Category: Strength for Today

Song of Solomon 1:1
“The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.”

Half of the battle to having a successful marriage is fought in your head. Many marriages are destroyed because of a person’s inattention to their spouse. If you are going to make your marriage successful, you are going to have to make sure that you give time to your marriage in your head.

When Solomon talks about this song that he wrote about his wife, he says that it is “the song of songs.” In other words, his favorite song to sing was the song about his wife. His wife was his world. Sadly, as everyone knows, he lost this passion that he had towards his wife as seen by the several women he ended up marrying. There are three things you can glean from this song that will help your marriage.

First, whatever you do, be sure to make your spouse your best friend. Solomon didn’t say that this song was one of the best; he said that it was the “song of songs.” This song was his favorite. You will never have a successful marriage if your spouse is not your best friend. You are on your way to marital problems if you enjoy spending time with someone else more than your spouse. One mistake many make after marriage is that they still want to run with the guys or the girls. Friend, your spouse needs to be the one with whom you should desire to spend time. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not looking for a night out with the guys, I would rather have a night out with my wife. It is almost as if people have the mentality that they are in bondage to their spouse, so they need time away with their friends. The one you should desire to spend the most time with should be your spouse. Making your spouse your best friend is what enables this to happen.

Second, spend time thinking about your spouse. I’m not a songwriter, but I have written several books. I know it takes time to think if you are going to write. Likewise, it is going to take time thinking about your spouse if you are going to have a successful marriage. Be sure to keep your thoughts positive about your spouse. Think about what you can do to make your marriage stronger. A marriage that doesn’t have time invested in thought is a marriage that has lost its passion and tenderness. Don’t get so busy that you don’t take time to think about your spouse and what you can do to better show your love to them.

Third, continue making your love story the best love story. Solomon was making his love story better when he wrote this song. Time is one of the most important ingredients to having a successful marriage. One of the common regrets I hear from those who’ve lost their marriage is that they wish they had given more time to their spouse. Everyone lives a busy life, but you better not get so busy that you don’t have time to spend with your spouse. Don’t get so busy with the ministry, career or business that you never have time for your spouse. The only way you are going to make your love story better is by spending time with them.

Every marriage is a work in progress. The three things mentioned in this devotional are going to have to be a regular part of your marriage if you want to make your marriage your favorite song. Don’t let your marriage become an old song. Work on it and let the song of your marriage get better with time.

Ecclesiastes 4:1
“So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.”

Truly, one of the saddest statements found in the Scriptures is found in the verse above. It is said twice, “…they had no comforter.” To think of all that these people were going through, and yet no person would go out of their way to comfort them. It reminds me of the time when the Good Samaritan who, when he saw a man was beaten and left to die, stopped and helped when no one else would help. It ought never to be said about anyone with whom you come in contact that they had no comforter. Four thoughts come to mind when I look at this verse.

First, are you a comforter of the oppressed? It says in the verse above, “So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun…and they had no comforter…” The oppressed are those who are treated unjustly. It is those who are the outcasts of the crowd. I wonder if I were to ask the oppressed whom you are around if you are the one they can count on to comfort them. If you have ever been on the wrong side of unjust treatment, you would understand the helpless feeling when nobody comes to your defense. Friend, I would rather be a comfort to the oppressed than to be accepted by the popular who oppress.

Second, are you a comforter for the hurting? It says in the verse above, “…behold the tears of such as were oppressed…” There are many whom God leads across your path on a regular basis who you could comfort if you would slow down to see their tears. I think of those who have lost a loved one; are you there to comfort them in their loss or are you too busy to be inconvenienced? Are you there for those who’s heart has been broken? One of the greatest Christian acts you can regularly perform is to be an encouragement to the hurting.

Third, are you a comforter for the weak. The verse above talks about those who were oppressed because there “was no power.” There are many in life whom you could give a helping hand if you would be sure that your life is not wrapped up in yourself. If you ever want to be used mightily by God, you are going to have to realize that life does not revolve around you. The Christian must take their eyes off themselves and see that God has placed others around them who need their helping hand to make it in their time of weakness. For instance, instead of criticizing the fallen, why not be the comforter to help them get up to make something of their life? There are those who may be struggling in their Christian life; are you doing your best to help them overcome whatever weakness they have? This is one of the greatest things you could do as a Christian.

Finally, how about spending your life introducing people to The Comforter. Yes, I’m talking about introducing others to Jesus Christ. The greatest thing you could do to comfort others is to show them how to get saved, because once they are saved, they will never be without The Comforter. Don’t let it be said on your watch that “they had no comforter.” You can always be assured that you have left people with comfort when you lead them to Jesus Christ, Who will give them The Comforter.

Second, you must choose to forgive those who have hurt you. Nobody made Job pray for his friends. God didn’t tell him he had to pray for them, but he chose to do it. You can open the doors to freedom from unforgiveness and the desire to get revenge if you choose to do so. It is a matter of you taking the initiative to forgive the person who hurt you. You will only be able to do it through prayer. Don’t be so foolish to stay incarcerated in unforgiveness. You hold the keys to your freedom if you will forgive. What are you going to do with those keys?

Job 33:1
“Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.”

Correcting a person properly will give you the best chance of gaining the respect of the person being corrected. Of course, we never know how someone will respond to correction, that is completely up to the condition of their heart, but you can do your best to be sure to correct properly so that you can continue to work together as a team for many years to come.

Though Job was not guilty of the accusations which came from his three friends, he was guilty of pride. After Elihu had heard Job’s three friends condemn and accuse without addressing the issue, he stepped in and decided to show his opinion of the situation. Whether or not you agree with what Elihu did, I do believe that Elihu was wise in how he corrected. There were five things he did in his correction that would benefit anyone who wants to correct properly.

First, he spoke directly. In the verse above, Elihu spoke directly to Job. In verse 3, he also spoke “clearly” when he corrected. It is important when you correct others that you speak clearly about the problem so that there is no misunderstanding. Don’t be guilty of speaking in “code” to them, but clearly lay out the problem so that they don’t walk away wondering for what they were being corrected.

Second, he spoke respectfully. Elihu said in verse 6, “…I also am formed out of the clay.” He made sure that he didn’t speak down to Job, but he spoke with the understanding that he was capable of doing the same thing. It is crucial in all correction that you are respectful of the individual. When you belittle the person who has done wrong, you will lose their respect. Just because they have done wrong doesn’t give you the right to run them down. Always deal with the wrong directly without attacking the offender, and allow them to keep their dignity.

Third, he spoke to build and not to destroy. You can tell that Elihu truly wanted to help when he said in verse 7, “…neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.” His desire was to build Job through correction. Always use correction to correct something that keeps the individual from growing. When the person being corrected believes that you are trying to build them, they will more likely receive the correction properly.

Fourth, he properly identified the problem. In verse 9, he didn’t avoid Job’s pride, but he clearly repeated what Job said. Whenever you correct someone, be sure to speak factually so that there is no dispute about the situation. This is why it is important that you have all the facts before you start correcting. When you show a person the facts about their wrong, you have a better chance of avoiding arguments and heated disputes.

Fifth, he spoke with a desire to listen. Elihu said in verse 32, “If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.” Always give the one being corrected a chance to tell their side of the story. To correct a person without giving them a chance to tell their side of the story is unjust. When a person has been given a fair hearing with their correction, they will more likely respond properly and gain respect so that you can continue to help and influence the individual.

Job 23:16
“For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:”

One of the results of having trials in life is that it softens your heart. As I look over my ministry, there have been trials that God sent my way to soften my heart. When saying that God softened my heart, it wasn’t that I didn’t care for people, but the compassion to help and the tears to weep with those who weep wasn’t where it should be. Every trial that God sent my way had a way of softening my heart towards God and those who are hurting.

Everybody at some time needs to have their heart softened. Life tends to harden us towards people, and God knows that the only way to soften our hearts is by sending trials our way. Job admitted to this in the verse above. He said, “For God maketh my heart soft…” The trials that he endured softened his heart so that he would become more pliable for God’s work. There are a few thoughts we can glean from this verse that will help us with our trials.

First, let the trials you face be a tool in God’s hand to make you more into His image. One of the definitions of the word “soft” is, “easy to mold.” In other words, God allows you to go through hard times to mold you more into His image. When you look at those whom God has used, you will always find that they became more like Him through their trials. Why? Because they became more moldable during that time, which caused them to come forth as gold. You can either allow your trials to make you soft or hard. Naomi went through hard times and became a bitter woman; whereas, Job endured greater trials and allowed them to make his heart soft. If you yield to the hand of God in the time of trial, the tender heart will allow Him to mold you more into His image causing you to come forth as gold.

Second, trials have a way of softening your outlook on the hardships that others face. Isn’t it amazing how those who have endured a certain trial tend to have a softer heart towards those who are presently enduring the same thing? Trials have a way of doing this to you. If you allow the trial to mold you into God’s image, it will also cause you to be more tender towards those who are facing what you have already faced. God allows you to go through hardships because He knows it will help you to be a better help to those who have endured the same thing.

Third, don’t try to soften another’s heart, only God can do it. One of the complaints I get from pastors about young staff is that they don’t have the compassion the pastor would like them to have. I always tell the pastor that over time their heart will soften. The reason I know it will soften is because over time they will endure trials. You need to be careful about trying to play God in another’s life by trying to make them have a softer heart. Only God can make a heart soft. In His timing, He will allow them to face the trials at the right time to soften their heart toward others. You are going to have to trust the sovereignty of God in this area.

Are you in the midst of a trial? Have trials come your way and you wonder why? Instead of allowing the trials to harden your heart, let them soften you towards God and others. Ask God to show you where you need to have a softer heart and work on the areas He shows you.

Job 16:4
“I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.”

It is so easy to talk about someone and tell others what they need to do when you have never experienced what they are enduring. This is exactly what Eliphaz and his friends did to Job. They criticized Job’s spirituality and told him what they thought he needed to do when they had no idea as to the reason for his trial.

Job’s response to their criticism is classic. He said, “I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you…” Job understood that they had no idea what was in his heart. He knew that they were looking from a critical view instead of a helpful one. These friends could have been a great encouragement to Job in the biggest crisis of his life if they had used their words to help instead of to destroy.

Every person will at some point in their life find themselves looking at a modern day Job. You always have to remember that it is easy to talk critically about someone when you don’t know the reason as to why God would allow heartache and tragedy to come their way. There are some guidelines you should follow whenever you find yourself looking at someone who is going through a tragedy in their life.

First, don’t judge! Just because you think you know the reason someone is going through something doesn’t make it fact. You are human, and humans don’t see the whole picture that God sees. What we think could be God’s judgment could be His attempt to strengthen someone. You may be right that God is judging someone, but you could also be wrong. You would be better to leave the judging to God and simply help the individual through their condition.

Second, treat those in hardship the same way you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes. The mistake Job’s friends made was that they didn’t consider that one day they would be judged in their trials the same way they judged him. I have tried to make it a policy in my life to treat others the same way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes. When someone falls in sin, treat them the same way you would want to be treated if you fell in sin. When someone is going through battles, treat them the same way you would want to be treated if you were going through battles. Whatever trial others are facing, treat them the way you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes because one day you may go through what they are facing.

Third, use your words to encourage and not to accuse. The sad part about Job’s friends is that they could have been a great encouragement to him; instead, they added to his grief. It is easy to accuse others, but it is better to be the encourager who helps them through hardships. It is always better to be an encouragement to others because you don’t want to run those off who can encourage you when you go through hard times. Always remember that what goes around will come around. Be the constant encourager; you will never regret it.

Job 1:7

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

Satan’s only chance of destroying a Christian is through finding opportunities they give him to destroy them. It is very evident in the dialogue between Satan and the LORD that the Christian is safe from Satan’s tactics if they will not give him any opportunities. If the Christian guards their life and doesn’t give Satan an opportunity to work in their heart and mind, they can overcome any temptation of the flesh.

In the verse above, Satan answered the LORD’s question about from whence he came by saying, “…From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Satan’s own answer confirms 1 Peter 5:8 that says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Job didn’t give Satan an opportunity to destroy him, so the only hope he had was through asking the LORD to allow him to test Job’s spirituality by physical testing. Job lived such a holy life that Satan had no opportunity to destroy him.

The story of Job reminds me of the life of Daniel. Those who wanted to destroy Daniel sought for a chance to destroy him through his lifestyle, but they found none. Daniel 6:4 says, “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.” The only way they could find an occasion to destroy Daniel was through his walk with the LORD. Daniel lived such a holy life that Satan had no nothing by which to tempt or destroy him.

Christian, Satan is constantly looking for opportunities to destroy you. You could defeat most of Satan’s fiery darts thrown at you if you lived your life in such a way as to not give him an opportunity to destroy you. How you live your life is important to your Christian life. Satan is seeking for a crack in your Christian life through which he can tempt or destroy you. There are two things you must do to be sure you don’t give him an opportunity.

First, protect the gateways of your life. Protect what you see, hear and with whom you associate. The psalmist says in Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes…” Paul asked the church of Galatia in Galatians 3:1, “…who hath bewitched you…” Be sure that what you see and hear is something that wouldn’t give Satan an opportunity to destroy you. Be sure your friends and associations are ones who will not pull you away from obeying the LORD or from doing what you are called to do.

Second, you can keep Satan from having an opportunity to destroy you through prayer. James 4:8 reminds us, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” If you will yield yourself daily, if not hourly, to the Holy Spirit of God, you will find that Satan won’t have any opportunities to destroy you. Daily ask God to help you to live your life in a way that you don’t give Satan any chance to destroy you.

Every Christian can have victory over Satan if they will not give him opportunities to destroy them. If you are vigilant in these two areas, you will find that you can overcome Satan’s attacks and live the victorious Christian life.

Esther 6:1
“On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.”

The decree had been made and published in every province of Babylon that on a certain day every Jew was to be killed. It must have seemed like a dark day for every Jew to know that their existence was going to end. They could not leave because they were captives in the land. They must have felt that they were trapped and that there was no way out of this horrible situation.

However, they could not see what God was doing. It says in the verse above, “On that night could not the king sleep…” What the Jews could not see was that God was working in the heart of the king. The king couldn’t sleep because God wouldn’t let him sleep. God knew that when the king had the records of the chronicles read to him, he would discover how Mordecai saved his life, and he would honor him for that act. It is encouraging that God was working even when His people could not see His work.

Have you ever felt a little like the Jews in that everything was against you and you wondered if God was doing anything to help your situation? The story in the verse above should encourage you that there is more going on than what you can see. There are a few thoughts we can glean from this story.

First, just because you don’t see God working doesn’t mean that He is not working. God doesn’t always work on the stage, but He often works on the backstage where you don’t see His hand working for you. You may recall in Daniel 10:13 how Daniel prayed and saw no answer, but God was already working in the background with an answer. You must adopt the mindset that you don’t have to see God working to know that He is working. Always remember that God is working in your situation even before you know of the situation.

Second, don’t despair when you don’t see God working. There is always hope when you are a child of God. God reminds us that He is working for us in Luke 12 when he says, “…how much more…” If God is going to feed the raven and clothe the grass of the field, “how much more” do you think He will care for your situation? If God is concerned with His creation for whom He did not die, “how much more” do you think He cares for His creation for whom He did die? You must not despair when you don’t see God working. You have to trust Him that He is doing work which you cannot see.

Third, when you don’t see God working, live as if you saw Him working. When you don’t see God working in your situation, pray with the confidence as if you do see Him working. When you don’t see God working, keep soul winning and praising Him as if you can see what He is doing in the background of your life.

There are going to be times in your life when you don’t see God working. In these times, you must trust that “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I can assure you with the authority of God’s Word that no matter what you face today, God is already working a solution for your situation. So, cheer up my friend; you will see what God is doing if you don’t give up.

Nehemiah 8:16
“So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.”

One of the hardest lessons many have had to learn in the ministry is that they can’t make people respond to what they want them to do. You can try to shame people into responding, but that doesn’t make them change. You can require people to respond, but again that won’t constitute a change in heart. The desire of every preacher, teacher or ministry leader should be that people don’t only respond, but that their response is the result of a change of heart.

The verse above shows that Nehemiah learned the secret to getting people to respond as a result of a change of heart. Two times in this chapter they responded to Nehemiah’s leadership through the teaching of the Word of God. You find that God’s Word is the key to getting people to respond as a result of a change of heart. It says in verse 1, “…they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.” It was God’s Word and what they did with His Word that started the people’s response through a changed heart. There were four things they did with God’s Word that caused the change of heart.

First, they read the Word of God. Verse 3 says, “…he read therein…” There is only one way you will ever get to the heart of any individual, and that is through the reading of the Word of God. God reminds us of the power of how deep His Word will go in Hebrews 4:12 when He says, “…piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” You will never change people without the reading of God’s Word.

Second, they prayed to the God of the Word of God. After they had read the Scriptures, they prayed to God confessing their sin and praising Him. If you want God’s Word to affect the hearts of those who hear it, you need to commit the reading of it to God through prayer asking Him to let His Word work deeply into their hearts until they change.

Third, they taught the Word of God. Verse 8 says, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” It is vitally important to teach God’s Word in such a manner for people to understand what they read. You will find that when people clearly see what God’s Word teaches, they will more aptly be willing to change from their erring ways. Teaching your opinions and preferences will not change people, but God’s Word is what causes people to have a change of heart.

Fourth, they challenged people to change from God’s Word. In verses 10 and 16, you will see the people accepted the challenge from God’s Word to change. You will be amazed how God’s people will be willing to respond when they are clearly taught and challenged from His Word.

My friend, don’t underestimate the power God’s Word can have in the hearts of mankind. People will respond as a result of a change of heart if we use God’s Word to do the changing. Don’t fall for the trap of using man’s methods and opinions, but stick with the teaching of the Word of God and you will be amazed how readily people will want to respond.