Truth be told: Nobody likes tough times. Tough times are trying times. Tough times are testing times. Tough times can be very lonely times. Tough times will bring out the worst or the best in us. Tough times can bury us. Or tough times can carry us into the presence of the Lord.
 
The apostle Paul, in his parting words to Timothy, tells us how he responded when times turned tough.
 
“At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth.”  II Timothy 4:16-17
 
Before you read on, go to your Bible and read II Corinthians 11:22-33. Paul experienced a lifetime of tough times ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
Paul was called to defend his ministry before the Jewish and Roman authorities. No one accompanied or defended him. Believe me, it is so much easier to take a stand when there is someone to stand up with us.
 
But no man stood tall with Paul. Paul was not bitter. He did not hold anything against those who deserted him. The apostle of grace was gracious. He knew from experience that men do not always come through for us during tough times.
 
Not to be discouraged or deterred, Paul determined to stand tall for His Savior. Though alone in the natural, Paul stood firm in his faith. He witnessed powerfully and persuasively for the Lord Jesus Christ.  
 
How did Paul pull that off?
 
He was strengthened supernaturally because the Lord stood with Him. What a great testimony! “But the Lord stood with me.” The Lord of glory, the Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of mankind, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords stood with Paul and gave him strength to testify about his conversion to Christ and ministry to lost souls.
 
Paul knew the presence of the Lord amid experiencing the absence of men. Incredible. Men fled. Jesus showed up to be a supportive witness for Paul.
 
Paul triumphantly declared “I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth.” Remind you of anything in the Bible? Sounds like Daniel and the lion’s den, doesn’t it? (Daniel 6:16-28).
 
Paul was delivered from the lion’s mouth, Satan and his followers, so he could deliver with his mouth the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. His call was to stand tall before men and tell them about the love of God and His Son Jesus Christ.
 

• Paul fulfilled his call because Jesus stood tall with him.

 
My friend, do you need delivered from a lion’s mouth? Are you experiencing tough times right now as you faithfully pursue God’s will for your life? Have you been abandoned by  folks you hoped would hang in there with you? Do you feel alone as you take your stand for Jesus?
 
Good News! Really Good news! You, yes you, are not alone. You can stand tall because Jesus stands with you to support you and give you strength.
 
In Christ, you and I triumph over tough times. Why? Because Jesus is greater than any trouble we will ever face. Jesus Christ is Lord of all and Lord over all. He has already conquered every tough time we will ever encounter!
 
SO, BE ENCOURGED. When men fail to stand alongside you through the fiery trials of tough times, stand firm and tall in the Lord. God has promised in Hebrews 13:5b “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”  He will never desert. Never bail. Never forsake or fail. That is awesome, terrific news in terrible, tough times!
 
It was Winston Churchill, the tough-minded Prime Minister of England during World War II, who said “When going through hell, keep going!” In other words, do not stop when times are tough. Stand tall. Refuse to stall or fall. Advance through adversity. Keep going when the going is tough.
 
My fellow Christian, stand tall like Paul. Tough times never last. Tough people do. The Lord stands with you to support and strengthen you so you can successfully fulfill His will.
 
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”  Psalm 34:19
​
A Word For Your Week: When times turn tough, tough it out by standing tall in Jesus Christ.

​As I write this devotional today, my heart is heavy over many so-called Christians whose faith is caving in under Satan’s attacks, cultural pressure, political intimidation and outright persecution of the Christian faith.
 
It is hard for me to conceive and believe that anyone who says they trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior would abandon their faith when undergoing pressure.
 
Sadly, there is nothing new under the sun.
 
The Apostle Peter lived in a day when Christianity and Christians were under fire. Real fires of personal and corporate persecution. The theme of I Peter (study it for yourself) is rejoicing while suffering for the cause of Christ. It is an inspiring, motivating, get your spiritual motor running, Holy Spirit inspired word to help you and me live victoriously smack dab in the middle of tough, troublesome, trying times of trials and tribulation.
 
At the end of his first letter, Peter sent a word through Silvanus to brothers and sisters in Christ who were going through persecution for their belief in the Lord Jesus. Peter called Silvanus a “faithful brother.” Sounds like a good messenger to me.
 
“Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. STAND FIRM IN IT!” I Peter 5:12
 
Peter, who describes Silvanus as a faithful brother in the Lord, exhorts Christians to “STAND FIRM IN IT!”  Stand firm in what? The fact that the “true grace of God” has been revealed in Jesus Christ.
 
Peter, the Spirit-filled, fiery leader of the New Testament Church was exhorting and testifying about the true grace of God. Exhort means to urge strongly, to make urgent appeal, to the point of warning.
 
Peter was speaking from his personal testimony concerning the grace of God. He had experienced and was continually experiencing God’s grace, choosing to stand firm in it regardless of consequences.
 
Where does the “true grace of God” come from?
 
Jesus is the ultimate manifestation of God’s love and grace toward us.
Those who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior believe this. They put their personal faith in Jesus. Peter, with heartfelt and Holy Spirit passion, encourages his brothers and sisters in Christ to stand firm in their faith because of the grace of God in their life.
 
Obviously, some followers of Jesus were not standing firm in grace and faith. How could New Testament Christians not stand firm in God’s gift of grace? I am scratching my spiritual head over their shallow commitment to the One who gave His all for them.
 
2024. Are you asking yourself any of the following questions? I am.
 
Why is it that many Christians faith is faltering and failing? Why are some of Christ’s followers intimidated into silence by the world, compromising their convictions, falling by the wayside into insignificance? Why does the body of Christ appear so spiritually anemic in a world of unbelievers fast descending toward the eternal fires of hell?
 
It certainly is not because of Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, the Lord provides staying power to stand firm in faith as His witnesses.
 
Standing firm or not standing firm is a choice. A daily decision. You and I who desire to be victorious in Christ choose to stand firm in our faith in the One who chose us, forgives our sins, and gives us eternal life. That is the only response the “true grace of God” deserves.
 
Simple Suggestions For Standing Firm In Christian faith.
 

• Know what you believe, why you believe it. Do not be ashamed to share what you believe. Unbelievers need to hear the Good News from compassionate, confident, courageous Christian believers.
• Do not be misled, swayed or shaken by public or popular opinion. Stand up bravely for Who (Jesus Christ) you know, what you know about Him, and why people need to know Him.
• Resist compromising your convictions. Faith in Christ is non-negotiable. Waffling, and wish-washy commitment is out for those fully consecrated and dedicated to follow Jesus, regardless of the cost.
• Predetermine and decide ahead of time, that even if other Christian’s fold regarding faith, you will not. You will never step back when you need to be stepping forward on behalf of the God who loves you and sent His Son to sacrifice His life for you.
• Stand firm for your faith in Christ, knowing that Jesus stands with you! He will never forsake you, abandon you or fail you. NEVER!
• Fellowship with a few solid Christians who have experienced “the true grace of God” and will stand up for their faith with you.

 
Standing firm or falling away from the faith are the only two options believers in Jesus Christ have. There is no middle. No lukewarm position. It is either all in or all out. Peter and the New Testament Christians were all in! They willingly and joyfully paid the price for the One who paid the ultimate price for them.
             
If ever there was a time in my life and yours to stand firm in faith by the grace of God, it is now. Right now… today…every single day. God will supply the grace and power to stand boldly for Him in these last days!
           
My brother or sister in Christ, are you standing firm, unshakably firm in your Christian faith? What does the “true grace of God” mean to you?
 
Someone in your relationship circles needs to see you pointing them to the crucified and risen Savior who through His love and grace saves all who put their faith in Him.
 
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
 
A Word For Your Week: Stand up. Stand firm. Speak out for Jesus no matter what.

​Two opposing parties sit down, offer each other something, make an agreement, maybe shake hands, then walk away with something that will help them get along and not go to war!
Compromise, quid pro quo if you will, is the name of the game in this world. It can be good. It can be not so good. Meeting in the middle can leave some folks in a place they one day might regret.
Biblical characters who compromised faith always ended up in trouble.
Abraham lied to an enemy that his wife was his sister (Genesis 20:1-3). King David committed adultery, murder and cover up (II Samuel 11-12). Peter denied the Lord after he arrogantly declared he never would (Mathew 26:60:75). Judas Iscariot sold out Jesus to his religious enemies (Matthew 26:47-50).
The above individuals made a choice. They chose to compromise faith, loyalty and obedience to the Lord they said they loved and believed in. Under pressure from the enemy of their souls, fleshly desires and cultural opposition, they compromised what should never have been compromised.   
Today I have good news for sincere Christians who desire to remain faithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
FACT: The Bible is God’s Word. Uncompromising truth from Almighty God. His Word is holy, pure, inspired by the Holy Spirit, infallible and authoritative.
According to God’s Word, biblical faith is non-negotiable. Not open to compromise. Not now. Not ever. You and I get to choose each day to not compromise faith in God and His Word.
Sadly, in our day, Individual Christians are compromising. The church in some quarters is compromising.
Something is very wrong when “professing” Christians believe one hour a month is adequate church attendance. When the divorce rate for Christians is the same as non-Christians (both at 50%). When so-called churches openly and warmly welcome and embrace unrepentant, biblically immoral people into their fellowship. Something is horribly wrong when some Christians believe the right to choose to butcher a baby in the womb is acceptable.
Lord, help us. How can unbelieving, precious people for whom Jesus died, be interested in believing in Him If professing Christians compromise their faith in Him?
The process of compromise is much like sin. A little sin here, a little more sin there, and boom! Satan and the world hooks its prey. Like unsuspecting fish nibbling on a juicy worm at the lake. Nibble, nibble, nibble leads to a net and a frying pan!
Compromise only needs to get a foot in the door of our mind and heart to negate our faith and damage our witness to the body of Christ and lost souls.  
Why should my faith and yours be uncompromising?
 SIMPLE: THE CROSS OF CHRIST WAS NO COMPROMISE!
At Golgotha, the place of the Skull, God’s only Son was brutally tortured, taunted, trash-talked and abandoned by His closest followers. Jesus, could have, but did not make a deal with the devil, the Jewish legalists, the Romans or His grieving disciples.
His uncompromising, unshakeable, immovable commitment was to be the Savior of the world.
As His precious lifeblood poured out of the nail driven wounds Jesus cried out “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:33-34). Jesus did the Father’s will, not His. “Not my will but Your will be done” (Matthew 26:36-46).
God’s holiness, righteousness, purity, love, mercy and grace is uncompromising. 
Thank You Lord Jesus. If you had compromised your faith in the Father, none of us would be saved!
Considering what Jesus has done for us, Christians should never compromise faith when it comes to commitment, convictions, character and conduct. What we say we believe and trust in, how we choose to live our daily really does matter!
The Son of God lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Scripture says we have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). Christians are to be conformed after His image (Romans 8:28-30). Simply put: be like Jesus. Jesus told his disciples before He went to the cross “If you love Me obey Me.” The book of Hebrews emphasizes that through faith and obedience we enter God’s Kingdom.
As I read the Bible, born-again, Spirit-filled, wholeheartedly committed Christians cannot and must never accept, endorse or support abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage, transgender mutilation, pedophilia, lying, stealing, cheating, adultery, fornication, racial prejudice, hatred, corruption, oppression of innocent people, rebellion against lawful authority and other issues our anti-Christian society stands and will ultimately fall for.    
Foreboding question you and I must answer: What happens to our children and grandchildren if we compromise our faith in Christ? Truth is, they do what we do, not just what we say.
I believe If people who say they confess faith in Jesus compromise, they should no longer confess faith in Christ.
Paul’s personal commitment to keep faith in Christ should stir us to do likewise.
“For this reason I also suffer, but I am not ashamed.; for I know whom I have believed and am convinced, completely persuaded, that God is able to keep what I have entrusted to Him against that day.” II Timothy 1:12
How about you my fellow Christian friend? Is your faith uncompromising? When tested and tempted to compromise what you believe do you pass the test, standing firm with immovable, uncompromising faith? Are you absolutely convinced, certain, fully persuaded that by believing and obeying the Lord you can count on Him to keep His promises to you and will one day welcome you to your eternal home in glory in the presence of the Father?
I pray you and I will, with God’s help, one day at a time, no matter what happens, never compromise our faith in Christ.
Word For Your Week: Never, never, never compromise your Christian commitment, convictions, character or conduct.
  

Israel had a big problem. A giant called Goliath! I Samuel 17 records the classic biblical confrontation between God’s chosen people and the unbelieving Philistine’s champion.
 
“Then it happened when the Philistine rose and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine….” I Samuel 17:48-50a
 
Measuring at least nine feet tall, and weighing in around eight hundred pounds, the taunting, trash-talking, boisterous, mocking, mammoth mountain-of-a-man has kept Saul and Israel’s crack troops at bay for forty days.
 
Israel should have defeated the Philistines the first day. But Goliath’s thundering challenge has turned the battlefield scenario into a stalemate. Shaking in their sandals, frozen by fear, and forgetting their faith, Goliath seems bigger than Israel’s God.
 
To Saul and Israel, Goliath was too big to hit.
 
ENTER DAVID. Standing briefly on the sidelines, the shepherd boy sized up Goliath. He remembered back when a lion and a bear threatened him and his sheep loomed exceptionally large. But God delivered him and his flock of sheep from both preying predators by His awesome power.
 
I can hear young David’s spiritual wheels turning. “Now Lord, this is a big boy for sure. But You are much, much bigger. Goliath is bird food in your sight. Send me and I will cut him down to size in Your mighty and glorious name!”
 
To David, Goliath was too big to miss!
 
You know the rest of the story. David prevailed over Goliath. Cut his head off with Goliath’s sword. Then hoisted the severed head up in victory that rallied the Israeli army to soundly defeat the Philistines.
 
 How does a young shepherd boy defeat a gigantic warrior?
 
David’s God was bigger than the menacing giant!
My friends, Goliaths are nothing to God. Just a bigger target! Full of faith and courage, David charged Goliath with his Spirit-empowered slingshot shouting in his soul “Hey giant, you are too big to miss!
 
God makes the difference in any and every life situation.
 
Your God is too small if a Goliath is paralyzing you with fear and preventing you from exercising go-forward faith. God is never victimized by circumstances. Neither should we be. God is always the Master. Nothing is too hard for Him…or us in His mighty name!
 
Read your Bible. Study and discover, from cover to cover, just how BIG GOD really is. Size Him up according to scripture. Almighty God slays lions, bears, Goliaths and anything that stands in the way of His people. Jesus defeated our chief enemy, the devil, stripping the evil one of power (I John 3:8, Colossians 1:15).
 
TRUTH: The bigger the deliverance necessary, the bigger God is!
           
We approach life according to the size of our God! Who is bigger to you, God or Goliath? The Lord has delivered you from perplexing problems in the past. So, is He big enough to deliver you this time also?
 
Just how big is your God?
 

• Is your God bigger than your biggest problem?

 

• Is your God bigger than the most difficult person in your life?

 

• Is your God bigger than the surprise repair bill that is due?

 

• Is your God bigger than the doctor’s discouraging diagnosis?

 

• Is your God bigger than the latest curve ball Satan has tossed your way?

 

• Is your God bigger than the latest heart-breaking Breaking News?

 

• Is your God bigger than anything and everything that gets in the way of your day?

 
Too big to hit or too big to miss. You choose. Serve a small God and you will fail. Serve a BIG GOD and you will always prevail!
 
If your God is too small, start thinking tall. Shrink your troubles to their proper size by remembering how BIG YOUR GOD IS!
 
“Once God has spoken, twice I have heard this; that power belongs to God.” 
                                                                                                            Psalm 62:11
 
“You are from God little children and have overcome them; because greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world.”               I John 4:4
 
A Word For Your Week: Charge your Goliath’s in Jesus’ name because they are too big to miss!

Today I want to address our expectations of God.
If you are a professing Christian, do you expect God’s best? Honestly, do you expect, hope for, anticipate, look forward to God’s best for your life?
Not long ago while I was waiting on the Lord the Holy Spirit whispered to my spirit “Steve, expect God’s best.”  
“Expect God’s best” was significant and timely for me. I was seriously pondering what might happen in the future. Wondering where our mixed-up world was heading and how it would impact me and my loved ones as we live for Him in these last days.
The Lord answered my questioning with “EXPECT GOD’S BEST!”
Expecting God’s best sounds like a tremendous New Year’s resolution for 2024.
Truth: Satan hates the thought of you and me expecting God’s best. The devil knows God’s love is the best of the best. The evil one’s hatred is the worst of the worst. His strategy is for you and me to expect the worst in life, especially from God.
The world system, which rejects the Kingdom of God, always expects the worst, never the best. In addition to our soul’s arch enemy and the world, our fallen. sinful nature tends to lean negative, to the worst rather than the best. Be honest. You and I know we do this at times.
It is too easy and spiritually/emotionally deadly for you and me to think the worst rather than God’s best. Reflect on times when you expected the worst. How did that work out? Not so good huh!
Thinking and hoping for God’s best. Sound hopeless? Not at all.
I believe expecting God’s best is a choice. The right choice. A faith-driven, determined choice followed by diligent, daily discipline to keep choosing to believe God’s best for my life no matter what curve balls life hurls my way.
You may ask, how do we know God has His best in mind for us? Thank you for asking. Romans 8:31-32 is one passage that says so.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us.? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up or us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
I can expect God’s best because He is for me. Nobody can come against me and succeed. A pastor commented “If God is for me, everybody else might as well be!” Amen to that.
God loves me and is for me. He demonstrated that love by sending His own Son, His only Son, Jesus, from heaven to die on a cross and rise from the dead to save me from my sins.
God the Father did not withhold His only Son, His best, back from you and me.
When we see Jesus hanging on the Cross and rising from the dead the message is clear from God: this is how much I love you. I gave up my absolute best for you!
Then verse thirty-two tells us if God did not hold back Jesus from us, certainly He will “freely give us all things.” All things…. whatever I need to successfully fulfill God’s will for my life.
Because God gave the greater, greatest gift of His Son, I can rest assured He will supply the lesser gifts I need. He loves me that much. Therefore, I can indeed expect His best from Him!
In verses 33-39 Paul lays out all the worst stuff that can come against you and me. Paul was convinced, completely persuaded that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God. Christ’s followers overwhelmingly conquer life because Jesus loves us.
How can you and I not expect God’s best when He has done all of this for us?
Life lesson for me: Expect God’ best no matter what circumstances confront me. Up, down or all around, trust God for His best. God never gives us less than His best. Less than best is not in His character. He calls me to walk by faith in Christ, believing and expecting to receive God’s best!
His love is the best thing I can expect from Him every day. I do not need much more than that!
The best way to know God’s best for your life is to study the Bible. Read, meditate upon and faithfully confess His exceeding great and precious promises for your life. Trust me, expecting God’s best every day really works.
God’s best is for you, yes you, today!
I challenge you to confess with your mouth each day “Lord, I expect your best!.”
My friend, in 2024, experience a great day every day because you are expecting God’s best!
“My soul waits in in silence for God only, for my hope, expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5
A Word For Your Week: Expect God’s best then rest in Him.