"It does not matter how great the pressure is. What matters is where does the pressure lie? Does it push you closer to the heart of G.o.d or away from G.o.d?"-HUDSON TAYLOR

FEBRUARY 12.

G.o.d'S PEACE PLAN

The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.

PSALM 29:11.

MANY OF US HAVE an entirely wrong idea about peace. We think it can only be found in the absence of ha.s.sles, but that's not the way King David saw it. In this brief psalm, he recounts a few of the wonders of G.o.d's power. He describes a violent thunderstorm that breaks over Lebanon, north of Israel, its lightning shattering the sky and trees and its thunder frightening the animals in the forest. Finally, David reminds us that G.o.d showed the power of His hand and His righteous judgment against sin by sending the Flood to destroy the entire population except for Noah and his family.

Out of this power and majesty, G.o.d gives His people strength and peace. A heart at rest doesn't come only from the absence of problems. Far more significantly, G.o.d's peace can be ours any time we focus on His greatness, His involvement with His Creation, and His tender care. With that perception, we can experience G.o.d's peace even in the middle of the storms of life. That's G.o.d's peace plan. Our part is to fill our minds with the wonder of His strength, and as our faith grows, so will our sense of G.o.d's peace.

What's the connection between wonder and peace?

What are some things you can do to increase your sense of wonder at G.o.d's power?

"G.o.d takes life's broken pieces and gives us unbroken peace."-WILBERT DONALD GOUGH

FEBRUARY 13.

SPIRIT AND TRUTH.

[Jesus said,] "The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. G.o.d is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

JOHN 4:23-24.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN at the well thought that people could connect with G.o.d only at particular places and in particular ways (see John 4:20). Jesus gently told her that G.o.d is bigger than that-a lot bigger! Places and rituals aren't the essentials of a relationship with G.o.d. Jesus explains that, instead, there are two rails that keep us on track: spirit and truth. Both are necessary for a vibrant, growing relationship with G.o.d.

In today's verse, John quotes Jesus as saying, "G.o.d is Spirit." We operate in the physical world, but G.o.d has put eternity in our hearts (see Ecclesiastes 3:11) with an awareness of the unseen world. It's easy, though, to be attracted to any of the myriad of spiritual experiences promised by other religions and New Age philosophies. Jesus reminded the woman (and us) that the second rail in our pursuit of G.o.d is truth. The Scriptures tell us the truth about the nature of G.o.d, the way He relates to us, His instructions about life and relationships, and the consequences of turning our backs on Him.

Our expanding grasp of truth, though, can lead only to pride if we aren't sensitive to G.o.d's Spirit, who points out our selfishness and points us back to G.o.d again and again. Spirit and truth-both are essential in our walk with G.o.d.

Which are you more attracted to, spiritual experiences or biblical truth?

What would a strong blend of both look like in your life?

"Many times Christians state their love for the Lord and their willingness to die for Him. I will make no pretense of knowing the Lord's will in your life, but I do feel that in most cases the Lord is far more interested in our living for Him than He is in our dying for Him."-ZIG ZIGLAR

FEBRUARY 14.

THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSh.e.l.l.

G.o.d so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

JOHN 3:16.

JOHN 3:16 is the most frequently quoted verse in the Bible. We see it sprayed on highway overpa.s.ses, held up on signs at football games, and printed on the bottom of cups at fast-food restaurants. Jesus' words are so familiar that we run the risk of forgetting their significance. We are wise to look at the verse as if we've never seen it before.

The statement is shocking! We had literally nothing to offer G.o.d-no bargaining chips to twist His arm and no virtue to win His acceptance-but G.o.d didn't wait for a better deal. Because He loved, He took the initiative to give, and His gift brought the cleansing of forgiveness and the promise of being with Him forever.

We can measure love by how much the lover gives, and in this one verse of Scripture, we find that G.o.d gave everything. Jesus had spent all eternity in Heaven being worshiped and served by a host of angels, but He stepped out of Heaven to earth for one purpose: not to live, but to die. And because He died for us, we don't have to experience the excruciating separation from Him for eternity that the Bible calls h.e.l.l.

Look at the words in the verse as if it's the first time you ever saw them. He loved, He gave, He forgives, and He rescues. That's the gospel in a nutsh.e.l.l.

How does it affect you to read this verse as if it's the first time you ever saw it?

Have you accepted His promise? Who else needs to hear it?

"In order to create there must be a dynamic force. And what force is greater than love?" -IGOR STRAVINSKY "You are not saved by a feeling, but by trusting G.o.d and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior."-ZIG ZIGLAR

FEBRUARY 15.

WELL, SHUT MY MOUTH!.

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

PROVERBS 21:23.

THE PRINCIPLE TAUGHT in this verse is one of the most empirically obvious in G.o.d's creation, but most of us still need remedial cla.s.ses to learn the lesson. How many times do we roll our eyes and think, How could I have said something so stupid?

We can keep our souls from trouble-the trouble that comes from others tormenting us for hurting them or from the nagging guilt from saying dumb things-only if we actively guard our mouths. Here are some commonsense suggestions that can change your life: Every morning, ask G.o.d for wisdom about your words.

Before any significant conversation, take a minute to define your goals. Also, identify any topics or issues to avoid or treat diplomatically.

Watch out for any temptation to use sarcasm to get a laugh. (Stopping that habit may severely limit the number of words some of us use!) In conversations, be aware that words can kill or cure. If you feel emotions rising, take a deep breath and don't let your words fly!

From time to time, give yourself a progress report on how well you're guarding your mouth.

For all of us, learning a new skill takes time and effort. And for some of us, the learning curve for guarding our words is really steep. Still, the peace of mind and joy of relationships are worth the effort.

In what specific kinds of situations does your mouth get you in trouble?

What steps will you take today to guard your mouth?

"I have never had to apologize for something I did not say."-IKE REIGHARD

FEBRUARY 16.

THE TURNAROUND ARTIST.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

PSALM 30:11.

KING DAVID'S LIFE was far from the life of ease we picture a king having. He dealt with enemies who were attacking him, poor health, and discouragement and hopelessness. In this psalm, he recounts a time when he felt especially depressed because, just after he had bragged about doing so well, it seemed G.o.d had abandoned him (see Psalm 30:7)! But David didn't stop looking for G.o.d. He cried out to Him, and eventually, He turned his life around.

Even a casual reading of David's psalms shows us that David wasn't afraid to be honest with G.o.d. Over and over again, he poured out his heart, sometimes in praise, but often in complaints that G.o.d seemed to be mistreating him or abandoning him. In almost every painfully honest psalm of David, we read in the end about G.o.d's resolution and relief.

The lesson for us is clear: G.o.d wants us to be honest with Him. He doesn't want us to be "plastic" Christians who always put on a happy face. David's example is that only through gut-level honesty, exposing our hurts and hopes to G.o.d, can we find Him. In this psalm and in many others, David doesn't tell us when or how the answers came. He just tells us they did come, and that's all we need to know. G.o.d delights in turning our mourning into dancing, but first we have to trust Him enough to be completely honest with Him.

Is it easy or hard for you to be genuinely honest with G.o.d? Explain your answer.

What are some things in your life right now that need to be turned from mourning to dancing?

"Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions."-MATTHEW HENRY

FEBRUARY 17.

COME NEXT SPRING.

Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

ACTS 26:28.

ALMOST. What a tragic word! It speaks of potential, desire, and possibility, but it also tells us about the devastation of hesitation. King Agrippa had listened to Paul explain the message of Christ's forgiveness in great detail. Everyone else, it seemed, was impressed with Paul's story and G.o.d's promise of eternal life. The king's faith, though, was blocked by reluctance, by "what ifs" and "but what abouts." His reaction was tragic, like the buds of early spring that promise new life but for some reason never flower.

It doesn't have to be that way. When Jesus spoke to Andrew and Peter, James and John, they listened intently, and then Jesus invited them to follow Him. Immediately, they dropped their fishing nets and went with Jesus (see Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20), beginning the greatest adventure life has to offer.

Paul didn't invite Agrippa to respond until he had heard the full message of forgiveness and new life, and Jesus didn't invite the fishermen to follow Him until they had heard His story. But at a point, the offer was given and choices were made. Have you heard G.o.d's message? Did you hesitate and miss out on the adventure of a lifetime, or did you drop your nets and follow Jesus?

Why do you think some listen and respond but others listen and hesitate?

In what ways are you hesitating, and in what ways are you following Jesus with all your heart?

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today."-BENJAMIN FRANKLIN