Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Read Romans 2:1–2, 4
“My treat!”
Nice words to hear, huh? They have flowed into my ears from any number of places—yours, too.
Treats are neat. Spontaneous. Unexpected. Pleasant moments that communicate: “You are special...loved, appreciated, affirmed, deserving,” and a half a dozen other warm fuzzies we need to hear but seldom hand out. Normally, they don’t come on holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries, but rather during the run-of-the-mill, no-big-deal times in our lives.
Read Proverbs 15:32–33
In a world where everyone is out to serve self, it’s refreshing to read these ancient words from the pen of one of the most powerful men who ever lived: Solomon.
If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. (Proverbs 15:32-33)
In different words, Jesus says virtually the same thing:
Read Hebrews 12:14–15
There is no torment like the inner torment of an unforgiving spirit. Without question, it is one of the most miserable attitudes to experience in life.
Read Philippians 1:6
Persistence is a costly investment, no question about it. But the dividends are so much greater than the original outlay that you’ll almost forget the price. And if the final benefits are significant, you’ll wonder why you ever hesitated to begin with.
Read Hosea 1:2
When Hosea married a prostitute, respect for him dropped to zero. “Small wonder he is listed first among the minor prophets,” some may sneer today. “He must have been a real loser.”
Read 1 Peter 5:5–8
Ours is a day of superficiality. If you can fake it, you’re often admired as being clever, not criticized for being phony. Mediocrity can mark the ministry just as overtly as it marks many of those who work for the government and are employed in industry. I’ve also noticed that staying longer in the same place can only perpetuate the problem. People tend to let seniority excuse the erosion of excellence.
Read Hebrews 11:35–38
Hidden saints—how many there are! Not insignificant nor reluctant, just unknown to us. If we could see as our Father sees, I’m convinced we would be amazed at the size of His family. If the spiritual iceberg were suddenly turned upside down and exposed for all to view, the magnitude of the church He is building would literally take our breath away.
Isaac Watts caught a mental glimpse of such a scene after he had meditated on Psalm 72. He recorded his thoughts:
Read 1 Corinthians 6:12
I used to bite fingernails right down to the quick. I’d rip off those babies just as soon as the first signs of new growth would appear. For well over twenty years, I carried around ten ugly stumps that resulted in two miserable experiences: personal embarrassment and physical limitations.
Read Joshua 1:9
Not long ago I was reading through Psalm 78 when my eye fell upon verse nine. I was intrigued by the strange stroke of the psalmist’s pen. See if you get the same vibes:
The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.
Like foxes hunted by hounds, they ran. The only weapon they used to restrain the enemy was a cloud of dust they stirred up as they retreated en masse, in a hurry, while “armed with bows.”
Read Genesis 22:1–2
Are you better at smothering than loving? That’s why you are blown away with the thought of relaxing your gargantuan grip on the things and people you love the most. Letting something precious go is, on occasion, unbearable. The parting cannot happen without inward bleeding.
It’s hard to let go. Turning loose heightens our stress.
Like releasing a dream or allowing a child space to grow up or letting a friend have the freedom to be and to do. What maturity that requires! What a test on our insecurity!
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