Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

PSALM 23:6.

G.o.d'S GOODNESS is His predisposition to show favor and His energy to bring about blessing. It's not just a static characteristic; G.o.d's goodness actively flows from Him to us. G.o.d's mercy has a different tone. His standard is perfection, but we fall short every day. Although we deserve punishment, G.o.d's mercy means that we don't get what we deserve. What a relief!

In his most beloved poem, David is overwhelmed with G.o.d's love, and he remarks that His goodness and mercy will be his companions every day of his life-not just on the days David goes to the Temple, and not just on the days that he is thankful and obedient. No, in this psalm, he's counting on G.o.d's goodness all day every day, even when he'll blow it and desperately need to experience G.o.d's mercy again.

David had tasted G.o.d's goodness and mercy, and he wanted to experience G.o.d's presence as much as possible. Before the coming of Christ, the presence of G.o.d dwelled in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Today, instead of in the Holy of Holies, G.o.d's Spirit actually lives in each believer, so we are never alone. If our spiritual eyes are open, we'll notice G.o.d's goodness and mercy all around us, and we'll grasp His blessings with both hands. They're there; we just need to see them.

What are some evidences of G.o.d's goodness and mercy in your life today?

What are some things you can do to be more aware of G.o.d's presence?

"A mighty fortress is our G.o.d, a bulwark never failing: our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing."-MARTIN LUTHER

JANUARY 25.

LIVE LIKE YOU MEAN IT!.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!

PSALM 22:26.

ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE ATt.i.tUDES in a person's life is to demand, "I deserve better." Psychologist and writer Larry Crabb observed that many Christians see themselves as the center of the universe, and to them, G.o.d exists only to make them happy and comfortable. Crabb said that we treat G.o.d like a "specially attentive waiter," giving Him our orders and tipping Him when He performs well, but complaining when we don't get exactly what we expected.[2]

A far more accurate perspective is that we are "poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17) before the majesty and holiness of Almighty G.o.d. Everything we are and everything we have are gifts from Him. If we grasp that fact, we, the poor, will be far more satisfied with the gifts and opportunities G.o.d gives us-instead of demanding our way and complaining when we don't get it.

With humility, we pursue G.o.d and delight to know Him. We increasingly realize that He is our most valuable treasure, and our hearts sing with grat.i.tude. We are amazed that the Creator of the universe would love us and involve us in the greatest adventure people have ever known. That's when our hearts "live forever"!

How does seeing G.o.d as a "specially attentive waiter" ruin our relationship with Him?

Take a minute to reflect on G.o.d's greatness and grace, His love, and the privilege of being His partner in changing people's lives.

"Do you want to enter what people call 'the high life'? Then go a step lower down."-ANDREW MURRAY

JANUARY 26.

OVERCOMING THE WORLD.

This is the love of G.o.d, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of G.o.d overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d?

1 JOHN 5:3-5.

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, the word world is used in two different ways. Sometimes it describes the earth and all its people ("Behold! The Lamb of G.o.d who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29), and sometimes it refers to sinful, self-absorbed patterns of life. When John says that believers "overcome the world," he has the second meaning in mind.

We live in a culture that promises far more than it can deliver. Each and every day, we are barraged by promises of beauty, riches, success, fame, and pleasure. They claim to be able to fill our hearts and give us ultimate happiness, and quite often, we believe their lies. If these promises came to us dressed up as demons in little red suits, we'd recognize them at once and refuse to trust them, but because their lies appear, like Satan himself, as sources of light, we are easily duped.

Why do we need to overcome the world? Because it can overwhelm us and distract us from our relationship with G.o.d. These lies steal our attention, erode our faith in G.o.d, corrupt our motives, and strain our relationships. Every part of our lives is affected, if not ruined, if we believe the false promises.

Overcoming the world doesn't happen by magic because we say a certain thing or by osmosis because we attend church. Wars are won by carefully planning, marshalling resources, being courageous in action, and especially by following the directions of the commander. In our fight with the world, we overcome when we stay close to Jesus, recognize and reject the lies we hear, and walk in obedience to Him.

What are some of the lies the world tells us? Why do we so readily believe them?

How well are you overcoming the world at this point in your life? What adjustments do you need to make?

"Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it has a G.o.d who knew His way out of the grave."-G. K. CHESTERTON

JANUARY 27.

TAKE UP THE CROSS.

Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

MARK 10:21.

WHEN WE READ about the rich young ruler, we often picture him as self-righteous and greedy, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. His pursuit of G.o.d was sincere. He ran to Jesus and fell on his knees in front of Him, and his questions reflected honest inquiry (see Mark 10:17).

Mark records that Jesus' famous directive to the man, to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, was motivated by His love, not by disgust. Jesus wants each of us to love Him wholeheartedly, but we can't love Him that way if our hearts are full of anything or anyone else. Idolatry isn't just about little statues. We can make anything an idol if it takes first place in our hearts: a spouse or children, work, hobbies, wealth, fame, beauty, or possessions. Jesus pinpointed the one thing that kept this young man from experiencing the richness of a relationship with G.o.d: money.

The remedy for idolatry isn't a halfway measure. Idols must be ripped out of our hearts and replaced with G.o.d Himself. Since money was this man's idol, Jesus didn't mince words: "Sell your stuff and give all the money to the poor." Jesus didn't tell anyone else to do this, but when He points out an idol in anyone's life, He requires radical surgery. Nothing less will do.

When we loosen our grip on our idols, we can then take up the cross of obedience and loyalty to Christ and follow Him wherever He leads. This is the "abundant life" in all its richness that only Christ can give; idols steal our hearts and leave us empty.

How would you have felt if you'd been the man that day?

Has the Spirit pointed out any idol in your heart today? If so, what will you do about it?

"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below."-CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON

JANUARY 28.

OWNER OR MANAGER?.

The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

PSALM 24:1.

IN A CAPITALIST ECONOMY, ownership is a cornerstone of society. We earn money and buy things, and we consider those things to be ours. But the Bible has a different twist on capitalism. The earth and everything in it were created by G.o.d, and as the Creator, He is the rightful owner. He entrusts parts to us for a short time, but we're wise to see ourselves as managers instead of owners.

A consumer mentality values things and people for what they do for us. If they make us feel happy and strong, we like them, but if they don't make us feel good, we get rid of them. As G.o.d-appointed managers, we acknowledge that our money (and the skills G.o.d gave us to earn money) is the Lord's, and our first question is, Lord, how can I use this in a way that pleases You? If we ask that question often enough, we may change some of our spending habits, and we might devote more of our resources to the things that matter most to G.o.d.

Of course, people are what matter most to Him. Our families, friends, neighbors, and coworkers belong to G.o.d too. He has put us in relationships with them for a purpose, and again, we need to ask a similar, piercing question: Lord, how can I relate to these people in a way that encourages them and honors You?

How would it affect your management of money and other resources if you saw yourself as G.o.d's appointed manager?

How would it affect your relationships if you saw people as entrusted to you by G.o.d?

"Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. Where your heart is, there is your happiness."-SAINT AUGUSTINE

JANUARY 29.

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to G.o.d the Father through Him.

COLOSSIANS 3:17.

MANY CHRISTIANS ATTEMPT to compartmentalize their lives into sacred and secular parts. They're aware of G.o.d for an hour on Sunday mornings and perhaps for a few minutes each day when they read the Bible and pray, but they hardly think of Him the rest of the time. One of the most life-transforming concepts is that we are in G.o.d's presence all day, every day. We can relate to Him, serve Him, and depend on Him every moment-at work and at home, in the car and on the golf course, in the bedroom and in the boardroom.

In his insightful and challenging book The Call, Os Guinness defines our purpose as "the truth that G.o.d calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service."[3] This perspective gives meaning to every moment, and it challenges us to live with integrity in every choice and relationship because we represent G.o.d at all times.

Does this perspective inspire you to use every part of your day more effectively as G.o.d's servant, or does it threaten you because you realize some things in your life aren't what they should be? It should do both.

What are some negative consequences of compartmentalizing G.o.d into just a part of our lives?

What would it mean to you to live by Guinness's concept of our calling?

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."-RALPH WALDO EMERSON "You've got to be before you can do, and do before you can have."-ZIG ZIGLAR

JANUARY 30.

SURE-FOOTED.

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.