We chose the theme of Walking with Jesus because so many of us need that encouragement of just “how” to do that consistently!
It first begins with receiving Him as Lord and if you have never done that, we encourage you to get in touch with us or any of our outstanding programmers and we can start you on a walk that you will never regret! But for those of us who know Him, consistency sometimes eludes us.
Sometimes we run and skip with joy, side by side with the Holy Spirit as our guide in perfect fellowship with Jesus and others, growing and living out our faith daily.
Other seasons it might seem like we are crawling instead of walking! That season is also a part of our growth. We must learn to lean into our Savior for His leading and direction.
Walking with Jesus means following His teaching and striving to live out His example with love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility. Through prayer, worship, and fellowship, we strengthen our bonds and inspire one another to live out our walk.
So whether you are running or crawling today, know that you are never alone in your walk. Seek Him with thankfulness and in times of need. He rejoices with us and offers comfort and guidance.
Email letters to Carolyn Cassidy carolync@salemtampa.com
*Any comments sent to us shall be subject to and governed by Salem Media Group for any use at its discretion. Comments may be edited for length and clarity.
Please contact Zuli Rodriguez via email zuli@salemtampa. com to be added to the mailing list, report a change of address or to request a bundle of magazines.
General Manager CAROLYN CASSIDY carolync@salemtampa.com
General Sales Manager MATT DAWSON matt@salemtampa.com
Promotions & Marketing Director ZULI RODRIGUEZ zuli@salemtampa.com
Operations Manager JOE WEAVER jweaver@salemtampa.com
Director of Engineering ROBERT HAILEY robert.hailey@salemtampa.com
Business/Traffic Director KIMO GRAY kimo@salemtampa.com
Production and Imaging Director DAVE STRAUB david@salemtampa.com
News Anchor/News Director ROGER SCHULMAN rogers@salemtampa.com
On-Air Studio Engineer KENNETH ZYER kennethz@salemtampa.com
The Bill Bunkley Show Host BILL BUNKLEY afternoons@letstalkfaith.com
On-Air Studio Engineer UMEKO THOMAS umeko@salemtampa.com
by Rabbi Steven J. Wiler
by Charles Stanley
A rewarding career awaits you.
We’re looking for entrepreneurial individuals to join our team. Could you be one?
As a Thrivent financial advisor, you’ll:
• Connect clients to financial solutions to help meet their goals.
• Enjoy industry-leading benefits (including a pension) and ways to strengthen your community.
• Receive ongoing training and support.
• Have excellent earning potential.
If you want to be part of this challenging, meaningful work where you can make an impact, we invite you to join our team.
Join our team.
careers.thrivent.com/advisor
Thomas W Reagin, Engagement Leader | 813-293-5043
Thrivent is an equal opportunity employer.
Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products, securities and investment
appropriately appointed and licensed financial advisors and professionals. Only individuals who are financial advisors
investment advisory services. Visit Thrivent.com or FINRA’s BrokerCheck for more information about our financial advisors.
Are you walking with Yeshua?
I’m not asking if you know Yeshua, I’m asking; is He with you and is He beside you, each and every day? Are you sharing your testimony and talking about Him to all the people you meet? When you are walking with a friend, and you stop and talk to someone else, you first introduce the two who might not know each other. So, introducing Yeshua to those you meet during each day makes perfect sense.
As I am writing this, we are in the middle of the Paris Olympics. Besides the obvious reasons for enjoying the Olympics, there are two things that I look for, that I find encouraging –usually both involve walking with Yeshua. First, I enjoy when people, who have an opportunity to influence others, talk about their faith.
The world record holder in the women’s 400-meter hurdles is Sydney McLaughlin. She is one of the fastest runners in the world. Her words reflect her faith as she boldly said, “Records come and go, the glory of God is eternal.” and “I no longer run for self-recognition, but to reflect His perfect will that is already set in stone. I don't deserve anything. But by grace, through faith, Jesus has given me everything.” Don’t you feel encouraged when you hear someone talking that way about their faith? It is especially encouraging, when that
By Rabbi Steven Weiler
person is prominent, and gives all the glory to God?
Besides sharing their faith, two young men also in the Olympics, overcame difficulties that would have stopped most others from competing. I love to hear the stories about overcomers. I get so inspired by them. They not only walk with Yeshua in their speech, but rely on Him completely in their actions.
Caeleb Dressel says the eagle tattoo on his shoulder nods to Isaiah 40: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (vv. 30-31). Caeleb is another Olympian who speaks out about his relationship with the Lord. In the Tokyo Olympics, he took home five gold medals.
Leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, Dressel found himself struggling with depression and panic attacks. The pressure on him was enormous. But his faith helped him overcome these obstacles. He said; “I really learned to see the light at the end of the tunnel and trust what God is doing, whether it be a rough point in your life or a top pinnacle in your life.”
Brody Malone definitely had his share of struggles too. His mother passed away in 2012 and his
stepmother died in 2019. He has had three surgeries on his right leg. The last one was just a year ago. He was not expected to make the Olympics this year. Malone had a brutal recovery process—he essentially had to relearn how to walk. However, he won the US gymnastics all-around competition prior to the Olympics. Though he has not performed as well as expected in the 2024 Olympics, I was encouraged to hear what he had said earlier this year. “I just have to give all the glory to God. It’s all him. … So I just want to thank him for this.”
When we say we are walking with Yeshua (Jesus) daily, we are doing so with our words and our actions. Let scripture guide us to know the Lord’s will concerning walking with Yeshua and sharing our testimony of who He is and what He has done for us.
1 Peter 3:15-16
Instead sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with humility and reverence—keeping a clear conscience so that, whatever you are accused of, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Messiah may be put to shame.
1. Always be ready. That means you have to think about what you are going to say and practice it. Even though that should cause you to be ready, don’t forget to add the “guard rails”: humility and respect for those you are talking to. It is so important for us to first think of the person we are talking to, and tailor what we say to them, based on the cues they give us as they process what we are saying.
2 Timothy 4:2
Proclaim the Word! Be ready when it is convenient or inconvenient. Confront, rebuke, encourage—with complete patience and instruction.
2. God chooses the time for you to give your testimony or to share your faith – whether convenient or inconvenient.
3. Have patience with those you are talking to.
4. The purpose of your testimony is to encourage others and give God all the glory.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,who announces shalom, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
5. Your testimony should leave the listener knowing that “Your God Reigns”.
6. Zion, refers to Israel, and it would be good to share your faith with Jewish people, telling them, “Your God Reigns”.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts—to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
7. Be confident, by trusting God, that your message is anointed by God. You are the messenger, and He is the one with the power.
1 John 2:6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.
1 Peter 2:21
For you were called to this, because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in His footsteps
8. Be a model for your testimony as Yeshua was a model for His. As best as possible, follow Matthew 5:16, “let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”.
Colossians 2:6 therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him—
Just as we look at Yeshua’s life, and listen to His Words, because we represent Him, people have the right
to look at us, judge who we are, and especially question whether or not we are walking with Yeshua. Let’s look at a few characteristics of what one might look at who claim to walk with Yeshua.
1. I love God!
2. I read, study, meditate on, memorize, and apply God’s Word to my life?
3. Though the world presents many bumps in the road of life, I have faith that shows others that even when there are difficulties, I am at peace and still have the joy of the Lord.
4. I am faithful and have good relationships with my spouse, children, and friends, etc.
5. I share my Faith often, giving testimony of who God is and how He has changed my life.
6. I give of my time, talents, and treasures to the Lord.
To summarize. Micah 6:8 He has told you, humanity, what is good, and what ADONAI is seeking from you: “Only to practice justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
IN ALL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BY FAITH, WE WILL WALK WITH YESHUA AND HE WILL GIVE US HIS VICTORY
Rabbi Steven J. Weiler is ordained as a Messianic Rabbi and serves at Shoresh David Messianic Synagogues. Listen to Rabbi Weiler’s show Heart of Messiah, Sundays at 9:00 am on FaithTalk 760 AM, 104.3 FM, 570 AM, & 100.3 FM.
By Greg Laurie
Having hope does not mean never having pain. Hope and pain can coexist.
Having hope means my hope is God. I look to Him.
Here’s what God says to us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).
Note that He used the word thoughts (plural) and the word think (present tense). See, He has not just one thought, but thoughts, that He thinks about you (see also Psalm 40:5).
Also notice that God’s thoughts toward us are “thoughts of peace and not of evil.” His thoughts are good. And “a future” could be translated as “an expected end.” In other words, there will be an outcome. There will be completion in our lives. For the
child of God, there is an expected end, and it is good.
But what about when everything in life doesn’t make sense? What about when we get sick and pray to be healed, and we aren’t? What about when someone dies? Where is the good then? Where is the expected end?
Heaven. Ultimately, the future for every Christian is being in the presence of God in Heaven. And God is the One in whom we place our trust.
Some of us think we’re going to get a pass on suffering. And when a tragedy comes our way, we’re shocked.
Don’t be (see 1 Peter 4:12, John 16:33).
Of course, we would think the best place to find hope is in a troublefree life. But the Bible tells us that,
as Christians, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:3–5 NLT).
Hope will come through hardship. When a Christian suffers and still glorifies God, it reassures the rest of us that there never will be a valley so deep that God will not bring us through it.
Don’t have spiritual amnesia amid hardship—don’t forget God’s faithfulness. Has He not been faithful to you? Has He not met your needs and taken care of you? He’s been faithful in the past, He’ll be faithful in your present, and He’ll be faithful to you in your future.
Greg Laurie is senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. Join Pastor Greg as he teaches God's Word in a relevant, practical, and understandable way on A New Beginning weekdays at 10:00 am, Saturdays at 4:00am, and Sundays at 7:00am. Listen on FaithTalk 760 AM, 104.3 FM, 570 AM, & 100.3 FM.
WEEKDAYS
MORNINGS
12:00 am Hope In The Night with June Hunt
1:00 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
1:30 am SEKULOW with Jay Sekulow
2:30 am Fresh Wind Radio with Dr. Jomo Cousins
3:00 am Verse by Verse with Steve Kreloff
3:30 am In Touch Ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley
4:00 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah
4:35 am Joni and Friends with Joni Eareckson Tada
4:45 am Sound of Faith with Sharon Hardy Knotts and R.G. Hardy
5:00 am FamilyLife Today with Dave and Ann Wilson
5:30 am Thru the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee
6:00 am Verse By Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff
6:30 am Grace To You with John MacArthur
7:00 am Focus On The Family with Jim Daly
7:30 am Pathway To Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress
8:00 am Allen Jackson Ministries with Pastor Allen Jackson
8:30 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah
9:00 am The Barnabas Effect with Pastor Paul Purvis
9:30 am Simply For Women with Jennifer Jackson
10:00 am A New Beginning with Greg Laurie
10:30 am Know the Truth with Pastor Philip de Courcy
11:00 am In Touch Ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley
11:30 am Real Life Radio with Jack Hibbs
12:00 pm SEKULOW with Jay Sekulow
12:30 pm Pathway To Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress
MID-DAYS
1:00 pm Fresh Wind Radio with Jomo Cousins
1:30 pm Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah
2:00 pm Unlimited Grace with Bryan Chapell
2:30 pm Hope Lives 365 with Mark Finley
3:00 pm The Bill Bunkley Show with Bill Bunkley
WEEKDAY EVENINGS
6:00 pm Yankee Arnold Ministries with Ralph "Yankee" Arnold
6:30 pm Allen Jackson Ministries with Pastor Allen Jackson
7:00 pm Focus On The Family with Jim Daly
7:30 pm Adventures In Odyssey with Focus on the Family
8:00 pm The Barnabas Effect with Pastor Paul Purvis
8:30 pm Fresh Wind Radio with Dr. Jomo Cousins
9:00 pm Sound of Faith with Sharon Hardy Knotts and R.G. Hardy
9:15pm Word of Prophecy
9:30 pm Unlimited Grace with Bryan Chapell
10:00 pm Verse By Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff
10:30 pm A New Beginning with Greg Laurie
11:00 pm Know the Truth with Philip de Courcy
11:30 pm Yankee Arnold Ministries with Ralph "Yankee" Arnold
SATURDAYS
12:00 am Hope for the Heart with June Hunt
1:00 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
1:30 am SEKULOW with Jay Sekulow
2:30 am Fresh Wind Radio with Jomo Cousins
3:00 am Verse By Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff
3:30 am In Touch Ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley
4:00 am A New Beginning with Greg Laurie
4:30 am Know the Truth with Philip DeCourcy
5:00 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah
5:30 am Grace To You with John MacArthur
6:00 am Townhall Weekend Review
7:00 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
8:00 am The Attorney Patrick Smith Show with Patrick Smith
9:00 am Real Life Radio with Jack Hibbs
9:30 am Jene’s Tropicals with Jene Van Butsel
10:00 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
11:00 am The Prosperity Hour with Grell Ellie
12:00 pm Faith Answers with Pastor Gary Roy
1:00 pm The Barnabas Effect with Pastor Paul Purvis
1:30 pm Fresh Wind Radio with Jomo Cousins
2:00 pm Financial Strategies with Andrew and Daniel Agemy
3:00 pm The Eric Metaxas Show with Eric Metaxas
5:00 pm Townhall Weekend Review
5:30 pm Jene's Tropicals with Jene Van Butsel
6:00 pm Keep the Faith with Keith Stevens, Donna Cruz
SUNDAYS
12:00 am That Kevin Show with Kevin McCullough
2:00 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
4:00 am The Eric Metaxas Show
6:00 am The Christian Outlook
7:00 am A New Beginning with Greg Laurie
7:30 am The Crucified Message with Rev. Dr. Tony B. Young Jr.
8:00 am Real Life Radio with Jack Hibbs
8:30 am Yankee Arnold Ministries with Ralph "Yankee" Arnold
9:00 am Heart Of Messiah with Rabbi Steven Weiler
9:30 am Unfiltered Radio with Bryant Golden
10:00 am Grace to You with John MacArthur
10:30 am Focus On The Family with Jim Daly
11:30 am Allen Jackson Ministries with Allen Jackson
12:00 pm The Barnabas Effect with Pastor Paul Purvis 12:30 pm The Christian Outlook
1:30 pm Grace to You with John MacArthur
2:00 pm Faith Answers with Dr. Gary Roy
3:30 pm Verse by Verse with Steve Kreloff
4:00 pm Townhall Weekend Review
5:00 pm The Attorney Patrick Smith Show with Patrick Smith
6:00 pm Heart of Messiah with Rabbi Steven J. Weiler
6:30 pm The Crucified Message with Reverend Dr. Tony B. Young Jr.
7:00 pm Paws & Tales with Insight for Living
7:30 pm Adventures in Odyssey with Focus on the Family
8:00 pm The Eric Metaxas Show with Eric Metaxas
10:00pm Bible Answers Live with Doug Batchelor
11:00pm Unlimited Grace with Bryan Chapell
11:30 pm Allen Jackson Ministries with Pastor Allen Jackson
By Philip De Courcy
In his book Learning to Lament, British author Paul Mallard shares about a time when he heard Richard Wurmbrand talk of his imprisonment under the communists in Romania. Wurmbrand spent 14 years under trying and torturous conditions for the crime of failing to stop preaching the gospel. Upon his release, Wurmbrand spoke words to this effect: “There were times when I sat alone in my cell—hungry, cold, and in pain from the latest beating. And as I sat there in the dark, I would sing songs of joy. They can take away my freedom and my comforts; they can rob me of my health and dignity; they can strip me of everyone I love; they can even take away my life. But they cannot take from me the firm grip of the nail-pierced hands of my Savior. They cannot take my God away from me.”
One of the great comforts of the Christian life is to know that God is always near, that He is at our elbow—that whatever we face on the left side of our lives and whatever threatens on the right side
of our lives, God is at our side (Phil. 4:5–6).
Psalm 34:18 reminds us of this: The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
God’s love will not fail us, His wise rule in our lives will not disappoint us, and His presence will not leave us. Of all the things we enjoy in Christ, best of all is the fact that God is with us.
On the one hand, God is a pervasive presence (1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:24). We see this in Psalm 139:7–10:
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in [a]hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
God is everywhere. His footprint is to be found in the four corners of
the earth. We cannot flee from His presence. God is above all things, under all things, and surrounding all things. As has been well said, “God is an infinite circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.”
On the other hand, God’s pervasive presence is also a personal presence. While God’s presence is wide enough to encompass and enfold the universe, it is narrow enough to abide with and within us. God is not an impersonal force but a person to know and a companion to enjoy:
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exod. 33:14)
God is to His people, as a matter of grace, an ever-present help through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Psa. 46:1; John 14:14–18; 16:7). Mark it down. God will never leave us nor ever forsake us (Heb. 13:5).
Think of:
God’s saving presence with Jacob (Gen. 28:10–17)
God’s sovereign presence with Joseph (Gen. 50:20)
God’s successive presence with Joshua (Josh. 1:5)
God’s sufficient presence with David (Psa. 23:1–6)
God’s strengthening presence with Paul (2 Tim. 4:16–18)
God’s presence is not just infinite; it is intimate. It is not just far and wide but near to the broken and believing heart. Like our shadow, God’s presence follows us wherever we go, supplying our every need, comforting us in our distress, holding us close when others stay at a distance, and steeling our resolve to follow Christ at a cost.
It is a fundamental thing and a fantastic truth that we are always in the presence of God, held firm in the grip of those nail-pierced hands (Rom. 8:38–39).
Philip De Courcy is the pastor of Kindred Community Church in Anaheim Hills, California, and teacher on the daily radio program Know the Truth Know the Truth airs Monday through Friday at 10:30AM on FaithTalk 760 AM, 104.3 FM, 570 AM, & 100.3 FM.
LAUNCH YOUR FAITH
Looking to Maximize Your Effectiveness in Ministry?
At Word of Life, we are passionate about coming alongside pastors just like you. Through biblical teaching, evangelistic events, and ministry resources, we create faith-defining experiences to help students and families encounter God and grow in their spiritual walk.
Camps
Word of Life Camps offers an energetic experience where campers can have a blast and take a step with Jesus. You and your church can join us for our youth camps in the summer or our weekend youth camps in the winter.
Pursuit Camp
Running from the last two weekends in January through all four weekends in February, Pursuit Camp offers students a spiritual winter escape. Located in Hudson, Florida, students will have the opportunity to play sports, take on the Climbing Tower, drive a Go-Kart, and even see if they can brave the PENGUIN SLIDE! All weekend, students will be challenged by God’s Word through gospel-centered meetings, Quiet Time, and Seminars where they will learn specific ways to further their walk with the Lord.
The Coast
Running eight weeks in the summer, campers at The Coast will experience high-energy activities, form lifelong friendships, and make defining decisions about their faith as they spend their days worshipping, studying biblical truths, and having a ton of fun in the Florida sun!
Learn more about The Coast at wol.is/coast
Learn more about Pursuit Camp at wol.is/pursuit
Build a Deep and Engaging Youth Ministry
Word of Life combines biblical teaching, discipleship tracking, and leader training into one comprehensive curriculum package. With customizable resources for every age group, we take the hassle out of lesson planning so you can focus on building gospel-driven relationships with young people.
We also organize events during the year to reach students with the hope of Jesus. These include Reverb, an evangelistic event for teens; Storm, a student outreach activity; and Fascar, a racing-themed event for children.
Start Transforming Your Youth Ministry Today!
Learn more and try one month of curriculum free at wol.is/ym
November 7th 2023 - Tampa
October 25th 2023 - Tampa
We celebrated our annual Pastors Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Pastor Ken Whitten
By David Jeremiah
Amy was at the breaking point. As a single mom, she was raising a three-year-old while working as a caterer. Some evenings she didn’t get home until midnight, and she never had enough energy to love on her son. One night it caught up with her. “I needed to break down,” she said, “but I didn’t want to wake my son. I needed a good old-fashioned bawl-my-eyes-out cry about life, and I couldn’t do it. I was trapped …. I realized I was going to snap.” She wisely visited her doctor, and with his help Amy managed to qualify for “stress leave” from work. Now she’s trying to figure out how to better manage her impossible days.
Do you feel like you’re in line for a “stress leave” from work— or from life? Our days are chockfull of work obligations, family responsibilities, kitchen chores, trips to the grocery store, financial tasks, doctor appointments, church services, schoolwork, emails, texts, dishwashing, exercise, and rushhour traffic. Now, multiply your stress by the number of children you have. One mom said, “If stress burned calories, I’d be a supermodel.”
Most of us do reasonably
well juggling our loads, but we sometimes get into the red zone. When we use up our margins, we feel frazzled, irritable, and overwhelmed. We have too much to do and not enough time to make it happen. Our days seem impossible.
It helps to recall the people in the Bible who felt the same way. They didn’t have to worry about traffic jams, computer hacking, or student loans, but the basic stresses of life are unchanged, and we can learn a great deal by studying their examples. Let me show you four heroes of Scripture who turned impossible days into achievable days.
Make a Cornelius Discovery
Let’s start with Cornelius, the Roman centurion in Acts 10. Talk about an impossible job! He was a Roman military leader (verse 1), occupying a nation that didn’t want him there—Judea (verse 1), trying to raise a family on site (verse 2), wanting to help the poor (verse 2), and concerned about his spiritual condition (verse 2). He was struggling with it all until he heard Peter explain how Jesus was killed on a tree but rose on the third day (verses 39-40). Cornelius, his
family, and his friends found new life in Christ. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized in the name of Jesus (verses 47-48).
When Cornelius came to Christ, it didn’t nullify his circumstances, but it did provide him with a powerful Ally. He now had a spiritual basis for every day. He had the Lord helping him deal with whatever came. Every morning became a day for finding and fulfilling God’s will, a day of new mercies.
If you want help with impossible days, you have to know the God who does the impossible. Without Christ, we’re overwhelmed. With Him, we’re overjoyed. We have a spiritual basis for living productively. We have a Heavenly Father who plans our lives step by step.
Have a Mary Moment
When you meet Christ as Cornelius did, you establish a spiritual foundation for unstoppable days, but you have to work on it. Mary and Martha give us an important lesson along those lines. Martha certainly knew Jesus. She knew Him very well and
wanted to serve Him. But she was so busy serving Him that she didn’t have time to listen to Him, and Jesus chided her for that. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things,” He said. “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part” (Luke 10:41-42). What was Mary doing? She was sitting at His feet and listening to His Word.
Many non-Christians are advocates of the practice of meditation. They’ve learned the importance of pausing at a regular time each day to relax their bodies, breathe deeply, and focus their thoughts. As Christians, we have the opportunity of doing that on a scriptural basis. There’s power in closing your eyes, taking some deep breaths, and quoting the Bible. Prayer and meditation have a calming effect. They bring a “Mary moment” into our “Martha lives.”
The writer of Psalm 77 described himself as “troubled” and “overwhelmed” (verse 3), but he paused to meditate in his heart (verse 6) and to meditate on the works of God (verse 12). His impossibilities melted away as he reassured himself of God’s greatness and guidance (verses 19-20).
When the Lord orders your schedule, He always leaves room in it for Himself, for He knows how we’re refueled. I urge you to plan a daily time for prayer, Bible study, and meditation. Learn to sit at His feet and listen to Him as Mary did, and your impossibilities will become opportunities.
Manage Like Moses
When you’ve given your life to Christ like Cornelius and established a pattern of prayer and meditation each day, you’ve gained a new perspective. Now you can survey your life and better see the clutter and inefficiency of it. Perhaps you’ll even have a Jethro to come alongside with suggestions. Do you remember that story?
In Exodus 18, Moses experienced an impossible day. He was trying to solve everyone’s problems and resolve everyone’s disputes. Long lines formed, and Moses wore himself out. People grew frustrated with him. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, pulled him aside and said, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself” (verses 17-18). Jethro advised Moses to create a system to organize the work.
That’s what we should do too. It’s hard to be productive in a mess. I’m not saying we have to be obsessive about it, but bring some organization into your life. Think how efficiently God has organized His heavens, His angels, His Bible, His whole creation. What area of your life needs a bit of organization and tidying up? If you’ll take time to do it today, you’ll have more time and less tension tomorrow. With a little Moses-like leadership, your days will become more managed and manageable.
Simplify With Jesus
Finally, learn to simplify with Jesus. His whole life was simple because He didn’t feel the need to have everything or to do everything. Going back to the story of Cornelius in Acts 10, here’s how Peter described Jesus: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good” (verse 38).
Notice that Jesus didn’t go around doing everything. He went around doing good. When Jesus ascended to heaven after three years of ministry, Israel was still filled with those who were sick, blind, lame, and lost. But He did what He came to do. He did what represented the Father’s will, and at the end of His natural life, He said, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).
The Lord doesn’t expect you to do everything. We have to establish
Cheered by the presence of God, I will do at the moment, without anxiety, according to the strength which he shall give me, the work that his Providence assigns me. I will leave the rest without concern; it is not my affair…. I ought to consider the duty to which I am called each day, as the work that God has given me to do, and to apply myself to it in a manner worthy of his glory, that is to say, with exactness and peace.
God is not only the God of heaven and earth; He’s God of your every day. He’s a God who never faces an impossible task. He can bring order from disorder, efficiency from confusion, and encouragement from despair. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed if we:
• Receive Him as Savior like Cornelius
• Sit at His feet like Mary
• Manage our tasks like Moses
• And align our lives to the simplicity of the Son of Man.
Trust God to turn your impossibilities into accomplishments as you turn your days and your duties over to Him. God specializes in handling the day-to-day issues in your life, and our breaking points are often the starting points for His grace. Take charge of your life by letting Him take charge of you, for He’s an expert at handling impossible days.
Dr. David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in California. Tune in weekdays at 4:00 am, 8:30 am and 1:30 pm to hear the teachings of Dr. David Jeremiah on FaithTalk 760 AM, 104.3 FM, 570 AM, & 100.3 FM.
A New Beginning with Greg Laurie
Weekdays at 10:00AM & 10:30PM
A New Beginning features the teaching of Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. Join Pastor Greg as he teaches God's Word in a relevant, practical, and understandable way. Discover biblical insights and learn how to know God and make Him known!
Real Life Radio with Jack Hibbs
Weekdays at 11:30 AM
Real Life with Jack Hibbs is dedicated to proclaiming truth. Standing boldly in opposition to false doctrines designed to distort the Word of God and the character of Christ. Jack addresses key topics that will challenge you to deepen your relationship with Christ and make an effective impact on the world around you.
Thru The Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee
Weekdays at 5:30 AM & 10:30 PM
Thru the Bible takes the listener through the entire Bible in just five years, threading back and forth between the Old and New Testaments. You can begin the study at any time. When we have concluded Revelation, we will start over again in Genesis, so if you are with us for five years you will not miss any part of the Bible.
HopeLives365 with Mark Finley
Weekdays at 2:30 PM
HopeLives365 exists as an international Bible based Christ-centered ministry to give people hope for today, tomorrow and forever. We believe that discovering God’s ultimate plan for our lives brings life’s greatest joy. In a world of uncertainty, God’s Word, rightly understood, brings certainty and assurance.
By Charles Stanley
We live in a world where everyone seems preoccupied with success. Television, social media, and the internet give us a clear list of the world’s winners and losers. And, whether we want to admit it or not, we’re fascinated by it. But what does it mean to truly succeed in life? Furthermore, given how the world reacts to successful people, and considering the negative ways that many people strive for personal achievement, is success even a godly pursuit?
I want to answer that question right from the start: Yes. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not only allowed to strive for success; we’re called to do so. God is overwhelmingly interested in our victories, but we often get confused about this issue. Therefore, we must begin by understanding a true and godly definition of success.
What Is Success?
The world most often defines the term as simply one’s ability to achieve personal goals. For example, a football coach may
consider himself to be a success if he wins every game. Or a college student may appear successful if she makes straight A’s. It can be difficult to establish a definition that we can all agree on, because the measurement often depends on our individual goals.
Instead, we must each ask ourselves the question, What is it that would make God see me as a success? You see, the world’s perspective fluctuates, but the Lord’s view is constant: To Him, our greatest achievement is a continuing desire to be the people He has called us to be and to reach the goals He has helped us to set.
There are two critical elements in the statement. First, our success depends on being who God wants us to be. Second, it depends on doing what He calls us to do. In both areas, God is the focus. Therefore, our victories ultimately belong to Him, and He deserves all the praise.
You cannot be successful if you leave God out of your life. Now, by the world’s standard, you may
appear to “have it all,” but what is the eternal value of fame and fortune? Certainly, there is nothing inherently wrong with these things, but the truth is that money and celebrity cannot bring lasting peace, joy, love, contentment, or eternal security. Those things are available only through the love of God in Christ Jesus. Remember, success is not about what you have but about what you are. In its purest sense, success is simply being the man or woman God has called you to be.
When we think of it this way, there is no doubt that God is interested in our success! Not only is He interested, but He intentionally encourages us to be triumphant. Scripture offers three proofs.
First, God plans for us to succeed.
We see this in the lives of many men and women in the Bible. For example, do you remember the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50? By the world’s standards, he was doomed. The young Hebrew had been beaten and sold into slavery
by his own brothers, and for years he lived a life of servitude and imprisonment in Egypt. However, in everything Joseph did, God helped him thrive—until he ultimately was given a position of authority second only to Pharoah’s! God had planned for the faithful servant’s good fortune, even during the years when all seemed hopeless.
The stories of Moses, David, Nehemiah, and Joshua all reveal similar divine plans. And, of course, let’s not forget the apostles—they thrived in the first century and spread the good news of salvation around the world. No doubt, you must consider their mission a success, given the fact that the church is still flourishing today.
In all of these examples, people discovered what the Lord wanted them to do, committed their life to it, followed godly principles, and achieved their goals. In the eyes of God, every one of them was successful.
Second, God equips us for success.
Because He calls us to be shining lights in a dark world, He has provided what we need in order to be successful. For example, believers have all been given certain abilities, or spiritual gifts. These are amazing talents that enable us to achieve the things that the Lord calls us to do.
The Lord has also equipped us by
giving every believer the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings us into intimate contact with the heavenly Father, empowers our daily life, teaches us the things of God, and gives us discernment. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we have access to supernatural decision-making processes. You see, God does not set people up to fail. He would get no glory from that. Instead, He gives us what we need in order to be successful in what He’s called us to do.
Third, God promises us success.
You may argue, “Well, if God has promised me success, then somewhere along the way, He messed up.” No, He hasn’t. However, if we’re struggling to find a sense of accomplishment in our life, it may be that we ourselves have gotten off course.
What did the Lord tell Joshua? He told him to be strong and courageous, to obey His Word, and to be careful to keep His commandments. And the result? “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success” (Josh. 1:8). Do you see? The formula for success is right there in the pages of Scripture.
Conditions for Success
Now, it’s important not to miss this: Our personal success has some conditions. After all, the
Lord will not make us a victorious despite ourselves! Therefore, we must pay attention to three specific conditions:
1. We must establish God-given goals. We must search the Lord’s will and set measurable goals for what He wants us to accomplish. His will does not happen by accident; we must make a decision to seek Him.
2. We must walk obediently before the Father. How can we expect God to help us succeed in life when we choose to disobey the principles of His Word? Scripture tells us how to live; we are to abide by its guidelines as we pursue our goals.
3. We must rely fully upon the Holy Spirit. We cannot go about the Christian life as though we were acting in a one-man show. We can be successful in Christ only when we submit completely to the leading, direction, and empowerment of God’s Spirit.
The Lord is intimately concerned with our success. Since He determines our goals and equips us to meet them, we should never be too ashamed to claim the blessings He gives for that purpose. Therefore, we must often stop to take an honest look at how we define success, and then measure our understanding against Scripture. There is only one way we’ll ever truly achieve success—God’s way.
This article is reprinted with permission from In Touch Ministries. To receive free discipleship resources, visit intouch.org/subscriptions. Tune in weekdays at 3:30 and 11:00 am to hear the teachings of Charles Stanley on FaithTalk 760 AM, 104.3 FM, 570 AM, & 100.3 FM.
In today’s fast-paced, digitally driven world, your business’s online presence can make or break its success. But how do you know if potential customers can easily find you? And if they do, are you effectively competing with other local businesses? That's where Salem Surround comes in.
As the digital arm of Salem Media Group, one of the nation's most prominent media companies with hundreds of Christian and Conservative radio stations nationwide, Salem Surround specializes in helping businesses grow their digital footprint. We understand the unique challenges of marketing in a competitive landscape and are dedicated to helping you increase your visibility and, ultimately, your bottom line.
How We Help You Stand Out
Salem Surround offers a variety of tools to help you understand where you stand against your competitors and develop a custom marketing strategy to bring more leads and awareness to your business. Our process starts with a free online audit of your digital presence. This audit reveals how potential customers are finding—or not finding—your business online. From there, we identify areas for
improvement and work with you to create a comprehensive digital marketing plan designed to fill in the gaps based on your desired outcomes. More of what you need – less of what you don’t!
Here’s how we do it:
We believe that every business is unique, which is why we focus on leveraging the right mix of tools and assets to give you more of what works for your business and less of what doesn’t. We start by understanding your specific needs and desired outcomes, then use our expansive range of digital and traditional resources to create a tailored approach that drives results. Rather than overwhelming you with unnecessary tactics, we zero in on what will move the needle for your business. From enhancing your online visibility with strategic search marketing to increasing engagement through targeted social media efforts, our focus is always on bringing you measurable success.
For businesses looking to deepen their customer connections, we utilize the power of our nationally recognized radio personalities. These trusted voices endorse your brand, offering a level of credibility and personal touch that few other platforms can provide.
We also maximize exposure with assets like digital billboards and screens in key locations, ensuring that your message stands out. Whether through high-impact digital displays or through targeted streaming TV ads, we make sure your business reaches your audience where they’re already consuming content.
Ultimately, it’s about using our resources to tailor a strategy that brings you the leads and brand awareness you need, while eliminating the excess. Our goal is to deliver precisely what drives growth for your business, without wasting time or budget on what won’t.
Why Choose Salem Surround?
What sets us apart is our holistic approach to digital marketing. Whether it’s building a strong online presence, creating engaging content, or strategically placing your ads across digital and traditional media, we offer everything you need to build your brand.
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, reach out to Salem Surround today. Visit SurroundTampa.com and let us help you strengthen your marketing strategy, attract more customers, and drive real growth for your business.
By Jim Daly
Joni Eareckson Tada is an overcomer. At 17, she dove into shallow water and surfaced a paraplegic. In the months after her accident, Joni struggled with intense depression and suicidal thoughts.
Her heart began moving in a positive direction when she prayed, “Lord, if I can’t die, show me how to live.” Through God’s grace, Joni began to accept her condition. And over the years, something truly profound has taken place: Joni has become thankful for her paralysis.
She isn’t flippant about her suffering. Joni understands pain in a way that most of us can’t. Yet, she has seen God’s power work through her disability. When Joni considers the thousands who have found new hope for their own lives despite their disabilities, she offers a humble, “Thank you, God, for this wheelchair.”
The late Louis Zamperini was also an overcomer. As detailed in Unbroken, the book and Hollywood
movie about his life, Zamperini was shot down over the Pacific Ocean in World War II and barely survived 40 days adrift at sea. He was “rescued” by the Japanese only to become a prisoner of war, then beaten and tortured mercilessly.
Transformed by Christ in the years following his release, Zamperini was able to forgive his ruthless captors. He spent years travelling the country and telling his story.
I am an overcomer as well. After my mother died when I was nine years old, my stepdad abandoned me and my siblings within hours of her funeral. A few years later, my biological father died of alcoholism. I was placed in foster care. I ended up in a home where parenthood was considered a hassle to endure, rather than a gift to treasure. Christ also transformed my life and has given me the opportunity to share the good news of the Gospel with millions through Focus on the Family.
I don’t know your story, but
I’m sure you’ve had to overcome difficulties as well. Or maybe you’re in the thick of monumental challenges right now. Remember Jesus’ promise to us in John 16:33: “In this world, you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Although long, challenging, uphill journeys can be painful and test our faith, they’re worth the struggle if, in the end, we’re able to say, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1:12)
I encourage you to lay your situation before the Lord. Open your heart to Him as honestly as you can. And when you find it difficult to believe, no matter how hard you try, remember the words of the man who brought his epileptic son to Jesus for healing: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Christ honored that tortured cry of faith, small and weak as it was. He’ll do the same for you.
Jim Daly is the president and host of the National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast, Focus on the Family. Focus On The Family airs Monday through Friday at 1:00am, 7:00am, and 7:00pm on FaithTalk 760 AM, 104.3 FM, 570 AM, & 100.3 FM.
