DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Your résumé is an important document because it's what you'll present as your personal record of experience, education and qualifications to find a job. With a résumé, a person may be able to schedule an interview and (depending on how that interview might go) may be offered a job, a salary and/or benefits. Similarly, Christians have a spiritual résumé that God will use to determine a believer's faithfulness. Depending upon the strength of your spiritual résumé, greater doors can open up for you. In Matthew 9:29, we learn that the Lord Jesus told the blind that, "According to your faith will it be done to you." Based upon your spiritual résumé today, would you be given the opportunity to walk through greater doors? Based on your current résumé, are you experiencing blessings and joy?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE A FAILURE OR A LOSER?

Matthew 14:36

The sick begged him to let them touch even the fringe of his robe, and all who touched it were healed.

Our enemy has put together a strategy to get people to believe that they are losers. God, however, promised the faithful a winning and everlasting victory. If you believe God's promise, the Word says you will need to have the kind of faith taught about in Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” When the sick learned that Jesus could heal their diseases, they believed and were persistent in following Him until they could touch just the very tip of the hem of His clothes for Jesus' healing power. How persistent are you in pursuing His healing power and blessings for your life? Would you follow Him beyond your tolerance levels for pain, obstacles and letdown?

GIVING IT ALL THAT YOU'VE GOT

2 Corinthians 8:2-3

Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 speaks of something that most people just won't understand at first glance. The first century Christians that Paul describes absolutely displayed the practice of true Christianity when they gave up everything they owned for God. Acts 2:44-45 teaches us, “And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need.” This was a display of simple obedience to the teaching of the Word of God. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us, “You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.” Do you find that you are a cheerful giver? Would you give up everything you own for God?

BLESS THE BLESSERS AND CURSE THE CURSERS

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." The family of believers we see today all began with a promise to one man whose family evolved into what would later become the nation of Israel. Obedience and a blind trusting faith in God is what Abram had to display to receive that promised blessing that would go well beyond his living generation. If you exhibit that kind of blind faith, you too can be the seedling that can brings generations of blessings to your family. Is your trust in God strong enough for you to exhibit a blind faith in your walk today?

EVIDENCE OF THINGS UNSEEN

Hebrews 11:1

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

In August of 1949, Billy Graham said, "I was so filled with doubts, I then took the Bible up into the high Sierra Nevada mountains in California. I opened it and got on my knees. I plead, 'Father I cannot understand many things in this Book. I cannot come intellectually all the way, but I accept it by faith to be authoritative, the inspired Word of the Living God!'" Records show that by the age of 89, Billy Graham's faith in the Christ brought him to personally advise nine U.S. presidents and lead more than 400 crusade events in over 185 countries. His is a truly amazing story of how a strong faith can open the gates for God to do wondrous things with ordinary people. A strong faith can bring forth the hopes that we have in our hearts to become reality through the unseen power and influence of the Holy Spirit. It leaves only one question on faith for you to answer: Is your Christian faith strong today?

PERMANENT UNQUESTIONABLE IMPACT

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The life of a person who gives over his life to God for His will is a life that will have a permanent impact on the world. Our Lord Jesus taught us in Hebrews 10:7, “Then I said, 'Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.” To this day, although he may not be physically among us, Jesus Christ still has an unparalleled impact on the lives of the faithful because all that mattered to Him was to do the will of His Father. Faithful believers need to take the time to share the Word of God accurately with the unsaved and then put sincere effort into living right to bring a permanent impact upon the world. What is your impact on the community, region, country and globe going to be? Trust in Christ and you'll be sure to find out.

IF YOU DIED TODAY, HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

Ecclesiastes 2:21

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 2:21 is all about the misfortunes of success. You might gain and control a massive amount of wealth, but at the end of the day you can’t take anything with you to the grave. All worldly possessions become meaningless unless you leave a legacy that turns misfortune into fortune. Jesus taught us in Matthew 16:26, “And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Leave a behind a legacy that makes people remember how God moved in your life. Leave behind a legacy that can be used to bring people to Jesus Christ. If today was your last day on earth, how would everyone remember you? What would your legacy be?

YOU HAVE A SECRET POWER

1 Corinthians 2:7

No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began.

The greatest privilege given to us by God is the revelation of His wisdom. Matthew 11:25 says, “Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike.’” He also said in Mark 10:15, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." The secret has already been revealed to those who have a childlike faith. The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 1:4, “Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Are you engaging your relationship with God with a childlike faith? If you are, you've already seen what God's power looks like in your life.

UNLIMITED INNER STRENGTH

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

When critical decision making is required and you don’t know what's right or wrong, your inner strength needs to overcome your physical strength. When temptation comes upon you, rely on the inner strength given to you by the sweet Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity. Roman 8:6 teaches us that, “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.” You can’t really successfully control your own life because your own personal strength will ultimately allow sin to exist in your life. However, if you let the Holy Spirit be your mighty inner strength, your body becomes a living and breathing temple of strength through the Holy Spirit. Which do you find yourself exerting more throughout your day, your inner strength or your physical strength?

BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Mature and responsible people work whether they like it or not. They go to school and study whether they like it or not. There’s a story about a preacher who had an urge to preach in a church building with no congregants in the pews and he preached as if the place was filled with people. Many years later, he was approached by a man who said to him, “Sir, a sermon of yours saved my life.” The preacher asked, “How so?” The man replied, “I was passing your building one day and hearing a voice, I stood and listened from the outside. I was an ex-convict and in despair, but that day I received the Lord after I listened to you.” Keep preaching the Word because you never know who might be listening, learning and changing the direction of their lives. Just as with all good things that take time, be patient and persistent.

WHO CAN YOU TRUST?

2 Timothy 3:14

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

As you journey through the different levels of academic study, you'll find yourself bombarded by different philosophies, points of views and thought patterns. Generally, these things consist of humanity's attempt to find solutions to improve life. What's ironic is that the Bible has already achieved that goal. When times are unclear, force yourself to remember the truths learned from the teachings of the Word of God, the only absolute teaching that could transform lives completely for the better. Learn from it, share from it and then change the world around you with wisdom garnered from it. As we're taught in 2 Timothy 3:14, "remain faithful to the things you have been taught." The answer to Who can you trust? is easy. Trust the Lord and Savior that has been graciously faithful to you even when you actually deserved no good favor at all. Let your trust be active in Jesus because He can change your life.

COULD YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING?

John 21:15

After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.

"Do you love me?" Three times the Lord Jesus asked Peter this question, and Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, I love you more than these.” Now, Peter was not a regular fisherman. He had boats, nets and servants, making him more of a commercial fisherman and he likely had everything a common man could desire during Jesus' time. The Lord asked him the same question three times because Peter would have to abandon all his worldly possessions and leave behind everything gained via business to follow Jesus. When Jesus asked these questions, He had already been resurrected from the dead and had proven His power to conquer death. The greatest message that needed to be preached was already before Peter, and Jesus was really telling him how important it is for people to hear God’s message. Make God’s values your own values. Make what’s important to Him, important to you.

WHY MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS?

Job 7:17

What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?

What's so great about man that should require God’s full attention, and that He should have sent His only Son to die on the cross to save man? What makes us so important to God? The answer is simple: God owns you and created you in His image and likeness. There is something in you that belongs to God according to Genesis 2:7 where the Word teaches us, “And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person.” Nothing else in God’s creation was given the breath of God except for man. This makes us unique and special to Him. It isn't your appearance, money, possessions, achievements, fame or popularity that would make you important to God, but that breath which is in you that belongs to Him. That's the big deal.

MAKE YOUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS DISAPPEAR

2 Corinthians 8:9

You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ was sent from heaven because of God's gracious love. In John 6:38 Jesus teaches us, “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.” He left heaven’s glory where streets are pure gold and the gates are made of pearl, to live on earth becoming poor so that those who would receive Him could become children of God and heirs to heaven's glory. Now that kind of inheritance would make a person very blessed and wealthy indeed. Wouldn't it great to make all of your financial problems disappear? You actually can, and it all begins with Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him.

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

Daniel 6:20

When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

The book of Daniel teaches us about people who were envious of Daniel’s relationship with King Darius, that jealously conspired and spun an evil scenario that would force the king to sentence the respected prophet to death in a lions' den. What those conspirators failed to understand was that Daniel belonged to and worked for God. Under God’s authority and protection, the lions' den became Daniel’s den with the lions as Daniel's tamed visitors. Inside Daniel’s den, the lions came under God’s authority and those that worked for God were given rule over the beasts. Working for God obviously offers some very serious perks and privileges – if, and only if, you have Daniel’s kind of faith. So what kind of faith do you have?

NOTHING BUT A FILTHY RAG

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

As Christians, our righteousness isn’t a result of our own good deeds since even with our best behavior according to Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags.” The rags mentioned in this verse are actually the clothing used by lepers to wrap their bloody and pus-filled wounds. It’s because of God’s love that His Son was sent to heal us from our unrighteousness, allowing us back into God’s sight and at peace with Him. The peace that we now have, we only have because of Christ.

YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING WITH YOU

1 Corinthians 7:31

Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.

The Word of God teaches us how to have the right attitude about our valuable possessions and our feelings about them. Because our time and energy typically becomes focused while gaining possessions, these items often carry sentimental and unreasonable value. Some items may symbolize achievements (diplomas) or special events (trophies, rings). The Bible teaches us, however, to avoid becoming attached to our earthly possessions because earthly things will eventually pass away. God gives His children everything needed, but we have to be careful to not fall in love with the blessings, but rather to fall in love with the One that blesses because when world passes away, these possessions will be gone. Do you find yourself sometimes attached to things of the world? Just remember the One that provided those blessings to you and the gift of salvation He's giving you by grace.

LAZY LAZY LAZY

Proverbs 6:6

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise!

There’s a story I’d read about a girl who made Jesus her Lord and Savior. Her parents ridiculed her for the decision and they did their best to get her to renounce her faith in Christ. She remained faithful and told them, “By God’s grace I’ll never go back to my old life!” As time passed, her father noticed the change in her life and told her, “I guess it must be real because now you get up at six o’clock every morning to study the Bible. Before you were so lazy, we had trouble getting you out of bed!” King Solomon wrote about ants in Proverbs 6:7 telling us, “Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they work.” A person shouldn't have to be told or forced to get up and work, so don’t be lazy. Let your testimony on work ethics be a strong testimony of faith.

ROCK SOLID

2 Samuel 22:32

For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Edward Mote wrote the hymn “The Solid Rock” in 1836 and chorus runs like this: “On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” There’s very little in a person’s life that lasts forever because everything in our lives is in a constant state of change. You may be rich today and poor tomorrow, healthy today and sick tomorrow, alive today and dead in just a moment. Our Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:24 that, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Jesus is the only thing in your life that will last forever. Be wise and make sure that the rock solid Savior is the foundation of your life and heart's desires.

DISOBEDIENT PARENTS PRODUCE DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

Disobedient children exist because disobedient parents exist. God's very first instruction to parents was to teach their children to love God. If parents obeyed God's instruction, they would find their children in full obedience of their rules and requests. As children, we need to remember that our freedoms have boundaries and rules. I'd once read a funny story about a father and son where the son was turning 18 in a state where the curfew for minors was 11:00pm. The son told his father how happy he was that he could now stay out as late as he wanted. His father responded, “You can stay out as late as you want, but that car is under 18 and it has to be in the garage by 11:00pm.” Parents, you need to understand that if you obey the Lord, your children will learn to be obedient to the Lord and to you, as well. If your children aren't obeying you, and you want to find out why, you should probably begin by looking at your own relationship with God.

ARMED, READY AND WILLING

1 Peter 4:1

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.

The harsh reality of life is that suffering is real and expected. Even God dealt with suffering when He took the form of a man in Jesus Christ and was beaten, humiliated and crucified for the sin's of the world. There’s an old tale about a king that was suffering through a painful illness and as a cure for his ailment, he was advised to take a happy man's shirt and to wear it day and night. He sent royal messengers to search and retrieve a happy man from the kingdom. Months passed, and after a thorough search the messengers returned with neither a happy man or his shirt. One day the king asked his messengers, “What did you find?” They replied, “O king, we found one such man, just one in the kingdom!” The king then asked “Then why did you not bring back his shirt?” One messenger quietly replied as he looked down, “Master, the man had no shirt.” You see, even in the darkest times of suffering one can still be content. As Christians, we need to be armed, ready and willing for suffering during our walk with Christ and it’s with the attitude of Jesus that we will be able to withstand the pain. Are you personally prepared?

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

Job 6:10

At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Job may have experienced some of the worst pain – mentally, physically or emotionally– ever experienced by a man. There will be times that Christians will go through discomforts while walking the Christian walk and some of those discomforts will even be caused by the people around us. Worse yet, there will be times when your pains will even caused by Christians. The Word of God teaches us in Philippians 2:3, “Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” A spiritually mature person is comfortable in uncomfortable situations – just like Job. How comfortable are you in uncomfortable situations?

A WINNER'S ATTITUDE

Philippians 2:5

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.

Firmin Abautiz was an elderly man known for being calm and never losing his temper. His temperament was so well-known that some would even intentionally try to provoke Abautiz. In one instance, his housekeeper intentionally neglected to make the beds. The next morning, Abautiz reminded her to make the beds, but the housekeeper claimed to have "forgotten" the task and nothing more was said between the two. For two more days, she continued to avoid the beds, and for two days she was reminded daily, and for two days she provided similar excuses. On the third day, Abautiz said to her, “You have not yet made my bed, but it is evident you are determined to do it. Well, I suppose you find the job troublesome. It’s of little consequence though because I’ve already become comfortable with the unmade beds.” Certain things are beyond our control because each person is allowed the freewill to choose and make decisions. Instead of losing the joy of life because of difficult situations, try to gain the joy of life by having a Christ-like winning attitude.

A GOOD PLAN AND A GOOD ATTITUDE

Psalm 118:25-26

O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Psalm 118:25-26 is meant to be sung as one's begging of God for success. The same exact song was sung many years later by the masses when Jesus entered Jerusalem in Matthew 21:9, “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” Hosanna in it's truest and most sincere translation means “God save us”. In life, we must realize that true success only comes through Almighty God, our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have the right attitude toward God and His plan for your life, you'll find success and blessings upon your life. Have you entrusted the successes of your life and endeavors to God? If not, what's holding you back?

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Isn't it beautiful to see when people are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving of each other? Maria Feodormena, the wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander III, once saw a letter signed by her husband that denied a pardon for a condemned man. The letter read as follows: “Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia.” The empress edited the note and moved the comma a tiny bit so that it read: “Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia.” That act of kindness spared a condemned man’s life and later that man was freed. Christian brothers and sisters, we need to be kind to each other because the long term effects of kindness are immeasurable beyond generations. What was your last random act of kindness?