BE WISE: GET NEAR TO GOD TO HEAR HIM

Wednesday, 16th September 2020

Proverbs 2:6 – It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from Him comes knowledge and understanding.

You say, “I want to trust God, but I don’t hear Him.” You don’t hear God when your mind is filled with a thousand other distractions.

To hear God, you’ve got to get near God. The Bible says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God”. That means you free your mind from every distraction. Reflect and meditate on the Word of God. That’s how you hear God and get near God.

You have to cleanse your heart, quiet your mind and say, “God, is there anything You want to say to me?” You meditate on God’s Word, and you talk to Him about what’s on your heart.

God says He will give you the wisdom you need to recognise His voice and follow through on what He says: “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from Him comes knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

Pray this today: “God, I want to listen to You, not the voices of doubt. I want to get close to You and get to know You better. I want to hear You, and I promise to then obey You. I want to be one of the people that You can use and bless. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

REFLECTION
– What do you need to change about the way you meet with the Lord so that you can be quiet and draw closer to Him?
– How do you normally react to God’s direction in your life?
– How can you demonstrate that you are ready to obey what God directs you to do?

BE WISE: WHAT VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

Tuesday, 15th September 2020

Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Have you noticed that the moment you establish a goal in your life, you start hearing people say, “Who do you think you are” or “It can’t be done” or “Forget about it”?

The antidote to the voices of doubt is to instead listen to the voice of God. Just imagine all the critics that were in Noah’s life. “That guy Noah thinks God speaks to him, but he’s just messing up all of our property values by building that ark in his front yard.”

The Bible tells us that Noah listened to God. And what did he hear? He heard God’s warning that the world was going to be destroyed. He believed what he had not yet seen. That’s what faith is — being certain of something we don’t see.

Noah didn’t turn away from the vision God had given him. Instead, he built the ark.

_God is going to

AVAD 49

BE WISE: DON’T BE DISTRACTED

Monday, 14th September 2020

Proverbs 4:5 – Get wisdom; develop good judgment.

One of the most important tests we all face as we try to achieve what God has called us to do is our response to cultural distractions. These distractions prevent you from becoming your best. Can you relate to losing your focus because of any of these distractions?

1. The distraction of popularity:- If you are always worried about what other people think, you will be distracted from your purpose and destiny.

2. The distraction of pleasure:- It’s okay to have fun and feel comfort, but if that’s the primary focus of your life, you will never fulfill your purpose.

3. The distraction of profits:- You can’t serve both God and money. Making a profit shouldn’t be the primary focus of your life.

4. The distraction of possessions:- Judging your success by how much stuff you own will keep you concerned about keeping things and maintaining things.

If you are going to fulfill the mission and purpose God has given you, you must dare to be different from others. Stay focused on the most important thing: your relationship with Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION
– Which of these distractions have kept you from achieving God’s best for your life?
– What practical steps do you need to take to help minimiSe these distractions in your life?
Pray for God to give you the courage and grace to be different and go against cultural standards.

BE WISE: PLAN AHEAD, FACE REALITIES

Sunday, 13th September 2020

Proverbs 14:8 – The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.

Many people in life start out well, but they end up progressing poorly because they don’t plan for the pitfalls. But the Bible says the wise person looks ahead and faces reality.

As we make plans for our future, we all face pitfalls, such as cultural distractions, voices of doubt, tempting shortcuts, and discouraging delays. Just look at Noah: He faced a variety of obstacles after God told him to build the ark, but he overcame them — and you can, too.

Now, this doesn’t mean God will give you a goal as audacious as building an ark, but I pray He’ll give you a big goal — even an audacious one — for your next 10 years.

The Bible says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (Proverbs 14:8).

By looking ahead, we’ll not only be prepared to spot the pitfalls when they come into our lives, we’ll also be equipped to make plans that help us become the person God wants us to be.

Ask God to help you establish goals for the next decade of your life. Then you’ll be ready to move forward and learn how to handle the pitfalls that could potentially keep you from getting where God wants you to go.

REFLECTION
– What lessons from your last 10 years can you apply to your next decade?
– When you look to the future, what kind of person do you want to become? What do you want God to accomplish in your life?
– How do your goals reflect the power of God in your life? Do you dream big because you serve a big God?

1st Book Review

AVAD 46

INVESTING IN ETERNITY THROUGH GIVING

Friday, 11th September 2020

Romans 10:15 – And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

God wants us to use some money to take the Good News around the world. We invest in eternity every time we use money to bring others to Jesus.

When you save to go on a mission trip, that’s an investment in God’s Global Fund. When you help others go on a mission trip or for evangelism, that’s an investment in God’s Global Fund, too.

This also includes using your money to encourage your friends to trust in Jesus.

Paul says in Romans 10:13-15, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Imagine when you die and get to heaven, you will encounter friends who say, “Thank you for investing in me. I’m in heaven because of you! I’m not your friend for life; I’m your friend for eternity. I’m in heaven because you cared enough. You bought me a Bible. You paid my transport to that life-changing event. You gave me a book that pointed me to Jesus.”

Others will say, “You spent your money to help spread the Good News to my village, even though you had never seen us before. Because you gave, I became a follower of Christ. I’m in heaven because of you!”

Helping others find Jesus is the highest use of your money. How will you invest in God’s Global Fund? Will you go on a mission trip or provide funds so someone else can go on a mission trip? Will you give so that your friends or total strangers will hear about Jesus?

We need to invest in and sponsor the spread of the Gospel.

REFLECTION
– What investments have you made in God’s Global Fund, and what results have you seen?
– What are some sacrifices you can make so that you can give more to God’s Global Fund?
– What do you think it looks like to use your money to help your friends trust in Jesus?

INVESTING IN GENEROSITY

Thursday, 10th September 2020

Proverbs 28:27 – Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

God wants you to use some of your money to help people in need. God didn’t put us on this earth to live for ourselves. He blesses us so that we can bless others.

God is generous. Everything we have in life is because of God’s generosity. We wouldn’t have anything — we wouldn’t even be alive — if it weren’t for God’s generosity. And God wants us to be generous like He is.

God wants to share His fortune with you. But you need to be tested first to see if you can handle it. You have to learn to live on less so you can use the rest to help others. God is watching to see how you manage and distribute what He has blessed you with.

God particularly wants us to be generous with the poor. Throughout the Bible, God tells us He is watching how we help the poor, and He attaches tremendous promises if we do so. For example:

“Give to the poor and you will never be in need. If you close your eyes to the poor, many people will curse you” (Proverbs 28:27).

“When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back” (Proverbs 19:17).

The more you help others, the more God blesses you. He gives to you so you can give to others.

Why? Because God wants you to be like Him, and God is a giver!

REFLECTION
– Take some time to count your blessings. How has God blessed you in your family, your friendships, your career, and your spiritual life?
– If you stood before God today and gave an account of how you’ve used His blessings, would you be embarrassed or proud of your report? Why?
– What is one way you can use your resources this week to bless someone who is in need?

THE BEST FINANCIAL INVESTMENT

Monday, 7th September 2020

1 Timothy 6:18 – Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

God’s Word tells us in Matthew 6:20-21 to store up our treasures in Heaven. How can we do this?

In one of His most misunderstood statements, Jesus said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).

Jesus did not mean for you to “buy” friends with money. What He meant was that you should use the money God gives you to bring people to Christ. They will then be your friends for eternity, friends who will welcome you in Heaven! It’s the best financial investment you’ll ever make.

You’ve probably heard the expression “You can’t take it with you,” but the Bible says you can send it on ahead by investing in people’s eternal destination: “By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in Heaven — it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well” (1 Timothy 6:19).

What are ways you can invest your money in other people? What are ways you can invest your money in bringing people to Jesus? Pray about this, and see who or what God brings to mind. No matter how small, make one investment in eternity this week.

Your actions will affirm your faith.

REFLECTION
– In what area do you spend most of your money?
– How is your investment in that area making — or not making — an eternal impact?
– What is your motivation when you give your money to invest in other people?