The New Year

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

As the new year approaches so does a surge in membership applications to local fitness centers. Many of us make a new year’s resolution to lose weight, and this is a great resolution. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to honor God with our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

At this time of the year, I like to reflect on Isaiah 43:19. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” The prophet Isaiah is referring to the past deliverance of the Jews from Egypt and giving assurance that He will return them from captivity by the Babylonians. I wonder what “new thing” God wants to do in my life. I look forward to each new year with joyful anticipation to see how God is going to move in my life and those around me.

So, what new thing do you have planned for the new year? Researchers have found that 80% of all New Year’s Resolutions will fail by February. This begs the question of why? I would like to offer up the following possible reasons for your consideration.

1. No plan. If you do not make a plan to succeed, by default you have made a plan to fail. The Word teaches us in Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”

2. Not realistic. A foolish person does begin by seeking first “His kingdom and His righteousness” as we are encouraged to do in Matthew 6:33. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).

3. Not known. We must be in community with others. If we disclose our goals to our small groups, they can help us refine them and keep us from going astray. Matthew 18:20 teaches us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

4. No reward. Many of us are not motivated if there is not a reward. There is no true reward on this earth. Our real reward awaits us in heaven, and is described in Matthew 6:19-21. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I try to avoid the typical New Year trap by prayerfully setting goals that I know will bring honor to God and therefore He will honor in His way and in His time.

As you set your goals and resolutions for the new year, I ask you to consider the following guidelines.

1. Find a secluded quiet place and ask God what do you need to prune to become more like Him?

2. Talk with your pastor and share the results of your time of prayer and listening. Do not be discouraged if you are unable to discern His will. Be open and honest with your pastor, and God will speak through him or her to you.

3. Find a small support group at your local church to keep you on track with your goals.

4. Check in with your pastor as often as you are moved by the Spirit.

Prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV). Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Faith is the Cure for Stress

“Since He did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t He also surely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 TLB).

The major cause of stress in your life is worry. Worry is a sign that we do not have faith in God to meet our needs.

Worry can come from three sources:

1) Ourselves- We worry about our ability to survive tomorrow and neglect the blessing of today. Matthew 6:26-27 teaches us, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

2) Society- We worry about our ability to keep up with the neighbors. “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

3) The enemy – The devil plants worry and doubt in our minds through any means necessary (television, music, dreams, etc.). “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

We all have stress and anxiety. I think what is important is how we deal with that stress. A little bit is natural and no problem. It can be helpful and protect us from dangerous situations. But when chronic stress is experienced, the body makes more of a drug known as cortisol than it has a chance to release. And that is a bad thing. Because stress can kill brain cells and even reduce the size of the brain. Chronic stress has a shrinking effect on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. And yes, sadly, stress can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death. I have seen people consumed by stress and you probably have too.

If you want a cure for stress, learn to look to God to meet your needs. We should never put your security in anything that can be taken away. We can lose a job, health, spouse, but you cannot lose your relationship with Christ. These are all fine but can all be destroyed. God certainly wants us to have a good job, health, and family. However, if our identity is based on these things then that is bad because of the fragile nature of anything earthly. The Word teaches us in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Every time you start to get stressed out, pause and say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). God has promised in the Scriptures that he will meet your needs. We honor that promise when we walk with Him in faith.

Prayer: Dear good and gracious God, we are your children. We know you love us. Help us to walk with you in faith. As the anxiety leaves our souls, we ask you to fill the void with your grace and love. We long for a peace that transcends all understanding. Amen.

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Finding Peace

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25 NIV).

One of my greatest desires is peace. However, it also can be one of the most elusive. I “postpone” peace until some task is completed. The problem is that some tasks can often go on for years, if not for a lifetime. As I hurriedly try to check items off my “to do” list, more items are added.

A friend recently told me that I should focus on discerning what it is that God wants me to learn, see, or do while waiting for Him to act rather than trying to prayerfully “nudge” Him to move faster. This was God-breathed advice because he was providing me a roadmap to both honor God and find peace. I later read my favorite chapter of the Bible, Romans 8, and was particularly struck by the 25^th verse. “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25).

I shared a recent devotional on patience with a close friend and asked for his comments. I shared with Him how I was seeking peace but lacking in patience. He told me that we cannot dwell in peace without some semblance of patience. Perhaps when I am waiting on God, He is waiting on me. Isaiah 30:18 tells us “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” I don’t think any of us want to get into a “waiting game” with God. Time is meaningless to God as indicated in 2 Peter 3:8-9. So even though we may be impatient with Him, He remains patient with us.

James 5:7 encourages us to be patient and know that there will be a great harvest. “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.”

A lack of patience is a mental, physical, and spiritual drain. This is a fruit of the enemy. This is not what Jesus intended based on John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” An abundant life is one in which we wait upon the Lord and renew our strength. We mount up with wings as eagles and run and will not be weary. We walk and will not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Prayer: Dear God we confess that all too often we seek to do things our way and do not prayerfully consider your will for us. Help us to seek your will in all that we do and to have the courage, confidence, and strength to knowingly wait for you to act at the perfect time and in the perfect manner. We love you, need you, and trust in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Understanding Our Emotions

¹⁶“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21 ESV).

As Christians, we all want to follow Jesus but often struggle to actually put it into practice. The day to day grind can lead us astray and put our focus on earthly desires. For example, Peter loved Jesus, but his focus was temporarily on himself and not God. Peter did not want Jesus to die and was rebuked by Jesus. ”Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns (Matthew 16:23).” Peter, a disciple of Jesus, was living in the flesh in this moment.

Paul identifies the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19 and they are often evident in our life when we are distant from God. In these circumstances, we are prone to anger, jealousy, and engage in divisions. In short, we tear each other down rather than build each other up. However, no

matter how much you tear somebody else down, it will never bring you up. Sexual immorality and alcohol will feed the flesh but ultimately leave us empty. In the flesh, we are jealous of our neighbor’s accomplishments and we seek out divisions based on race, religion, gender, etc. as means to attempt to comfort ourselves, but such actions will always fail us.

Our emotions are a gift from good and can provide us with many benefits. However, our emotions also have the potential to generate actions and words that divide us rather than unite us. When we feel hurt, angry, betrayed, or jealous, we should ask ourselves a few questions to better understand the situation.

“What’s the real reason I’m feeling this?” Maybe the answer is an unresolved past event. Maybe it relates to something a family member or friend member said or did to you years ago. When someone else says something similar, and even though it’s been decades, that person becomes the target of all your pent-up anger.

“Is it true?” Is what you’re feeling at that moment true? Anger by itself is not always bad. Jesus was angry at the money changers at the temple for cheating the people with unfair currency exchange to enter the temple. It was true that His Father’s house had become a den of thieves. However, often our anger is based on false assumptions. The Bible tells about a time when the world was in anarchy because of our reliance on our personal feelings: “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 ).

“Is what I’m feeling helping me or hurting me?” Many of our feelings we have seem natural, but they’re actually self-defeating. This is why Scripture teaches us to “take each thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and exam it.

“Who is the author of this feeling?” If you watch an advertisement on television that shows children dying due to lack of food and water and you become angry, then God has placed that emotion into your brain. However, if you watch television and see a beautiful house of a Hollywood actor and feel jealous, then that is clearly the work of the enemy that is seeking to divide and destroy.

Prayer: Dear God: We thank you for the gift of our emotions. Help us to use them wisely so that they will stir us into action that builds up our neighbors. Amen.

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Self-Control Can Vanquish Weakness In Trying Times

“A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NASB).

The Bible teaches us that self-control is essential to living a Christian life. We must exercise our self-control or we become controlled by our weakness. Whether it is food, alcohol, drugs or pornography, the enemy knows our weakness better than we do and will encourage us to go to it rather than to God in times of need. Our lives can soon be dominated by our weakness and we are living completely in the flesh rather than in the Spirit. Self-control is the very essence of “dying to self” and living in righteousness with God. Our righteousness cannot and will not ever come from ourselves, but only as a means of grace from God as a result of totally surrendering ourselves to His will and becoming His disciple.

If you are struggling with self-control, first begin with prayer and ask God for His help. Then, go into the Bible and study and memorize some particular verses that speak to you and your situation. My “go to” verse when my patience is growing thin is Proverbs 29:11. “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” We must remember that all wisdom comes from God. So how does one obtain wisdom? James 1:5 tells us that “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

The exercise of self-control will not only keep us away from our temptations, but will allow us to be a powerful witness for God. You may wonder how can I be a good witness for God by exercising self-control? The best witness is one who demonstrates his faith with his actions. St. Francis of Assisi encouraged people to speak the gospel wherever they go and use words when necessary.

Self-control will allow you to remain silent when verbally attacked. It will allow you to respond with love when confronted with hate. Self-control will also keep you pure when you are alone. Self-control will also keep you sane in times of great adversity such as a flooded home, divorce or loss of a family member. We freely and willingly yield control of ourselves to God. Instead of worrying about what will happen, we should stand steadfast in His promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Self-control does not mean that we are to go it alone. Life is tough and we need fellow Christians for the journey. We need accountability groups that are small, honest and safe so we can be vulnerable and encouraging to each other. Christ encouraged us to come to Him with our burdens and He will give us rest. Read Matthew 11 and then fasten your yoke to a friend.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the Fruit of Spirit of self control. Please help us to display self control in all situations. Amen.

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Who Is Responsible For My Salvation?

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” Romans 14:12 (NIV).

Throughout the Bible we are encouraged whenever possible to live in peace with our neighbors. For example, Scripture teaches us to live in harmony (Romans 12:16), carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and help others in need (Deuteronomy 15:11). Godly living calls us to turn the other cheek and returning evil with love. We have the ability, and the Christian joyful obligation, to positively impact each other’s spiritual lives. There is certainly strength in numbers. You may recall the Scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

As a young man I took piano lessons and had a team. My teacher and parents were my support team. I was dependent on my teacher’s expert instruction to improve as a pianist. Similarly, I treasured the moral and financial support from my parents. Their encouragement and support meant everything to me. Each year all of the teacher’s students would participate in a recital performance. One by one we would go to the piano and play a song. At that moment, each student stood alone.

I shared that story because it is similar to our path to salvation. In this fallen and temporary world, we do indeed carry each other’s burdens. We live out Proverbs 27:17 in formal and informal small groups. Teamwork is essential to build God’s kingdom on earth. We are called to live in community. Matthew 18:20 encourages small groups by teaching us, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

However, we are ultimately responsible for our own salvation. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Philippians 2:12. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Please note the wording “work out your salvation.” Paul is clearly telling us that nobody except you can achieve your salvation. This is consistent with his letter to Romans. In Romans 14:12 he tells us exactly who will ultimately give our account to God. “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” My account will be given by me, and your account will be given by you. Your pastor, parents, friend, or Sunday school teacher will not give your account to God. I certainly don’t want to die today, but if I do I am confident in my salvation through the grace of God and the blood of His son. I stand firm on the promise of Romans 10:9-10. “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Prayer: Dear good and gracious God, You have blessed us with community. From the beginning, you knew it was not good for man to live alone. We thank you for fellow Christians that help, challenge, and sharpen us. We joyfully confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus in our Lord and savior. We take comfort in knowing that on the day of your choosing we will hear your words “Well done good and faithful servant” and we will join the great cloud of witnesses. Amen.

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Leading Life Abundantly

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).

I have talked to many men that have expressed an inner emptiness. Life is boring and seems to have no real purpose. Many of these men are very successful businessmen and want for no material items. It would be somewhat trite to say all they need is some Jesus. Indeed, Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). I believe that for a person to lead a fulfilled life you must live in God’s power. 1 Cor. 4:20 teaches us, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” So, how do we access this power?

1. First, we must realize that God is God and we are not. His ways are perfect, and He desires nothing but good for us. We tend to trust ourselves and make decisions without prayerful consideration of His will. However, we tend to only trust ourselves or maybe our spouse or a friend. Yes, God can and does speak through others and we should seek counsel from both. However, we eventually must choose who will we follow – ourselves or God. Psalm 118:8 is a favorite scripture of mine. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” People will let you down. God never will. We may not always understand His ways, but we love and trust Him.

2. In order to tap into the power of the kingdom, we must first seek it. Matthew 6:33 encourages us to, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” So, how do we seek God? “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). We seek with all of our heart when we give our lives to Him. God will not bless self-reliant people. You may be financially successful and self-reliant, but recall the inner emptiness I talked about earlier? God blesses those that are dependent upon him and surrendered to Him. Matthew 5:5-9 tells us exactly who are blessed.

⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).”

3. The power of the kingdom comes from a direct relationship with God. We can cultivate that relationship by prayer and listening, studying Holy Scripture and discussing it with fellow Christians in small groups to gain a deeper understanding, worship, and talking and praying for and with your pastor. Each day strap on the Armor of God! “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-11). Note the reference to “His mighty power.” The Apostle Paul describes the full armor in subsequent verses.

Prayer: Dear Father, Thank you for the opportunity to live life abundantly. Thank you for providing the path to do so. Please keep us on the path. We yearn for living water and to see Your face. Help us to seek first Your kingdom and righteousness. Amen.

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Complete The Mission

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NIV).

As men, we love projects. We love to build something and to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Most men enjoy working with their hands and tend not be comfortable speaking to a group of strangers, especially about their faith. We have many large tasks that we want to accomplish in life – pay off the mortgage, raise our children to love God and their neighbor, get promoted at work to get the coveted corner office, etc.

The term “bucket list” has recently come into vogue with many men. Most bucket lists include things such as visit a foreign country, take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, go fishing in Alaska, learn how to fly, etc. These are all fine things to do but they are not the mission that you have been given by God. You can and should still do these things, but keep in mind that God wants you “testify to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

The Great Commission is our mission and is found in Matthew 28:19. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” God put each of us on Earth for a purpose. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). He has a mission that only you can fulfill. That mission is to tell other people the Good News of God’s grace. Somebody told you about Him. Who will you tell? The way we show our gratitude for the grace of God is by making our own lives count; living a life of extravagant generosity with our time, talents, and money; and by telling as many people as we can about the Good News.

Now consider the words of St. Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” The mission is clear to finish the race and finish strong! God has anointed and equipped you to be His hands and feet. Please remember that the greatest testimony is lived and not spoken. As St. Francis of Asi Asi said, “Preach the Gospel wherever you go

and use words when necessary.” Go with the confidence that God has prepared good works for you and Jesus is walking with you. Go from this day forward that “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Prayer: Dear Holy Father, we long to complete our mission. With Your help we will fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. Help us to live a life of meaning and be a role model for our families and the young men in our church. Help us to find a Timothy to continue our ministry and to expand it in ways that we can only imagine. Amen.

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The New Year

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Faith is the Cure for Stress

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Finding Peace

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Understanding Our Emotions

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Self-Control Can Vanquish Weakness In Trying Times

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Who Is Responsible For My Salvation?

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Leading Life Abundantly

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Complete The Mission

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