Video Bible Lesson - When You Don’t Know What To Do Next by NICKI KOZIARZ

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

4/19/2020

When You Don’t Know What To Do Next
NICKI KOZIARZ

“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” Proverbs 19:20 (NLT)
Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where it feels impossible to have wisdom, direction and discernment about what to do next.
Which is exactly how I felt that morning.
There wasn’t anything tragically wrong. I hadn’t gone through a major life-change, but I just didn’t know what step to take next as I looked at my to-do list of prayed-through possibilities.
I sat at my simple white desk in my office with the bright white walls and big windows. The simplicity and light of this room normally filled me with peace as I worked. But sudden anxiety made this bright space seem as if a dark cloud quickly moved to cover the brightness.
It brought to mind all the questions:
What if I get the next step wrong?
What if I miss what God has for me?
What if I am not brave enough to do what I need to do next?
It’s often these questions we ask ourselves that lead to the greatest thoughts of doubt, discouragement and defeat.
But there’s a saying: “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” It reminds me of today’s key verse: “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life” (Proverbs 19:20). As we surround ourselves with people who reflect God, their wisdom can help guide us toward our next step.
So, I texted the wisest friend I know, and asked if I could get her perspective about the things on my list. Instead of texting back what she thought I should do, she asked me three important questions.
Questions that helped me change the way I was looking at the list.
Questions I want to share with you if you’re also in a season of seeking.
Questions that offer the chance to reflect godly wisdom and that I hope encourage you, too.
Question One: Who are the people you are here for?
This is important because we can start to think we’re here for everyone, all the time. But the reality is, there’s a burden God has placed inside of you for a specific set of people here on this earth. Figure out who they are and then …
Question Two: What are you supposed to give them?
Each of us has a unique gift to bring to this world. The people you’re here for need what you have to give them. Whether it be time, encouragement, prayer, teaching or a dozen other possibilities, never think this world has everything it needs. It needs what you have to give.
Question Three: What gives you the most energy when you put energy into it?
There are certain things we have to do in life that don’t necessarily feel life-giving, and yet we have to do them anyway. But your God-assignments should make you feel like you’re alive and ready to do it again and again and again.
I let these three questions turn into prayers. And slowly, God started to reveal where to direct my focus on that list of possibilities.
He is ready to do the same for you. You can have clarity. You can have a sense of direction. And you can trust the process of finding wisdom for your life.
And if you don’t believe that just yet, I believe it for you.
Dear God, thank You for reminding me today how important it is to surround myself with the right voices and how they help me ask the right questions to bring Your direction to my life. Help me listen, learn and lead others in the same way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (ESV)
Proverbs 3:18, “Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.” (NLT)

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Wait

Streams in the Desert
Wait

Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exod. 14:13).

These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut upon the right hand and on the left. What is he now to do?

The Master's word to him is "stand still." It will be well for him if, at such times, he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in His love and faithfulness.

Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part; it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles."

But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it, if you are a child of God. His Divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What if for a while thou art called to stand still; yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time.

Precipitancy cries, "Do something; stir yourself; to stand still and wait is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once--we must do it, so we think--instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something, but will do everything.

Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it, and expect a miracle." But faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands.

"Stand still"--keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward.'
--Spurgeon

"Be quiet! why this anxious heed
About thy tangled ways?
God knows them all. He giveth speed
And He allows delays.
'Tis good for thee to walk by faith
And not by sight.
Take it on trust a little while.
Soon shalt thou read the mystery aright
In the full sunshine of His smile."

In times of uncertainty, wait. Always, if you have any doubt, wait. Do not force yourself to any action. If you have a restraint in your spirit, wait until all is clear, and do not go against it.

The God Who Forgives.....Dr. Charles Stanley

The God Who Forgives

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus Christ gave His followers a pattern for prayer that includes seeking forgiveness daily. The invitation to regular repentance is not a means of renewing our salvation, but rather a maintenance plan for our fellowship with the Lord. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, our sins are forgiven forever. The stains from our past, present, and future wrongs are wiped from our record; however, we're a fallen people so we do continue to commit sin.

With the exception of Jesus Christ, no person is perfect. Sin is simply a fact of human life. The Lord's payment for our transgressions means that we can look forward to an eternity spent in God's presence instead of getting the punishment we deserve. On this side of heaven, though, we still have to contend with our tendency to do wrong--and we must also deal with the consequences. The Lord's admonition to seek daily forgiveness is a reminder to confess our sins and turn away from them because we are forgiven.

God's grace is not a license to sin; instead, it's a reason to pursue righteousness. Bad attitudes, thoughtless actions, and unkind speech do not fit who we are as children of light. We're new creatures in Christ, bought for a price and set free to live as partakers of His grace.

Salvation makes a way for us to enter God's presence, while regular confession and repentance keep the pathway well maintained and free of obstruction (1 John 1:9). The so-called "sinner's prayer" need be said only once, but a saint will tap into God's forgiveness every day of his or her life.

Christianized Karma

Christianized Karma
by Katherine Britton

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…”– 1 Peter 3:15

Christians give really good hugs during trials and tragedy. As my own family has experienced recently, the body of Christ has long arms to embrace those in need, easing the burdens of bad times. The church at work offers silent – and strong – evidence of grace when we pick each other up off the ground.

Now, imagine for a moment that your community didn’t provide any support during a trial. Imagine that instead of offering encouraging words and providing meals or other support after a tragedy, the whole community pulled away. Imagine if they acted like you were a disease they didn’t want to catch while you shouldered the burden alone. And not only that -- they believed that your problems were your own fault, pure and simple.

That’s karma at work. And it’s a lonely road.

A missionary couple recently visited our church before heading to London, where they planned settle in an immigrant community that’s mostly Hindu. The wife expressed her desire to see people set free from the bonds of karma. That caught my interest. I’d slipped into viewing karma through an Americanized lens, as a pseudo-Christian philosophy of reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7). Faithfulness and selfishness often have their rewards in this life, after all, and good deeds are often repaid with a smile and expression of gratitude if nothing else. Karma may not be the full picture, but it seemed like an innocuous truism to me.

The missionary went on to describe the ugly side of karma, in which the community pulls away from its members who are suffering. Lose a job? It’s a karmic effect – you must have cheated your employer or at least talked badly about him. Did you – heaven forbid – lose a child? Somehow, that’s your fault too, as the universe balances out some evil you’ve done. If such horrible things are somehow your fault, it would also make sense for people to pull away. That’s the bond of karma.

Christians rely on the promise that “all things work for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28). We fight to believe that, while “no discipline seems pleasant at the time… later on it produces a harvest of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Like Job, we may never know the reason for our earthly suffering. But we know that, because of grace, suffering is not a quid-pro-quo retaliation for our sins. Even our suffering has been redeemed by God’s grace through Christ’s supreme act of love.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Unlike the Hindu system of karma and its effects, we know even our pain is used by a loving God. Because of that, we have real hope for tomorrow – because our future doesn’t depend on us! No matter what trials we experience, we can rest in the knowledge that even when we are not good, God is. That’s mercy, and that gives hope. Are you ready to give an answer for that hope?

Are Your Words Causing Others to Stumble?

Are Your Words Causing Others to Stumble?
by Lynette Kittle

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” --Matthew 16:23

If you were Peter, how would you feel to have Jesus turn to you and say what He said to him in Matthew 16:23?

If one of the twelve Apostles could be a mouthpiece for Satan, does it cause you to consider the possibility of the evil one trying to speak to others through your words, too?

But maybe you wouldn’t have been so bold as to take Jesus aside and rebuke him for speaking of His upcoming death and resurrection saying, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22)

Of course, Jesus was really addressing Satan who was behind Peter’s words, but still, the realization of who was influencing what was coming out of his mouth must have been hard for Peter to swallow.

Like Peter it’s so easy to believe an idea or thought is your own, not realizing how the enemy of your soul works to influence others through what you say. Like most Christians, it’s easy to be naïve of how Satan may be attempting to discourage God’s will in another individual’s life or trip them up in some way through your mouth.

Yet Peter’s example illustrates how it can happen to even those who have a personal, close relationship to Jesus.

Most may think it’s so obvious to spot Satan’s plots but Scripture describes how the evil one disguises himself stating, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Like Peter’s words could come across as just a concerned friend trying to calm Jesus down from talking about a coming death and resurrection, you may believe you’re just being helpful in advising friends. Yet in reality, you may be oblivious of how the enemy is at work through your conversation to motivate someone to stumble away from God’s will.

In trying to help guide a family member, friend, or co-worker away from something you think is off track in their lives, having the best of intentions in trying to encourage them in the right direction, you could unknowingly be pointing them towards man’s will rather than God’s will.

Scripture cautions you to, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister” (Romans 14:13).

So how do you keep from being a stumbling block through your words? 1 John 2:10 states, “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.”

A key to prevent from becoming a stumbling block is to stay in the light of Christ by staying in prayer and obeying His Word.

As you do, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 states the Lord is faithful and will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

A Prayer for Healthy Boundaries

A Prayer for Healthy Boundaries
By Debbie McDaniel

Life is precious. Yet all too often, we may find that much of our time is spent around negative, toxic people, draining the life right out of us. Sometimes they’re co-workers, friends, or sadly, even family members.

God never intends for us to spin our wheels, waste our days, trying to make others happy who can never be happy. Because in reality, it doesn’t depend on us. It’s not up to you. They may want you to think it does, as if you possess the power to improve the value of their existence, but that’s not a burden meant for you to carry.

God’s greatest desire is to set us free. And sometimes what propels that change is for some brave soul to be willing to say, “Stop, no more.” One who will choose what is better, and learn to set boundaries that will protect and limit the control an unhealthy person might be placing on another’s life.

Sadly, when we look deep into the mirror of our souls, we may realize that we are the ones who have some unhealthy tendencies that God wants to change. Today’s a good day to stop wasting time in toxic patterns of living. For he has better in store for us.

He can accomplish great things through your prayers. He can move mountains. He can change hearts. Anything is possible through his great power. Understand that though it is never up to you to make someone different, he’s set you in their lives for a purpose, for a reason.

He loves you, he cares for you, and he has good in store for your future.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Let’s Pray:

Lord, protect me from the abuse and harm of toxic people. I know you desire to set me free—free from the hurt of others, but also free from my own sin and bondage in that sin. Help me have eyes to see toxic behavior around me and in me… and give me the strength, courage and resilience to break free from that toxicity and choose the path of life. Thank you for always protecting and guiding me Lord. Thank you for always being good, gracious, kind and loving. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.