Everything you need for success

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Be strong and courageous, because you will encounter obstacles that challenge your obedience. Such boldness isn’t something we muster within ourselves. It’s developed through reliance upon the Lord. Courage comes when our faith is stronger than our fear. Everything you need to succeed in life is provided for you by God. But these provisions are available only when you choose to follow His plans. If you ignore the Lord and set your own goals without His direction, you may get what you want, but it won’t be true success.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, June 5, 2019.

Responding to Our Culture

Be willing to suffer or be misunderstood.

Since the world finds holiness, obedience, and reverence for God confusing or even offensive, taking a stand for righteousness may bring you criticism instead of praise.  Don’t fear the intimidation, you are blessed (Matthew 5:10).

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, July 23, 2020.

Wait….wait.

Eager and patient anticipation of the Lord’s goodness.

Hoping that you have a fruitful and blessed weekend.

A print of this image (and other items: mugs, t shirts, etc.) can be purchased at this link:  Wait

Resisting Compromise

King Solomon’s life illustrated the peril of compromise (1 Kings 11:1-7).  Concession begins in a seemingly insignificant way.  For instance, someone might want you to make a financial decision that you know in your heart is unwise.  But you go along with the plan because you don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings.  You have compromised the message of the Holy Spirit, who warned you.

Small compromises lead to more serious ones.  With each successive concession, our conscience is weakened.  Ultimately, whenever we give way to evil – whether we let go of a doctrinal belief or simply listen to music that taints our thoughts – we always lose.

We compromise for a variety of reasons.  Many do so from fear of rejection or of being unappreciated.  Some choose this route to avoid conflict.  Still others may begin to doubt God’s trustworthiness or goodness; as a result, they give up on Him, compromising their basic beliefs and undermining their reason for assurance.

To be men and women who are strong enough to resist making concessions, we need to develop some essential armor.  First, we must have strong convictions about the Bible and depend on it as a guide for daily living.  Next, we need to have faith in God’s promise to supply all of our needs.  Finally, we must find the courage to trust in Him, even when we are misunderstood, persecuted, or falsely accused.  When we surrender our life to God, He replaces enslavement to compromise with security in Him.

Commentary from Charles Stanley’s In Touch devotional, January 29, 2018

Be Strong and Courageous

~Deuteronomy 31:1-8~

Have you ever faced a challenge that left you feeling inadequate and afraid?  The great men and women of the Bible weren’t superhuman, so they undoubtedly experienced the same weaknesses we do.  Though Joshua was a strong military leader, he probably felt inadequate to fill Moses’ shoes.  After all, Moses had talked with God face to face, performed amazing miracles, and led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.  How could Joshua ever expect to live up to that?

But remember, Moses didn’t start out as a mighty man of faith.  When God first called him to deliver the children of Israel, he focused on his own inadequacy and begged the Lord to send someone else (Exodus 4:10-13).  Moses must have known exactly how Joshua felt.  That’s why he exhorted his successor to be strong and courageous.

However, the strength Joshua needed was not going to come from positive thinking or puffed-up self-confidence.  What he needed was assurance that the Lord would go ahead of him every step of the way and give the nation the land as promised.  Confidence in God-given challenges never comes from within ourselves.  But when we believe the Lord and rely on His word instead of our feelings, He’ll give us the ability and courage that we need to accomplish His will.

If your life were always easy, you’d never need strength and courage – and you would miss great opportunities to get to know the Lord intimately.  Only as we face one faith-stretching challenge after another and experience God’s faithfulness will we learn to depend on Him instead of ourselves.

Commentary from Charles Stanley’s In Touch devotional, December 9, 2017.