A Whole New You

"The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power and you will prophesy with them an you will be changed into a different person." 1 Samuel 10:6

Most people today are not happy with themselves and desire to be changed, in some way, differently than how they appear or act. We spend hundreds millions of dollars every year "getting rich quick," loosing or gaining weight, "increasing" our IQ, having cosmetic surgery, getting younger skin, or growing hair. You name it and we are spending money trying to change it now!

When Saul was anointed king by God through Samuel, the Bible tells us "as Saul turned to leave,... God changed Saul's heart." (1 Samuel 10:9) He was later able to prophesy (something he had never done before) among the prophets, Samuel writes, even to the disbelief of those that had known Saul for many years. Samuel told Saul, "...do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you." 1 Samuel 10:7

Saul had been transformed by God from the person known by friends and family as Saul son of Kish who was last seen looking for his father's donkeys, into Saul the King of Israel! He was empowered by the Creator of the universe to do whatever he wanted to do and God would give him everything he needed to be successful. "Talk about a whole new you!"

Nevertheless, Saul, I believe, would always have doubts in the back of his mind. After all, "this is only Saul," his friends would say, "he cannot possibly be different." Even, at his coronation he was found "hiding among the baggage" (1 Samuel 10:22), too shy to step out and grasp the power the Lord gave him.

I believe we Christians doubt sometimes the power that our Lord gives us through the Holy Spirit. We choose to listen to old friends, who knew us before we received the Lord and became different men and women in Christ. They tell us we are not any different or that we shouldn't listen to that "religious stuff." Soon we find ourselves believing them rather than God and we fail to use the power that He has given us.

We must learn to stop "hiding among the baggage" and chasing the donkeys of our old selves and learn to "do whatever (our) hands find to do, for God is with (us)." Listen to God and not the Enemy (through our past life) and be the man or woman God has called us to be.

My prayer. Daddy, I come to you humbly to thank you for the great power you have given me through Jesus Christ. Today, I receive that power and ask for you to walk with me so that I can do whatever it is my hand finds to do. In Jesus name and for your glory I believe and pray. Amen!

I Will Never Leave You

"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5

Do you ever feel alone? Even when people surround you, do you ever feel like there is no one there? Sometimes when the pressures of work, finances, or personal tragedy press in, we feel that there is not help there is no relief.

Joshua must have felt that way when he took over leadership of the Jews in the desert just outside the promised land. Moses led the people out of bondage in Egypt and was with them as they wandered in the wilderness for so many years. Now he was gone and it was Joshua who would pick up the mantle of leadership.

As children head back to school, our high school graduates enter college or head off to a distant shore to face unknown dangers in a war torn country, God is there. "I will give you every place where you set your foot," he promised Joshua, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life." (Joshua 1:3-5) Just as he was present in Joshua's situation so is he with you and I as we face new challenges in our daily lives.

It is so comforting to know that the God of the universe is not to busy to have his eye on us. He loves us and like a father, uses our life experiences to mold and shape us as his servants. He watches us as we endure life's trials and tribulations that he has ordained for us to develop our character and prepare us for new challenges that we will face in the future. "I know the plans I have for you...." declares the Lord in Jer 29:11. He has ordained for each of a unique life plan that he wants us to live out so that we may be prepared for the service he has called us to in his Kingdom. All the while He is there watching over us with love.

My prayer: Father thank you for always being there no matter what the circumstance. Use life's trials to make me stronger so that I may better serve you and bring you glory. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!