In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3
After we pray, we wait in expectation. That means we don’t fret or wait fearfully. We wait, expecting God to engage in our world while faith fills our soul with expectation. However, be careful with flippant prayers that are shot off randomly with no recognition of royalty in the room. Christ’s kingship is marginalized when men or women pray aimlessly, without expectations. Prayer becomes just another commodity when its compelling nature ceases to exist, so be sure to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).
Do not grow weary of waking up each day in prayer. You shouldn’t neglect the cleansing of your soul anymore than you would the bathing of your body. It is when you are the freshest and fatigue is the weakest that you engage best in prayer. One hour of prayer in the morning is worth two hours at night because your mind has yet to be soiled with the complexities of the day.
In other words, people have not yet become a problem. When you send up your prayers at sunrise, you can expect peace of mind at sunset, giving you piece of mind in between. Morning prayers sow seeds of selflessness that bear fruit during the day in patience, peace, and productivity.
Indeed, you wait, expecting God to answer in His timing and in His way but your waiting is not without doing. As you pray and wait for the Lord to send out workers into His ripe harvest (Matthew 9:37-38), you venture into the world yourself and learn to love people. As you pray and wait to be healed from a dreaded disease or aggravating ailment, you go to a well-trained doctor to administer the latest medicines and treatments to help remedy your illness.
As you pray and wait for a job, you go out and enlist in projects or labor that exposes you to new opportunities which may provide for your family in the interim. As you pray and wait for a relationship to be repaired, you reach out and seek to love them along the way with encouraging words and acts of kindness. You do your part as you wait expectantly on God to do His part. Waiting involves listening to the Almighty and then acting.
Expectations of God are good. Just be sure to align your expectations with His, in prayer. Prayer without expectations would be cruel and unusual punishment. Yes, no expectations may mean no disappointments, but this is where prayer and faith fill in the gaps. Having no expectations may mean you have no hope, no motivation to move forward, and no opportunity to trust God with outrageous possibilities. But you can expect good things from God.
Therefore, do not confuse having no expectations of God with having no expectations of people. God is trustworthy 100% of the time. He can be trusted regardless, so expect this of Him. He loves to see His children wait expectantly on Him. This trusting posture invites Him to answer prayers you never dreamed possible. You trust Him exclusively as you wait expectantly. And oh, He knows how to exceed your expectations. Wait and see.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”(Ephesians 3:20).
Am I actively working as I am prayerfully waiting? What can I expect from God as I wait?
Related Readings: Psalm 38:15; Micah 7:7; Matthew 9:37-38; Ephesians 6:18
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
5.13.2010
The Daily Verse: Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isaiah 32:18
Sometimes you just need peace and quiet. If you're the type of person who is always amidst the loud hustle-bustle, be sure to take refuge in a secure, quiet resting place every now and then. The peace and tranquility will serve you well.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Sometimes you just need peace and quiet. If you're the type of person who is always amidst the loud hustle-bustle, be sure to take refuge in a secure, quiet resting place every now and then. The peace and tranquility will serve you well.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
5.11.2010
The Daily Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:26,27
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26,27
Sometimes we feel like we're running on a treadmill, getting nowhere, running aimlessly. As you step into today, consider discipline and control, and be intentional about where you're headed. Perhaps you don't have the strength to complete a marathon, but one step at a time, seek the Lord's grace, and draw from His reservoir of endurance. He will give you what you need to press forward.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Sometimes we feel like we're running on a treadmill, getting nowhere, running aimlessly. As you step into today, consider discipline and control, and be intentional about where you're headed. Perhaps you don't have the strength to complete a marathon, but one step at a time, seek the Lord's grace, and draw from His reservoir of endurance. He will give you what you need to press forward.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
4.26.2010
Boyd Bailey: Lacking One Thing…
“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow Me.”
What one thing do I lack letting loose of for the Lord? Is it my heart? A house? An automobile? My finances? Is it an attitude of pride in my good works? Is there a hidden sin of fraud that I have not faced up to? Or, do I justify my one hold out with the 95% I have surrendered? Idols have a way of subtly suffocating my unconditional surrender to my Savior Jesus.
Yet--He loves us--even when we dismiss Him in disobedience, or ignore His invitation to intimacy. Because He cares for His children, He raises His expectations for us to exceed what the world does. He looks at our inconsistencies and lovingly exposes our hypocrisies. Jesus knows it takes extreme measures to root out idols that have so deceived us that we don’t recognize their control. Like an addict that denies addiction, we act like things are all right when in fact we lack giving up the one thing that hurts Him.
Are you able to follow Him wholeheartedly, or is there a portion of your heart that has yet to feel the freedom of surrender? Has a child or a career garnered more of your attention that Christ and the poor? Once you surrender 100%, Jesus has you in a position to receive His blessing. What you give over to Jesus qualifies to be given back by Jesus.
What you give up, He makes up for exponentially. Like the fish and loaves (Mark 8:4-9) that were given up on behalf of the masses, He multiplied their provision with providential care. Therefore, surrender your soul, your relationships, your opportunities, your finances, your job, your children, your thought life, your health and your trust. Surrendering to Jesus leads to sweet success in your Savior’s eyes. Make your one thing… His thing.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).
What is the one thing I lack giving up for the Lord? How will my surrendering bless others?
Related Readings: Genesis 42:34; 1 Samuel 1:27-28; Matthew 16:26; Acts 3:6
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
What one thing do I lack letting loose of for the Lord? Is it my heart? A house? An automobile? My finances? Is it an attitude of pride in my good works? Is there a hidden sin of fraud that I have not faced up to? Or, do I justify my one hold out with the 95% I have surrendered? Idols have a way of subtly suffocating my unconditional surrender to my Savior Jesus.
Yet--He loves us--even when we dismiss Him in disobedience, or ignore His invitation to intimacy. Because He cares for His children, He raises His expectations for us to exceed what the world does. He looks at our inconsistencies and lovingly exposes our hypocrisies. Jesus knows it takes extreme measures to root out idols that have so deceived us that we don’t recognize their control. Like an addict that denies addiction, we act like things are all right when in fact we lack giving up the one thing that hurts Him.
Are you able to follow Him wholeheartedly, or is there a portion of your heart that has yet to feel the freedom of surrender? Has a child or a career garnered more of your attention that Christ and the poor? Once you surrender 100%, Jesus has you in a position to receive His blessing. What you give over to Jesus qualifies to be given back by Jesus.
What you give up, He makes up for exponentially. Like the fish and loaves (Mark 8:4-9) that were given up on behalf of the masses, He multiplied their provision with providential care. Therefore, surrender your soul, your relationships, your opportunities, your finances, your job, your children, your thought life, your health and your trust. Surrendering to Jesus leads to sweet success in your Savior’s eyes. Make your one thing… His thing.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).
What is the one thing I lack giving up for the Lord? How will my surrendering bless others?
Related Readings: Genesis 42:34; 1 Samuel 1:27-28; Matthew 16:26; Acts 3:6
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Boyd Bailey: Leadership And Friendship…
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6 (KJV)
Lead first and be a friend second, for an effective and efficient enterprise understands that leadership trumps friendship. As the old saying goes, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Wise and intentional leadership is necessary for the health of the organization, and leadership is watered down when friendships dictate strategic direction.
Friendships should forge the team but not unduly dilute excellent outcomes based on courageous leadership decisions. If a leader is preoccupied with what a friend may think or do, then he risks diminishing his decision for the sake of sparing someone’s feelings. Politics are not the plumb line. The values and principles of the organization are the standards by which leadership decisions are made.
Friendship can become a fruit of wise leadership, but it is not meant to drive wise leadership. Indeed, loyalty to friends is an important and valued attribute of an effective leader. But do not allow loyalty to cloud your rationale of what’s best for the team.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for the team and your friend is to either fire him or reassign him. Be sure your leadership is grounded in principle so your friendships will not get in the way of doing what’s right. Let a friend know up front how much you value him, but not to the detriment of what’s best for the business or ministry.
Friends can be the hardest or the easiest to lead. It all depends on your and their expectations. Does your friend perceive you as a partner or a boss? Is your perception of your friend one of high value or just one of expedience that gets results? Lead first in humility, courage, and clarity. Let your friends know up front what you value as a leader and how they fit into the big picture of organizational success. Constantly ask, “What’s best for the team?” instead of “What does my friend want?”
You lead first by defining the role of friendship on the team, and you keep leadership a priority by not playing favorites. This promotes teamwork and defuses jealousy. Wise leaders make hard decisions, even when it adversely affects a friend. This protects the integrity of the organization. Paul felt this tension when he decided that his friend, John Mark, was not mature enough for the responsibility of a mission trip:
“Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work” (Acts 15:37-38).
Am I willing to lead even if I disappoint a friend? How can I love my friend to follow?
Related Readings: Genesis 19:6-8; Deuteronomy 13:6-8; John 18:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:19
Lead first and be a friend second, for an effective and efficient enterprise understands that leadership trumps friendship. As the old saying goes, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Wise and intentional leadership is necessary for the health of the organization, and leadership is watered down when friendships dictate strategic direction.
Friendships should forge the team but not unduly dilute excellent outcomes based on courageous leadership decisions. If a leader is preoccupied with what a friend may think or do, then he risks diminishing his decision for the sake of sparing someone’s feelings. Politics are not the plumb line. The values and principles of the organization are the standards by which leadership decisions are made.
Friendship can become a fruit of wise leadership, but it is not meant to drive wise leadership. Indeed, loyalty to friends is an important and valued attribute of an effective leader. But do not allow loyalty to cloud your rationale of what’s best for the team.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for the team and your friend is to either fire him or reassign him. Be sure your leadership is grounded in principle so your friendships will not get in the way of doing what’s right. Let a friend know up front how much you value him, but not to the detriment of what’s best for the business or ministry.
Friends can be the hardest or the easiest to lead. It all depends on your and their expectations. Does your friend perceive you as a partner or a boss? Is your perception of your friend one of high value or just one of expedience that gets results? Lead first in humility, courage, and clarity. Let your friends know up front what you value as a leader and how they fit into the big picture of organizational success. Constantly ask, “What’s best for the team?” instead of “What does my friend want?”
You lead first by defining the role of friendship on the team, and you keep leadership a priority by not playing favorites. This promotes teamwork and defuses jealousy. Wise leaders make hard decisions, even when it adversely affects a friend. This protects the integrity of the organization. Paul felt this tension when he decided that his friend, John Mark, was not mature enough for the responsibility of a mission trip:
“Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work” (Acts 15:37-38).
Am I willing to lead even if I disappoint a friend? How can I love my friend to follow?
Related Readings: Genesis 19:6-8; Deuteronomy 13:6-8; John 18:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:19
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
4.21.2010
The Daily Verse: Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Take a sledge hammer to whatever is holding you back from true freedom. Pursue, enjoy and be a good steward of the freedom Christ has provided you. Refuse the slavery designed to hold you back from it.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Take a sledge hammer to whatever is holding you back from true freedom. Pursue, enjoy and be a good steward of the freedom Christ has provided you. Refuse the slavery designed to hold you back from it.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
4.20.2010
Boyd Bailey: Number One Influencer…
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:17-18
Who is my number one influencer? Is it my wife? A friend? Is it my mom, brother or mentor? All of these are important and influential, but I desire the number one influencer in my life to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one whose advice is always full of integrity. When I am Spirit led, I can be confident of outcomes that mirror God’s will.
It is easy to be influenced by a culture whose standards are below what’s best. For example, the world may whine and say it’s old fashion to have boundaries with the opposite sex. But, as believers in Jesus we know it’s wise to keep emotional distance from someone who is not our spouse. Spirit-led living does not linger long around unwise activities.
Who is your number one influencer? Perhaps it’s a coach, a colleague or a counselor that gives you good advice. All of these have their place, but never allow an individual to replace the Holy Spirit as your most important influencer. Sometimes a friend will suggest one thing and God’s spirit another; go with God! His promptings are meant to triumph any attractive offer that may tease your emotions. Trust the Spirit’s leading.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
It may be hard for you to follow the influence of your Heavenly father, because your earthly father may have abandoned his responsibilities. However, the Spirit of your Father in heaven is trustworthy and true. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. His Holy Spirit is sensitive to exactly what you need and when you need it. He is reliable.
So, once you have confessed and repented of your sin, ask Him for the fullness of His Spirit to flood your soul. The Spirit of God flushes out the foolishness of the flesh and fills it with wisdom from the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings wholeness to your heart and truth to your head. Be intoxicated by the Spirit’s influence and you will walk wisely.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:11).
Do I submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s control? How do I know when the Spirit leads me?
Related Readings: Galatians 5:25; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:4; 1 John 3:24
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Who is my number one influencer? Is it my wife? A friend? Is it my mom, brother or mentor? All of these are important and influential, but I desire the number one influencer in my life to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one whose advice is always full of integrity. When I am Spirit led, I can be confident of outcomes that mirror God’s will.
It is easy to be influenced by a culture whose standards are below what’s best. For example, the world may whine and say it’s old fashion to have boundaries with the opposite sex. But, as believers in Jesus we know it’s wise to keep emotional distance from someone who is not our spouse. Spirit-led living does not linger long around unwise activities.
Who is your number one influencer? Perhaps it’s a coach, a colleague or a counselor that gives you good advice. All of these have their place, but never allow an individual to replace the Holy Spirit as your most important influencer. Sometimes a friend will suggest one thing and God’s spirit another; go with God! His promptings are meant to triumph any attractive offer that may tease your emotions. Trust the Spirit’s leading.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
It may be hard for you to follow the influence of your Heavenly father, because your earthly father may have abandoned his responsibilities. However, the Spirit of your Father in heaven is trustworthy and true. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. His Holy Spirit is sensitive to exactly what you need and when you need it. He is reliable.
So, once you have confessed and repented of your sin, ask Him for the fullness of His Spirit to flood your soul. The Spirit of God flushes out the foolishness of the flesh and fills it with wisdom from the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings wholeness to your heart and truth to your head. Be intoxicated by the Spirit’s influence and you will walk wisely.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:11).
Do I submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s control? How do I know when the Spirit leads me?
Related Readings: Galatians 5:25; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:4; 1 John 3:24
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
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