Change your life

Today: Joel

If you ask people about their life goals or New Year's resolutions, often you'll hear answers like this:

"I want to lose weight."

"I'm hoping to pay off my credit card debt."

"I want to travel more."

Those goals are all good. But have you ever noticed that most people (myself included at times!) try to change external factors without changing root issues that cause their external problems?

For example, the people in the examples above could potentially be more successful if their goals sounded more like this:

"I want to change my perspective on this body God's given me--to take better care of it because God made it and has entrusted it to my care."

"I'd like to be a better care-taker over the resources I've been given. I want to be a responsible saver and a generous giver."

"I want to be passionate about my life again."

When I read today's passage, I noticed an excerpt where God was challenging people to change their hearts instead of just changing their exteriors. Take a look:

Change your life, not just your clothes.

Come back to God, your God.

And here's why: God is kind and merciful.

He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot,

This most patient God,

extravagant in love,

always ready to cancel catastrophe.

Who knows?

Maybe he'll do it now,

maybe he'll turn around and show pity.

Maybe, when all's said and done,

there'll be blessings full and robust for your God!

I really like this excerpt because it's another stunning picture of God's character. At a moment when His people are distant and deep in sin, these verses highlight His patient and extravagant love. When we genuinely approach Him and ask for forgiveness, He grants it--not begrudgingly, but instantaneously. So amazing!

Tomorrow: Amos 1-5

Inside-out love

Today: Psalm 103-105

"Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades.
Never ending,
Your glory goes beyond all fame.
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out..."

A few weeks ago, I was singing this worship song ("From the Inside Out" by Hillsong United) at a church in Canada far from home.

If you know me, you know I'm not a big-time crier, but as soon as I heard the intro., I started to tear up. There's something about this song and the role it has played at different moments in my life that gets to me. I absolutely love the message: God is always there no matter what and He is worthy of the kind of praise that comes from the inside out.

Why?

Today's passage illustrated the answer. Let's review:

God is sheer mercy and grace;

not easily angered,

he's rich

in love.

He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,

nor hold grudges forever.

He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,

nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

As high as heaven is over the earth,

so strong is his love to those who fear him.

And as far as sunrise is from sunset,

he has separated us from our sins.

As parents feel for their children,

God feels for those who fear him.

He knows us inside and out,

keeps in mind that we're made of mud.

Men and women don't live very long;

like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,

But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,

leaving nothing to show they were here.

God's love, though, is ever and always,

eternally present to all who fear him...

God deserves my inside-out worship because He loves me (and you, too) with an inside-out love. He knows everything about us and continues to love us anyway. His Word doesn't just tell us that He loves us--it demonstrates just how much He have loved us throughout time with a sacrificial, life-giving kind of love.

Tomorrow: Psalm 106-107

The inside scoop...from God

Today: Genesis 41-42

I'm continually amazed at all the TV shows, mobile apps, newspapers and magazines focused on giving us "the inside scoop" about something. You can track what your friends are doing minute by the minute on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. You can get the scores from every sport imaginable sent directly to your phone. You can find out details about who Jennifer Aniston is dating on five different TV entertainment news shows and 12 magazines placed enticingly at the front of your grocery store checkout line.

But have you ever thought that it was possible to get inside scoop from God?

In today's passage, Joseph demonstrated that it's possible. Take a look at what happened after God helped Joseph interpret Pharaoh's dreams:

Then Pharaoh said to his officials, "Isn't this the man we need?

Are we going to find anyone else who has God's spirit in him like this?"
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You're the man for us.

God has given you the inside story—

no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom.

From now on, you're in charge of my affairs;

all my people will report to you.

Only as king will I be over you."
So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph:

"I'm putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt."

Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph's hand.

He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal,

and as he rode people shouted "Bravo!"
Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.

What an incredible turnaround story! Remember Joseph--the guy who was unjustly in jail in the passage we read yesterday? Yeah...today's he's the guy with inside scoop from God who is placed in charge of an entire country.

I don't think that was a coincidence. Even while in jail, Joseph worked hard and dedicated himself to being the best worker he could be--that takes an incredible heart. Joseph developed a deep relationship with God that deepened his character. He trusted God completely--and God trusted him in return.

Tomorrow: Genesis 43-45