customers of a company will demand they become bigger, if the business focuses on becoming better. Bigger follows better. Are you proud of your work and your workplace? Is there a culture of excellence over expedience where you are employed? If so, you are blessed to have the opportunity to be the best in your industry or field of expertise. Be patient because good things come to those who wait on God, not compromising quality over the pressure to produce. Quantity follows quality. So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16 The same can be said for our relationships. Relational equity takes time, trust and intentionality to build up between each other. It is much better for us to have fewer, but more in depth relationships, than a larger group of acquaintances, who we only relate to superficially. Why settle for shallow conversations when we can go deep around our commitment to Christ. We can share how we really feel and not fear rejection from those who authentically love and care for us. Furthermore, with your family and friends focus on knowing and being known. Seek to comprehend what makes them click: their needs, their fears and their dreams. Your influence grows with those who feel like you really know them. Yes, keep Christ the cornerstone of your conversations and He will steer you into genuinely caring interactions. Remain committed to better serving and understanding your spouse and/or parent. Better love grows into Bigger love! Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 3:20 Prayer: Heavenly Father keep me focused on loving better, so You grow a bigger love in me. Related Readings: Ruth 4:15; 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Peter 2:4-25 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters

Eyewitness News

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. Acts 3:15 Eyewitness accounts are compelling evidence for truth. These first hand witnesses bring creditability with their character. They are especially trustworthy if they stick to the facts even when it costs them their life. When Jesus was arrested by foes, Peter and John were arrested by fear. However, when Jesus rose from the grave, Peter and John’s courage rose with Him. They saw, touched, talked and ate with Jesus after He came back to life. God’s power empowered them! Yes, we were witnesses of this idyllic resurrection power when we were born again. Once we were dead to faith, now we are alive to trust in Christ. Once we were dead to assurance of heaven, now we are alive to the security of eternal life. Once we were dead to the Son’s salvation, now we are alive to His grace. Once we were dead to our Heavenly Father’s love, now we are alive to His affection. Once we were dead to the Spirit’s help, now we are alive to His leading! We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4 If a case for Christ’s resurrection were presented in a court of law, a thorough jury would find Jesus guilty of being raised from the dead by His Heavenly Father. The compelling proof is on the side of the plaintiff Holy God. The devil is on the defensive, as all his arguments were destroyed in one fell swoop at the resurrection of Christ. Your risen Savior Jesus, rises above the arguments and evil taunts of Satan. The empty tomb empties the enemy’s arsenal of deception. Jesus lives! You stand on the solid rock of Christ’s resurrection, as experienced in person by His disciples and 500 other followers. You base His Story on the historical fact of Him going into the grave dead and walking out of the grave alive on the third day. Furthermore, your own faith experience with Jesus is your eyewitness evidence of engaging your risen Savior. You are His channel of hope to the sick, the lost, the disabled, the rich and the poor. You are a witness! He [Jesus] was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time. 1 Corinthians 15:4-6 Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for raising Your Son Jesus from the dead to give me life. Related Readings: John 2:22; Acts 2:31; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:10-11; Colossians 3:1 By Boyd Bailey, Wisdom Hunters