Excerpt
JANUARY 1
God Is in the Small Stuff
Little is much if God is in it.
A national best-selling book suggests that youshouldn't sweat the small stuff. Many people treat the smallstuff in life as if no one?not even God?has any control overwhat happens. They call it "fate" or talk about how they are"lucky" or "fortunate" when certain things happen or don'thappen.
We're not suggesting that you should involve God inevery decision you make no matter how small (for example, youdon't have to ask God what you should wear in the morning).But if you're like most people, you tend to ask for God's involvementonly in times of major need or crisis, and consequentlyyou miss out on the joy and wonder of watching God work inthe small stuff of your life. There's no question God is in the bigevents, but He delights in working in the details.
* * *
Do not despise these small beginnings,
for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin ...
Zechariah 4:10
JANUARY 2
Use for the Purpose Intended
The person with an unread Bible has no advantage
over the person who doesn't own one.
You would laugh if someone expressed belief in a"lucky" rabbit's foot dangling from his key chain. (Okay, maybeyou wouldn't laugh, laugh, but we are pretty sure that you wouldsnicker.) Why? Because "good luck charms" are foolishness andoffer nothing but a false sense of security.
Sadly, some of us relegate our Bible to the status of"good luck charm." Somehow we get a warm, fuzzy feeling justknowing that it is propped up in the bookshelf or lying on thenightstand. But we never read it. It is just there for looks (andfor luck).
But the Bible will do you absolutely no good sittingunread. Only if it is opened, read, and studied can you accessall of God's wisdom and direction that the Bible contains. Youneed to know all that God has written for you to learn aboutHim (and yourself). You need to read the Bible. Move it offthe shelf and into your heart.
* * *
For these commands and this teaching are
a lamp to light the way ahead of you.
Proverbs 6:23
JANUARY 3
In the Beginning
Either God created the heavens and the earth, or He didn't.
Unless we know where our world came from, wedon't really know where it's going. And we don't know wherewe're going, either. That's why there's such a huge debate abouthow the universe began. The answer goes to the heart of ourvery existence.
There are only two options When it comes to the be beginningof the universe. The first option is that a personal, intelligent,all-powerful, all-knowing, self-existent Creator madethe heavens and the earth in perfect balance and harmony. Thesecond option is that everything in the universe came fromnothing. It "made" itself. (To get a sense of this, next time youget into your car, imagine that it came into existence on its ownwithout the help of a designer and manufacturer.)
There are no third or fourth options that some impersonal"force" brought the universe into existence, or that aspeck of energy exploded into stars and planets and life.Either God made everything or He didn't.
* * *
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
JANUARY 4
Conduct
Sometimes you have to choose between following God
and impressing your friends.
Living a godly life may make you different. You mayend up doing just the opposite of everyone else. Sometimesyou may find that your conduct pleases God but offends yourfriends, or vice versa. Should you compromise and try to findan acceptable middle ground?
Jesus gave the two analogies of "salt" and "light" toshow the importance of conduct. Salt is a seasoning, but it'salso used as a preservative. God wants you to be like a moralpreservative, bringing a virtuous and ethical flavor to your culture.God also wants you to shine into the darkness, not foryour own publicity, but to bring credit to God.
Salt doesn't do any good if it stays in the shaker. A candledoesn't do any good under a bowl. So go forward today beingsalt and light in your world.
* * *
"You are the light of the world ...
Don't hide your light under a basket!
... let your good deeds shine out for all to see,
so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
Matthew 5:14-16
JANUARY 5
You Can't Prove God Exists
Don't worry about proving God's existence,
because no one can disprove it.
Sometimes we think we can prove God exists, but itjust can't be done. You can't stick God under a microscope orview Him through a telescope, because God is a Spirit. Noone has actually seen God (John 1:18).
On the other hand, no one can disprove God's existence.If someone says that God doesn't exist because you can'tprove it in a science experiment, then you must also concludethat light doesn't exist, because you can't prove that, either.
But light does exist, because there's evidence. We cansee it, feel it, and witness the effect of light on the world and inour lives. The same goes for God. We know He exists becausewe can see the perfect order of the universe. We can feel Hispresence in our hearts. And we see the evidence of God'sinvolvement in the world and in every detail of our lives.
* * *
They can clearly see his invisible qualities?his
eternal power and divine nature.
Romans 1:20
JANUARY 6
What It Takes
If you want results that are excellent, diligence is required.
The coach of any athletic team will tell you thatyou've got to practice if you want to win. In the spiritualrealm, "winning" is getting to know God and having our livestransformed in the process. But just as in sports, "winning"with God requires the discipline of repeated practice.
As you are diligent in pursuing God, you'll noticegradual changes in your life. Everything won't change all atonce. But don't let that discourage you. (God isn't discouragedby it. He won't cut you from the team.) Keep at it. You areworking for a goal that is worthy of your best efforts.
* * *
I keep working toward that day when I will finally
be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be....
I strain to reach the end of the race
and receive the prize for which God,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
Philippians 3:12, 14
JANUARY 7
There's Nothing You Can Do
Thank God that your salvation does not depend on you.
In the physical world there are many ways to besaved, but first you have to be in a situation where you wouldeventually die without help. A guy in a lifeboat could pull youout of freezing water, or a skilled surgeon could save your lifeon the operating table. In either case you would be saved, andthere would be nothing you could do to save yourself.
The same principle applies in the spiritual world. Allof us are in a situation where we will eventually die withouthelp, and there's nothing we can do to save ourselves. Youcould thrash around in the freezing water, you could try tooperate on yourself, but all of your efforts would be futile.
All of our efforts won't help us spiritually, either, butGod is willing to save us?if we will only believe in Him.
* * *
God saved you by his special favor when you believed.
And you can't take credit for this;
it is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8
JANUARY 8
Confidence
Your self-esteem should not be derived from how great
you think you are but from how much God loves you.
There is a lot of talk these days about building your"self-esteem" so you will have confidence to make it in society.But confidence placed in yourself is doomed for failure(because you'll someday learn that you aren't as great as youhave been telling yourself). Instead of being confident inyourself, try placing our confidence in God, Who will neverfail you.
If you belong to God, there is no one or nothing thatcan separate you from His love and protection. This can giveyou real confidence. Circumstances can be tough, but He willsee you through. Even death won't defeat you.
God loves you so much that He allowed His Son todie on the cross for you. That is the kind of love in which youcan place all of your confidence.
* * *
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't.
Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow,
and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.
Romans 8:38
JANUARY 9
Pleasing God
Discover the things that please God, and then make them habits.
It's only natural to want to please someone you like.You do it, not because you're obligated, but because you wantto give joy to someone you care about. God likes it when youplease Him, but don't do it to give Him joy?God doesn'tneed to have His spirits lifted. And don't try to please God inorder to butter Him up like you might do to a parent or a bossin order to get something.
Pleasing God is for your enjoyment and your benefit.When you do the things and think the thoughts that pleaseGod (to find out how, check God's Word), your life takes onnew meaning and purpose. Not only that, but your impact onthose around you will increase as you make pleasing God ahabit.
* * *
And we will receive whatever we request
because we obey him and do the things that please him.
1 John 3:22
JANUARY 10
Be Content
Contentment begins when comparison stops.
It is impossible to weigh your contentment on a scale ofstuff. If stuff is your measurement, you will never have enough,because there will always be someone who has more stuff thanyou do. You will never be content.
Neither will you be content if you are proud of the factthat you don't have a lot of stuff, because there will always besomeone who is more proud of their poverty than you are.
Stuff has nothing to do with contentment, because contentmentis a matter of your heart, not your wallet. Real contentmentcomes when you focus your heart and your mind onthings above rather than things on Earth (Col. 3:2).
* * *
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.
I have learned the secret of living in every situation.
Philippians 4:12
JANUARY 11
Looking at God Instead of
Your Circumstances
If you look at your circumstances through God's eyes,
then your circumstances won't obscure your view of God.
We make life a lot harder than it needs to be. Thishappens whenever the circumstances in our lives discourageus. When problems arise, and nothing goes right, the stressbuilds. We become unhappy, discouraged, and discontented.It is in those tough times that God seems distant.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Instead of trying tosee God through your circumstances, take the oppositeapproach. Look at your circumstances through God's eyes.
God doesn't see your circumstances as insurmountable.He's not intimidated or discouraged by them. Since theyaren't problems for Him, they shouldn't be for you.
The next time you find yourself looking down indespair, lift your head and start looking up. Stop worryingabout your obstacles, and start thinking about the God Whocan help you overcome them.
* * *
For I can do everything with the help of Christ
who gives me the strength I need.
Philippians 4:13
JANUARY 12
The Insignificance of
Insignificance
Whenever you feel insignificant,
remember how important you are to God.
It doesn't take much effort to feel insignificant.Another person?probably someone you know pretty well?makesa negative comment about you, or you fail to meet yourown expectations, and soon you're feeling low.
Or you start comparing your mundane achievementsto the people who make headlines for their great accomplishments?especiallyin your field?and it doesn't take long foryou to believe that your work or your position doesn't countfor much. You wonder if anybody really cares.
Okay, we've gone low enough! That's no place forsomeone whom God loves and cares about more than can beimagined. Your life has value and what you do has significancebecause you are important to God.
* * *
"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny,
can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him
than a whole flock of sparrows."
Matthew 10:29-31
JANUARY 13
It's Okay to Feel Small
When you begin to feel self-important,
remember how mighty and vast God is.
The opposite of feeling insignificant is feeling self-important,and we've got plenty of that going around. Everybodywants to be king of the world. There's only one problemwith putting yourself at the center of the universe: You tendto push God out.
We're all for feeling confident. There's nothing wrongwith knowing who you are, as long as you know Whose youare. You aren't some autonomous being in full control of yourdestiny. You belong to God, Who designed and built you assurely as He set the moon and the stars in place.
Knowing that, it seems a little silly to tell God, "Thanksfor getting the ball rolling, but I can handle it from here."Instead, we should be thankful that our big God has taken oursmall lives and turned them into something significant.
* * *
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers?the
moon and the stars you have set in place?what
are mortals that you should think of us,
mere humans that you should care for us?
Psalm 8:3-4
JANUARY 14
Ambition
If you want to have a great life for yourself,
then give it away to God.
Ambition is natural. After all, you want a happy family,friendships, financial security, and good health. In otherwords, you want a great life. It's only natural to have suchambitions and to do everything necessary to attain your goals.But should you be ambitious just because it comes naturally?
Jesus taught about the great irony of self-ambition. Hesaid you must lose your life in order to keep it. This paradoxforces you to choose which is more important: your physicallife or your eternal soul. Jesus taught that gaining everything onEarth?all the things that are supposed to make you happy?willstill leave you emotionally bankrupt if you don't have aspiritual relationship with God.
God wants you to live with ambition and purpose, butHe doesn't want your focus to be self-centered and self-directed.Let God be your priority. Let living in His Kingdom be yourambition.
* * *
"And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world
but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?"
Luke 9:25
JANUARY 15
Do You Want to
Know God's Will?
If you want to know God's will,
spend time with Him.
One of the mysteries of life is the will of God. Wedesperately want to know what God wants us to do, but we'renot really sure how to find out. While it's true that we'll neverknow all of God's will (after all, He's God), we can know a lotof what He wants us to do by spending time with Him.
Think about it on a human level. The more you get toknow someone, the more you know what that person is like,and the more you know what that person likes. That's whatGod's will is all about?knowing what God is like and knowingwhat He likes. So you could say that the only way to reallyknow God's will is to really know God. How do you do that?By reading the Bible, His personal message to you, and by talkingwith Him as often as you can.
* * *
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
JANUARY 16
Are You God's
"Fair-Weather" Friend?
God's unconditional love for us
should be our motivation to love Him.
Nobody likes a fair-weather friend. You know, thosepeople who hang around only when things are going well. Yourealize that their companionship and loyalty are merely anillusion if they bolt as soon as times get tough. You wouldn'twant a "friend" like that.
Neither does God, but sadly, many of us treat Him thatway. We give God our adoration and allegiance only when Hefulfills our expectations. So, if things are going smoothly in ourlives, we are glad to express our appreciation by being attentiveto Him. But when difficulties arise, we are quick to blame God.We want a God Who is going to make our lives easy, so if Hewon't give us what we want, then we don't want to waste ourtime on Him.
Aren't you glad that His love for us endures no matterhow we treat Him? That is true love from a true friend, andthat should be how we respond to Him.
* * *
We know how much God loves us,
and we have put our trust in him.
1 John 4:16
JANUARY 17
Seek This First
Next time you write out your priorities,
make sure you put God at the top.
Whenever you set goals for yourself, it's importantto prioritize them. Decide which ones are most important,and do these first. Too often we waste our time on lower shelf,easy-to-attain goals when we should be striving for the goalson the top shelf, even if they are harder to reach.
As you get to know God better, you will find that Hewill ask you to operate at a higher level of living. He wantsyou to reach for the top shelf. This has nothing to do withmoving to the mountains or getting a promotion at work. Whatit means is that you shouldn't worry about your short-term,personal needs (they're important, but don't let them consumeyou). Trust God to provide for the everyday stuff, and thenmake God and His Kingdom?which He is building in thisworld through the hearts of those who follow Him?yourhighest priority.
* * *
He will give you all you need from day to day
if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God
your primary concern.
Matthew 6:33
Copyright © 2000 Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1-57748-850-4
