Pardon my sentimentality but for the first time in my life I have a dog . . . a small but beautiful Shih Tze puppy named Addie (short for Adelaide where I last lived in Australia). My sons both had dogs when they were kids and I loved their pets, but having my own dog (Joy’s and mine) is something else. My mother not only had a dog for a pet when I was growing up, but also a pet parrot (a pink and gray galah) that had its wing cut so it pretty much had access throughout our home. It was fascinating watching it waddle along following behind my mother wherever she went. It was amazing how attached it was to her. And now, as a senior, I with Joy, are the proud owners of a dog that we adore and where there is a mutual attachment.

The point I am making, however, is that we are Addie’s security. I have seen her, when she was afraid of a bigger dog, almost fly into my arms, she would leap so hard to reach my arms. The same thing happens when we take her for a walk. When she is afraid, she just wants to be in our arms. For Addie, our arms are her security.

For the Christian when we are afraid, may we always remember that underneath are the everlasting arms of God for he is always there for us. He is our safety—our security for both time and eternity. What a blessed hope we have because of Jesus.

When King Saul was so extremely jealous of David that he was hunting him down to kill him, David was certainly justified in being afraid. But he said, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”²

May God help you and me to have the same trust in God as David did. He’s the same God and offers the same security.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, when I am afraid, please help me to remember your Word that says, ‘The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them’³ and that ‘Underneath are your everlasting arms.’¹ Thank you for your wonderful assurance of always being with me, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)

2. Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

3. Psalm 145:18-19 (NIV).

When she was only nineteen months of age, Helen Keller suffered an illness that left her blind and deaf. Soon she was unable to speak. By the age of seven she was extremely frustrated because of her inability to communicate. Fortunately, her parents were able to hire a twenty-year-old teacher to come and live with them.

The teacher, Anne Sullivan, was a very capable and loving individual and was able to help Helen by teaching her to communicate with the use of her fingers. Helen was greatly encouraged, learned to read by Braille, and then read everything she could lay her hands on.

She desperately wanted to earn a university degree and, passing the entrance exams to Radcliffe, pleaded with officials to allow her to attend and bring Anne Sullivan with her to translate the lectures into her manual code. The following is part of what she wrote to the admission office:

“I realize that the obstacles in the way of my receiving a college education are very great—to others they may seem insurmountable; but, dear sir, a true soldier does not acknowledge defeat before the battle.” Helen Keller was a true warrior and a real winner! She “was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.”²

Being courageous doesn’t mean the absence of fear. It means acknowledging the fear but not allowing it to control you.

Once you know your God-given life purpose—or your purpose for the present—God’s Word to Joshua is also applicable to you and me today: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the courage to face all the obstacles in my life that would hinder my fulfilling my God-given life purpose—including your will for me today. Help me to always remember that you will always be with me and never leave or forsake me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Joshua 1:9 (NIV).

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller.

A few years ago Ralph Blodgett, who has researched psychic predictions for several years, found that in a given year, out of 250 specific predictions by thirty of the nation’s leading psychics, less than three percent could be listed as “reasonably fulfilled.”

Blodgett said, “I used to think psychics had to be led either by God or the devil. Now I’m convinced that they are being led most of the time by no one at all.”

In Old Testament times it was an extremely serious offence to be a false prophet. As God’s Word says, “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.”² Tough words to be sure.

And in the New Testament we are warned not to believe every spirit but to put them to the test to make sure their word is from God.

I believe some people do have a gift of knowledge, but I certainly don’t. So how do I know if God is “speaking” to or leading me? Sometimes it comes from his Word, the Bible; sometimes through circumstances; and at other times through an inner conviction. To know whether it is from God or from myself all three of the above need to be in harmony. And if anything is out of harmony with God’s Word, I can be certain it is not from God. Furthermore, when I sense God is leading me, I like to put whatever it is to the test to make sure it is of God and not of me.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the ability to discern your guidance and to recognize when a message or leading is from you, and also when it is not from you. And help me to discern that which is spoken by a false prophet. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 John 4:1 (NIV).

2. Deuteronomy 18:20 (NIV).

It wasn’t too long after God delivered the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt that they wanted to go back there—in spite of the miracles they had witnessed, such as the parting of the waters of the Red Sea so they could cross over to the Promised Land on dry land. However, when the going got rough through the wilderness, they complained and wanted to return to Egypt. Was it because they were afraid that things weren’t going to get any better, or that God had deserted them? Or were they afraid of change? Like the old saying goes, “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t know.”

People haven’t changed too much have we? As one writer said, “The trouble these days is that people want to get to the Promised Land without going through the wilderness.”

For the Christian God has a “promised Land” of freedom, growth, wholeness and fulfillment. It’s there for the taking—but not without the struggles of working through our private wildernesses.

Like Joshua who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, we too need to “arise, go and possess” the promises that God has for us. And we, too, will have plenty of obstacles and setbacks to overcome. At the same time, we have the same assurance that God gave to Joshua when he said to him, “Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the courage to actively claim all the promises you have for me so that I will become and do all that you have envisioned for me to be and do. And give me the determination to never give up, no matter how challenging the way, knowing that you will be with me every step of the way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Joshua 1:1-3 (NKJV).

2. Joshua 1:9 (NIV).

According to an article in an English magazine, “A true friend is one who has the courage to disagree with us when we are in the wrong, and advise us for our own good, rather than let his sympathy or sentimentality cause him to agree.”

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.”

Dr. Alfred Adler, internationally known psychiatrist, based the following conclusions on a careful analysis of thousands of clients: “The most important task imposed by religion has always been ‘Love thy neighbor.’ It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow man that has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury on others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.”

It may not be the most desirable, but it is true that we can live without romantic love, but we cannot live healthy without at least one loving friend.

As Dinah Craik so eloquently said, “Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.”

And, oh, the priceless value of having at least one such deep abiding friendship. Thank God for the gift of friendship.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a loving friend and be a friend to fellow sinners as you are a loving friend to me. And help me to find at least one loving friend with whom I can be totally open and honest without fear of judgment or rejection. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV).

John Fabre, the French naturalist, conducted an interesting experiment with some processionary caterpillars which are called by this name because they blindly follow one another one by one by one.

Fabre placed caterpillar food in the center of a flower pot and placed caterpillars end to end so they formed a complete circle around the edge of the pot. Round and round the caterpillars went for seven days and nights until they dropped dead from starvation and exhaustion—with all the food they needed only a few inches away.

Unfortunately many people are like processionary caterpillars in that they blindly follow a powerful or charismatic leader, never questioning what he or she says or teaches. This is true in false cults, certain religious traditions, secular organizations, some universities, politics, etc., etc.

Can you imagine questioning the Apostle Paul, the most powerful leader in the early Church? But the Christians in Berea did this and made sure that what he was teaching was in line with God’s Word. And they were commended for it.

It’s important that we, too, learn to study and know the Scriptures for ourselves, and question or review everything we are taught to make sure it is in harmony with what God’s Word teaches. While we need to respect respectful leaders, we need to make God’s Word our “final voice of authority” and not the words of men, no matter how high his or her position is.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me a love for your Word, the Bible, and help me to know and understand what it teaches, and be aware of and discard all false teaching. Help me to be certain that my beliefs and life style are in harmony with your Word. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. Acts 17:11 (NIV).

Caleb, because of his faith and determination was certainly a risk-taker. If we are not willing to risk losing by stepping out of our comfort zone to fulfill God’s will for our life, we will lose all that God has in store for us. Or, as William Arthur Ward expressed it so poetically:

To Risk

“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out to another is to risk involvement,

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return,

To live is to risk dying,

To hope is to risk despair,

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrow,

But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.

Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.

The pessimist complains about the wind;

The optimist expects it to change;

And the realist adjusts the sails.”

As another has said, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The timid soul asks, ‘What do I stand to lose if I do it?’ The fruit-bearing Christian asks, ‘What do I stand to lose if I don’t do it?’ Real life is lived on the cutting edge.”

What will you and I risk for God and his work here on earth?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, you didn’t merely risk your life for me. You gave it willingly. Because you died for me, help me to risk living life to the full for you. Help me to always remember that ‘he is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. Joshua 14:10-12 (NIV).

What could a tiny lizard possibly teach us? For one thing it can teach us the rewards of persistence.

It has been said that “the race is not always to the swift but to those who keep on running.” This principle certainly applies to fulfilling our God-given life-purpose and achieving our human and spiritual potential. We don’t have to be geniuses to do this, but we do need to be persistent and keep on keeping on regardless of our circumstances.

The Apostle Paul experienced all sorts of trials and setbacks. He was shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, whipped and beaten, thrown in jail for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He knew firsthand what it was to experience loneliness, cold and hunger. He wrote some of his great letters to the churches while he was in prison—as did John Bunyan with his book, Pilgrim’s Progress, when he was in prison.

I listened to a preacher some time ago, a preacher who had cerebral palsy and struggled with every sentence he spoke. I was deeply moved. God used this man to influence hundreds of lives for all eternity. If ever I saw persistence it was in this man. In spite of his debilitating handicap, he reached his top and was maximizing his full potential.

God has a plan and a life-purpose for every one of us. To achieve it will take dedication, commitment, hard work and persistence. As Paul said, “It is God himself in his mercy who has given us this wonderful work . . . and so we never give up.”²

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in the midst of setbacks and the disappointments of life, please give me the gift of persistence to never give up the challenge to become what you want me to be and to keep on doing what you want me to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. Proverbs 30:28 (NIV).

2. 2 Corinthians 4:1 (TLB)(NLT).

David was conscience stricken because he knew he had disobeyed the Lord’s directives. Have you ever noticed how some people, no matter what they do, don’t seem to have a conscience, or have a dead conscience and justify their every action? And then there is the philosophy that says, “If it feels good, do it.” And this is supposed to make it right? This is pure nonsense.

Everybody is born with a conscience that is programmed very much by the way we are brought up. The word con-science literally means with-knowledge. If we grew up in a rigid, legalistic and punitive home or church/religion, chances are we will have a rigid, legalistic, punitive conscience. On the other hand, if we grew up in a very liberal environment, we may do things that God’s Word teaches are sinful and not feel a tinge of conscience.

As a result of faulty teaching, some people feel guilty when they shouldn’t and don’t feel guilty when they should. On the other hand, people who consistently ignore the voice of their conscience can end up anesthetizing or deadening it, which is a dangerous way to live. Some of these people become psychopaths.

To have a healthy conscience, first we need to deprogram the rigid legalism and other faulty input and teaching we received in the past as well as our rationalization of actions we knew very well were wrong. Then we need to reprogram our conscience with knowledge based on what God’s Word teaches as right and wrong. Repetition, repetition, repetition in our mind of these truths and these principles is how we reprogram our conscience.

To reinforce this programming it is imperative that we consistently do what we know is right regardless of how we feel. Remember, a healthy con-science is with-knowledge, not with-or-about-feelings.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the good sense to learn what is right according to the principles as found in your Word, and the help to always follow your directives in thought, word, and deed. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. 2 Samuel 24:10 (NIV).

Floyd Lane, a talented basketball player who attended “City College in New York in 1951, accepted a $3,000.00 bribe to shave points in just three games. Because other players were doing this, he decided to go with the group.”

Big mistake. He and the other players got caught, arrested, and expelled from school. For the next twenty-three years Lane was unable to get a job as a player or a coach in sports because of what he had done. Finally, in 1974, his old college employed him as a coach.

When we make mistakes, which we all do from time to time, it’s encouraging to know that we still have a choice to put things right. Fortunately, when we admit what we have done, God forgives us. The next step is to put things right, and to make sure we deal with and resolve the root cause of our mistakes so we don’t keep repeating the same mistakes and making bad choices.

More important is that we don’t make bad choices in the first place because it is “choice, not chance, that determines our destiny.” All of us are where we are today based on the choices—good and bad—that we have made in the past. Furthermore, where we will be in five, ten, fifteen, twenty years time—and in eternity—will be based on the choices we have made or will make today and in the future.

Above all, when it comes to eternity—life after death—as the Bible urges, choose carefully and wisely whom you will serve. Be absolutely sure you have your “passport for heaven.” You can see how to obtain yours by going to: https://learning.actsweb.org/art_passport.htm. Whatever you do, don’t leave earth without it.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that we have a choice about life after death and that you have provided the way of salvation by giving your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Please help me to know with certainty that my sins are forgiven and that I have my ‘passport for heaven.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. Joshua 24:15 (NKJV).