James 4:8a NASB
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Personal Challenge…
Ever have one of those days when you need to feel God’s presence in your life? It is a two way street, a reciprocal relationship…as we draw near to Him He draws near to us.

1 Corinthians 6:12 NASB
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

Personal Challenge…
People often ask if participating in practices such as Lent or fasting or tithing is coming under the law. I guess if we do these things as if submitting to the law then yes they are. However, if we do these things to develop a disciplined life, to allow God to be the master over our lives rather than things in our life like food and wealth, then we are developing our spiritual muscles. It is really not any different that going to the gym to develop our physical muscles.

John 12:25-26 NIV
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Personal Challenge…
Serving Him means that we will follow Him on whichever path He choses to take us. I so often ask God to watch over my path and make it straight and smooth, when I should be asking Him to lead me onto His path. His ways are not my ways and if I am to be a true servant I need to eagerly pursue His paths that He has laid out for me.

Lamentations 3:22-26 NASB
The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.

Encouraging Words…
He is always there…am I hoping in Him, am I waiting for Him, am I seeking Him, am I waiting silently for His salvation?

Matthew 18:1-6 NASB
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Personal Challenge…
On my last trip to Haiti I spent a day helping the medical team serve the people of Savannes. This little girl had been in line with her mother and sister for a long time and was a very unhappy camper. When I motioned for her to come over and sit on my lap she hesitated, but her mother encouraged her. The crying and the sniffles stopped and my heart melted as I was reminded that the kingdom of God belongs to people with hearts as tender as hers. I know that my heart needs to be broken and contrite for Him.

1 Timothy 4:10 NASB
For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Personal Challenge…
So, what is it that we are laboring and striving for? If you read the prior verses you will find that it is godliness that we are pursuing. Attempting to be more like Christ and less like the world. Sometimes this is through physical things like fasting, prayer, and worship, but it is always through fixing our hope on the living God and His saving grace.

Colossians 1:9-12 NASB
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Personal Challenge…
Isn’t it encouraging to know that nearly 2,000 years ago a man like Paul set in motion a prayer such as this for people like you and me? A prayer for us to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in our lives, to walk through our lives in a manner worthy of our Lord, living lives that please Him. I am finding that God, as the master road builder of the journeys of our lives, sometimes brings us to an intersection and gives us the freedom to choose which route to follow. Sometimes these choices are easy and sometimes they take a lot of prayer and consideration…especially if our desire is to serve Him and to glorify Him. I am so thankful that there is such a magnificent host of saints that have gone before me that have made the right choices and that I can learn from them. I seek God’s guidance and wisdom as I stand at one of those intersections in my journey as a redeemed child of God.

Luke 14:11 NLT
For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.

Personal Challenge…
When we see verses about being proud versus being humble, by what standard do we measure pride and humility? If we measure them by the standards of the world then we will definitely miss the mark that God is calling us to. Many Christians around the world have entered into the season of Great Lent this week. For them this is a time of repentance and humbling themselves before a holy and righteous God, bowing before Him, prostrating to Him, seeking His forgiveness in anticipation of the return of the King of Life, Jesus. What position would you be in if you suddenly came into the presence of God?

Isaiah 26:7 NLT
The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

Personal Challenge…
Hmm…if the path of the righteous is level and smooth then maybe I need to consider whether or not I am pursuing righteousness in Christ or my own ways.

Proverbs 3:3-8 NASB
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

Personal Challenge…
As with every other trip that I have taken to Haiti I come home with more questions than answers. This trip is no different. Today, as I process these questions I am reminded to go back to Proverbs 3:5-6, which is in the middle of the verses above. God is the one in whom I am to put my trust. He is the one on whom I lean. He is the one that I acknowledge. If I do these things then He will guide and direct me, He will show me the right decisions to make, He will help me to be kind and truthful, He will heal my body and refresh my bones. Please pray with me as I return from this trip and seek Him.