Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 20, 2014
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (Daniel 2:20-21).
Change can make me uncomfortable and uncertain about the future. If I ignore change, I lose my opportunity to influence the process. If I embrace change, I treat it as a friend who wants to help, instead of a foe who wants to hurt me. The reality of change requires a Spirit-led response, not a naive dismissal. Change can manage me or I can manage change. In the same way, I learn to adjust to my body’s ongoing issues so I grow in how to make the best of life’s ever evolving events.
Daniel experienced the radical transition of moving into a new country with its unique culture and demands of god like loyalty to its king. Daniel was a person of prayer and principle, thus he would not worship anyone but his one and only sovereign King, the Lord God Almighty. He did not cower under the pressure to compromise his deeply held convictions. He managed change by rejecting expectations of political and religious expediency. Conversely, he challenged the status quo by offering dietary options that yielded better outcomes. Managing change requires courage.
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
What change do you face that requires great faith? You may feel your body has betrayed you. Ask the Lord for wisdom in how to leverage these new physical limitations for His purposes. Work associates may have transferred or been terminated. You are left carrying the load of their job responsibilities. By God’s grace be a team player. Do your best and trust the Lord with the rest. Be a problem solver, not a chronic complainer. Perhaps a relationship has gone rogue and you feel alone. Use this season of singleness as an opportunity for solitude with your Savior. Managing change takes a magnitude of wisdom and discernment from your heavenly Father.
Almighty God is unchanging. He is a rock of reassurance and stability. Like the weather can be sunny one day and cloudy another, so life has its dramatic occurrences. Therefore, we are wise to let life’s drama draw us closer to Christ. Our dependable Jesus wants us to go deeper with Him. He is especially near when we face the pressure to compromise our beliefs for the accommodation of an unjust authority. Prayerfully, we manage change so it doesn’t manage us.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Related Readings: Psalm 15:4, 55:19; Daniel 6:17; Matthew 18:3; Acts 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Post/Tweet today: Do your best and trust the Lord with the rest. Be a problem solver, not a chronic complainer. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: 4 minute video- Why Change is so Hard… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpiDWeRN4UA
Order our new book, The Way of Wisdom: A Journey Towards Spiritual Growth, just out Download a free chapter- https://www.wisdomhunters.com/bookstore/the-way-of-wisdom/
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Boyd, been reading your devotions for a while and never responded. Today’s on “manageging change” landed right here I am. I’m an excecutive with one of the largest corporation in the US and firmly believe that God is moving me out of my role. I love to have a brief phone conversation to share where I am and get your adice on my next move. I have been writing a weekly devotion for a ministry called Real Champions for the past 8 years. I believe God is leading me to speaking, writing and executive/personal coaching. Would it be possible to steal 15 minutes of your time for a phone conversation? Thanks. Bill Edmonds 803-457-1617. P.S. I find your thoughts expressed in your writings to be far deeper that the average devotional that is circulating out there. It is in the category of Oswald Chamber (as edited by Jim Reiman). That means you’re really good!
Thank you I think this was written just for me! So many changes happening right now. Some good and some bad. It’s so important to remember that He is the same every day and I can trust Him.
Dear Bill,
Thank you so much for contacting us. Your name and phone number were passed on to Boyd a few days ago and he will look forward to meeting you with a phone call. Thank you for your encouraging comments. We give all the glory to God!
I hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
Dear Suellen~
Thank you so much for reaching out to us after reading, “Manage Change”. Suellen, you summed it up beautifully when you said, “It’s so important to remember that He is the same every day and I can trust Him.” I agree, as all of us deal with some many changes (whether the changes are positive or not) it is so comforting and reassuring to know HE remains constant, yesterday, today and tomorrow! Praise God!
Suellen, your family at Wisdom Hunters wishes you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for, most importantly, our Lord and Savior!
We are so thankful for you and look forward to hearing from you again.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.” Psalm 3:5-6