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Post by Parker on Mar 25, 2023 4:54:49 GMT -8
Everyone’s Battle
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
ROMANS 7:15
Everyone battles their own bad behavior. Becoming a Christian does not obliterate bad behavior. Becoming a Christian gives you the Spirit of Christ so you can choose good behavior. However, the battle still rages. We know the eternal war is won with our salvation in Christ, but the temporal battle with sin does not cease at salvation. We would be naive to think otherwise.
This spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons. Fighting behavioral battles in your own strength leads to defeat. Do not be cocky with your Christianity. It is not a safety net for bad choices. Rather, it is the power of God for wise decision making. Still, the battle over bad behavior is a daily engagement.
You know you need to be patient, but you lose your temper instead. You know better than to covet another woman, but your lust lingers. You know you are to exercise forgiveness, but you harbor resentment. You look the other way when you should be humbly confronting. You lie when you know you should be honest and trust God with the outcome. Your pride and ego self-promote even though you know in your heart you should give God and others the credit and the glory. These conflicting behaviors do not go away. You find yourself feeling defeated because you once again gave in to behaving badly. How can this cycle cease?
The self-inflicted shame can drive you crazy. It can even lead you to give up on God. The battle over behavior is wearisome, but do not give in or give up. God cares. God understands. He is there with you moment by moment. In spite of behaving badly, you are not any less a Christian. And He does not love you any less. He feels for you in your conflicting emotions and actions. Most of the time He will not erase the negative consequences of your sin, but He will certainly stay with you during this disruptive time. God does not flee from your failures. He is there to help you pick up the pieces. He is there to help you learn from your mistakes. He equips and empowers you to win this behavioral battle in the future.
Do not be overwhelmed by the onslaught of the enemy on multiple fronts of your life. Fight these battles one at a time and watch God win. Seek out a mentor to coach you into wise living. Learn how to depend on the Spirit of God living through you. His grace is sufficient. He who lives in you is greater than he who lives in the world. No behavior, no matter how bad, can separate you from the love of your heavenly Father.
There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Start by being honest about the ugliness of the sin that continues to influence your attitude and behavior. Become more self-aware of blind spots that cripple your relational effectiveness. Learn how to live by faith and not by sight. Seek reconciliation with anyone you may have offended or who may have offended you.
Avoid magazines and websites that flame your lust. These are everyone’s battles, and they can be won. Fight with the weapons of God’s wisdom and truth, not man’s ingenuity. Let Him fight on your behalf. Be accountable to God and man. Move beyond the guilt of failure, and in Christ, enjoy freedom from condemnation. In Christ is everything we need to fight everyone’s battle!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Heavenly Father, in my struggles to do what’s right, give me the strength and faith to follow Your will for my life.
Related Readings
Ecclesiastes 9:18; Jeremiah 1:19; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Philippians 4:13
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Mar 26, 2023 6:17:23 GMT -8
God’s Battle
The LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands.
1 SAMUEL 17:47
Life is full of opportunities to do battle on behalf of the Lord. Engagement with fear is a spiritual skirmish waiting to happen, but the Spirit flushes out fear and defeats it with faith. Anger is always set to ambush and battle its foes, but patient forgiveness sees it coming and bypasses its ugly assault. Pride is lurking to pounce on the strong and successful, but humble prayer pushes back relentless reinforcements from hell. The enemies of God are brought down by God.
What battle are you facing that is getting the best of you? Is it a health issue? Cry out to Jesus, your Healer. Is it relational conflict? Submit to Christ, who can restore broken relationships. Perhaps you face a financial giant—go to God and seek godly counsel with transparency and trust, asking both for wisdom and accountability. Heaven provides the assistance you need through saints on earth. Look for the Lord’s resources from those who love Him and you.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).
Our true battle is not with the people or things we see, but with the unseen powers and principalities who seek to soil our faith in the Lord. The enemy, Satan, speaks lies to our minds, so we meander through life and struggle with feelings of insignificance. However, the truth of God dissolves the devil’s deceptions and replaces them with clarity and confidence in Christ. The war in the heavenlies has already been won, so enlist in the Lord’s army. Your battle is His battle.
Be bold as you wield your spiritual weapons. Depend on the Lord’s wisdom and not the foolishness of man. Fire at obstacles with bullets of belief, not blanks of doubt. Shoot at the ultimate enemy, not at the messenger, who is only the bearer of bad news. Sling your smooth stone of spiritual service toward Satan. God directs your efforts to defeat the enemy!
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).
Lord Jesus, keep me engaged with Your Spirit and power as You go to battle for me.
Related Readings
1 Samuel 2:9; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Psalm 44:6-7; Hosea 1:7
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Mar 27, 2023 5:13:35 GMT -8
The Source of Wealth
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
DEUTERONOMY 8:17-18
God is the source of wealth. He has the ability to give it and to take it away. We do not create our wealth—He does. We have skills, intelligence, and business acumen, but He gave us these things. We work hard, but He gave us the drive and the health to work hard. Wealth creation comes back to God.
He is the brains behind the operation. Whenever we forget this, we begin sliding toward pride and self-sufficiency. Depending on God was easier when you had nothing. If you now have more than you ever dreamed, you are probably tempted not to credit King Jesus with your wealth and resources. But He is not a silent or passive partner—you and your assets belong to Him. And as owner, He deserves and desires full disclosure of His powerful position.
So ask yourself, “How does God expect me to steward the wealth He has entrusted to me?” Of course it is not the “bigger barn” syndrome of lavishing all these resources on my wants and desires. Indeed, a good place to start is with the poor. The poor are prevalent in unprecedented numbers. However, their screams are silent, so they still lack the proper attention God desires. The poor are mostly out of sight and thus out of our mind, but Christ’s heart breaks for them. His heart for the poor is “top of mind” for Him and should be for us as well. The poor do not deserve what is left over. They deserve “first dibs.” We need to direct our frontline giving to the poor and needy. Rub elbows with the poor, and you will give to the poor!
Wealth is a huge responsibility not to be taken lightly. If you take credit for it, you have your reward. An earthly attitude toward wealth, without regard to God’s heart, brings only an earthly reward. However, wealth invested and given to heavenly endeavors produces results and rewards way beyond this life. This is God’s promise.
Pride facilitates spiritual amnesia. The less needy you become, the more you drift from your greatest source of life, Almighty God. In reality, the more you have, the more you need God. You can handle wealth well only with God’s guidance. Otherwise, fear, greed, and pride will guide your decisions. God frees you to be generous and unleashes you to pursue kingdom initiatives.
So never forget that He is the source of your strength, the provider of your power, the wellspring of your wisdom, the artist of your abilities, and the underpinning of your wealth. You will be blessed when you are quick to give Him the credit for your success. Depend on Him in an independent environment, and your children will follow your example. Stay relentlessly reliant on your Savior and Lord. Then wealth remains a blessing and not a burden. Use the world’s wealth as leverage for otherworldly purposes. This is confirmation of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. So grow wealth and give wealth for His glory!
“The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts” (1 Samuel 2:7).
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge You as my provider and the source of all good things in my life.
Related Readings
Deuteronomy 26:10; Proverbs 8:18; Hosea 2:8; Luke 16:11; 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Mar 28, 2023 5:15:28 GMT -8
God-Sized Goals
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
LUKE 18:27
God-sized goals challenge our thinking and further our faith. These Holy Spirit–inspired “big ideas” are crafted by our Creator to spur us on to good works and transformational living. God-sized goals make us uncomfortable at times. They are not guaranteed to happen, but they position us to pray more and believe in God better.
Through prayerful planning and implementation, gigantic goals are transformed from possibilities into probabilities. Huge objectives hedge against mediocrity and prod us toward perfection. God-sized goals are given to guide your thinking and your calendar so that you are intentional and focused on His big picture. Otherwise, you can drift about, destined for disappointment.
God-sized goals get you to God. Prayer, planning, and significant progress move you from the realm of possibility to the place of probability. In most cases, one man or woman’s passion and focus drives the creation and execution of the goal. The leader looks failure in the face and defeats it by faith, wisdom, and hard work with the help of a skilled and unified team.
Christ-centered possibilities far outweigh man-centered probabilities. Perhaps you need to get away in solitude for several days, asking your Savior to sear your soul with His goals. Think outside the tiny box of unbelief, for the Lord’s abilities and resources are unlimited. God-sized goals arrest your attention, adjust your attitude, and accelerate your actions.
So prayerfully set great goals, and God will grow your character in the process while influencing others for His glory. Trust Him to give you eyes of faith and to show you the way beyond the bounds of your experience, for His plan will prevail.
“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
What goal is God giving me that I need to accept in faith and work hard to accomplish?
Related Readings
Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26; Ephesians 1:18-20
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Mar 29, 2023 13:59:33 GMT -8
Good Versus Best
The Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”
ACTS 6:2
Many times, good is the enemy of the best. God’s best is not always competing with gross sin or bad things. More often, you are distracted from your sweet spot by good things. Don’t be lured into this approach to life. Everybody else’s agenda for you does not necessarily equal God’s agenda. Yes, the needs are great, but a need does not constitute a calling. This is where your courage and conviction can keep you from unwisely spreading yourself too thin. If you are scattered about in a multitude of activities, there is a good chance you will miss the opportunity to experience God’s best.
Resist the temptation to be an inch deep and a mile wide. Rather, drill down into the divine call on your life. You know how you are wired and gifted. Validate what you do best with others who know you well. Tap into their wisdom and discernment. Your present predicament may be the result of overcommitment and inability. You can always tell when you are not operating in the vortex of your giftedness. Worthy and good activities become chores. Something haunts you. It is the realization that another talented person in this needed area could do a much better job than you with half the effort. It is sobering but true. So have the courage to find a replacement for this good activity so you can focus on what you do best.
Others admire what you do best. They celebrate your God-given skills. This is the role we all need to find for ourselves. Position yourself to excel in your clearest strength. Have the courage and the faith to say no to good people and good things. Mature people will understand. Others may give you a hard time. But you can be at peace when you are immersed in God’s best for you.
If you are a gifted teacher, do not be distracted by other opportunities that scream for your service. There are others who can serve but are unable to teach. In fact, a server might even aspire to teach because they value the outcome of helping people. But the amount of preparation and energy exerted toward this educational endeavor is not the best use of their time.
Choosing God’s best often includes prioritizing important relationships over other endeavors. Children are children for a season. Watch their ball games instead of spending another hour at the office. Parents are parents for a finite period of time. Sit on the front porch with them and watch the grass grow—that’s better than an occasional email or even a phone call.
Meeting a project deadline is strategic, but listening to a person in distress may be the greater priority. Do not dance with the good when the best is waiting in the wings. Dance with the best, and the good will take care of itself. God’s role is to handle the good while you focus on the best. This is a step of faith, but you can trust God with the good and the best. Do not settle for the crumbs of the good. Instead, feast on the best!
“You must present as the LORD’S portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you” (Numbers 18:29).
Heavenly Father, give me the faith to focus on Your best for me and not be lured away by other good opportunities.
Related Readings
Genesis 45:18; Ruth 3:3; Luke 15:22; Philippians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:1
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Mar 30, 2023 10:05:31 GMT -8
Right Results, Wrong Methods
The LORD said to Moses… “Speak to that rock… ” Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out… But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
NUMBERS 20:7-12
Success is not measured by results. How you arrive at the results is even more important. Of course, results are important. But pragmatism is not king. Christ is King. He often cares about our methods more than our results.
A bad attitude leads to wrong methods. There is no getting around this. When people are ungrateful and immature, don’t lash back at them. Cool off and pray rather than moving forward in anger. When you feel coerced, don’t pout. Find your consolation in Christ and then make wise decisions. At home, don’t blow up at your children or give in to their whining and complaining. This is a recipe for rebellion in their teenage years.
Fatigue and frustration are not conducive to wise decision making. Choose the best time to make important decisions and execute them. Negative emotions can be like a large, dull knife. They may get results but leave a jagged and bloody wound.
Before you launch into a direction of leadership, make sure you have a defined process of wise methods and accurate measurements. Create these with a calm and cool head. Do not act in a way that you later will regret. Previously planned processes are in place for your protection. These are checks and balances to assure excellence in execution.
God is focused on our methods. He expects to be honored and respected in the process as well as the results. If you run over people to reach your goal, you do not reflect the Lord you serve. However, if you serve people in the process of reaching the agreed-on goal, you illustrate the heart of Jesus.
So much hinges on our spirit, attitude, and actions. This trilogy can reflect right methods. Yes, methods need to be modified for efficiency and effectiveness, but this can be done through respectful dialogue rather than overbearing or callous dictating. Dignify people by explaining the rationale behind a change in procedures. The best ideas can come from those responsible to implement them. Listen keenly to the voice of reason. Wisdom resides here. You don’t have to rush to get results out of fear of failure. You can wait, pray, and plan a process in collaboration with your team.
Work is sustainable when everyone is honored in the process. Focus on the right methods, and the right results will take care of themselves. Always remind yourself of how Christ would behave. The Spirit of Jesus cultivates the right attitudes and actions. Trust and honor God with the process and in the process. The right methods will support the right results!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).
Heavenly Father, purify my motives so I will do the right things in the right way at the right time for Your glory.
Related Readings
Isaiah 40:28-31; Matthew 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 9:7
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Mar 31, 2023 7:45:39 GMT -8
Power of the Path
The angel of the LORD [said]… “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.”
NUMBERS 22:32
The path you choose is the path you use. It may be a path of pride or a path of humility. The path may stimulate purity or impurity. It could be a path of wisdom or a path of foolishness. The path may be one of cooperation or a path of independence. Your path may be family friendly or hostile to the health of your home.
Be careful how you seek after success because you can easily veer down the path of lost accountability. Make sure the path you traverse follows God’s will. Your path is a picture of your pattern of choices. One after another, your daily decisions dig out a well-beaten path.
Do not be deceived—every path leads somewhere. Your current path is not insignificant. If it is a path of preparation, then prepare well. A well-prepared path paves the way for opportunity. But if you are not a good steward of your resources, relationships, finances, and skills, your future choices will be limited. Choose the path of patient preparation.
The more you prepare, the wider this path becomes. The path of preparation may seem long and onerous at times, but be patient and stay the course. Your faithfulness now will lead to influence later. Travel this path with focused attention. Enjoy the journey, for these may be the simplest days of your life. The path of preparation is the strong foundation of any excellent and eternally significant endeavor.
Also walk wisely on the path of personal intimacy with God. You can easily overlook this path because of familiarity or busyness. But without a well-worn path to God, you will wear out. It is a path that requires discipline, but the habit of exercising your faith now will serve you throughout your life. When you walk the path of intimacy with God, He fills you with His peace, security, and hope. This is not a path of quick fixes. Rather, it is one of trust and endurance. Traveling a path without God is like walking in the country on a moonless night. It’s like running through a busy city during the day—blindfolded. In either case there is a lot of activity, but the activity is filled with fear, confusion, misdirection, and pain. The path of God may include some pain or uncertainty, but as you travel on His path, you are filled with His presence. The presence of God is peaceful. It is purifying and pleasing to the soul.
Life itself is one big path. If you travel alone, it is daunting. But with Christ, it is an adventure. The path of Christ is bumpy at times, but walking freely with Him is exhilarating. As you travel with God, be ever mindful of His guardrails of grace, love, and law. They are there for your protection. They keep you from straying off His path of kingdom purpose. The road most traveled is reckless compared to the less traveled path of heaven’s security. Choose daily the wise path of confession and consultation with your Creator. The path of obedience to God leads to peace with God. He is a friend to be admired and a friend to be feared. When you stray, allow Him to lead you back. His path is what’s best. Travel it with Him and travel it for Him!
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’ ” (Jeremiah 6:16).
Heavenly Father, keep me accountable to prayerfully stay on the path of Your will.
Related Readings
1 Kings 8:36; Psalm 119:3; Proverbs 12:15; Matthew 7:13-14; John 10:7
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 1, 2023 8:05:48 GMT -8
Time Management
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
PSALM 90:12
Time can manage you, or you can manage time. Time can be elusive, or it can serve God’s will for your life. Effective time management begins with teachableness—the admission that you need to learn how to better manage your time. If you do not manage your time well, you are not likely to manage your life well. Your life will become a series of reactions rather than a path of intentionality.
Managing time is like budgeting money. You have a limited amount, and you need to handle it wisely. A financial plan usually includes giving, investing, and spending. So it is with your time. You give back to the community with your volunteer work and service in the church. This is your giving of time in its purest form.
Your wisest investment is in people. Mentoring, coaching, counseling, and simply being a friend are common ways to invest in others. Investments in those who do not know Christ are especially valuable. The time you invest in unbelievers will be leveraged throughout eternity as they come to know Jesus.
And lastly, consider the wise spending of your time. This includes your daily usage—phone calls, meetings, emails, meals, and planning are all part of your time spent. Make sure this is not a mindless routine. Align your activities with your God-given purpose in life. If necessary, change your work environment or the way you spend your free time. Time is your most valuable asset. Manage it well, and you will seem to have more. This is God’s way of redeeming the time!
Expert time management is a learned skill. Let God be your teacher. He created time, so He understands its intricacies. Time is finite, but its applications are infinite. Your wise use of time will create more capacity and minimize frustration. God will help you allocate and prioritize its use. He will instruct you if you ask Him. He dispenses His wisdom to all who take the time to listen. His wisdom will reveal your limitations—you cannot and should not do everything.
We all need the help of God and others. God’s wisdom will lead you back to trust. Time management is a trust issue. You can trust God to provide just the right amount of time to accomplish His will. That’s why you can implement the most important activities and trust Him with the things that do not seem to get done. Do you have a set deadline to leave work by six in the evening? When this self-imposed deadline rolls around, trust God with what is not yet done and go home to your family. This is priority living based on faith in God.
Every stage of life has its own priorities, so let God’s Word and your trusted advisors help you define your areas of focus. Allow room for interruptions. It is naive to think your time allocations will work flawlessly each day. Life happens. People need things that are not on the agenda for that day or meeting. Allow for breaks between appointments because inevitably, people run late or meetings run over.
Each day is a gift from God. Take the time to manage your time!
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’ ” (James 4:14-15).
Heavenly Father, I trust You to provide the needed amount of time to do Your will.
Related Readings
Psalm 139:16; Proverbs 16:9; 27:1; Isaiah 2:22; Luke 12:18-20
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 2, 2023 11:52:01 GMT -8
Morning Preparation
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
PSALM 5:3
Start the day with God. This is your best preparation. The morning is the best part of the day. Appointments have yet to assault your calendar. Interruptions are blocked from your schedule. Each day is full of new opportunities and challenges.
Because each day is unique, we need a daily dose of God. We need His wisdom, His forgiveness, and His perspective. Just as our body needs exercising and bathing, so our mind, soul, and heart need God’s cleansing and renewal. Time with God feeds our soul like a nice meal nourishes our body.
Is spending time with God a struggle for you? Perhaps you are moving too quickly. Slow down your pace, or He may slow it down for you. If you have rested well the night before, your mind and body are the most receptive in the morning. Using this pliable time of the day to recalibrate with God makes good sense. “First in, first out” is a good description of what happens in the morning. If the worries of the world consume the beginning of our day, then worry will come out first during the day. If trust in God fills our first moments, then trust will come out first during the day.
Jesus modeled this for us as He rose before the day and began to spend time with His heavenly Father. Find a quiet spot with the fewest distractions so you can listen intently to your heavenly Father. Wake up with God while the world sleeps. Then, when the world awakes, you can greet it with grace and truth. Your time with God need not be complicated.
Converse just as you do daily with close friends; keep the dialogue honest and open. God already knows our heart, but we forget and need a reminder. My heart deceives me, but God cuts through the deception and gets to the core of the matter.
My anger may cause me to sin by not letting go of a person or a situation. Letting go and trusting God with the matter can be difficult. But you cannot blame another for your bad attitude—this is between you and God. Ask Him to do an attitude check and to fill your “gratitude tank” before you run out of gas. If gratitude is not motivating your living, you will burn through energy like dry firewood on a blistering cold winter night. Without daily doses of divine gratitude, your enthusiasm will float away like smoke up a chimney.
The morning is an ideal time to lay our requests before our heavenly Father. When you walk close with God, the desires of your heart will align more closely with His wishes for your life. This is reassuring. As you walk with Jesus each day, ask Him by faith for a pure heart. Ask Him to lead you to the right career opportunity in His timing. Look to Him for courage to walk away from a relationship or a deal or to accept a new challenge—one that forces you out of your comfort zone. Ask Him for the trust and the patience to accept His timing with all the issues crowding your mind. There is no better way to start your day than with God!
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Heavenly Father, wake me in the morning to start my day with You in listening prayer.
Related Readings
Psalms 5:3; 88:13; 119:147; 143:8; Isaiah 50:4; Luke 11:1; Acts 16:13
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional 2016).
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Post by Parker on Apr 3, 2023 10:07:06 GMT -8
God Audit
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
PSALM 139:23-24
Expect God to conduct a regular audit of your life. His Holy Spirit is an expert at probing beneath the surface of our actions and rooting out unhealthy motives and habits. We can talk ourselves into anything, but God holds our feet to the fire of His expectation.
He searches our hearts, looking for payouts of forgiveness to others. Keep your relational accounts short. In Christ, you can forgive others of their debt. Write off their offenses, and you will enjoy heavenly credits. This is what we do as Christians—we forgive. We forgive because of the great mercy we have received from our heavenly Father.
Another common discovery from God’s audit is fear. Our minds swirl with scenarios out of our control. Fear of failure, fear of confrontation, fear of rejection, and fear of the future can immobilize you. These fears birth anxious thoughts that refuse to go away.
God’s probing will put a finger on your worries, and He will remind you to trust Him. He gently and lovingly says not to let anxiety drive you, but to trust. He can handle anything He uncovers in your life and anything you encounter in life. This is what He does as God. He calms you during uncertainty and stabilizes you in difficult circumstances. Trust your heavenly auditor—whatever He asks you to change will be for your good and the good of others. His audit is for your benefit.
This divine accounting of your life is based on your invitation. Yes, the Holy Spirit is performing an internal audit at all times. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you can never get away from His prompting, convicting, and comforting presence. He is ever at work—even when you are unaware. But busyness can barricade you from the Holy Spirit’s influence. You can run so hard that you run right by His warning signs. Your wife says to slow down, or you see the children growing up without you, but you keep running. Your body screams to slow down, but you keep running—until your first heart attack. Your schedule says to slow down, but you keep breaking promises and letting people down.
God’s audit may require you to go away and open the books of your life to the life giver Himself. Trust that things will go just fine as you take the time to listen to your heavenly auditor. Listen intently and obey. This pause in your schedule is meant to propel you forward. A time of introspection, confession, and repentance frees you to move ahead in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your freedom and opportunities will multiply when you are God-compliant. Clean books and a clear conscience expand your capacity and energize you for God’s next assignment.
“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Heavenly Father, search my heart, purify my motives, and make me more like Christ.
Related Readings
1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 7:9; Proverbs 17:3; Jeremiah 11:20; Revelation 2:23
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 4, 2023 4:52:37 GMT -8
Career Challenges
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
COLOSSIANS 3:23
Career challenges are meant to keep us close to Christ, not drive us to default to our own drive and determination. The fear of layoffs, downsizing, and restructuring can linger over our lives like a bad dream. Our confidence is shaken as we wonder if we will continue to receive a paycheck. We may feel extremely vulnerable because our industry is caught up in change and consolidation.
However, these down cycles are your opportunity to remain a dependable employee, partner, investor, or boss. For instance, make sure your attitude aligns around the Almighty’s big picture for your life. This season of service has been a gift from your Savior, and going forward, you are a much better person than before. Use these days of uncertainty to stay engaged in your job. Remain an asset rather than a liability to your company. Your work is for the Lord first, so labor with passion, focus, and diligence.
There are various ways to keep a stellar testimony during these trying times at the office. First, focus on doing your job with excellence, and don’t allow fear to force you into an early exit. Sometimes you feel conflicted, just as Nehemiah did—you are building the wall with half your resources and fighting the enemy of discouragement with the other half (Nehemiah 4:17).
Second, be flexible as people leave. You may need to take on some new responsibilities. See this as an opportunity to expand your capacity and learning. Your boss remembers who worked harder and smarter during the hard times. Be willing to get out of your comfort zone and serve in a totally new role if that is what it takes to weather your current vocational storm.
“Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank” (Proverbs 22:29).
Lastly, if you are a supervisor, manager, director, or executive team member, do the right thing the right way and trust God with the results. Stay under the authority of wise objective counsel and follow through on their advice. Make the hard call early to let someone go, but do it with grace and generosity. Pray with and for the team member you ask to exit. Look them in the eye and affirm their contribution to the organization. Do everything you can in good conscience to provide them contract work or connect them with other career opportunities.
Christians have a responsibility to reach out to those in transition and to walk additional miles with them in their search for work (Matthew 5:41). The way you manage is your ministry, so take it seriously and prayerfully. Your career constituents are your congregation—they need to see you model Christ in the marketplace. Men and women are most vulnerable and teachable in the middle of career challenges and transitions, so use this window of ministry to love them toward the Lord. Career challenges are meant to draw everyone closer to Christ!
“So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor” (Job 37:7).
How can I best model Christ in my current career challenge?
Related Readings
2 Chronicles 34:12; Nehemiah 5:15; Psalm 127:1; 1 Timothy 4:10
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 5, 2023 4:48:40 GMT -8
Effective Accountability
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
PROVERBS 27:17
Accountability is essential for the follower of Jesus Christ. We are accountable to God and man. Accountability brings integrity to our commitments and follow-through in God’s will for our lives. We all do better when others are watching.
The details of your life may be blurry to most. But when you surround yourself with trusted advisers, you give them the reading glasses to your heart and soul. They see and understand your motives—the good and the bad reasons why you do what you do. In a supportive and safe environment, you share with them your struggles, sins, and fears.
Accountability slows you down. It takes time to consider hard questions about your time in prayer and God’s Word, your thought life, your financial health, your marriage, your work, your schedule, and so on. Nothing is off-limits when you are truly accountable. Accountability is most effective when you sincerely submit to others.
Collaboration and a small group perspective can provide you with a 360-degree evaluation. Find a small group of four or five who are willing to grow old with you—people who can tell when you’re blowing smoke. Men who can read you because they really know you. They know your tendency to drink too much, to blow up in a fit of rage, or to take your wife for granted. They know how your unguarded strength can become your greatest weakness. They help you keep these pitfalls in check.
They also affirm your progress and success. Accountability includes positive reinforcement as well as warning or rebuke.
True accountability partners point you to God. He is the standard. His Word holds the rules of the game. When an issue is under debate, biblical principles trump other considerations. Submission and obedience to God are the foundation and the goal of accountability. He is still there when no one is watching. He understands the motives of our hearts when we ourselves are confused.
Fear of God is good and effective accountability. When you fear the Lord, what you say and do matters for today and for eternity. Your respect and love for Him become so strong that you want to do His will no matter what. Your desire to grow in His character drives your life. This type of God-conscious living grows your accountability over time. You discover more of God’s expectations for your life—expectations you never knew existed. You also become free of some limits on your life that you have imposed but God never intended.
Effective accountability with God requires time and transparency. Seek His face and ask what needs to change in your life. Let others know what God is teaching you and ask for their mutual accountability. Submit to God, caring friends, and your wife. Accountability leads to freedom. Be set free!
“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12).
Heavenly Father, I want to be transparent and real with a small group of trusted friends who can love me and encourage me in Your ways.
Related Readings
Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 4:13; James 5:16
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 6, 2023 4:12:43 GMT -8
Financial Accountability
We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:20-21
Financial accountability is of primary importance to an organization with integrity. This especially applies to gifts made in the name of the Lord to a church or ministry. Those who name the name of Christ must maintain a high standard of fiduciary responsibility. Cavalier money managers are suspect, but conscientious stewards establish a reputation of wise financial management.
What checks and balances does your church have in place to protect you from fraud? Are the ministries you support audited by outside firms to assure impartial oversight? These are basic, bottom-line best practices that protect everyone involved. Naive trust without financial accountability can lead to mismanagement of funds.
Wise money managers don’t do just enough to get by. They go the extra mile to avoid any criticism of their appropriation of funds. They make a solemn commitment to steward well the Lord’s resources. Churches and ministries that highly value stewardship go to great pains to put in place leaders of integrity—men and women who manage money with honesty.
How are your personal finances? Has God blessed you materially? Do you represent Him well as His money manager? Is a financial professional of good character looking over your shoulder to provide accountability? Secretive financial practices invite suspicion, but full financial disclosure offers clarity.
If you are married, financial ignorance is not an option. One spouse may manage the finances, but the other needs to understand their financial status, and they need to hold each other accountable. Most families and organizations do not complain of too much financial accountability, but many get in trouble where it’s lacking.
Therefore, whether at work, home, or church, implement financial processes and policies that provide ongoing accountability. Those who manage well will be blessed with more. Passing the small tests in financial accountability affords you larger opportunities later on. Honor the Lord and man by taking pains to be financially accountable.
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:23).
How can I be a catalyst for financial accountability at work, home, and church?
Related Readings
Judges 17:2; Amos 8:5; Matthew 27:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 7, 2023 5:11:46 GMT -8
Temptation’s Allure
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
GENESIS 3:6
Temptation is not ugly. It is attractive. It wears seductive clothing and alluring perfume. A smiling and bubbly woman who brings energy and a little too much excitement into a business relationship, luscious meals with way too many calories, a no-lose financial deal that’s a bit sketchy… these things and so many more bait our unguarded appetites.
We cannot feed our bodies large quantities of poor-quality food without consequences. So don’t live to eat, but eat to live. Good health is a gift from God. Steward it well and wisely. Budget your diet as you do your money. Your physical well-being is one of your best investments. Better to pay a personal trainer now than a surgeon later.
The same goes for your optical intake. Don’t allow your eyes to feast on someone or something you cannot have. Why place yourself in a position of compromise? If you travel, hire an intern of the same sex for accountability and apprenticeship. You may need to remove your television or computer from your home for a season so you aren’t bombarded by temptation. Appreciate the beauty your eyes behold, but do not desire or crave its object.
Use your finances to care for your family and promote the kingdom of God. Establish best practices in your professional and personal stewardship. Enjoy the blessings God has given you and bless others as He enables you. You’ll experience more joy in giving than you could ever know simply by getting.
Temptation won’t go away until we go to glory. It started in the Garden of Eden, and it continues today. Even in the best of environments, temptation crouches at the door. There is no completely encapsulated temptation-free zone. However, you can be smart and avoid situations that feed and facilitate temptation. You may need to break off a friendship or quit confiding in a coworker about your marital problems (seek professional help instead). Innocent flirting can easily lead to infidelity.
Temptation is a fire waiting to destroy. Do not go close to its flickering flames. Instead, draw closer to the warmth of God’s love and to those who love you the most. When you are frustrated, you are more likely to fall into temptation, but reject this excuse. Invite the Holy Spirit to douse temptation’s fires. Let people who care know what you are thinking and doing. We do better when others are watching. The consequences of giving in to temptation are crushing. The fruit of following Jesus is rich, rewarding, and satisfying. Reject the tempter and accept your Savior Jesus. Never forget—the bait has a hook!
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).
Heavenly Father, through my love for You and my fear of sin’s consequences, deliver me from the deceptions of the evil one.
Related Readings
Matthew 4:1; 26:41; Luke 11:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:13-15
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Parker on Apr 8, 2023 9:26:10 GMT -8
Trials and Temptations
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13
What is temptation? It is desire enticing you to make an unwise decision. To be tempted is not a sin, but it does reveal that a sinful desire is being conceived. We are wise to see temptation coming and prepare to overcome its deceitful power. Trials are outward tests that can lead to inward temptations. When weakened by adversity, we become prime targets of our adversary, the devil. So how can we be prepared to overcome trials and temptations?
A job promotion can be a good thing, but what if it requires the test of travel? Time away from home cannot be properly replaced by any amount of money. And what are the agreed-on guidelines (with ourselves and, if we are married, with our wife) to keep us from falling into temptation? The moral temptation is to not remain faithful. The ethical temptation is to compromise our honesty. Peer temptation is to give into juvenile behavior. Intentional preplanning is the best way to deal with temptation. Avoid compromising situations. Don’t be alone with the opposite sex, avoid nightclubs, and keep accurate expense reports.
“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).
Many people desire to get rich. Wealth is tempting because of the allure of affluence—freedom, nice homes, new cars, power, and prestige. The test of prosperity calls for a generous spirit. Otherwise, money creates its own idols. Those blessed materially learn how to leverage their possessions for God’s kingdom and not their own. They recognize the Lord as the owner and themselves as stewards. Generosity trumps the temptation of greediness.
Use trials to draw closer to Christ. Avoid the temptation to pull away from Him. Don’t allow hard times to harden your heart. Instead, invite the Spirit to soften your heart. Alone in the desert, Jesus was tempted by the devil, but He answered Satan’s lies with the truth of Scripture. So seek the Lord when He seems distant, and He will draw you to Himself. Be transparent with mentors and friends who can support you in remaining faithful. Confessing your vulnerabilities weakens temptation’s grip. Christ provides a way of escape for patient endurance.
“Because he himself [Jesus] suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).
Heavenly Father, lead me away from temptations and into the joy of doing Your will.
Related Readings
Job 1:12; Matthew 4:1; 6:13; 1 Timothy 6:9; Hebrews 4:15; James 1:13-15
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible for Men: A 90-Day Devotional
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