“So, Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. …And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So, David took them off.” ~ I Samuel 17:38-39 REFERENCE: I Samuel 17:32-40 One terrible thing that can befall a man is a lack of focus. It characterizes his life with a series of failures and frustration. Focusing on one thing does not mean you can’t do other things; it means concentrating all your time and effort...
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” – Matthew 6:22 (KJV) REFERENCE: Matthew 6:22-24 (KJV) If you are like me, several things appeal to you, business, singing, speaking, art, sports, skills, trade, learning new things, etc. The gifts within you are calling for expression. If you are not careful, you will become a ‘Jack of all trades and master of none.’ You will try many things but make no success of any and find yourself constantly starting and stopping projects. Jesus here used the single...
“…you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” – Leviticus 11:45b REFERENCE: Leviticus 11:44-45 God is holy and desires that we are Holy just as He is. He told Moses on the mountain not to come any closer but to take off his shoes, for he was standing on holy ground. God’s presence consecrated the mountain, making it holy. To be holy means to ‘be separated from everything that is profane, ungodly, or defiling;’ it means dedication to everything pure. Psalm 93:5 says, “Holiness adorns (becomes) your house, O Lord, forever.” It simply means, “It is fitting and proper to have holiness in...
“You’ll see them working and toiling all summer long, stockpiling their food in preparation for winter.” – Proverbs 6:8 (TPT) REFERENCE: PROVERBS 6:6-11 Diligence is steady, earnest, and energetic effort; it is being devoted to painstakingly working or applying yourself to accomplish an undertaking. Solomon counsels us to learn diligence from the ants by considering their ways. They have no captain, overseer, or ruler, yet they gather food in summer to prepare for a cold winter. You see them ‘roaming’ around, tirelessly working at meeting their needs and doing the right things at the right time. That is diligence! Diligence is one of...
“So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” – I Samuel 17:43 REFERENCE: I Samuel 17:38-50 King Saul, his soldiers, the Philistine army and their champion, Goliath, all knew that battles are won with spears, swords, coats of mail, and shields. It was of the utmost shock to all of them when David decided to fight with sticks and stones. Saul tried to clothe him with his military gear, but David refused. Goliath thought he was a joker, but David was thinking outside the box. We often are ‘contained’ in our...
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” – Luke 15:17 REFERENCE: Luke 15:11-24 It bears repeating that the quality of your thoughts determines the height of your success. In sports, no matter how gifted an athlete is physically, if he does not have what it takes mentally (being able to think positively when facing difficult opponents or challenges), he will not succeed. Right actions lead to success, but these actions must be born out of quality thoughts. Successful people succeed by their thinking; their...
“…whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8b REFERENCE: PHILIPPIANS 4:6-9 We often forget the art of thinking but spiritualize everything. God gave us brains to think with; He will not do your thinking for you; but show you the power of thinking: “If you meditate on the word and do all that written in it, you will prosper and have good success.” He will also guide you in what to meditate on: “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic, honorable,...
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” – Romans 12:2 REFERENCE: ROMANS 12:1-3 To reposition is to place in a different position; it is adjusting or altering the position of a thing. God wants to adjust and alter things around you until you are in His best for you; He will change your position and move you to a higher level. To reposition, refuse to pattern your life after the events, culture, or people around you, and decide to let the Holy Spirit transform your thinking and align it...
“And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.” – II Samuel 6:13 REFERENCE: II Samuel 6:12-15 The Ark of God once led to the death of Uzzah. However, David heard God blessed the house of Obed-Edom where the Ark was kept. David then saw that God would still keep covenant with and bless His people, Israel, through the Ark. So, with gladness, he went to bring the Ark back. David’s excitement and gratitude to God were so much that he danced in an undignified...
“So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.” ~ Acts 3:8 REFERENCE: Acts 3:1-10 In the spirit of thanksgiving, we journey to the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem to see the man born lame in his feet. His life was predictable: carried daily by friends, dropped at the gate, begged for money, some people passed by, while others gave him money, no one spoke with him or gave him attention; all he did was to stay outside the gate, and never entered the temple. God stepped in through Peter and broke the...