DailyDevotionals

Daily Devotionals

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2 Questions to ask Ourselves DAILY
MORNING- What am I going to do today to help spread God's Word?

EVENING- What did I do today to help spread God's Word?

August 27, 2008

Grace
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, August 27 2008

..."Peace be with you!" John 20:19
How would you respond to a group of fellow workers if you were their
leader and you poured your life into them, teaching them all you know for
three years, only to have them disband and go their own way when
troubles came? What would you say to them after you were reunited for
the first time? Perhaps you might scold them. Perhaps you might cite each
one's offense. At the least, you might shame them for their lack of
faithfulness and courage.

After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the
disciples. His first words to them were, "Peace be with you!" The word
grace means "unmerited favor." When someone loves you
unconditionally, without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a
powerful force in your life. Such was the case for the disciples when
Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead,
they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to
see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.

Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their
training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for
service. Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very
first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.

Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to
those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come
through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their
lives - and yours.

August 26, 2008

Our Plans and God's Plans
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, August 26 2008

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that
prevails." Proverbs 19:21
Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one
vocation only to end up doing something completely different? Perhaps
this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our minds what we
believe we want to do only to have a course correction. Often the course
correction comes through a major crisis that forces us into an area that
we would never have considered.

Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up
desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented and
internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a living as an artist
in America during that time. A series of crises further complicated his
vocational desire when his wife died; then his mother and father also died
soon after. He went to Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return
trip aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new
experiments in electromagnetism. During that important occasion, Morse
made the following comment, "If the presence of electricity can be made
visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not
be transmitted by electricity." In the face of many difficulties and
disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in
1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the
telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later, after many more
setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.

Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I cannot
underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look upward it calms any
apprehension for the future, and I seem to hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe
the lilies of the field, shall I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong
confidence, and I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence."
Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized
today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other
electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester,
Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]

God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural inclination. Perhaps
God has you taking a path that may not lead to His ultimate destination for
you. Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge
Him in all you do, and He shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).

August 25, 2008

BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN: EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR
  HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN
  THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE
  WHO LOVE HIM.
                     ( 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 *NKJV )


      No one knows what the future holds for them, but as a
  Child of God you may have peace of mind!   Our Heavenly
  Father has great plans for your future, not only on Earth,
  but in Heaven as well!   Therefore we have no reason
  to fear the future, for with God in charge there is no need
  to worry about anything!

      Now even though in this life we may suffer heartache and
  woe, He is always there to comfort and guide us, and in our
  next life, we will live with Him in Paradise forever!

      Therefore let us: PRAISE THE LORD! OH, GIVE THANKS
  TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD! FOR HIS MERCY
  ENDURES FOREVER. ( PSALM 106:1 ) After all, we cannot
  imagine all of the wonderful things that God has planned for
  our future, but one thing that we may count on is that the
  "Best Is Yet To Come!"

      Now have a Wonderful day, and may: God's
  Great Love, Hope and Faith, fill your heart and mind, AND
  MAY THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL
  UNDERSTANDING be with you now and always!   Amen!
  ( PHILIPPIANS 4:7 )

August 24, 2008

God's Recruitment Strategy for Leaders
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Sunday, August 24 2008

"Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see
nothing." Acts 9:8a
When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much
travail. There are many examples where God makes His presence known
through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul.

Consider Paul, who was stricken blind on the Damascus road.

Consider Peter; when he denied Jesus after the crucifixion, he was in
total despair.

Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the
fiery furnace.

Consider Daniel, who was thrown into the lions' den.

Consider David, who was forced to flee his former employer for many
years and lived as a fugitive.

It may seem strange to us that God uses such incredible adversity to
prepare His servants for greater service, but this is God's way. God knows
that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into situations
that take us beyond our comfort zone. He intentionally brings us into hard
places to prove us and to drive us deeper into the soil of His grace.

In arid regions of the world, trees cannot survive unless their roots grow
deeper to where the water table can be found. Once they reach the water,
these trees become stronger than any tree that can be found in tropical
climates. Their root systems ensure that they can withstand any storm. In
the same way, God brings us into extremely difficult situations in order to
prove His power and drive our spiritual roots deeper.

Friend, God may take you through times when you will question His love
for you. In such times, you must cling to His coattail so that you see His
purposes in it. Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly
rewarded.

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you
will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, 'He who is
coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him'" (Hebrews 10:36-38).

August 23, 2008

The Art of Waiting
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Saturday, August 23 2008

"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them...."
Exodus 13:21
How are you at waiting on God? How do you determine if God is giving you
the green light to move forward? Many workplace believers make the
mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding that God has
given them the green light. Several factors go into making a decision from
the Lord.

It is important to do three things before you make a decision on a matter.
First, you should gather facts. Fact gathering allows you to determine all
the realities of a given situation. However, this does not ultimately drive
your decision, but it can put a stop to it. For instance, if you were planning
to build a shopping center and you knew the only way to lease the space
was to rent to a porn shop, your decision would be made. God would not
lead you to enter into unrighteous ventures.

Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision? "If the Lord
delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm" (Ps. 37:23). George
Mueller cites that the steps are also "by the Lord." God puts hedges
around us, but many times we bull our way through the hedges under the
guise of tenacity and perseverance. This too is unrighteousness. One
wise workplace believer stated that the greatest success one can have in
business is to know when it is time to pull the plug rather than keep
forcing a situation. Not all businesses last forever.

Third, has your decision been confirmed? God has placed others around
us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep
us from the deceit of our own heart. "Every matter must be established by
the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2 Cor. 13:1b). This is God's way
of keeping us within the hedge of His protection.

"Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser."

August 22, 2008

Drawing Near to Darkness
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Friday, August 22 2008

"The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick
darkness where God was." Exodus 20:21
Like the nation of Israel, we are each called to the mountain of God, but
few are willing to pass through the darkness to get there. God wanted to
reveal His glory to the children of Israel, but they were afraid to enter into
His presence. They only wanted to know about God, rather than know him
personally like Moses did. This grieved the heart of God.

Why wouldn't the people of Israel risk entering the darkness if it meant
being in the presence of God? What did the people fear?

Perhaps they had fears like each of us. The fear of the unknown. The fear
of what might happen. The fear that God might not like what He sees. Or,
perhaps even the greatest fear: the fear of darkness itself and what lies
behind that darkness.

Many of us have been satisfied to hear about God from God's
messengers. But there is a greater calling for each of u - a calling to enter
into His presence. Sometimes entering into His presence means we enter
through an unexpected door - a door that appears to have nothing good
behind it.

We do not need to fear entering the presence of God even if it means
entering through a period of darkness. Above all else we must believe
that God is a God of love. If He calls us into darkness in order to enter His
presence, then that darkness will become an entry to new levels of
relationship with a God who longs for fellowship with you and me.

August 21, 2008

Free to Stand
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, August 21 2008

"That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies..." Joshua 7:12
It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest
resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It
will all fail if you have a break in your armor.

This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small
army at Ai, which was the Israelites' second battle in the Promised Land.
Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor. We look
at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. For the people of Israel,
it was not easily seen on the surface. Everything seemed just as it should be from
Joshua's vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to
God, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to
deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)

The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person
had violated the covenant with God. They were not to take any possessions from
the first battle, but one person failed to live up to this, and the whole army suffered.

Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from satan, who then gains permission
from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If
we break down in moral purity, satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we
give place to bitterness and unforgiveness, we will break fellowship with God and
others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a
vicious cycle.

Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Begin
from a solid spiritual foundation and your chances of success will be great.

August 7, 2008

Being a Shelter for Those in Need
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, August 07 2008

"Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a
thirsty land." Isaiah 32:2
Have you ever walked in a dry, hot climate for an extended time? The sun
beats down, sweat begins to pour off your brow, and your throat and
mouth are parched with thirst. A little shade, a slight breeze, or a cool
drink becomes the greatest thing one could value at the moment.

When you and I walk with Christ in the workplace, we become that kind of
oasis for non-Christians. However, they may not recognize it at the time.
Let's face it, the workplace is pretty tough, especially when Christ is not in
the center of it.

When a person becomes aware of their need of Christ through you or me,
we have become a shelter from the wind. We become their refuge from
the storms of life.

Someone once said that you and I might be the only Bible someone ever
reads, so we need to be something worth reading. Are you available to be
that shelter for a non-believing friend? If so, then you may open the eyes
of someone who has been blind his whole life. What an incredible
blessing to know you were the instrument God used to bring a person into
the Kingdom of God.

"Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of
those who hear will listen" (Isaiah 32:3).

August 6, 2008

May I Pray for You?
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, August 06 2008

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
I walked into the office. The secretary seemed physically struggling with
her breathing and her countenance was different than normal. "Are you
okay?" I asked.

"Allergies," she replied. "Sometimes it gets so bad I can hardly breathe."
"May I pray for you?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't want to take up His time with something as menial as me. I'd
rather not waste it on me. You should pray for someone much less
fortunate than me. My mother always taught us to pray at the dinner table
for those less fortunate than us," she replied. The woman was touched
that I would offer to pray for her. The next day I told her my prayer group
was praying for her. She could not believe that I would do such a thing for
her.

It is interesting what happens when you offer to pray for someone.
Offering to pray for someone can be the most genuine and loving thing
you can do for another person. It can be the one means of getting a
conversation on a spiritual plane that cuts across religious stigmas and
gets to the root of the problem - the person's real need. It immediately
reveals your own values and sets the stage for future encounters. All it
takes is a little holy boldness to step through the door when the
opportunity seems to present itself.

Is there anything too small to pray about? Do we, in fact, bother God when
we make any request that is not dealing with only the poor in Calcutta?
Paul clearly tells us in this passage that prayer is talking with God. It is
having such a relationship with Him that we can bring anything to His
attention.

We've all heard the housewife's prayer for a parking spot or other such
seemingly trivial prayer requests, but are they trivial to God? If God is our
closest and most intimate friend, then it becomes very natural to talk to
Him as you would a friend who might be sitting next to you in the car. Yes,
God desires to have such close communion with you and me that we can
pray about anything - even a parking spot.

As you enter the workplace today, ask a co-worker if you can pray for him
about something. You may be surprised at what doors will open as a result.

July 21, 2008

Expectations
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, July 21 2008

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have
sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20
Have you ever had expectations that did not get fulfilled? Perhaps a
coworker let you down. Perhaps you were trusting God for something in
your life that never materialized. Perhaps you became devastated by an
unmet expectation that you felt you were entitled to. Expectations can be
a difficult trap for each of us if we are not fully committed to God's
purposes in our lives.

Paul wrote this verse from prison to the people of Philippi. He had an
expectation that his life would bring glory to God, whether through his
continued ministry or his death. His joy in living was not based on his
expectations getting fulfilled, but on remaining true to the purpose for
which God made him.

When we react to circumstances with bitterness and resentment as a
result of unmet expectations, we are saying that we know better than God,
and that God has made a mistake in not meeting our expectations. The
process of resolving unmet expectations may require full disclosure to
the individual who was the source of the unmet expectation, and of how
the unmet expectation made you feel. This is not to make the person feel
obligated to meet the expectation, but simply to share your feelings about
it. If God was the source, then it is important to share this with the Lord.
However, once we have done this we must let go of the situation and
allow God to work in our hearts the grace that is needed to walk in
freedom from the pain of the unmet expectation. If we do not do this, we
will allow the seed of bitterness and resentment to enter in. This seed of
bitterness will create leanness in our soul and eventually will spread to
others.

Ask yourself today if you have any unmet expectations. How have you
responded to them? Have you processed this with the Lord and others
who may be involved? These are the steps to freedom from unmet
expectations.

July 20, 2008

A Faithful Man
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Sunday, July 20 2008

"A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go
unpunished." Proverbs 28:20
There is a distinct difference between the workplace believer who
operates based on living in the Promised Land versus the one who
operates in Egypt. In Egypt, the workplace believer sweats and toils to
generate an outcome. The final objective is foremost in their mind.
Outcome is everything.

In the Promised Land, we learn that obedience is the only thing that
matters. We are called to execute, and leave outcome to God. Sometimes
that outcome is very positive, yielding a return. In other cases, we may not
yield a corresponding return. We may even get a negative outcome. The
difference is that we know that we have been faithful to what God has
called us to and we yield results to God. God often blesses obedience
beyond what we deserve. If God brings wealth to your life, it should come
as a by-product of obedience, not an end in itself.

God may call each of us to be obedient to situations that may not yield
immediate, positive results. It is in these times that our faith must be
obedience-based versus outcome-based. What if Jesus had considered
the immediate ramifications of whether he would go to the cross? Based
on the immediate outcome, the decision would have been an easy one.
Who wants to die on a cross? However, for Him there was a higher
purpose in that obedience. We are called to this same kind of obedience.
This means putting our own flesh on the line daily, dying to our own
self-will.

This is what it means to be a faithful man. Pray that God will make you a
faithful man today.

July 19, 2008

Knowing Our Limits
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Saturday, July 19 2008

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases
fantasies will have his fill of poverty." Proverbs 28:19
Webster's defines entrepreneur: "one who organizes, operates, and
assumes the risk in a business venture." [Merriam-Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary, Tenth ed. (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1993), "entrepreneur."]
Entrepreneurs can smell an opportunity a mile away. However, what is
often their greatest asset can become their greatest downfall. The road is
littered with entrepreneurs who have been successful in one venture
only to fail in countless others. Is this the natural way for an entrepreneur,
or is there a better way?

King David was an entrepreneur. He grew up as a shepherd boy and later
became Israel's greatest warrior. He responded to opportunities, like the
time when no one would fight Goliath. He saw this as an opportunity. He
ultimately became king of Israel and faced many opportunities placed
before him. David learned an important lesson somewhere along the way
that each of us as workplace believers should learn. As an entrepreneur
the greatest danger is engaging ourselves in activities in which God
never intended us to be involved. This is poor stewardship of what God
has entrusted to us. When the Philistines attacked David, he always
inquired of God as to if and when he was to counterattack. When he was
attacked a second time on one occasion, David inquired of God as to
whether he was to attack yet. This time God said yes, but with a condition,
"Wait until you hear the sound of marching in the balsam trees" (see 2
Sam. 5:24). This story tells us that David had learned an important lesson
about staying vertical in his relationship with God at all times. David had
learned the important principle of staying focused on what God wanted for
him, not what seemed logical. He was an opportunist, but only through the
filter of the Holy Spirit in his life.

How do you approach opportunities? Do you consider the merits of the
opportunity only? Or do you inquire of God as to whether He desires you
to pursue? It may be a wonderful opportunity, but it may not be God's will
for you to be involved. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you seek to use
the skills He has given you.

July 18, 2008

Unlimited Potential
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Friday, July 18 2008

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
What might God want to accomplish through you in your lifetime? As a
workplace believer, you may yet have your greatest contribution to
society. Such was the case of Cyrus McCormick, born in 1809. Raised on a
farm by an inventor father, Cyrus McCormick sought to invent a
mechanical reaper to harvest wheat. His father's attempts at inventing a
successful machine had failed until Cyrus, at 22, created one that worked.
McCormick had to overcome many setbacks including the loss of his
patent 14 years after his first invention. This opened up competition.
Then, in 1837 he went bankrupt due to the bank panic of 1837. However,
these setbacks did not prevent McCormick from achieving his goals.

He expanded his market by trying to sell his machine to European farmers
in 1851. A long series of honors compensated for the lack of recognition
and praise from his American compatriots. By 1856, he was not only a
world figure but his factory produced more than 4,000 reapers a year.

McCormick was a committed believer. He lived during the time of D.L.
Moody and gave $10,000 to Moody to start the Chicago YMCA in 1869. That
building burned along with his Chicago factory in 1871. By this time,
McCormick was over 60 and wealthy enough to retire. Before his death in
1884, he had given $100,000 to help open Moody Bible Institute. His son,
Cyrus Jr., was to become the first chairman of the school's board. Cyrus
McCormick was a devoted Christian who passed his faith on to his son
who later met up with J. Pierpoint Morgan to become the first president of
a combined reaper firm, the famed International Harvester Corporation.
[John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody
Press, 1992), 328-331.]

What might God want to accomplish through your life? Surely you can do
all things through Christ who strengthens you.

July 17, 2008

Making the Lord Our Banner
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, July 17 2008

"Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner." Exodus 17:15
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. God
instructed Moses to stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in his
hand. Moses' staff represented something that God said He would use to
bring glory to Himself. The staff represented what Moses had done for
most of his life - shepherding. It was his vocation. When God first called
Moses at the burning bush, He told him to pick up the staff; He would
perform miracles through it.

God wants to perform miracles through each of our vocations. At
Rephidim, God defeated the Amalekites only when Moses held his staff to
Heaven. It was a symbol of dependence and acknowledgment that Heaven
was the source of the Israelites' power. When he dropped his hand, the
power was removed and they began to lose the battle. Each day we are
challenged to reach toward Heaven and allow God to be the source of
victory in the workplace or be defeated. God calls us to let His banner
reign over the workplace so that others may know the source of our
victory. "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write this on a scroll as something
to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will
completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven' " (Ex.
17:14). The Lord wants those behind us and around us to know that He is
the source of our power and success. With each victory is a testimony that
is to be shared with our children and our associates.

Is the Lord your banner today? Reach toward Heaven today and let His
banner wave over your work so that He might receive glory from your life.

July 16, 2008

God's Selection Process
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, July 16 2008

"So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him,
'Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those
who kneel down to drink.'" Judges 7:5
Would you ever take on an army of 100,000 with only 300 men? Sound
preposterous? I agree. However, this is exactly what happened with
Gideon. It was bad enough that he began with 10,000 against 100,000, but
this was too many men according to God. He would not allow Gideon to
fight with this many soldiers, because the temptation would still remain to
believe that it was the strength of his army that won the victory. God told
Gideon to pare down his army to a mere 300. This would ensure that God
would receive total credit for the victory. This is a law in the Kingdom of
God. All glory must go to Him. "Announce now to the people, 'Anyone who
trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' So twenty-two
thousand men left, while ten thousand remained" (Judg. 7:3).

Now there are 10,000 men left but that was still too many. God gave
Gideon an interesting selection method for the 300 as he took the men
down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the
water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink"
(Judg. 7:5b). What was the significance of this? Those soldiers who lapped
water like a dog were soldiers who were more aware of the enemy around
them compared to those who kneeled to drink. The lappers were men who
were on constant guard to the danger around them, keeping their eyes up
and looking about them. The others could be easily picked off.

If you and I are going to be one of God's elite, we must be battle ready. We
must be sensitive to the spiritual dangers around us. We must be trained
to go about our business while, at the same time, discern when the enemy
of our souls is prowling about seeking to destroy us. "Be self-controlled
and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking
for someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). Beware of the spiritual dangers
around you.

July 15, 2008

Seeing Us for What We Will Become
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, July 15 2008

..."The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Judges 6:12
God always looks at His children for what they will be, not what they are
now. The Lord already had seen Gideon as a leader of others, not just a
laborer who threshed wheat.

Gideon was an Israelite who lived during a time of oppression from the
Midianites. God had allowed Israel to be oppressed because of its
rebellion. However, the Israelites cried out to God, and He heard their cry
for help. He decided to free them from the oppression of their enemies.
God chose a man with little experience in such matters to lead an army
against Midian.

When God came to Gideon through a visit by an angel, the angel's first
words to him were, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." God always
looks at His children for what they will be, not what they are now. The Lord
had already seen this man as a leader of others, not just a laborer who
threshed wheat.

The apostle Paul said, "I can do everything through Him who gives me
strength" (Phil. 4:13). God has reserved an inheritance for you and me. He
has foreordained that we should accomplish great things in His name-not
so that we will be accepted or become more valued, but to experience the
reality of a living relationship with a God who wants to demonstrate His
power through each of us.

What does God want to accomplish through you today? He used Gideon,
with only 300 men, to deliver Israel from an army of more than 100,000. He
demonstrated His power through one man who was willing to let God use
what little faith he had to free a nation from oppression and bring glory to
the God of Israel. The Lord delights in showing Himself strong through
those who will trust Him.

July 14, 2008

The Works of the Flesh
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, July 14 2008

"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have
produced this wealth for me.'" Deuteronomy 8:17
We've all heard someone say, "He's a self-made man." What are they
saying in this statement? Are they saying that this individual achieved
success by his hard work and sweat? Many a person has achieved
success through honest hard work. There is a danger for any of us who
may have achieved significance through our work. That danger is the
belief that we achieved it through our own efforts apart from God's grace
and mercy. When we live in this belief, we assert that we are entitled to
certain rights and privileges because of the position we have earned and
feel we deserve.

The prodigal son's brother who refused to celebrate the wayward son's
return was a man who felt he was entitled to certain rights. He saw himself
as one who had been faithful to his responsibilities and deserving of
more attention. He could not appreciate his brother's failure and the pain
of falling into a sinful life because, in his mind, he had never failed. This
pride kept him from experiencing God's real grace. This is how legalism
develops in believers. It grows into a cold heart and an insensitive
attitude toward others who may have stumbled in their lives. This same
brother did not truly understand the love of his father apart from works;
for he felt he gained acceptance only by doing his job.

Do you feel accepted by God, regardless of what you do? Have you
wrongfully viewed your works as something you alone have achieved?
These are the minefields of which each of us in business must be aware.
God has gifted us to accomplish anything through His grace, not by our
works.

July 13, 2008

Overlooking Offenses
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Sunday, July 13 2008

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an
offense." Proverbs 19:11
I have a friend who tells a story of a lesson the Lord taught him through
his wife. It seems that every time he and his wife would get in the car to
travel somewhere, his wife had a strong need to direct his driving. She
would tell him where to turn and when to turn, even in their own
subdivision. It was such a horrible habit that it drove my friend crazy and
became the source of many an argument. Finally, one day my friend
concluded that the Lord was trying to teach him something through this
experience. He decided he would let go of his need to be free from this
correction. He began to affirm his wife and even thank her for her input. It
was excruciatingly painful to do this from where he sat.

A few months passed. He let go of the entire situation and actually got to a
place where it just didn't matter to him anymore. An interesting thing
happened a few months later. One day his wife looked at him and said,
"John, I just realized that I have been directing your driving all these
years and now realize why I do that. It goes back to my childhood when I
had to direct my younger brothers and sisters. I am so sorry I have been
doing that." My friend nearly fell out of his seat!

Whenever we work close to another person, whether in an office or home,
small offenses can become the source of great conflict. Resentment and
irritability soon follow. God brings these "offenses" into our lives to
develop character qualities in us. He uses individuals in our lives to
accomplish his goal of making us more Christ-like. So the next time you
complain or resist a habit or action from someone close to you, ask God if
it has been placed there to develop some quality in you. Pride is the root
source of the need to change another person. A man's wisdom gives him
patience-to let go of little offenses. This is where spiritual maturity is seen
in the day-to-day activity of life. Is there someone close to you who has
some habit you really want to change? Give up that desire to the Lord.
Who knows, He may even change it after you let go of the need to change
it.

July 12, 2008

Independence That Leads to Sin
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Saturday, July 12 2008

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off,
his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his
son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:20
The two young men had worked for many years in their family business.
One day one of the sons decided he wanted to venture out on his own. He
had been under the employment of his dad's business long enough. He
felt he had learned all he needed to know. He wanted his independence.
He wanted to take his stock options early, which would allow enough
capital to begin on his own. The other son remained behind, working day
in and day out, faithfully doing his job.

The first son went out on his own only to find it was more difficult than he
had ever imagined. The immediate cash gained from the advance from his
dad's business was a temptation that was too great for him. He spent all of
the money, fell into sin, and failed to invest it in another business. He
failed miserably. Finally, he came crawling back to his dad, seeking to be
taken back as a mere laborer. The father took him back with open arms,
fully restoring him to his original place. He experienced grace and love in
a way he had never known before.

When we desire independence so much that we launch out without God's
full blessing, we can expect to fall on our face. When pride enters our
lives, it discourages us from dependence on anyone but ourselves; yet
God says that we are to depend on Him alone. If we think we can go it
alone, we will fail. On the other hand, in spite of the prodigal son's failure,
he learned a great lesson of grace that he had not known before. This
resulted in humility of the heart, which had a lasting impression for the
rest of his life. Therefore, God even turns our failures into successes
spiritually when we are willing to admit our failure.

Pride always goes before a fall. Check your heart today and ask God if
there is any pride that is encouraging independence from total trust in
God.

July 11, 2008

Called to the Mission Field
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Friday, July 11 2008

"To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to
another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit." 1
Corinthians 12:8
"I'm called to the mission field," said the beautiful young woman.

It was my first real encounter with the woman. As she spoke the words to
me, I heard these words, "She's called to the mission field, but it's not
what she thinks." I quietly kept this to myself until the following week
when I felt compelled to share these words with her. She was taken back
as I conveyed what I felt the Lord was saying to her. She questioned my
motives, thinking I might simply be trying to gain her heart.

Sometimes God speaks through others to move His purposes forward in
an individual's life. He will speak through those willing to listen and speak.
It is exciting to know God speaks to us and through us at times. Henry
Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, believes God speaks by the Holy
Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the Church (His Body)
to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.

After three days passed, the woman called me on the telephone and said,
"I have sold all that I have to go to the mission field but have not been
accepted as yet. I believe what you said is true. I've had a history of
thinking the Lord was doing one thing in my life only for it to end up as
another."

As the days progressed, God made it known these words were, in fact,
true. She was called to the mission field of marriage and the workplace
was with her husband, this writer.

July 10, 2008

Walking in the Anointing
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, July 10 2008

"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his
brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in
power...." 1 Samuel 16:13
Has the Spirit of the Lord rested on your life? Can you cite the time when
God's Spirit began demonstrating His power through you?

David knew the day the Spirit of the Lord began a special work in him. That
Spirit was different from most leaders. Instead of seeking power and
control, he led in response to a need. Instead of being a perfect person,
he learned from mistakes and acknowledged them among those he led.
Instead of placing confidence in his own abilities, he sought wisdom from
the only real Commander in charge. David never lost a battle through his
many years of leading Israel. He failed God by sinning with Bathsheba and
by numbering the troops, but he learned from those failures, and he had
to pay a price for them. However, God's Spirit never left David. He never
left because of David's willingness to keep a soft heart toward God, even
when he failed.

God wants to do the same in you and me, but He will not allow that Spirit to
rest on us if we seek to control outcomes and manipulate out of our need
for power. Servant leaders know that they are only a tool in the Master's
hand. They do not value themselves more than they ought. David's heart
was fully the Lord's. Is your heart fully the Lord's to do with what He wills?

July 9, 2008

Becoming a Valued Draft Pick
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, July 09 2008

"...Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of
Zerubbabel...." Zechariah 4:10
As children in grammar school we often played pick-up football. Two
captains would alternate making the best choices among schoolmates to
make up the two teams. I was often chosen first because I was a good
athlete. It felt good to be valued by others for what they perceived I could
contribute. Conversely, it must have felt crummy to be the last chosen or
not chosen at all.

Such was the case for Zerubbabel. He was a man chosen by God to rebuild
the temple. God saw something in Zerubbabel that He could use for His
purposes. The people also recognized that Zerubbabel was a man in
whom they could place their faith. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of
Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua
son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of
the people (Haggai 1:14a).

Are you part of the remnant of workplace believers whom God is calling
out today? Do not let the business of today's workplace sidetrack you from
the importance of God's agenda for you. Can you recall the day God's
Spirit rested on you? Have you walked in that anointing since that day?
Satan's strategy is to keep us distracted with the urgency of the moment
versus the importance of eternity. Ask God what your priorities should be
today. Make His priorities your priorities.

July 8, 2008
Living As If You Were Dead
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, July 08 2008

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ
Jesus." Romans 6:11
What are the things that arouse the strongest emotions in you? Perhaps it
is a rude motorist who cuts you off in traffic. Perhaps it is the anger you
feel when you are wrongfully accused. Perhaps it is frustration that results
from not having enough money to meet perceived needs. When do
emotions turn into sin?

Whenever our peace is upset over events and circumstances in life, we
have moved past emotions into sin. Sin says that circumstances of life
now dictate anxiety, worry, fear, or anger. Consider the attributes of a
dead man. He does not get angry when slandered. He does not worry
about the future. He does not fear what can be done to him. Why?
Because he is dead. Nothing can harm a dead man.

Christ said we are to live as if we are dead - dead to the temptation of
responding to stimuli in our life that are designed to stir up the sinful
nature that resides in each of us. We do not have to respond to that
nature; we can consider it dead. Christ said He is enough. When He is our
all in all, nothing can move us. If we are moved, then Christ is not our all in
all.

July 7, 2008

The Consequences of Faith
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, July 07 2008

"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order
that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4
If you commit yourself to live for Christ in and through your work life,
there will be a consequence of faith. You could avoid much hardship and
take a much easier road in life if you do not choose to live an obedient life
of faith in Christ. This is a spiritual law. None of us is excluded from
identification with the cross.

When we commit ourselves to fully follow Christ, He begins a
"circumcision" process in each of us designed to rid all that is of the
world system from our lives. This circumcision is required of every
believer. Moses had much preparation from God for His calling to free the
people of Israel from Egypt. He spent years in training as a young boy in
the family of Pharaoh. He tried to free the people through the flesh by
killing an Egyptian. That cost him 40 years in the desert of loneliness and
toil before God said he was prepared to free the people from their
suffering. God invested much in Moses; however, that preparation was
not enough. Experience and preparation had to be mixed with obedience.
God required his family to be circumcised. Moses failed to circumcise his
son before returning to Egypt. This was so important to God that He was
going to kill Moses if he did not uphold his commandment. "At a lodging
place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him" (Ex. 4:24).

Are there any areas in your life that have not come under the lordship of
Christ? Is there any lack of obedience that will prevent you from being
used fully by the Lord? Ask Him to show you this today so that you might
be fully used of God.

July 6, 2008

Our Work Versus Our Value
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Sunday, July 06 2008

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it
and take care of it." Genesis 2:15
Man was created to have seven basic needs. Each of us has a need for
dignity, authority, blessing and provision, security, purpose and meaning,
freedom and boundary, intimate love and companionship. When we go
outside God's provision to meet these needs, we get into trouble.

Every man has a need to work and gain satisfaction in caring and seeing
something come from his efforts. Many of our basic needs are derived
from our work; it was one of the first acts God did for man in the Garden of
Eden. He gave him responsibility to care for and work the Garden. God
knew man needed to be productive. He needed to gain satisfaction from
his work.

The danger of this is when we allow our work to be our complete source
of purpose and meaning in life. This leads to a performance-based life. A
performance-based life says, "As long as I perform in my work, I am
acceptable to myself and others." This is a subtle trap for all of us. It can
lead us to become workaholics if we are seeking acceptance through
what we do. Sometimes this can be on a subconscious basis.

Our value must be centered in Christ, not in what we do. If we lose our job
or our business, this should not devastate us if we are centered in Him. It
will certainly create difficulties, but God is the orchestrator of all the
events in our lives for His purposes. Even difficult times have purposes.

Today, ask the Lord if you have a proper balance in your work life. Is Christ
the central focus? If you work long hours, ask yourself why. You might
discover that God may not be the central focus.

July 5, 2008

Death Works in You
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Saturday, July 05 2008

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we
suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far
beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in
our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might
not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians
1:8-9
Have you ever gone through a very difficult time in your life? These times
make us value life. They make us appreciate the simple things that we
took for granted before the crisis. When we are restored from such a trial,
it is as though we have been given a new beginning. We can place a
greater value on what we had before and use it for His purposes. Perhaps
for the first time we can identify with others who find themselves in a
similar trial.

I recall having an attitude of superiority over those who went through a
difficult financial crisis. Because I had never experienced any financial
crisis in my life, this pride kept me from identifying with such people. Then
the Lord brought such a trial into my life. I learned a great deal during that
period. I learned that the world and even Christians often treat such
people as lepers. Like me, they didn't know how to relate. Now, I
appreciate the little things that I never would have valued without that
trial. The experience taught me greater dependence and faith in the
provision area of my relationship with God.

When God brings death to one area of life, he resurrects it in a new way.
Death works in us to bring new life and new perspectives. These are
designed to press us forward in ways that we never would have moved
without the experience. God knows how much this is needed in our life to
gain the prize He has reserved for each of us. It is His strategic mercy that
motivates Him to bring such events into our life. Press into Him, learn of
Him, and rely on Him.

July 4, 2008

Play to Your Strength
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Friday, July 04 2008

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:4
Have you ever tried to do anything that you were not gifted to do? I am not
a handy man. If there is a household project, like a plumbing leak or
anything mechanical - forget it. God has not given me any "natural" gifts
for such things. And I'd prefer not buying anything that requires assembly!

I have a friend who can fix or assemble anything. It comes naturally to him,
and he loves to help me. This same person looks at some of my abilities
and marvels. We appreciate the gifts God has given to each of us. These
differences have created a need for one another. God wants each of us to
need one another. The Scriptures describe the Body of Christ in the same
way. Each person is a member of His Body with gifts and talents designed
to make His Body perform as a multi-talented group, all playing to the
same tune. It is when one member is "out of tune" or decides he doesn't
like his gifts, or decides to do something he is not designed to do that the
orchestra begins to sound off key. Imagine if the parts of the human body
decided they didn't want to fulfill their parts any longer. That body would
no longer function effectively because one or more of its members were
not performing the functions they were designed for.

What has He equipped you for? What role has he called you to play in
God's Kingdom? When one link in the chain is weakened, the whole chain
is susceptible to breaking. God made it that way so that we could help that
weak link. He made it that way so we would be forced to depend on one
another. Are you being a strong link in the chain of God's Kingdom? Ask
Him if you are fulfilling your role as He designed.

July 3, 2008

Your Epitaph
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, July 03 2008

"He will bless those who fear the Lord- small and great alike." Psalm 115:13
What will be written on your epitaph? How do you want people to
remember you? What type of legacy will your life leave behind?

I interviewed a very successful and powerful man one time for a magazine
when this question came up. The man ran an international business that is
a household name to all. He was a professed Christian, but he had
difficulty answering my question. "I always knew someone would ask that
question some day. I am not sure I am any more prepared to answer it now
either," was the man's answer. He grappled for a few nice words, but it
was clear he had not seriously considered his life much beyond his
business success.

It is said of George Washington Carver that he got up early in the morning
each day to walk alone and pray. He asked God how he was to spend his
day and what He wanted to teach him that day. Carver grew up at the close
of the Civil War in a one-room shanty on the home of Moses Carver - the
man who owned his mother. The Ku Klux Klan had abducted him and his
mother, selling her to new owners. He was later found and returned to his
owner, but his mother was never seen again.

Carver grew up at the height of racial discrimination, yet he had overcome
all these obstacles to become one of the most influential men in the
history of the United States. He made many discoveries with the use of
peanuts and sweet potatoes. However, after he recommended farmers to
plant peanuts and sweet potatoes instead of cotton, he was led into his
greatest trial. The farmers lost even more money due to the lack of market
for peanuts and sweet potatoes. Carver cried out to the Lord, "Mr.
Creator, why did You make the peanut?" Many years later, he shared that
God led him back to his lab and worked with him to discover some 300
marketable products from the peanut. Likewise, he made over 100
discoveries from the sweet potato. These new products created a demand
for peanuts and sweet potatoes, and they were major contributors to
rejuvenating the Southern economy.

As he made new discoveries, he never became successful monetarily, but
he overcame great rejection during his lifetime for being black. He was
offered six-figure income opportunities from Henry Ford, and he became
friends with presidents of his day, yet he knew what God had called him to
do. His epitaph read:

He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found
happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."

[John Woodbridge, More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody
Press, 1992), 312.]

July 2, 2008

Living for a Greater Cause
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Wednesday, July 02 2008

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
What does it mean for workplace believers to live for a cause greater than
themselves in our day and time? Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman in
New York City who asked God to do this in his life in 1857.

In a small, darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser
churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but
earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" [John
Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press,
1992), 337]

He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had
financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome"
that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this
businessman to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He
began a businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, 1857. The
meetings began slowly, but within a few months 20 noonday meetings
were convening daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the
New York Herald issued articles of revival. It had become the city's
biggest news. Now a full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York. By
spring of 1858, 2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in
Philadelphia the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent
meeting. Meetings were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati,
Chicago, New Orleans, and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one
man stepped out. Annus Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun.

This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique
because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long
considered the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had
started on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin.

Could God do something extraordinary through you? Take a step. Ask God
to do mighty things through you.

July 1, 2008

Proving the Word of God
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, July 01 2008

"They bruised his feet with shackles; his neck was put in irons, till what he
foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true." Psalm
105:18-19
God spoke to Joseph as a young boy through a dream and vision
regarding his future. He could not understand its complete meaning at the
time, but he knew it had great significance. Joseph knew God had a
destiny for his life. However, the proving out of that word from God was
filled with 13 years of waiting, rejection, pain, sorrow, and no doubt,
questioning God's faithfulness.

His life was all but a life of influence and impact as a prisoner and slave.
No doubt he wondered whether that dream was simply some vain
imagination. David must have felt the same when he was anointed king
over Israel as a young man only to spend years of fleeing from King Saul.
God's preparation for greatness in His Kingdom is often filled with
difficulty. God is more concerned about developing the inner life of his
servant. That inner life can only be prepared by removing all
self-confidence and replacing it with God-confidence. God-confidence is
only developed in the furnace of life.

Is the Lord proving His word in your life? Perhaps He is using
circumstances and events to move you into a place of patient waiting as
He puts you in the place He desires for you. This is the place where the
foundations of your soul mature. Let Him prove your faith.