Completely Covered

According to Greek legend, Achilles was the greatest warrior who ever lived. In Homer’s Iliad, he was the hero of the Trojan Wars. When he was a baby, his mother wanted him to be invulnerable to injury. So, early in his, life she took him to the River Styx, believing that it had miraculous powers, held him by his heels, and dipped him in the water. Only his heels were not covered by the water. 

Eventually, he became a greatly respected and feared warrior! Unfortunately, he was killed in battle by an arrow that pierced his heel - the only spot that was not covered by the water from the River Styx. It is from this legend that we talk of “our Achilles heel.” 

Although it is only a legend, it teaches us a significant fact: Our surrender to Christ must be complete – it must include all of us: our hearts, minds, and bodies. Paul advises us that we are not “to let any part of our body become a tool of wickedness to be used for sinning...instead...let your whole body be as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” 

Surrender is often difficult for some of us for fear that we will fail our Lord. Does this come from the idea that we think we are responsible for the victory over sin? We are not! It is God working in us and through us and for us that gives us victory over sin through Christ. Whatever we do not surrender to God is our “Achilles heel” and will be targeted by Satan and bring about our death.  

 Prayer:  Help us, Father, to remember that the battle and the victory are in Your hands. We know that if we surrender our “all” to You we will survive the attacks of Satan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today:  Romans 6:12-14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.  

Completely Covered

According to Greek legend, Achilles was the greatest warrior who ever lived. In Homer’s Iliad, he was the hero of the Trojan Wars. When he was a baby, his mother wanted him to be invulnerable to injury. So, early in his, life she took him to the River Styx, believing that it had miraculous powers, held him by his heels, and dipped him in the water. Only his heels were not covered by the water. 

Eventually, he became a greatly respected and feared warrior! Unfortunately, he was killed in battle by an arrow that pierced his heel - the only spot that was not covered by the water from the River Styx. It is from this legend that we talk of “our Achilles heel.” 

Although it is only a legend, it teaches us a significant fact: Our surrender to Christ must be complete – it must include all of us: our hearts, minds, and bodies. Paul advises us that we are not “to let any part of our body become a tool of wickedness to be used for sinning...instead...let your whole body be as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” 

Surrender is often difficult for some of us for fear that we will fail our Lord. Does this come from the idea that we think we are responsible for the victory over sin? We are not! It is God working in us and through us and for us that gives us victory over sin through Christ. Whatever we do not surrender to God is our “Achilles heel” and will be targeted by Satan and bring about our death.  

 Prayer:  Help us, Father, to remember that the battle and the victory are in Your hands. We know that if we surrender our “all” to You we will survive the attacks of Satan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today:  Romans 6:12-14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.  

Failing Is Not Fatal

For years Thomas Edison tried to perfect a long-lasting storage battery. During this time he conducted thousands of experiments that were unsuccessful. One day one of his employees came to him and said, “Isn’t it a shame that you have wasted all of this time? All of the tremendous labor and time that you have spent on this project has not achieved any results that are worthwhile or will work.” 

“I’ve got plenty of results,” said Edison. “You see, I’ve discovered several thousand results that won’t work!” 

To his credit, Edison was able to look at what he was doing as a way of learning and solving problems. When he failed, he did not look at it as final. He looked at it as a stepping stone to success. How fortunate is that person who can see beyond the moment of defeat to the joy of victory! Failing at something does not make you or mean that you are a failure!  

Often we fail to see God at work in what we are doing. We look for the approval of others believing that our rewards come from them. Scripture reminds us, however, to define success in terms of being faithful to God and what He has called us to do. God rewards us for what we accomplish in His name as well as being faithful to Him, for doing what He calls us to do even when we fail in the eyes of the world. 

Struggling through difficult days and trying times proves that our trust is in God and that we look to Him for our rewards. “Fear not, I will strengthen and help you.”  

 Prayer:  It’s natural, Lord, to want the approval of those around us. Often we think that they are the final authority. Remind us that they are not and that we labor for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Failing Is Not Fatal

For years Thomas Edison tried to perfect a long-lasting storage battery. During this time he conducted thousands of experiments that were unsuccessful. One day one of his employees came to him and said, “Isn’t it a shame that you have wasted all of this time? All of the tremendous labor and time that you have spent on this project has not achieved any results that are worthwhile or will work.” 

“I’ve got plenty of results,” said Edison. “You see, I’ve discovered several thousand results that won’t work!” 

To his credit, Edison was able to look at what he was doing as a way of learning and solving problems. When he failed, he did not look at it as final. He looked at it as a stepping stone to success. How fortunate is that person who can see beyond the moment of defeat to the joy of victory! Failing at something does not make you or mean that you are a failure!  

Often we fail to see God at work in what we are doing. We look for the approval of others believing that our rewards come from them. Scripture reminds us, however, to define success in terms of being faithful to God and what He has called us to do. God rewards us for what we accomplish in His name as well as being faithful to Him, for doing what He calls us to do even when we fail in the eyes of the world. 

Struggling through difficult days and trying times proves that our trust is in God and that we look to Him for our rewards. “Fear not, I will strengthen and help you.”  

 Prayer:  It’s natural, Lord, to want the approval of those around us. Often we think that they are the final authority. Remind us that they are not and that we labor for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Room Full Of Lonely

It seemed as though the night would never end. Little Luke tossed and turned trying to get comfortable and fall asleep. Finally, he gave up and came wandering out of his bedroom with his favorite blanket and teddy bear. 

His father heard his footsteps and went upstairs. Picking him up he asked, “What’s the matter? Why can’t you sleep?” 

“It’s my room,” he replied. 

“Your room? What’s wrong with your room?” asked his Dad. 

“It’s full of lonely,” said Luke. 

It is a well-known fact that loneliness is one of the biggest problems in society today. Though we are surrounded by family and friends, loneliness grips the hearts and minds of countless millions. Medications and endless activities do not seem to fill the vacuum.  

God has promised in His Word that “He will never leave us nor forsake us.” If that’s true, then why do so many feel lonely? 

Could it be that we have left God and He wants us to return to Him? Has He created those feelings of loneliness to get us to realize we have abandoned Him? Have we become so involved with so many “things” that we have crowded Him out of our days? Must He use the darkness of a lonely night to get our attention to return to Him? I promise He’ll do what it takes! 

 Prayer:  We ask You, Father, to do whatever it takes to draw us so close to You that we will feel Your presence and power wherever we are, night or day. Come close, now! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

 Scripture For Today: Hebrews 13:6  So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”