Strength

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

What are the areas in your life that require the most strength? Maybe it has to do with relationships, sickness, job loss, debt, procrastination or insecurity. All of us must face times of adversity and often there is an element of fear involved. The verse above gives what John Piper calls, “The Five Pillars of Fearlessness.”Each pillar is found in Isaiah 41:10 and each are restated below.

1. God is with me

2. God is my God

3. God will strengthen me

4. God will help me

5. God will uphold me

Whether you are going through a tough time this week or not, let our challenge be to memorize Isaiah 41:10. When life throws us a curve ball it is important to have something solid, unchanging, reliable, and relevant to hold onto. The Bible, God’s word, stays the same. This verse reminds us that we are not alone. God promises to strengthen, help and uphold us. Let us never forget these promises and be encouraged this week by the strength we receive through Jesus.

Matt

Humility

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

There is an interesting quote from Mother Teresa about humility. It says, “If we were humble, nothing would change us – neither praise nor discouragement.” Doesn’t that make you think about our varying moods and attitudes throughout even one day? So often the way we act is a direct reflection of the condition of our own self-centeredness. The moments when we are most frustrated are often the times in which we cannot see outside of our individual circumstance. When we just focus on ourselves, we lose perspective of what is really important.

In athletics we see examples of this all the time. The athletes that we hear about week in and week out that make the most absurd comments and talk the most trash. On the other hand, in athletics there are also great examples selfless acts and true sportsmanship. These stories may not make it onto SportsCenter every night, but there are some truly great examples found in sports. One example that is worth checking out is Team Hoyt (www.teamhoyt.com). Many of you may have seen their video or read their story but it’s a perfect example of Philippians 2:4. The story of a father and his tremendous love for his son will stir your heart and give a healthy perspective. Thanks for your time and have a great week.

-Matt