Frank's Bible Blog

Trailblazing Leaders: Why Adversity Precedes Great Leadership

“It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” --Genesis 45:5

Joseph was a leader in Egypt—he was the Jew whose godly foresight saved countless lives by preparing for a massive famine. If you are not familiar with his story you can read it in the Bible, in Genesis chapters 37-50. Notice two things about leadership from the verse above. First, leaders are sent ahead of others. That is the very nature of leadership—to be out in front blazing a path where few or none have gone before. Second, leaders are prepared ahead of others.

How was it that Joseph could be sent ahead of anyone? It was because he was sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime, and forgotten about in prison. In particular, it was because he excelled in each of those situations as he determined to exalt God regardless of his circumstances.

While it may seem that some leaders become leaders through the “fast-track” of family or professional relationships by getting placements and breaks that others don’t, the reality is that most leaders are forged over time. And that forging process is often painful, dark and sometimes even depressing. Great leaders more times than not have had to overcome great adversity—in fact, this is one thing that separates leaders from everyone else. For it is in adversity that leaders-to-be learn how to overcome problems through faith, focus, positive attitudes, and ingenuity. And it is problem-solving that most people see as the primary contribution leaders bring to the table.

Now, for those of us who are students of leadership, we know the importance of vision, seeking out opportunities, and balancing emotion with reason, but the average follower only sees the immediate and the problems before them. Good leaders solve problems.

Joseph was such a leader but he became that way because he was sent ahead of everyone else. In a sense, he experienced the hardships so that others wouldn’t have to. He went ahead of them in suffering so that he could one day be ahead of them as a proactive leader who saves lives.

What about you today? What is your attitude and approach to difficult times? The struggles you are encountering now may be just what you need to mold you into a problem-solving trailblazer who saves and helps lives.

Isaiah 60—Why I Don’t Like Grocery Stores

It happens to me every time I go to the grocery store (or any store for that matter).

I pick what looks like the shortest check-out line but it always ends up being the longest. No exception yesterday. I scan the registers, spot a line with one person in it who has just a few items, and make a mad dash to get there. But it didn’t take too long to discover that I had found the world’s slowest clerk.

Now I don’t mean to be critical—I’m sure she did a better job than I could have done—but this lady was in slow motion for every item she scanned. Then came the decision—which bag should she put each thing in? She starts to put the tortilla chips in one, then pulls it out and goes for another before finally opting for a third. This was repeated for each item in my very full cart. I stood there watching in awe—I just couldn’t believe this process was taking so long.

Obviously patience is not one of my virtues. Like many, I want to get things over as quickly as possible—especially painful things like grocery shopping. I want things done fast!

Today I noticed this verse in Isaiah 60:22 “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

The last part of that verse really resonated with me, “I will do this swiftly.” I like that! I like for God to move and move quickly. But then I had to stop and re-read the first part.

“In its time.”

That is the part I don’t like…but it is a reminder that God’s timing is perfect. He is not slow to respond. In fact, just the opposite is true. When it is the right time God moves quickly and in an amazing way—but it has to be His time. We wait on the Lord, not because He isn’t moving or can’t figure out what to do next, but because He is moving people and circumstances to get things ready for that right time.

I always remember the words a veteran ministry leader told me when I was starting into vocational ministry. “Frank, there are people making decisions today that will affect your life five years from now.” Meaning that God is moving today in a way that will benefit you tomorrow—you just have to wait for it all to come together.

That’s a good lesson for all of us and one that I am still trying to learn.

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Frank Banfill is an international speaker and leadership developer who 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 62—Avoiding Syncretism

Although I’ve seen it often as I visited different cultures, it never really dawned on me that true Christians can be guilty of it as well. That was until I read Psalm 62.

What I am referring to is syncretism—the blending together of different religions. In particular, I’m talking about to the adding of Christianity to other religions. In Haiti there are those who try to combine voodoo with Christianity. In Africa and elsewhere Christianity is tacked onto ancestral worship.

In missions, we are always quick to point out that anything added to Christianity isn’t true Christianity. Jesus said He was THE way, THE truth and THE life and that no one could come to the Father apart from Him. It is Jesus and Jesus alone—not Jesus plus animism or anything else.

Now before you “amen” that last statement too loudly, consider this: Do you always trust the Lord and the Lord alone to see you through difficulties? Or do you blend a trust of the Lord with a trust in yourself or in something else?

Throughout this Psalm David repeats some form of the phrase “God alone.” God alone was David’s rock, salvation and fortress (vv 2, 6). It was in God alone that his soul found rest and hope (vv1, 5). We are instructed to trust God alone and not in our pride, trickery, or our increased wealth (v10).

How is it that we can trust God and God alone when faced with trials, opposition or other challenges?

There are three things that we have to be absolutely confident about: God is all-powerful (v11), God is loving (v12) and God will reward everyone according to their deeds (v12). God is bigger than the biggest giant you might ever face in your life. God loves you more than you could possibly understand. And God is faithful to reward those who are faithful to Him. If we firmly hold to these three truths then we can truly trust in God alone. But if we falter on any one of these three then we will be tempted to add other things to our trust. We risk being guilty of syncretism—at least when it comes to our daily walk.

Instead, let us heed the words of David (emphasis mine): “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (v8).
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Frank Banfill is an international speaker and leadership developer who 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 61—Climbing the Rock that is Higher than I

Towering over the village of Bukabwa, Tanzania in East Africa is a large rock formation. At the base of the rocks is a school—the only school for miles around where the teacher to student ratio is 1:60. Our mission team was ministering in the area when a couple guys on our team decided to climb to the top of the rocks. They had been told by locals that it was an easy climb and wouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

The guys asked that I take their picture once they reached the peak. So I waited for them to climb—and I waited and waited. Finally I could see a figure emerge onto the top of the rocks. Even with the camera zoom it was hard to make out who it was—but I was able to figure out that it wasn’t one of our team. It was one of the locals who was serving as a guide.

So I waited longer until eventually our two guys appeared with arms raised in victory. They had successfully made it to the top of the rock that was higher than everyone and everything else. When they came down they told me that the hike wasn’t so simple. At points they had to pass through very narrow areas that required them to get on their hands and knees to crawl through. But they also told of the incredible views and new perspective they gained by reaching the summit.

When I read Psalm 61 I can’t help but think about that experience in Africa. David is praying—crying out to the Lord in a time of adversity. He says, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (v2). David had turned to the Lord in the past for protection (v3) and God had been faithful. Now he longed to enter once again into the Lord’s shelter (v4) but to do that he would need to be led to that Rock that was higher than he was.

Just like my teammates had to be led to find their way up that African rock formation, we have to be led into the place that God would have us. That means that we have to first humble ourselves and acknowledge that there is something or someone higher than us. We have to admit that we cannot do it all ourselves, that we cannot find our own way out. We have to become dependent on the Lord. And that means that we need to get on our hands and knees as we seek His face and allow Him to take us through even the narrow, difficult crevices to reach the top.

Yes, sometimes that ascent takes longer than we anticipated. Sometimes the going is slow in spots. Sometimes we may entertain thoughts of stopping or going back. But when we continue our ascent, God brings us to a place of perspective, a place of peace, a place of victory. Once you reach that place you realize the trip was worth it.

May we humble ourselves today and trust the Lord to lead us to the rock that is higher than us.
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Frank Banfill is an international speaker and leadership developer who 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.

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 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 52-- Don't Want that on my Grave Marker!

Not far from where I live are two very small and very old cemeteries. Most people driving past them never realize they are there as suburbia has grown up around them. These cemeteries have a little metal fence around them and a handful of plots inside. The grave markers are still there, some dating back to the 1800s.

Imagine if you were looking at one of those tombstones and it read:

"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"

That certainly would be a sad commentary on one's life. Those words weren't written on any of the markers that I saw, but they could be written for many people. They certainly could have been on the tombstone of a guy named Doeg.

In fact, these are the words that David used to describe Doeg in Psalm 52. Doeg worked for King Saul while David was on the run from the king. Doeg lied to Saul and then went on to slaughter 85 priests as well as an entire town of men, women, children and babies (1 Samuel 22:1-23). He was ruthless, and David takes him to task in this psalm of instruction.

This psalm is a vivid reminder that there are and always will be ruthless people who will do anything to get themselves ahead. They will lie, cheat, destroy reputations--whatever it takes to get what they want.

While there may be those who are drawn to people like this, David reminds us that the righteous see through this (v6). They also laugh because they know the fallacy of such living. The contrast to this type of living is the one who trusts in "God's unfailing love for ever and ever" (v8).

Yes, it is easy to get discouraged when you see so many evil and selfish people in the world. But let these be reminders of our need to stay focused on God's unfailing love and living a life that brings Him praise.

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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 51--Do You Frequent the Car Wash?

When our family vehicle was new I would take it to the car wash each week. I was determined to keep it looking great inside and out. That lasted for a while before the weekly visits turned into every other week.

Then it was once a month.

Now it's when we are going on a trip, going to be driving guests, or when it gets so bad I just can't stand it anymore. I want a clean car, I really do! I just don't give it the attention that I used to give. I guess having a clean car all the time just isn't the priority it once was.

Well, many Christians take that same approach when it comes to sin. Right after our salvation or after a time of spiritual renewal, we are adamant about staying "clean." We are quick to confess our sins to the Lord and regularly ask Him to reveal wickedness in our lives. But then time goes on. Those regular "washings" become less frequent. If we are not careful, we can let the dirt build up until it is an embarrassment.

Psalm 51 is the record of David's confession of his sin following his affair with Bathsheba. David's life had gotten so dirty but he was oblivious to it. It took Nathan the prophet to point it out. It took Nathan to tell him he need a good cleansing.

Think about Psalm 51 as a car wash.

Think about it as a place we need to go on a regular basis to keep the dirt off. Think about this as a Psalm that you should frequent regularly and read as a reminder to deal with sin. Think of it as a reminder that we need to get honest about our sin and see it as God sees it. Think of it as a call to repentance--to a thorough washing on the inside.

David had allowed his sin to build up to the point where it was disgusting to himself and everyone around him. Not only that, but as the dirt began to pile on it obstructed his vision, causing even more wrong choices.

The good news, however, for David and for us is that God is a loving God ready to forgive. He is ready to cleanse us. He is ready to make us "good as new." But that doesn't happen until we get honest with ourselves and recognize that "Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight" (v4). Like David, we must ask God to "wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (v2).

Let's don't wait for the dirt to build up and cloud our vision or become an embarrassment to ourselves and our Lord. Let's make it a point to frequent the wash!

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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 40-- Stuck in the Mud

Although it was late April, snow still covered much of the mountainous parts of Romania where I was visiting with a team of Americans. We made our way up one of the mountains in a mini-van until we couldn't drive any farther. There was a family that we were going to visit who lived on a hill.  They were the only believers in this remote area and recently had suffered some personal tragedies. We went there to pray with them and try to encourage them. We parked the van and made our way up the steep hillside to their modest home. The area immediately outside their front door was flat and we could see they planned to use it for a garden. The rest of the area was un-level. We finished our visit with the family and began to make our way back to the vehicle over the mostly snow covered ground. As I moved off the flat surface my feet slipped. Before I knew it, I was on my backside sliding down the steep walkway into a pool of mud. What provided great amusement for my colleagues wasn't so amusing to me--one side of me was covered in mud and it would be a long ride before I could get dry clothes! That incident reminds me of how life often is--slippery. We have a hard time standing and sometimes even find ourselves in the "mud." In Psalm 40 David explains how God responded to him when he was in "the mud." "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand," is how David put it in verse 2. He goes on to tell how God "put a new song" in his mouth (v3) and blesses those who trust in Him (v4). God is our help and deliverer (v17) who is able to show us the way and provide stability when the world around us is shifting. How can we access the unmovable power and perfect plans of God? Look to Him for direction (v4). Focus on all the incredible things that He has already done (v5). Give yourself as a living sacrifice to Him (v6). Seek His will (v8) and proclaim His righteousness wherever you go (vv8-10). If we will do this, then we can avoid some embarrassing slides into the mud 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 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 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 33-- An Unusual Sight on the Capitol Steps

It was an amazing sight. Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol our nation's representatives were singing God Bless America.There were Democrats, Republicans, Independents standing together and singing in unison. It happened right after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For a period of time--although brief--we weren't identified by party or philosophical affiliation. No, we were identified as Americans. It was a good feeling, but tempered by the sadness of 3,000 of our fellow citizens losing their lives. Unfortunately it didn't take long for the unity of being American to depart and the divisiveness of labels to reemerge. When those representatives joined together in song they did so because they had something in common--they were first and foremost Americans. That fact caused them to break into song. As believers, we have many things in common regardless of the different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, politics or other factors that might otherwise divide us. Psalm 33 tells us that we have cause for singing--not because of a tragedy but because of the power and majesty of the God that we worship and serve. Because the word of the Lord is true (v4), because He is faithful (v4), because He is loving (v5, 22), because He is all-knowing (vv 10, 13, 14, 15), because He is the Creator (vv6,7,9), because He lives and stands forever (v11), and because He defends and delivers us (vv18-21), we can join together in song. We must remember that we are first and foremost Christians and in unison praise the Lord with our lips and with our lives. We must remember the call for us to live righteously and lead our nations to do the same because "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (v12).

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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 32--A Saint in Sin

For many years "Jill" ran from the Lord. She had grown up in a preacher's home and made a commitment to Christ but in her later teen years she began to stray. Caught up with the wrong crowd, Jill began to make terrible choices. Her life, it seemed, was spiraling out of control. Her parents continued to pray for her...and love her. They made it clear that the way she was living was wrong. But they also made it clear that when the day came that she realized she was on a sinking ship they would be there in the life boat rowing beside her. Although she acted tough on the outside, inside Jill was in turmoil. In her heart of hearts she knew she was throwing her life away. The weight of her poor choices began to bear down on her. She actually felt a physical heaviness...like she couldn't breath. Then like the prodigal son in Jesus' story, she finally came to her senses and returned home. She got rid of everything in her life that remotely resembled the life that she had been living--even her cell phone and apartment furniture. Today, she is a shining example of a godly young woman who seeks to glorify God in all that she does. I'm sure that Jill could relate to David when he wrote in Psalm 32 "When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer" (vv3-4). What turned things around for both Jill and David? "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (v5). Sin separates us from God. For the believer, sin separates us from fellowship with God and from His hand of protection on our life. However, when we do what Jill and David did and repent, then we are able to say to the Lord "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance" (v7). They experienced the blessings that come when our "transgressions are forgiven" and our sins are covered (v1). What about you today? Is there sin hindering your fellowship? Maybe you like David and Jill need to stop covering it up and seek His forgiveness.

 

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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 28-- Are You Generic?

In business, companies are always trying to differentiate themselves and their products from their competition. What makes them different from everyone else? Why should you buy from them? Some products, however, take the opposite approach--they try to blur the distinctions between themselves and a better known product. Generic foods are a great example of this. Often they are even packaged to look similar to the national name brand. They try to make you feel that they are identical to the recognized brand so that you will be comfortable buying it. As Christians, we are called to differentiate ourselves from non-believers--not blur the lines! The problem with some Christians is that they have "packaged" themselves in such a way that they so resemble the the world that it is not easy to tell them apart. They act like everyone else around them. There is little distinction. In Psalm 28 David said he did not want to be like those who are outside of God. He wanted his prayers answered (v2) and God to deliver him (vv6-7). Yes, there were those around him "Who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts" (v3) and he did not want to be like them. Instead, he would put his trust in the Lord (v7), he would worship the Lord (v7), and he would lead a holy life before the Lord (v2). Don't be generic! Let people see the light of Christ in 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 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 21--Lasting Leadership

"I guess it was easier to fire one guy than to fire 15." Those were the words of an NBA player following the announcement that his basketball team's head coach had just been fired. This particular coach had good success with the team early on, but as trades occurred and personnel changes were made the coach found himself having a difficult time leading. His style, personality and approach just didn't work anymore. It is common in sports for a leadership change to be made and then the team begins to flourish under the new coach.  Successful leadership in sports is one thing, but what about successful leadership in life? What about successful leadership for a business, ministry or even a nation? Psalm 21 is a great chapter on great leadership--godly leadership. Notice some things about the leader mentioned here, who happened to be King David, the leader of Israel. He found joy in God's strength, not his own (v1). God gave him his heart's desire because his heart was set on God (v2). Likewise, God listened and responded to his prayers (v4). This leader discovered his glory by focusing on God's glory (v5). This leader loved to spend time in God's presence and trusted Him fully (vv 6-7). This leader saw the big picture of what God was doing in the world (vv8-12) and realized that the world revolved around God and not himself. Finally, this leader publicly praised the Lord (v13). Do you want to be a great leader that lasts? Then learn some leadership lessons from David's example. Let your leadership be an extension of God's glory not you trying to create your own 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 19-- Seeing the Creator and Not Just the Creation

When you look at a beautiful sunset, observe glorious mountains, watch an ocean's waves or gander at the night's stars, what do you see? Do you see chaos and happenstance, or do you see order and design? Does what you see cause you to move your focus off from yourself and onto the One responsible for it all? Does it cause you to think about what that One might desire for your life as part of His creation? Psalm 19 is a great description of how God's handiwork not only speaks to Who God is, but how it compels us to discover His desire for our lives. God's creation (vv1-6) declares His existence and majesty to everyone in the world, regardless of their language or culture (v3). God's expectations (vv7-11) are reasonable and bring the benefits of change (v7), wisdom (v7), joy (v8), enlightenment (v8), consistency (v9) and rewards more precious than gold (vv10-11). How will we respond to God's revelation of Himself through His creation and expectations? The psalmist responded with a desire for cleansing from sin, that sin would not have control over his life (vv12-13). How would he avoid having sin in control? He would meditate on and speak the things of God (v14). When we see God for who He is, we get a glimpse of His glory and holiness. This should compel us to examine our lives, and it should move us to live godly before the Lord and this generation. If you are struggling to live holy, then examine what you spend time thinking about and the kinds of things you choose to talk about. By shifting the focus of these to the Lord, we will see our actions and attitudes take a positive shift as well. So the next time you see part of God's creation--whether a flower in your yard or a massive chain of mountains--stop and reflect. Reflect on God and ask yourself how well you are doing living up to His expectations. Allow creation to point you to the Creator.
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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 17-- Nothing to Hide

One moment the magician was on stage alone with an empty cage. The next moment he is standing with a tiger. A moment later he is standing behind where our family was seated in the theater and the tiger was gone. It was pretty amazing! Now I must admit, I have always enjoyed watching "magicians" ever since I was a kid. You know you are watching an illusion, but a good magician hides his props and tools so well that it makes you think it is magical. Whether we realize it or not, a lot of us have become pretty good illusionists. No, we are not making tigers appear or somehow tele-porting ourselves to another place, but we give the illusion that everything is right in our lives. Sometimes we even try to pull that trick on God--but it never works with Him. David, on the other hand, had absolutely nothing to hide in Psalm 17. He knew he was walking right before the Lord. "You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress...I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer" (vv3-4). No sleight of hand with David. He was careful about how he lived and welcomed God's examination of his life. Because he was an open book, David enjoyed an incredibly intimate relationship with the Lord. "Keep my as the apple of Your eye," he says in verse 8. Like David, let us ask God to keep our steps in His path (v5), guard our mouths (v3), and keep ourselves from evil (v4) that we, too, may have nothing to hide.
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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.

I Decided to Shut Up--At Least for the Moment

I saw my chiropractor yesterday, who subscribes to this blog. While contorting my body in a direction it hadn't gone in years, he asked me what some of you might be thinking: "Are you still writing your Bible blog?" He hadn't seen any post for a while and was wondering.

The answer to him and you is "Yes...but." Yes, I am still writing and am very excited about working through the book of Exodus, but I've needed to cut back. Not because I'm too busy (we're all too busy) but because I needed to stop talking and start listening.

You see, 500+ posts ago (about two and a half years in the real world) I started writing this blog as an extension of my daily quiet time with the Lord. God was showing me some great stuff that I wanted to share with others. Problem was that over time my focus began to shift more to writing this than really listening to the Lord. I found myself spending time in the Word, not so much for what it could do for me but more for what it could do for others. It became a task to fulfill rather than a time of transformation.

There are a lot of pastors and ministry people who do the same thing. They spend a lot of time in the Word preparing sermons and lessons for others, but not much time just listening for themselves. I know--I used to be a pastor and I know this is a struggle for many in full-time ministry.

Now don't get me wrong, God's Word still spoke to me. I still spent time in prayer, and I still heard from God, but it just wasn't the same.

So, I'm taking some time now away from my laptop and my desk and my online Bible to "refresh" my daily time alone with God. I'll have a hardcopy Bible and an old fashioned pad and pen to write down what I hear, but the focus will once again be on seeing my life transformed into the image of Christ rather than getting five days worth of blog content. Don't worry--you will still get to see what God is showing me, but it just may take a little longer to get to you!

In the meantime, I'll gather up some "best of" blogs (sounds better than re-runs!) and intersperse them with new content so that we can continue to share this ministry with you and others. Knowing that there are people around the world who actually look forward to reading this each day is an incredible blessing to me. I also see it as a real responsibility.

So, as I hit the reset button on my devotional time, let me encourage you to take a fresh look at your own time alone with God. Do you have a daily time with Him? Do you work at keeping it fresh, exciting and interesting? Do you approach it as a task to complete or as a time for transformation?

It would also be great if you would share suggestions and ideas for keeping your quiet time fresh. You can go to www.FranksBibleBlog.com and comment on this post so that others can see it and learn from you.

Thanks for reading, and for your understanding as I try to talk less and listen more!

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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 12--Getting a New Calendar

There is just something special about starting fresh, starting new. Whether it's a new home, new city, new job, new school grade or a new situation. It's an opportunity to leave whatever happened in the past behind and focus on making a new life. Sometimes we all need a fresh start. Our surroundings may not change, but we just need to reboot and take a new approach to life.

In Exodus 12:2 God said something interesting to Moses and Aaron. "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year." God threw out the calendar and told the Israelites that they were starting fresh.

You see, they were getting ready to conduct the first-ever passover ceremony just hours before leaving Egypt for good. 430 years to the day (v40) after their ancestors frist arrived, Moses and the rest of the Israelites walked out of Egypt, leaving their past behind to start a new life. The years of bondage were now over. The road ahead would not be easy. There would be temptations to turn back to the old lifestyle and situations where their faith would be tested. But now they had an opportunity to become something special--to become their own people, their own nation. Most of all, they had the opportunity to serve the Lord without hindrance.They would have the opportunity to remember for generations to come how the Lord kept watch over them and gave them a new beginning (v42).

Friend, regardless of what the calendar says, today can be the first day of a new year for you. Today can be the day that you are set free from bondage. Today can be the day when you leave your baggage in the past and experience victory in the Lord. Today can be the day when you start a new walk in your marriage, with your children, on your job or with Christ. God can forgive you today and He can guide you into a better way. There will be challenges on the road ahead, but there will also be great opportunities to make your life count for God in a significant way.

You must make the choice: stay in Egypt by doing what you've been doing or embrace the new calendar by moving ahead with the Lord.

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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 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 8--One More Night with the Frogs

I was probably 9 or 10 when a Southern Gospel singer came to our church and sang a song I have never forgotten. It was titled "One More Night with the Frogs." (I found someone singing it on the Internet--click below to hear it). It's taken from Exodus 8 and an interesting exchange between Moses and Pharaoh.

Moses, once again, had asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh refused so Moses and Aaron brought a plague of frogs upon the land. Not just a few frogs--but frogs everywhere and in everything! Imagine that!

Eventually Pharaoh had enough and told Moses if he would call off the frogs they could go worship the Lord. "When do you want me to get rid of them," Moses asked.

My reply would have been "right now!" But for some reason Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow." He was willing to put up with them one more night.

Here are two other interesting things in this chapter. When Moses and Aaron first caused the frogs to appear, so did Pharaoh's magicians (v7). Think about that for a moment. Frogs were the problem, not the solution. Workers of evil could "miraculously" create more of the problem, but they could not create a solution.

Second, once the frogs were dead, piled into heaps, and the stench filled the land, Pharaoh had a change of heart. "When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart" (v15). "It still smells really bad," he must have said to himself, "but the worse is over. So what do I need with all this God stuff? I've got it under control."

Didn't Pharaoh act just like a lot of us do today? We want to continue living in sin for just one more night. We turn to the world and ungodly friends for solutions to our problems but only get more of the same. We're willing to put up with some stench in our lives as long as we think we can still manage it. We'll turn to God to get us through our immediate crisis but quickly forget Him once it is past.

We can choose repentance or we can choose another night with the frogs. Which will it be?

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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.