Enough

June 13 – Enough – Patient Enough?

Read Romans 8:25

“If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.”

Richard Kipling

The first part of the poem IF by Richard Kipling can help you deal with something that is difficult:

waiting.

Good things take time! If you are learning to play the piano, participating in a play or a musical or trying to get good at a new sport, it takes time. If you are trying to be patient enough with the people that you work with, it takes time. Patience is one of the greatest lessons we can learn. When you have a setback, do you have the grit and the patience of the king of the comebacks – Jesus Christ?

Patience has to be a mindset and a priority in both prayer and life.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” – Galatians 6:9

There is a proper time to reap, but often we lack the patience necessary to get there. Maybe we don’t wait long enough. The greatest reward may be the strength and determination that you can develop by waiting. If you plant a seed but keep uprooting it to check if it’s growing, you’ll never get the reward of a tree.

Consider Paul, while patiently enduring all types of persecution for the name of Christ, at the end of his ministry said:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” – 2 Timothy 4: 7

Being patient can help you to develop grit, perseverance, a love for others, avoiding excuses, learning from your mistakes, letting go (the hardest part of love), confidence and dignity (accept losing). Patience is a fruit of the spirit of Christ.

Are you patient enough with others? Being patient with people is an expression of love.

When one is suffering, the questions arises, “What can I do?” The Psalmist tells us there is something we can do—wait (Ps. 130:5–6). To wait is to trust in God. God is in control.

Being patient is an expression of hope in God. We wait while recognizing that God is in control.

“We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.” – Proverbs 16:33

While you are waiting – whatever your situation – remember that God is on the throne. Have confidence;

“for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption” – Psalm 130:7

Good things take time!

Tom Weckesser

June 12 – Enough – Good Enough?

Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

One of the greatest experiences of my life was travelling to Israel in 2012.

I don’t remember a lot but can recall standing in Caesarea Maritima amongst some ruins. Our teacher and tour guide said, “Oh, by the way, we are currently standing within 50 feet of where Paul appealed to Caesar” (Acts 25).

Chills ran throughout my body as I grappled with that statement.

We then walked over to what was a horse track back in ancient times. As we escaped the sun by standing under a porch where the ruler would address the people of the day, our teacher told us that it was above our heads where Herod was eaten alive by worms in Acts 12 because he took the praise of the people and not giving glory to God.

What a one-two punch, am I right?

That visual has always stuck out to me. I never want to be a prideful person. But, let’s be honest, it’s easy to accept the praise that people give to you.

Today, when people speak kind words to me, while thankful, I’m tempted to think higher of myself than I should. I combat those emotions by thinking of that horse track in Caesarea Maritima.

Through anything that I do, I don’t want people to see me, I want them to see Jesus within me. If thinking of Herod doesn’t work, I will vocally speak truth out loud until my heart accepts it:

“Your words, not mine.”

“Glory to you, God.”

“You be praised, Father.”

I will admit. I’m not 100% successful at diverting praise to Jesus and the Corinthian believers seemed to struggle with this as well.

In our reading today, Paul needs to dish out some humble pie because the Corinthian church began to think a little too highly of themselves:

“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?”

Apparently, this was an ongoing problem.

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God.”

The only confidence that we can have is through Christ and for His glory. Without Him, we are nothing. It is only through Him that we can live and breathe.

Personally, I am honored that God would choose me to be one of many vessels telling people about the hope they can have through Jesus.

As you take an honest inventory of your life, are you tempted to think too highly of yourself? In what areas are you most tempted to do so? In what way are you going to humble yourself before God?

If you need to, think of Herod. It’s better to humble yourself before God humbles you.

Jake Lawson

June 11 – Enough – giving enough?

Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Proverbs 21:26

Generosity is a tough topic to grasp. It can be relative to each person, someone with a $100k salary might feel that giving $1,000 is impossible while someone earning $50,000 might be able to give $10,000 with no problem.

Money in general is a moving target, there is always a next level, another milestone to achieve.

The verse in Proverbs explains this perfectly, “all day long he craves for more…” Given to our selfishness and desires, our cravings can overtake us. The verse goes on to say “but the righteous give without sparing.”

The correlation of righteousness and generosity must not be overlooked.

The sanctification process that God is working in our lives is expressed in a variety of ways, one of which is giving. When we have been blessed with the greatest gift of salvation we should be filled with grace and display it, specifically in our finances, amongst other areas.

The part I struggle with when reading this verse is “without sparing.” If I really give without sparing wouldn’t I end in financial ruin and have a family that is desolate, lacking their everyday needs? There is always another area that would benefit humanity if I chip in a few dollars, as many as my life savings could afford. Does this conflict with Luke 14:28 where Jesus says?“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

Finances and generosity require a plan!

How much do you spend on gas a week? How much are your groceries? What are you committing to a retirement fund or your 401(k)? How much are you giving? All of these questions should have an answer and by having one, you can be much more strategic, way more influential and accomplish goals that are currently just dreams.

We shouldn’t expect to give our last dollar if our family has needs. However, we should be constantly looking for ways to bless others out of our abundance. Generosity looks a little bit different for every person because we have all been gifted differently.

Though one expectation that we all should have is living generously no matter our circumstances.

Do you need to put a plan in place? Do you need to revisit your plan? What is your plan for generosity?

Jeff Walter

June 10 – Enough – asking enough?

Read Matthew 7:7-11 and Philippians 4:6-8

A pastor once said, “Prayer is exchanging our broken perspective for God’s divine perspective.”

How many times have we prayed to God for strength or wisdom and this or that but failed to ask for the patience to wait for the answer?

Often, we tend to use God as a Heavenly ATM machine, making our requests known expecting the answer that we were looking for. Do you trust God’s perspective of your life…His divine perspective? How often do you allow your prayer life to become clouded due to your own emotions and misguided motives?

God is our LOVING father. He won’t give up on you but you may have given up on Him because you haven’t gotten the answer to prayer you wanted?

Maybe you need to examine your motives.

Are you asking for peace in your decisions, contentment in what you have, safety from your own mistakes, strength to face the hardships of life?

Are you praying for your team to win or for everyone to do their best?

Are you praying for fame and fortune or peace with what you have?

Does it fit in the list we find in Philippians 4:6-8? Is it true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy?

Remember God has promised to answer your prayers but He is not a “Heavenly ATM Machine” where you put your request in, say the right words and immediately you get what you asked for. God has promised to answer prayers but, we need to remember He might not always answer, “Yes!”  He might say “WAIT, it is not the right time.” “Wait, you aren’t ready to handle that!” “WAIT, think about it, do you really want that?”   “WAIT, I have a better plan!” And the one that is hard for us to take, “NO, it isn’t good for you.”

God is always listening, so keep on asking, but don’t be afraid to also ask, “Why?”  and then be patient, in the midst of all that is going on around about you to peacefully WAIT for an answer! In all of this, know that He has your best interest in mind and, if we exchange our broken perspective for His divine perspective, we can be used best for His glory!

Pat Arnold

June 9 – Enough – brave enough?

Read John 16:33

“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.”

Brave = ready to face and endure danger or pain, showing courage

Bravery = courageous behavior or character

Bravery is mental or moral strength to face danger, fear or difficulty.  God encourages His people to be brave because He is with them.  The command for us to be brave is usually accompanied with an instruction from God that may seem impossible.  God knows how weak we often feel when are faced with a challenge that seems too great.  In this verse Jesus is instilling in His apostles the bravery they will need, to face great challenges.  Jesus had just finished the Passover – the Last Supper – with His apostles.  He now gives them His farewell sermon.  In this passage Jesus has given them, (and us) reasons to be brave:

I have told you these things….

What things has Jesus told them?

He comforts them with the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  (John 14)

He tells them that the world will hate them, but stay connected to Him.  (John 15)

He tells them that their grief will be turned into joy. (John 16)

So that in Me you may have peace.

By knowing “these things”, Jesus has given them the power to live victoriously in the world, and the ability to be at peace.  This peace is found only “in Him”.  It’s the will of Jesus that His apostles should have peace “within” whatever troubles they may experience “without” – in the world.

In this world you will have trouble.

Note the contrast between “in Him” and “in this world”.  In Jesus there is peace, but in the world, there is trouble.  Because we are “In Him” we can experience peace in the midst of trouble, persecution and tribulation.  But, in order to experience this peace, we have to be “in Him”.  This denotes a relationship.  A relationship with God through Jesus is the only way to experience true peace. “In Him” is the key, because in ourselves we have nothing, but “In Him” we have all we need! 

But take heart!

Be comforted. Be Brave. Be of good courage. All will be well.  There is hope found “in Him”!  

I have overcome the world.

The grounds for this bravery – He has overcome the world. In Scripture, Jesus will soon come face to face with evil.  He will experience the world’s hatred to the utmost.  He will endure the cross and rise from the grave.  Because Jesus overcame the world, we can look upon it as a conquered enemy.  And because He overcame the world, we as believers have nothing to do, but to be brave in the pursuit of victory. 

Do you feel brave enough to face a medical diagnosis?  Brave enough to face financial uncertainty? Brave enough to pray for God’s leading in a major decision?  Brave enough to let a child go?  Brave enough to go where Jesus is calling you?

“We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

Romans 8:37

Janene Nagel

June 8 – Enough – strong enough?

Read Deuteronomy 31:6

Watching the high school championship track meet I realized that those kids had to be strong in order to be able to run as fast as they could for one, two, three, four or more times around the entire track!

But then I started to think, just who is really stronger, the runners or the one who crosses the finish line way behind the winner, maybe limping, but with determination to finish the race?

Who is stronger, the person who is very successful and has everything going for them or a woman who suddenly finds herself widowed at the young age with 5 children to raise on her own?

Who is stronger, a famous athlete who is making millions of dollars shooting basketballs or a cancer patient who finally gets to ring the bell because their chemo treatments are over?

That inner strength, that assurance that no matter what, no matter how hard it can get, that everything is going to be OK is a lot stronger and more precious than anything one can achieve from hours at a gym.

Where does that inner strength come from?  It comes from knowing God!  Knowing that He will never let you go!  Knowing He is beside you to cheer you on, behind you to keep you going, and ahead of you to lead the way!

No amount of time spent exercising or money spent on gym memberships and or personal trainers can do as much good as spending time each day with God.  There is nothing better a parent can give their child to prepare them for life than to introduce them to our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus, helping them get to know His voice, feel His hand of comfort, call on His strength and rejoice in His presence!

Occasionally it is said when there is a conflict:

“Yeah, you and what army?”      

Well as a Christian we have an army around us.  We just need to recognize that it is there. 

Then we can say:

“I know who goes before me.
I know who stands behind.

The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

The one who reigns forever,
He is a friend of mine.

The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

And nothing formed against me shall stand!
You hold the whole world in your hands!
I’m holding on to your promises

You are faithful!

You are faithful!”

If you know the maker of the universe, who or what should you fear?  You are strong enough to face the trials and tribulation of this life.  

He has promised to never leave you or forsake you. 

What area(s) of your life do you need to trust in the strength only God can provide? Who are you going to bring alongside yourself in order to make it through?

Reach out and accept His hand!

Pat Arnold

June 7 – Enough

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 12:9

Have you ever felt that you just weren’t good enough?

I remember, at 18, my world coming crashing down when my high school basketball coach said, to my face, that I don’t have what it takes to play college basketball. For some, that would have motivated them to no end, but it had the opposite effect on me. In the 11 years since graduating high school, I have played a competitive basketball game once.

I want nothing to do with it.

The weight that was on my shoulders of not measuring up to my standards was just about too much to carry. Always being focused on climbing a figurative ladder without taking the time to be happy on the rung that you’re currently on. It’s kind of like tunnel vision and, when you fall short, it’s the end of the world.

Praise God that I have surrendered this, among other areas in my life where I struggle with being “good enough” to the point where I am not allowing the pressure to be on my shoulders.

I am immediately, consciously and even audibly placing it at the feet of Jesus.

For the next 7 days, we will be in a devotional series called Enough where we are going to be looking at several areas of our lives and how we are enough through Jesus.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

As you read through these areas, I challenge you to read with an open mind. Do you hold yourself to an unrealistic and unachievable standard? Are you always looking up and not around you? Are you constantly focused on doing more in order to be put in a better light?

God’s grace is sufficient.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

You are not enough because of anything that you have or can do. You are enough because Jesus says you are and, through Him, you are a new creation! Your identity isn’t found in your past failures but in the future that you will have through Jesus.

Throughout the next week, I pray that you would begin to understand that you are enough. During this series, always come back to the truth of the verses that we read today.

God’s grace is sufficient. You are a new creation through Him.

Jake Lawson