Catch the Little Foxes

Catch the Little Foxes TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. Song of Solomon 2:15, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: Everyone has opportunities to get upset and be frustrated every single day. Sometimes it’s the little things—we can’t find the car keys, traffic is backed up, somebody was rude, or what should have taken an hour ends up taking four hours. Something happened and now you are frustrated and all bent out of shape. There will always be something that can sour your day, but if you are going to live in victory, you have to maintain the right approach. You can’t let the little foxes spoil the vine. In other words, don’t let the little things in life spoil the harvest God has for your future. I’ve heard it said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.” Make sure you respond to life with an attitude of faith and expectancy. Sure, things may irritate you, but don’t let that irritation last into the next moment. Let it go. Don’t try to control everything around you. Instead, release it to God knowing that His plans are for your good, and He is leading and guiding you in the path of blessing. PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, today I choose to hold on to peace. I won’t let the little things upset me and steal my joy and peace. I choose to trust You and praise You for what You are doing today and in the future of my life in Jesus’ name! Amen. PS...

When You’re Lonely, God Is with You by Rick Warren “The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.” (2 Timothy 4:16-17 NLT) When you're lonely, where is God? He's where he has always been — right beside you. He is with you even if you don't feel it. The Bible says over and over that if you have a relationship with Christ, then God is with you all the time. He says "I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b NIV). He's always with you. You're never really fully alone. A few years ago, Kay and I had to fly to Hong Kong to do a seminar for some of our missionaries. About halfway through the 17-hour flight, we went through the most horrendous storm. We were pitching and jolting. The plane was tilting, and everybody was getting antsy. They were obviously disturbed by the circumstances. The crew asked over the speaker, "Is there a minister on the plane?” I raised my hand. They approached me and said, "Everyone’s pretty upset because of the flight. Can you do something spiritual?” So I took an offering! No, not really. But the people on that flight needed to hear that God is with us. For believers, it’s a promise that we can cling to in our times of fear and loneliness. Not only is it a comfort, but it also gives us the opportunity to get to know God better. Loneliness is a time to become better acquainted with God. In your season of loneliness, you need to recognize God’s presence. Amy Grant used to sing a song with the lyrics, "I love a lonely day because it forces me to focus on you.” Prayer is a powerful antidote to loneliness. God has a 24-hour drop-in service. You can talk to him anytime, anywhere, any place, and he understands how you're feeling when you say, "God, I'm lonely. I hurt! My heart is splitting. I am miserable. I feel empty. Help me, God.” You can talk to him any time. David says in the psalms, "Where can I flee from your presence?” Now here. You will never be in a place where God isn't. If you've trusted Christ, he's with you in your heart. You need to refocus on that when you feel lonely. Talk It Over How have you experienced God’s presence in the past? What was the effect it had on you? What do you need to do to get better acquainted with God?