Frank's Bible Blog

Jeremiah 2—What’s Your Water Source?

We made our way down the dirt trail following village locals on a well-traveled path. Passing us were women and children with five gallon buckets of water on their heads.

We were heading to the water source for much of the community of Bukabwa, a village of 5,000 people in Tanzania, East Africa.

As we approached the little reservoir, a line had formed as villagers waited their turn to dip their buckets into the water and get their family’s water supply for the day. We walked up to the banks where we could see the actual water that these people would drink, cook with and use for cleaning.

It was brownish gray.

Certainly not something I would ever drink from, but it was all that these people had. But imagine if Bukabwa had a fresh spring that gave clean, clear drinking water in abundance. Imagine if that life-giving resource was available but the people ignored it and continued to draw their water from the reservoir. We would think that was crazy. Why on earth would anyone utilize stagnant, dirty water when they could have something fresh and pure?

This is kind of like the word picture that God paints for us in Jeremiah chapter two. Verse 13 says, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Cisterns were typically dug out in the ground and then lined with some kind of plaster to keep it from leaking. A community would then use them to store water. God says Israel shifted its trust and source of sustenance from Him to themselves, substituting as it were fresh water for stagnant. And not only that, says the Lord, but even their efforts to contain the stagnant water was futile. The cracks in the cistern meant that that more water they poured in the more water escaped.

It was a losing proposition. They could never get ahead by trusting in their cisterns.

Each day, you and I have a decision to make. We can get in line with the rest of the world to drink from the stagnant, polluted resources of the world around us, or we can turn to the Spring of Living Water. We can choose to trust in what God offers or we can choose to go it alone, try to build our own life, and solve our own problems. The people of Bukabwa do not have a choice in their water supply. But they, like us, do have a choice when it comes to who or what we will trust in for our lives and to see us through each day.

What will be your water source for today?

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Frank Banfill is an international speaker, leadership developer, and president of MaxPoint Ministries (www.maxpoint.org) which seeks to help individuals and ministries realize their full potential in Christ. Please forward this to your family & friends. To get Frank’s devotionals delivered free to your inbox, or to request reprint rights, visit www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 57—Cave Dwellers

Imagine for a moment that you are literally running for your life.

You haven’t done anything wrong, but a large group of men are chasing after you and will stop at nothing short of your death. You have been on the run for days, managing to stay just one step ahead of your adversaries. As you make your way over a ridge you stumble onto some hills and are surprised to find a cave. You duck into the cave. Your heart feels like it will beat through your chest.

Will you be discovered? Will this be the end for you? How long will you be able to hold out in the cave?

Now if that were me, those are the kinds of questions that would fill my mind. Admittedly, I would not be in the mood to sing! But that is what we find David doing as he fled from King Saul in Psalm 57. He is hiding out in a cave writing music! David saw the cave as God’s provision and the way in which God would keep David in the shadow of His wings “until the disaster has passed” (v1).

Sometimes in life God gives us a cave to duck into until the storm of our current problems passes. The cave isn’t necessarily the most pleasant place to be—certainly not long term—but it is a place of safety. It is a temporary place to collect your thoughts, to rest, to wait and even to grow.

Maybe that cave is a short-term job or ministry that God uses to “hold you over” while He readies something more permanent for you. Maybe the cave is a relationship that God brings into your life for a season to help you get through difficult times. Maybe the cave is a short-lived opportunity that will stretch and grow you into what God wants you to be long-term.

What do you do when you are in a cave? Four things: Remember God still has a purpose for your life even if you can’t see it right now (v2). Thank God for his love and faithfulness in sending you a cave (v3). Look for ways to glorify God in the midst of your cave (vv5, 11). Finally, stay positive and find something to sing about (vv7-8).

One final thought: don’t move out of the cave prematurely. David took refuge until the disaster was gone. God will, I believe, make it clear when it is safe to leave the cave and move on with your life. Until then take refuge in the shadow of His wing and be a cave dweller.

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Frank Banfill is an international speaker, leadership developer, and president of MaxPoint Ministries (www.maxpoint.org) which seeks to help individuals and ministries realize their full potential in Christ. Please forward this to your family & friends. To get Frank’s devotionals delivered free to your inbox, or to request reprint rights, visit www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 56--My Tears in God’s Bottle

Sometimes all you can do is cry.

Now, that’s not a bad thing—crying often releases stored up emotions and you actually feel better once they are out. But don’t we wonder if anyone really cares about our tears? Don’t we wonder if our tears will really accomplish anything? After all, when we finish crying the problem or pain that led to the crying is still there. We might feel better but our reality hasn’t changed.

Or has it?

David in Psalm 56 was at a point in his life where all he could do was cry—and call out to the Lord. Try as he might, he couldn’t fix his situation. He couldn’t strategize a way out. All that was left were his tears as his adversaries hunted him down to attack him in their pride (v2). But David points out that his tears did not go unnoticed, but rather Almighty God would remember and record them. “Record my lament,” David cried, “list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?” (vs. 8) The scroll or possibly a better translation, wineskin, is the visual David gives as his tears are noted in heaven. In 2 Kings 20:5 and Jeremiah 31:18 we are told that God hears, sees, and responds to the tears of His people. That was something that David knew as well. Someone did notice his tears during that season of life when people were twisting his words (v5) and conspiring against him
(v6).

Those were lonely days but David was not alone. The Creator not only saw David’s tears but sustained and delivered him (v13).

The difference between tears that fall meaninglessly and tears that move heaven is two words: pride and trust. Pride says “I’ll fix it or worry about it until I can find a way out.” Trust says “God—you’ve got this one. I release my situation to You and You alone.” Trust will drive us to God’s word (vv4, 10) that we might turn our focus to praise. Trust keeps on keeping on, serving Him despite our circumstances (v12).

Can our tears really make a difference? They can when turn to God and trust Him to store our tears in His bottle and respond to them in His time.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 55--No Superman Suit Needed

If you could have one super power--like a comic book character--what would it be?

I don't have to think long to come up with my answer. Since I was a child, it has always been the ability to fly like Superman. To be able to go "up, up and away" in the midst of any situation and move unhindered to wherever I want to go would be incredible.

Did you know that this is the power that David in the Bible wished he had?

No, not to fly like Superman but to be able to fly like a bird. In Psalm 55 he says, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--I would flee far away and stay in the desert..."(vv6-7). David wanted to fly away from all of his problems and hide out alone in the desert.

Sound familiar?

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like you just wanted to get away from it all? Have you ever felt like the strain and pressure of life was getting to you? Have you ever felt like you'd like to fly to a deserted island and hang out there for a while?

Then you know exactly how David felt.

This was a difficult time in David's life. We can't be sure of the exact incident that prompted this psalm, but it would seem that it was after he became king. We do know that it was a time when one of his closest friends betrayed him (vv13-14). They worshiped together. They shared life together. But this beloved friend turned on David. He had joined the throngs of David's enemies. David wanted to fly away from it all, but of course, he couldn't.

Like us, he couldn't run from life--he had to deal with it. So what did he do?

"But I call to God...evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress" (vv16-17). After a period of pouring his heart out to God, David began to see things differently. He began to see God "enthroned forever" (v19). He learned that all of us can cast our cares "on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."

Yes, David was surrounded by wickedness. Yes, David had been betrayed. Yes, there were smooth talkers (v21) deceiving many people. "But as for me," David said to God, "I trust in you."

David had the Lord. No Superman suit needed.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 53-- Is the World Suffering from Selective Hearing?

If you are a parent it probably has happened to you. You tell your child to do something and he or she ignores you. You say it louder and are still met with silence and inaction. Finally, you scream to them before storming into their room.

Once there, you are met with an "I didn't hear you."

Now sometimes that "I didn't hear you" is because the TV was too loud or the iPod was cranked up in their ears. Sometimes it is "selective" hearing--they hear what they want to hear, and it usually isn't you!

There are many people like that when it comes to God. They either are so self-absorbed that they don't notice God, they are so distracted that they can't hear or see Him working around them, or they have selective hearing and choose to ignore Him.

They also often live and operate in fear when there is no cause for fear (v5). This is most evident with those who do what we may consider irrational superstitions.

Some cultures, for example, believe that you have to "swing" away your sin. Each Spring the adults go to a playground-like setting. They stand on a swing, making it go back and forth, in fear that if they don't they will face God's wrath. They will put on their best clothes--guys in suits, women in nice dresses--and swing away!

In Psalm 53 David paints a picture of these outsiders. He uses words similar to those in Psalm 14 to reiterate the sinful and fallen nature of man. "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God'"(v1).

Some scholars say that Hebrew words for "there is no God" is not a denial of the existence of God, but rather a denial of the providence of the Deity. In other words, whether God really exists or not doesn't matter because the person denies God's right to control, direct or intervene in his or her life. They live for themselves with no thought of God. "There is none who does good, not even one" (v3). They are going their own way and without God's grace will continue to drift through life and eternity separated from the Almighty.

While it is easy for believers to sit back and say "I'm glad I'm not like them," God would have us respond differently. He longs to have a personal relationship with everyone.

How do you break through and reach a person like that? Romans 10:13-15 says "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" It goes on to say, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

It is up to us to lovingly enter into the "noise" of their "room" and share God's word. Not screaming like the frustrated parent, but as a loving friend who, like them, was once lost in life but now desires to show them the way forward.

Will you be that friend and help the world with its selective hearing problem?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 50-- Your Day in Court?

"All rise," the bailiff commands, "the honorable Judge Smith is now presiding."

A familiar scene played out in courtrooms all the time. The parties are assembled, the jury is in place, the judge makes his or her entry and takes control of the proceedings.

Now with that scene firmly in your mind's view, consider another courtroom as described in Psalm 50.

This courtroom is much greater than that which typically holds 2-3 dozen people. In this courtroom the whole world is assembled. Then the Judge makes His grand entry. Before the bailiff can give his command a hush fills the assembly as those gathered look on with awe at the presence of the Judge--no ordinary judge, but God Himself.

There is no jury.

There is no prosecutor.

They are not needed for the righteous, perfect Judge will handle this Himself.

There are two defendants on trial. The first is a believer who has all the outward formalism of worship but lacks it inside. He looks spiritual but is missing any real spiritual vitality. He does all the "church" things but his devotional life is nearly non-existent. He lives a self-focused life rather than a life of thanksgiving to God. When difficulties arise he turns to himself, others, or to worry in an effort to solve his problems.

The second defendant is not a believer but sure can talk like one. He knows the lingo, knows many of God's instructions, and often tells these to others. But he lives just the opposite. He lives a life that is wicked and opposed to God.

The Judge turns and addresses the first defendant.

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me" (vv14-15).

It is a stunning reminder of how this defendant used to live and a dramatic call to once again place the Lord first in his life.

The judge then speaks to the second defendant.

"These things you have done and I kept silent...But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue" (vv21-22).

A chill goes through everyone who heard these words. "He's giving him another chance," the crowd whispers to each other, "what will he do with it? Will he turn away from his sin and embrace God? Or will he one day have to face God's wrath?

If this scene were played out today, would you be one of the defendants?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 49-- Did You Make the List?

Forbe's Magazine publishes a yearly list of the world's billionaires and the richest Americans, as well as "richest" lists for other countries. It is easy to look at these super-wealthy and assume that they have it all. After all, when you have access to billions of dollars, can't you get pretty much anything you want?

Not exactly.

Psalm 49 has a word for the rich, as well as the poor and everyone in between (v2). "Listen all who live in this world" (v1).

That pretty much includes everyone!

The psalmist goes on to remind us that, "No man can redeem the life of another or give God a ransom for him--the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough" (v8). He also reminds us that, "The foolish and senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others."

You can't take it with you--and you can't buy eternal life. Money may buy the best medical attention and prolong one's life, "but man despite his riches does not endure" (v12).

The message of this psalm isn't about money but rather about trust. Who or what do you trust in? Do you trust in yourself and your resources? Or have you placed your faith in the Lord?

We can't redeem someone else's life or our own. No amount of money is enough. But there is One who has redeemed us, and that is Jesus Christ. His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection satisfied the payment needed for sin. Now it is up to us to apply that atonement to our lives by placing our trust in Christ to forgive us and give us everlasting life with Him.

Whether you are on the world's list of wealthiest or not, we all get to God the same way--through Jesus.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 48-- The Guide

Our family settled into the Range Rover excited about spending the next couple days on safari in Africa. Frank was our driver and guide, and he took us into two of Tanzania's national parks to explore African wildlife up close.

I wasn't nervous when he drove us right beside two sleeping lions. I figured we were safe in the vehicle. But when we stopped alongside a herd of elephants, I must admit there was a moment of concern. They were SO big and could easily trample us if something spooked them.

The concern quickly left as I realized we were in the care of an experienced guide. Plus, he was in this with us, so whatever happened to us was also going to happen to him!

Knowing that you have an experienced guide to see you through unchartered territory is very reassuring.

In Psalm 48, we are introduced to the ultimate Guide--God. We are told how He led His people to overcome opposing nations. We are told of His great loving-kindness.

We can exclaim with the psalmist, "For this is our God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death" (v14). A better translation of the last phrase might be "through death" or "beyond death."

You see, our Guide knows everything that we are going to face. Our Guide knows the best path to take in every situation. Our Guide knows the way forward. Our Guide will never leave us or forsake us--He's in this with us! He will see us through, not just life, but into eternity.

Our Guide is worthy to be praised (v1) and introduced to future generations (vv12-13). Most of all, our Guide should be followed no matter how scary, uneasy or complicated life may get.

Let's follow the Guide!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 46--When It Starts to Hail

We were driving our mini-van through Minnesota on a family vacation when we suddenly found ourselves in a hail storm. As we made our way down the interstate, large chunks of hail began to pummel our van.

I looked for an overpass that I could get under or some other place where our vehicle would be safe--but everyone else on the road had the same idea and beat me to it. We would just have to keep on driving and try to get through it.

It was stressful as we watched the hail put a couple small cracks in the windshield and a ding or two in the hood. It certainly could have been worse.

Sometimes in life it is as if we are trekking through a hail storm. We have a bad day--week--or even year--where it seems like the sky is falling in on us. We are desperate to find our way out of the storm before we get pummeled even more.

Psalm 46 paints a beautiful portrait of a place of safety when we find ourselves in life's hailstorms. "God is our refuge and strength," the psalmist states, "an ever-present help in trouble." He goes on to say that even if we are having the worst time possible--even if the earth is collapsing and the mountains are falling into the seas (v2)--we have nothing to fear.

God is not shaken by the affairs of men. God is not overwhelmed by the difficulties of this world. He is above everything and every nation. The Almighty, we are told, is with us--you and me! He is our fortress (v7). He is the place to run to when the sky is falling.

How can we escape to His protection? How can we discover peace in the midst of the storm?

Two things--come and see, and be still.

First, come and see all that God has done (v8). Look at His many blessings. Recount the ways He cared for you in the past. Then be still (v10). As one translation puts it, "cease striving."

Just calm down and be quiet!

Stillness is essential to learning. Talk less and listen more to what the Lord is telling you in this situation. Take a deep breath, move your eyes off the horizontal and start looking vertical. When we do this, then we will see God for who He is. We will watch Him be exalted not only in our lives but through the earth.

Come and see. Be still.

That's the way to safety the next time it hails on your life.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 44-- Abandoned by God?

Have you ever felt all alone? I mean really alone--like God wasn't even there?

You knew you were God's child. You knew you had a solid faith in Him. You knew you were living right before Him. Yet, somehow it seemed that He had forsaken you?

The psalmist who penned Psalm 44 felt exactly that way. He celebrated the things that God had done (vv1-3). He declared his complete allegiance to the Lord (vv4-7). He gave praise the the Lord (v8). But even with all of this, he felt rejected and crushed by God (vv9,19) and he felt that God was hiding from him (v24).

Sound familiar?

We cannot read this Psalm without also reading Romans 8:35-39, the passage where Paul quotes from Psalm 44. After giving a lengthy list of things that seemingly could separate us from God, Paul declares that we are more than super-conquerors through Christ. There is nothing--absolutely nothing--that can disconnect us from God's love.

"That's great," you say, "but it doesn't change how I feel right now." True.

So what can we do in those times when for no fault of our own we feel isolated from God?

Start by crying out to God, like the psalmist did in verse 26: "Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love." Go back to what you know about God--His promises, His love, His past workings in your life. Use the time to evaluate your walk with the Lord and intensify your focus on Him. Increase your prayer, worship and Bible reading times. Memorize scripture. Meditate on Christian songs.

Draw near to Him and He promises to draw near to you.

This "desert" time in your life actually may be a season that God wants to use to take your relationship with Him to a new level. Embrace it!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 39--Are You Really as Young as You Think?

Are you young or old? Now before you answer consider this: the concept of being young or old is really based on when we expect to die. If you are 20 and you figure you have at least 60 years left, then you consider yourself young. If you are 80 then you might consider yourself old. But should the 20 year old actually think he has plenty of time left? What if he is going to die in the next year? Then he really is old...he has limited time left. The point is this--we often do things or don't do things based on our concept of our age. If we are young, we may put off doing important things because we think we have plenty of time. If we are older, we may aggressively try to complete a"bucket list" while we have time and miss out on some bigger issues. In Psalm 39 David prayed a very interesting prayer. "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days" (v4). He went on to ask the Lord to "let me know how fleeting is my life." In essence he was saying, "God, remind me today and every day that I don't have much time left." David wanted to make sure that he made the greatest impact possible for the Lord with whatever time he had left. David also saw that the greatest hindrance to that productivity was sin. "Save me from my transgressions," David pleaded, "do not make me the scorn of fools" (v8). Some live for wealth, but David reminds us that sin can consume that as well. "You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth" (v11). Those who pursue wealth do so in vain, "he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it" (v6). The message is don't allow sin and worldly pursuits to rob you of years of productivity for the Lord. Whether we consider ourselves young or old, we all should keep our mortality in view and maximize every day that we have for God's glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 37--Lower Your Blood Pressure

It was my first time out of the house alone with our new baby. I had a doctor's appointment and had to take her with me. As soon as I sat down in the waiting room I realized I had forgotten something very important--food. I was a brand new dad and the thought that the child would need to eat again before I got home totally slipped my mind. Well, no sooner did I get seated when my daughter started to cry, and cry and cry. I tried everything I could think of to calm her down but nothing worked. I just knew everyone was staring at me and thinking what a lousy dad I was. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I am ushered into the exam room. The nurse took my blood pressure and was shocked at the reading. My normally low blood pressure was through the roof! I had let all the commotion get to me. I was stressed big time! Today my baby is a teenager and I look back at that incident and laugh. I just needed to calm down! Well, that is the word from the Lord to all of us in Psalm 37--just calm down! Don't worry and fret (v1,8). God has everything under control (v24). Whether it is people treating you badly (v1, 14), disastrous times (v19), personal failure (v24), or struggles to make ends meet (v25), God is there for you. But what must we do to stay calm in difficult times? There are eight things. Trust in the Lord (v3). Feed on His presence (v3). Delight in what delights Him (v4). Commit your plans to the Lord (v5). Be still and wait on Him (vv7, 34). Don't get angry (v8). Stay humble (v11). Do good (v27, 30, 31). This a great prescription for dealing with the ups and downs of life!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 36-- Space Aliens Over God?

It was hard for me to sit there and listen. Even though I was watching the TV screen in my own house, I cringed as I listened to atheist "scientists" bash the concept of God. I was watching the documentary by Ben Stein Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The movie shows how academia and the scientific community have systematically expelled any concept of intelligent design in considering the origins of life. As the movie progressed, Stein showed how the world view of these "elites" actually forbade them from even considering any theory contrary to Darwinism. We all thought scientists were open minded individuals willing to pursue truth no matter what. What we discovered from their own lips was that they were willing to pursue potential truth as long as it fit within their pre-conceived ideas. These supposedly brilliant scholars said they could accept space aliens before they could accept the concept that God exists and had anything to do with the origin of life. Evolution must be believed because if you don't, then it opens the door for the possibility of God who might want to have a say in how we live our lives. Psalm 36 tells us that when there is no fear of God then all sorts of evil is possible (v1), even genocide. When there is no fear of God man turns to flattering himself (v2) and can no longer distinguish good or act with wisdom (v3). Evolution is important to these people because it allows them to hide behind an unproven theory to justify their self-worship. On the video, these "scientists" actually say it is there goal to eradicate religion from the world. Psalm 36 contrasts these people with the one true God who is righteous like the mighty mountains (v6) and stands ready to offer His priceless love (v7) to those who believe (v10). Don't fall into the evolution trap just because that is all you hear. Challenge the so-called science. Ask tough questions that move beyond the presumptions of those with an anti-god world view. Most of all, fear God. Feast on His abundance (v8) and you will see the fountain of life (v9).

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 35--When the Boomerang Doesn't Come Back

There is a large decorative boomerang that sits in my office. On the back is a sticker that says "guaranteed to return." I picked it up during a trip to Australia several years ago. Even though it says "guaranteed to return" I have never thrown it, for fear that it won't return. I've seen boomerangs thrown and know that for them to work, they have to be thrown a certain way. I don't want to take the chance that I'll throw it and it will just keep on going...and going. Life is often like a boomerang. When we do good for others we usually see that good returned to us--the boomerang that comes back. But what happens when we throw out our best efforts to help others and those efforts never come back? Or worse, what if they come back as something completely different--something very unpleasant? Do you pick up the "boomerang" and throw it again, or do you allow the hurt and fear of rejection to keep the "boomerang" in hand? David struggled with this in Psalm 35. "They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn," he said in verse 12. When others were hurting, he felt their pain. He prayed for them and mourned for them (vv13-14) but when he stumbled "they gathered in glee" and slandered him "without ceasing" (v15). He threw out the boomerang of compassion and care but it returned as evil and maliciousness. What did David do about this? He took it to the Lord. He asked the Lord to contend for him (v23) and vindicate him (v24). It was not for him to change others. David realized that only God could do that. So David kept on being David. He kept on doing what he knew to do and that was to give God "thanks in the great assembly" and praise him before everyone (v18). David would continue to speak of God's righteousness and praises (v28). He would continue throwing the boomerang and leave the outcome to the Lord. That's a good lesson for us today. Keep throwing our boomerang and trust God for the return.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 34--You're Standing on an Enormous Power Supply

It has been there all along but until recent years no one knew it. It is called the Barnett Shale, one of the largest deposits of natural gas in the United States, and it underlies 5,000 square miles of Texas. Above the ground of this energy field sits houses, businesses, a church and even the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. These individuals and organziations were sitting on a "gold" mine. Once the discovery was made and gas companies began to tap into the Barnett shale, the money began to flow to the property owners. This enormous source of energy was right there all along but it didn't do anyone any good until it was finally tapped into. As believers, we are sitting on top of an incredible "power field," if you will. But this isn't energy that can be burned up. No, this is the power of All-Mighty God. In Psalm 34 we are told that God stands ready to answer, deliver, save from trouble, send angels, provide for every need, see, hear, draw close to the brokenhearted, save the crushed in spirit, protect, redeem, and condemn the foes of His followers. All of this is available to the believer, but must first be tapped into. How do we "tap into" the incredible power and peace that God offers? David in this chapter says we are to extol, praise, boast of, glorify, exalt, seek, look to, call, taste, take refuge in, and fear the Lord. When we turn to the Lord in this way, then He is quick to respond with a vast array of benefits. But, we must seek Him. We must fear Him. We must demonstrate our complete dependency on the Lord. By trusting in Him and not ourselves or anyone or anything else, we tap into an incredible power supply that will never run out.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 31-- The Fort

As pioneers made their way across the American western frontier the only place of safety for many of them was a fort. The various forts that sprang up across the west became an oasis not just for pioneers but also for traders, Pony Express riders, stage drivers and homesteaders. Outside of the fort anything could happen from wild animal attacks to attacks from bandits and others. Inside the fort there was community and security. In Psalm 31 David likens the Lord to a fort (vv 2,3). Like a fort, God is our refuge (vv1,2, 19, 20) and a welcome site for those struggling in the wilderness. There are those outside the Fort who lie about us (v18) and are full of pride and contempt for anything or anyone who is righteous. They bring grief, pain and affliction (vv9-11). David lived through this day after day, prompting him to write "For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life" (v13). But David knew the Fort. He knew where he could run. He knew where to turn. Because of the Fort, David could encourage us to "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord" (v24). The Fort is always there--but it is up to us to utilize the Fort. It is up to us to commit our spirit to the Lord (v5) and seek His protection. It is up to us to reject "worthless idols" and trust only in Him (v6). It is up to us to cry out to Him and seek His face. It is up to us to turn into the Fort and find peace.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 30--Seeing Your Way Forward in the Dark

It's the middle of the night and everyone in your home is asleep. It's pitch dark but you silently make your way to the kitchen to get a drink. Although your hands are out to feel your way through, you don't need them. You walk unhindered to the refrigerator. You have made that walk so many times before in the light that you know your way around even though you can't see a thing. You know without a doubt that the refrigerator is there even though that is not confirmed until you grab the handle. You are able to see your way forward in the dark because of your past experience. Life is like that for the person of faith. As we move forward it is like walking in the dark--we are traversing unchartered territory. But we go forward with confidence because of the experience we have had in the past walking with the Lord. Psalm 30 is a great reminder of this. What is especially insightful isn't in the verses themselves (although they are amazing) but what is in the title, which David also wrote.  "A song for the dedication of the temple." David never saw the temple dedicated. David never saw the actual construction of the temple even begin. But David knew it would be completed so he prepared for it in faith. What was the song that would be sung when the temple would be dedicated? "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (v5) and "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (v11). The night is dark. The night brings sorrow. The night has tear-soaked pillows---but morning is coming! Rejoicing, dancing, singing--it's all coming in the morning! You can see it in the dark because you know the God of the morning. You can see it in the dark because all of your experiences with God declare His mighty power. You can see it in the dark because the Lord has been with you on past journeys and He has never let you down. You can see it in the dark because you walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the incredible force that allows you to operate in the dark--but it's not blind faith. No, it is a solid faith based on the person and past work of Almighty God and the completed work of Christ on the cross. It is that faith that lets you see your way forward in the dark.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 29--Peace in the Thunder

It was an amazing night. I can't recall ever seeing anything like it before as a massive electrical storm lit up the Texas sky. In just a few miles of driving my children counted over 100 lightning strikes. There was no rain where we were, and at that time we could not hear any thunder. We just saw lightning flash after lightning flash. Later that night a storm did roll past, with thunder so loud it shook our house. Thunder and lightning can be incredibly powerful--and they should be reminders to us of the incredible power and might of God. David tells us in Psalm 29 "The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert" (vv7-8). The mere voice of God is powerful and majestic (v4). It is impossible for us to fully grasp the magnitude of God's power and glory. Because of this, we should "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name" (v1). Because of this we should worship and exalt Him daily. And because of this, He "gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace" (v1). Because God is so powerful, He can calm any storm in your life and give you the strength to overcome any adversity. So the next time you hear thunder or see lightning be reminded of God's massive power and know that the God enthroned "as king forever" is right there with you to give you peace.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 27--What the Lion Missed Pursuing Courage

In the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, one of the characters that Dorothy met was a lion who desperately wanted courage. He ventured with Dorothy to Oz to seek courage from the Wizard. In his mind, the only way he could get courage was to have it bestowed upon him. Have you ever thought about where courage comes from? We know we can't get it from a magical wizard in a fantasy story, but how can we get it? What makes courageous people courageous? What gives the police officer, for example, the courage to venture down a dark ally alone when he suspects trouble? Or the soldier the courage to enter a terrorist strong hold? I think there are four things: training, experience, protection and determination. Both the police officer and soldier have been taught what to do in these situations. They both had past experiences, even if simulated, that gave them a feel for what to expect. They both had protection--guns, rifles, bullet-proof vests, etc. They also had the will and determination to put those three things together and in order to place themselves in harms way. In Psalm 27, David challenges all of us to have courage as we journey through life. I believe we get that courage in the same way that the police officer or solider got theirs. Our training comes when we spend time in God's house, in His presence, and as we wait on Him to teach us His ways (vv 4, 6, 11, 14). We gain experience as we daily walk with Him and learn to trust Him with bigger and bigger issues (vv 2,13). We, too, have protection--and it is much greater than vests or guns. David put it this way: "The Lord is my strength" (v1), "Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear" (v3), "He shall set me high upon a rock" (v5), and "Then the Lord will take care of me" (v10). Even with all of this, we must have the will and determination to utilize our training, experiences and protection. When we do that, then we will have courage! "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" (v14).

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 26-- Maintaining Your Innocence

The headline read "18 Dallas County Cases Overturned By DNA Relied Heavily on Eyewitness Testimony." It went on to tell how 19 criminal convictions had been overturned based on new DNA evidence, 18 of which got their original convictions because of faulty eyewitness testimony. I'm sure all 19 men falsely accused of these crimes maintained their innocence even in prison. In the case of one man, he had been imprisoned 15 years before the mistake was discovered. These men were exonerated from within--from their DNA. Others looked at them and made mistakes, but they knew the truth. In Psalm 26, David boldly declares his innocence before the Lord. He took great precautions to make sure that he lived rightly, and he welcomed God's examination of his life. It didn't matter what eyewitnesses might say, what really mattered was what God would say because God knew what was within him. How could David be so bold about his innocence before the Lord? What did he do to ensure he was pure? First, he placed his trust in the Lord (v1). Second, he walked in real truth--God's truth (v3). Third, he guarded his relationships so that he did not spend significant time with those who worshiped other gods, were hypocrites, or who were just wicked (vv4-5). Fourth, he was vocal in speaking about the Lord (v7). Fifth, he spent time in God's house (v8). Finally, he was consistently righteous (vv1,11). These are great steps that we all should take to maintain our innocence before the Lord.


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 25-- Lessons from the Karate Kid

Several years ago there was a popular movie and sequel called the Karate Kid. (A re-make was done in 2010). It was about a boy with a difficult home life who took up karate. The boy had a lot of potential but knew if he was going to be successful he needed training by a real karate master. There was such a person who agreed to train him. At first, however, the training was nothing like the boy thought it would be. The master had the boy wax his car! Not only that, but he was insistent that it be waxed a certain way with very deliberate strokes. "Wax on, wax off," the master kept repeating in a famous scene from the movie. Day after day the master had the boy do other seemingly meaningless tasks. After a while the boy got very frustrated. "When is he going to start teaching me!" he wondered in exasperation. He almost quit on the master but was persuaded to stick it out--and boy was he glad he did! When he went into the big karate match he discovered that he had not spent days doing worthless tasks. He actually was learning discipline and how to move his arms, hands and body in certain ways that were beneficial to karate. The master did not tell him why he had the boy doing certain moves, just that he needed to do them. In the end, the master knew what was best and the boy became a champion because he learned to intimately follow the master. I believe that you and I can become champions in life when we, too, learn to follow the Master--the Lord. Psalm 25 is a great picture of a learner--a student--desperate to follow the master and ready to reap the rewards of this discipline. "Show me Your ways...teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day" is how the psalmist-learner expresses it in verses 4-5. He was ready to wait "all the day" on the Master because he knew that the Master had the truth. He knew that the master knew the best path to take. He knew the master would lead him to victory. "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity...the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (vv12-14). Today, you and I can unlock the Master's "secret" and find true success if we will become desperate students. Desperate students who linger on every word of the Master. Desperate students who seek the Master's guidance in everything, even when it doesn't make sense. Desperate student's who turn only to their Master for truth and nothing or no one else. Desperate students who trust their Master (v20) and live in integrity as they wait on their Master's direction (v21). Are you a desperate student of the Lord today? Are you even teachable?


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 24-- Keeping the Unseen in Perspective

When I turned 40 I decided that I wanted to get a body scan--a high-tech imaging of the major body organs. I waited almost two years but eventually had it done. It was fascinating to sit with the doctor and watch the results on a computer screen. I could see what was inside of me, section by section! We don't usually think much about our heart, lungs, liver, etc. until something goes wrong. Those organs are always present with us, but since they are out of sight, we ignore them. We probably give no thought to how these organs work--we just know that they do. God is like this for many people, even believers. He is always present, but since we don't see Him we tend to forget about Him--at least until something goes wrong! Psalm 24 challenges us to always keep God before us and see Him for Who He is. First, we are reminded that everything and everyone belongs to Him (vv1-2). Second, we are told that while we have free access to God, we cannot approach Him flippantly. If we want to stand before Him expecting Him to pour out His blessing on us, then we need to come before Him in an appropriate way (v3) with purity of actions and heart (v4). Finally, we need to see the Lord as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the only one with an everlasting kingdom (v9) who has never been and never will be defeated! Just because you can't see your heart doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention to it. The same is true with God. Let's keep the Unseen in perspective.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 23--The Psalm You Thought You Knew

It is arguably the most well known passage in the entire Bible. Even many non-believers have heard of it. Countless numbers of people have turned to it for encouragement and strength in difficult times. You have probably read Psalm 23 many, many times. You may not, however, have read it in the way that truly unleashes its full power and meaning. Most of us read this beloved psalm with an emphasis on the words "me" and "my." The Lord is my shepherd. He leads me beside still waters. Though I walk through the valley, and so on. We make the emphasis of the psalm about us. It certainly does relate to us--but that is not where the power and real meaning is at. If you want to fully appreciate and really grasp what this psalm is all about, then you must read it with the emphasis on the Lord. He makes me lie down...He leads beside...He restores...You are with me...Your rod...You prepare...You anoint. Why does God do all of these things for us? Is it because we are so wonderful, great and deserving? No. It is "For His name's sake" (v3). It is not about us. It is about Him--and that's a good thing! You see, if it was about you then what happens when you blow it? What happens when you don't live up to your God-given potential? What happens when your faith falters? God's ability to be your good shepherd is all about His nature and character, not yours. Do you really want the power and comfort of this psalm? Then don't focus on what you get; rather, focus on who God is and what He can and is doing in your life for His name's sake.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 18-- Count Your Blessings and Make Good Decisions

Growing up in church, there was this hymn that we sang all the time titled, "Count Your Blessings." I don't think I have sung that song in years, but I still remember the lyrics. I sang the song as a child, but didn't understand lines like "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed." I did, however, understand, "Count you blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done." It is important to have regular times in our life where we pause and specifically take note of what God has done for us. This is the case in Psalm 18. I get the impression that this psalm or song was one that David sang regularly as he paused to look back over his life and note what God had done for him. David was very specific in exulting God and describing all that He had done for David. This is also an anthem celebrating the benefits of making good decisions. In verses 20-24, David praises God for rewarding his choices to live right and blameless before God. I'm sure David had in his mind those occasions where King Saul was trying to kill him and David actually had the opportunity to kill Saul instead. His soldiers justified the killing to David, but David would not go along with them. He went against peer pressure, avoided rationalizing the situation, and stuck to his convictions. Now years later, David looks back at those decisions and rejoices. There are two questions that we are faced with as we look at this psalm. First, are we making decisions today that we will be proud of 25 years from now? Second, do we have regular times in our life when we pause and enumerate the blessings of God? Two very important questions for all of us to ponder.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 16-- "Stay Close, Children!"

The warning signs were abundant as we began walking around the national park--"Stay on the Path." There were numerous hazards if one wondered off the path and no further warnings or protections were available. If you stayed on the path, you would enjoy some of the most incredible beauty of God's creation. But if you strayed, the results could be absolutely devastating. My children were small, so I made sure I had a firm grasp on them and kept them close to my side. In Psalm 16, David is pictured as walking through life just like my children walked that path with me--right at the side of their father. Twice he refers to being next to God (vv8,11) and he says that, "I have set the Lord always before me" (v8). He stayed by God's side and stayed where he could see Him at all times. Because David had put such trust in God (v1) and maintained complete dependency on Him (v2), David experience some wonderful benefits. He received multiple blessings (vv5,6), had guidance for his life (vv7, 11), enjoyed gladness and hope (v9), and had the assurance of eternal pleasures (v11). He also knew that just as Christ would conquer death (v10), God would not leave him in the grave. We too can experience these same benefits as we put our trust in the Lord, and as we walk intimately with Him along life's path. Yes, there are unbelievable dangers in life, but when we hold God's hand and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we have nothing to fear. There is safety in the presence of Father.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 10--The Long Anticipated Road Emerges

As I write this, I can hear heavy machinery moving dirt not far from my house. For years, the city has planned the expansion of a road and intersection near us. We've heard about it. Read about it. We've even talked about it. Now we are starting to see what it will look like and exactly where the road will go.

The current road is very narrow and is a traffic bottleneck. It intersects rail road tracks without crossing bars, making the intersection not only congested but dangerous. All of that, however, is about to change.

While we knew change was coming, we did not know the magnitude of the construction. We can now see that the roadway will be 4-5 times the size of what it was, with numerous traffic and turning lanes. It is one thing to understand something conceptually; it is quite another thing to actually start to see it now that the dirt is moving.

This is what took place in Exodus 10 as God unleashed two more plagues on Egypt. God began to pull the vail back so that Moses could see the bigger picture. The plagues and various altercations with Pharaoh was about more than just the Israelites leaving. They were about God doing something so incredible that people would talk about it for generations (v2). The plagues become a monument to the greatness of God and the destructiveness of sin.

Conceptually, people may have known about God's power, but it was another thing all together when they saw it for themselves. God had promised to not only make the Israelites a great nation, but He promised a land for them. They heard about the "future construction" plans but had never seen anything that would indicate it would happen. That all changed when the "dirt started to move" with the various plagues. Everyone could see God's power for themselves. Everyone could know that He had the might to do what He said He would do.

Even though God's power was on display for all to see, there were still those who failed to accept its ramifications. Pharaoh was so infatuated with himself that he would not listen to advice or accept the reality that Egypt was ruined (v7). He would try to bargain with the man of God, but would not accept the full terms that God had given. He saw God's might, but he still wanted to stay in control of the situation. The road was emerging but Pharaoh refused to accept it.

So what does this mean to us today? Well, this story reminds us that there are at least three action items we all need to take. First, look for God working around you. God is always at work--we just are oblivious to it most of the time. Second, remember that what you do see now is probably only a glimpse of what is to come. Finally, when you know that God is moving in your life, respond appropriately. Don't be controlling. Don't try to bargain with God. Just surrender yourself to Him as He unfolds the future.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and leadership developer. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 9--What Will It Take?

It's painful to watch those who you love make terrible, even tragic, mistakes with their lives. They push people away, reject God, and choose a lifestyle that ultimately has a very bad ending. You want so desperately for these people to wake up and realize their need before it is too late. For some people, however, it takes tragedy to get their attention.

Such was the case with Pharaoh and many of the Egyptians that we see in Exodus 9. Up to the plague of hail in this chapter, the previous plagues hit all the Egyptians--there was no avoiding them. But here, God gives them a chance to avoid it. He gives them advanced warning of impending destruction. They could bring in from the fields their livestock, servants, and anything else perishable and put in them shelter. Verse 20 tells us that there were some of Pharaoh's officials who did fear the Lord, and they obeyed and were spared. Those who chose to ignore suffered the consequences, Pharaoh included.

After this devastating plague that did in fact wipe out people and animals, Pharaoh acknowledged his sin for the first time and admitted that the Lord was right (v27). Moses knew better, however, than to get excited by Pharaoh's confession. You see, it is one thing to acknowledge that you were wrong; it is quite another thing to do something about it! Pharaoh once again hardened his heart.

With some people, it does take tragedy after tragedy to get their attention before they will even recognize their sin. That was the case with Pharaoh. But recognizing is not enough--there has to be action. Something has to be done about it. That's where choice comes in. We can choose God's remedy for sin, or we can ignore it and keep doing what we were doing.

Maybe it is you who keeps making poor choices and causing grief for those who love you.

Are you prideful like Pharaoh? What will it take to get your attention? What will it take to break down that pride and acknowledge God and accept His salvation? Admitting that you blew it is one thing; allowing God to change you is quite another.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and leadership developer. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 6--Now You Will See

"It's got to be right around here," I said to myself in excitement as I drove the mini-van with our family in it. I must admit that even as a grown man, I was pretty excited. After all, when you hear about something all of your life, see numerous pictures of it, study it in school, and so on, it is exciting to know that you are about to finally see it for yourself.

The terrain got steeper as we made our way around the mountain until finally I could see a nose. Within moments the rest of a head came into view.

We were looking at George Washington's head on Mt. Rushmore!

We continued to drive and found the park entrance. There we could see the massive carvings of the four U.S. presidents who had been memorialized in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's funny--those heads are so big yet from the angle that we approached them, we couldn't see them at first. We had to drive a little farther until the whole scene came into view.

In Exodus 6 God makes an interesting statement to Moses. It starts off with the phrase, "Now you will see what I will do" (v1). Moses had complained that God hadn't answered the Israelites call for help (chapter 5). He couldn't see God at work. But the reality was that he hadn't reached the right point--the right angle--where he could see God move. Like our approach to Mt. Rushmore, things did not come into full view until we had reached a certain point. God's workings are often obscured for us until we reach a certain place where we can see and appreciate them.

Seven times in this chapter God says, "I will." "I will bring you out." "I will free you." "I will take you as my own people." Moses needed to get ready because he was rounding the corner where God's glory would be on display for all to see. "Fasten your seat belt, Moses. I'm about to take you on a wild ride where you and all of Israel will see Me at work like never before." (My paraphrase!)

Friend, today you may be discouraged because the future is obscured. You don't know what is around the next bend. God's working is not visible to you right now. But take heart! At the right time, when you've reached the right elevation, after you've turned that last corner, then you will see.

Fasten your seat belt, open your eyes, and look to the Lord above. His power will soon come into view.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 3--Life Interuption

It wasn't the life he had dreamed about.

Whatever goals he had established for himself, it's pretty safe to say he hadn't realize them. Although he had really grown up in two worlds, like having dual citizenship, he now found himself separated from both those worlds. He didn't have a glamorous job, but I imagine he had reached a certain level of contentment with it and with his family. Life was simple, but that wasn't so bad.

One day on the job, however, everything changed. He reached a cross-road in his life that would forever alter it--and history. He had to make a major decision. He had to choose between the simple life that had become normative for him and being thrust into a major leadership role that would consume most of his time for the rest of his life. He had to choose between being responsible for just his own family and being responsible for thousands of families.

Most of all, he had to choose between obedience to God and a life of self-focus that never would reach its full potential.

In Exodus 3 we see that it was Moses who had come to this cross-road of life, to what Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God called a crisis of belief. Moses was in the desert taking care of sheep when he sees the burning bush, hears God's voice, and has to make a decision that would change everything for him.

His life was about to be interrupted.

Has your life ever been interrupted by God? Have you ever been going through life, doing your thing, when God placed before you a major opportunity? An opportunity that would require you to leave the comfort of the known to take a faith venture into the unknown?

How did you respond? Did you play it safe, sticking to the simple, afraid to wade out into the deep waters of faith? Or did you jump in-- nervous, maybe; scared, probably--but in you went? Did you allow God to interrupt your life in order to take it to another level, even though that meant a sacrifice on your part?

Maybe you have never had the chance for your life to be interrupted. Maybe that interruption is coming. What will you do then? Or maybe there is so much noise and spiritual distraction in your life that even if God showed up in a burning bush you wouldn't even notice it.

My experience has been that at some point in every believer's's life, God asks for an interruption. Sometimes it's a temporary interruption; sometimes it's a life-long one. Either way, it is still an interruption.

Are you willing for God to interrupt your life today?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 2--The Fugitive and the Pizza Delivery Man

A baby marked for death. A prince. A killer. A fugitive alone in the desert. A family man.

All these phrases are how Moses is describe in Exodus 2. These 25 verses span 40 years of Moses' life. There certainly are a lot of details that we don't know about Moses, but the most important that we do know is this: "God saw the sons of Israel and God took notice of them" (v25).

How did God take notice of the terrible plight of the Israelites' Egyptian bondage? He raised up Moses.

Long before the "groaning" of His people reached epic proportions, God was already at work. He was already preparing a deliverer. He already had things in motion that would eventually lead to their salvation.

As I read this chapter, I am struck by two things. First, the way God worked in Moses' life and how God can use all of our experiences--good, bad or indifferent--to prepare us for kingdom impact.

The second is how God is always at work even when we don't see Him working. I imagine that as the Israelites sweated under the Middle Eastern sun fulfilling the burdensome tasks of their Egyptian masters, they wondered where God was in all of it. They cried to the Lord--but the answer was not immediate. Many times the answers to our prayers aren't readily visible, but that does not mean that the answer is not on the way.

We often expect the answers to our prayers to be delivered like pizza--hot, fresh, and in about 30 minutes.

God's answers are always fresh, but they happen on His time frame, not ours. When we find ourselves waiting for those answers to get delivered, we should take heart that God hears and He is at work.

We also have to realize that, like Moses, you and I just might be the answer to someone else's prayer. The difficult time we are going through now might very well be preparing us to be God's delivery man or woman in response to petitions of others.

Let's not get discourage. Let's keep praying. Let's keep trusting that God knows what's best.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Exodus 1--When Two Worlds Collide

Often when movie studios come out with sequels they aren't as good as the original. They lose some of that "magic" and excitement. And the more sequels, the worse they seem to get. Not so, however, with the Rocky series of movies which actually got better as they went (well, at least until no. 4).

My favorite Rocky movie, and the biggest money-maker, was the fourth where boxer Rocky Balboa faces off in Russia against a massive Soviet Union fighter. The Cold War was still going on when the movie came out, so the epic clash of "two worlds" in the boxing ring was symbolic of a larger struggle.

Rocky had moved to Russia to train for the fight, living in a cabin in the midst of ankle deep snow. My favorite scene is the training montage. Rocky is sawing lumber, pulling load-filled sleds, and running outside in frigid conditions. During his preparation, the movie flashes to the Soviet boxer and his preparation in a state-of-the-art indoor training complex.

Two very different boxers. Two very different preparation approaches. Two very different worlds bracing for a collision.

In Exodus 1, we see the collision of two worlds. One world was comprised of the descendants of Abraham living in Egypt. These were people who feared and worshiped the one true God. The God who had chosen them as their own. They were God's people, the God of Joseph who had brought them there hundreds of years prior.

The other world was made up of the Egyptians and their rulers. These were people who worshiped many gods and who had forgotten how Joseph, a Jew, had saved them from a devastating famine.

Why did these two worlds collide? Three reasons.

First, the "land was filled" with God's people (v7). If they had been just a scattered few, no one would have noticed. But whenever God's people start to multiply those who deny God get nervous.

Second, "A new king who did not know about Joseph came into power" (v8). This was someone who did not know his history and who was blinded to the fact that if it wasn't for a man of God none of them would even be alive.

Third, the Egyptians saw God's people as potentially opposing them and everything they stood for (vv9-10). They couldn't take a chance that they might lose the lifestyle they had come to enjoy. These concerns grew into hatred for God's people, severe oppression of God's people, and even an attempt to kill off the next generation of God's people (v16).

Today, we are seeing a collision of two worlds. One is comprised of God's people. The other is comprised of those who want to live in opposition to the Lord. The same three reasons for the collision in Exodus 1 are the very same reasons our worlds collide today.

The question for God's people is this: will we succumb to the world's culture and surrender, or will we remain faithful, multiply and spread God's word?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 70-- Just as You Are

Growing up in church, we always sang the same two to three songs during the invitation--the time at the end of the sermon where the pastor invited those who needed to make a spiritual decision to come forward. One of those songs was Just As I Am, which also was a trademark of Billy Graham's crusade invitations and the title of his autobiography.

Just As I Am talks about a person coming to God just as he is--"without one plea." It is the song of a person who has gotten real with himself and with God. It is the anthem of those who recognize their great need and humbly admit they do not have the wherewithal to meet their need.

The attitude expressed in Just as I Am is the attitude that God expects from all of us on a daily basis. The reality is that many of us are just the opposite--prideful and unwilling to even admit that we have a need. Even though as believers we have admitted our need for a Savior, we can still allow pride to creep into our everyday living.

In Psalm 70 the psalmist made no pretensions about how great he was or how he could take care of any situation that arose. Instead he cried out, "I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and deliverer" (v5).

There is incredible power in that verse. Read it again.

Before anything could be accomplished, before David could see God's power, before Heaven would move, he had to come to God just as he was. He had to come to God with a humble admission that he had nothing to offer. He had to acknowledge his need.

When you and I reject pride, when we take off the masks and stop playing spiritual games, then we open up ourselves to realize God's deliverance. We place ourselves in a position where we can see God work. We are then ready to receive the rich blessings that our loving Father is ready to pour out on us.

Is it time for you to come to God just as you are?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 68--The Holograph

I'm always amazed my holographs. You look at it one way and see one image. Turn it slightly and there's a different image. It's not one but multi-dimensional. You are holding one object in your hand, but you are seeing many different things. There is more to it than what you first see.

In that sense, Psalm 68 is a holograph of God. We are able to see God from different angles and in different lights. Each one giving us another picture to help us better grasp who He is. This passage is one of the fullest views of God. Although we don't see it in our English translations, six different Hebrew names are used for God in this psalm. Each one emphasizes a different aspect of God's nature.

We see the earth shaking before the Lord. We see mighty armies fleeing before Him. We see God as high and exalted. We see Him thundering with a mighty voice. We see a God who is destroying His enemies.

But we also see God as personable and caring.

He is shown as "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows" (v5) who "sets the lonely in families" (v6) and provides for the poor (v10). We see that God "daily bears our burdens" (v19) and delivers us from eternal death.

Yes God is the Mighty Creator. Yes He is exalted above all kings and kingdoms past, present and future. Yes He is the righteous judge. And yet, this same God cares about you and me. This same God stands ready to bear our burdens. He is there guiding and providing for those who are directionless and alone. Aren't you glad that God is multi-dimensional?

What dimension of God's nature do you need today?

Do you need His strength? Okay--it's right there for you.

Do you need His provisions? Just ask.

Do you need His guidance? He'll give it.

Do you need someone who is bigger than the greatest challenge you are facing right now? He's that as well.

Now that we have a better view of the Lord, let's respond to Him like the psalmist does in this chapter. Let's proclaim His power and give Him praise. Let's hold Him up so that everyone can see how wonderful He is and how relevant He is to today's needs.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 62-- Walk Across the Street to the Lake

Just a few blocks from our house is a busy six-lane road which is a major thoroughfare for our city. During the morning and evening rush hours the street is filled with cars making their way in and out of our bedroom community near Dallas, TX. If you were to stand on the side of that road you would see a lot of movement and hear a lot of noise as thousands of commuters busily head to their destinations.

Across the street from our house is a small lake--a reservoir built years ago to control flooding in the area. You can't actually see the lake--it is hidden behind a large embankment that forms its south side. You wouldn't know it was even there unless you saw it on a map or someone told you about it.

We had been in our house about five months when my wife and I decided to walk over and explore the lake. We made our way across the large field and up and over the embankment. When we got there, we couldn't see our house. We couldn't hear any noise from that busy roadway. We couldn't see the cars that drive through our subdivision. It was calm. It was peaceful. It was pretty.

It was as if we had strolled into another world.

The challenge for many of us is that we live our lives in the fast-lane. We are so busy going and making noise that we never stop to listen or rest. We never walk across the street and sit down beside the lake.

David said in Psalm 62, "Truly my soul waits upon God" (v1). Another translation puts it, "My soul finds rest in God alone." And another, "My soul waits in silence for God only." Put these three together and you get a good picture of what David was trying to communicate in the original--he had come to the place where he would silently wait upon God and find rest in the process. He had walked across the street to the lake. He had shut out the noise, stopped the commotion and allowed himself to discover God. When he began to silently wait on God, he was able to rest because he saw that God is strong (v11), loving (v12) and rewards man according to what he has done (v12).

George Muller wrote in his 1856 work A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings, "The natural mind is ever prone to reason, when we ought to believe; to be at work when we ought to be quiet; to go our own way, when we ought to steadily walk on in God's ways."

Is it time to believe? Is it time to be quiet? Is it time to go in God's ways? Is it time to walk across the street to the lake?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.