Tag: Ecclesiastes

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Favour in Store For You

silhouette image of person praying

Today’s scripture talks about how time and chance will come together for every person. In other words, there are moments of favour that God has already released into your future. If you let that thought sink down into your heart, it will change your whole outlook on your future.

People miss out on the good things because they allow fear to distract them and hold them back. They say, “What if I fail?” “What if they don’t like me?” “What if I make a mistake?” However, “What if you do succeed?” “What if they do like you?” “What if you do it better than anyone else?” – that’s what expecting God’s goodness and favour is.

Today go out with an attitude of faith and expectancy and you’ll see the good things God has in store for you. You’ll walk into divine moments of favour, moments of blessing, and moments of increase. Get ready to embrace all the good things God has for you!

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11, NIV.

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for the good things You have in store for my future. Thank You for Your peace and joy that surrounds my every step. Father, I choose to keep my heart focused on the blessings you have for me today and in my future, in Christ’s name. Amen.

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Life’s Greatest Purpose 

One of my most inspirational stories is that of Nick Vujicic born without arms and legs determined to find the purpose for his life. Against his tremendous challenges, he has become an international motivational speaker, who founded his own company and speaks about his ridiculously good life which has no Limits. He says, “recognizing your purpose means everything. I assure you that you too have something to contribute. You may not see it now, but you would not be on this planet if that were not true. I know for certain that God does not make mistakes, but he does make miracles. I am one. You are too.’ (Life Without Limits) 

A seventeenth-century monk, who lived in France, saw his work for God as serving in the kitchen. He would stop his work and praise God for the privilege of knowing Him and serving Him in this way. He is still serving God through his book ‘Practicing the Presence of God.’ 

Today, be faithful in small things. Mother Teresa says, “No work is small when done with great love.” Your greatest purpose for living is to serve God. He has work for you to do. The scripture says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge, nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 

“We are God’s workmanship (masterpiece) created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared (chosen) for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) 

Yahweh, I thank you that my life has a purpose. Father, I want to live my life for your glory. God, I’m willing and available to serve you no matter the consequences. In Christ’s Name Amen. 

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God Has A Plan

8 Powerful Healing Plants from the Bible

God created every one of us to be successful. Before the foundations of the world, He laid out an exact plan for your life. In this plan, He has marked moments that are going to come across your path. These moments are not ordinary. They are destiny-altering moments. They are designed to thrust you ahead past the devil’s darts. 

It says in Ecclesiastes that “time and chance come together for every person.” That means you’ll have opportunities to meet the right people, opportunities to advance in your career, and opportunities to fulfill your dreams.  

Today, note that God has already planed times of increase and blessing. You may not see a lot of good breaks right now, but be encouraged because there are seasons of favour and increase marked for your future! Hallelujah! 

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for ordering my steps. Father, thank You for making a way when there seems to be no way. God, I choose to step out today with faith and expectancy, knowing that You have marked moments for my future, in Christ’ Name! Amen. 

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The Dangers Of Sexual Sin

“I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.”  (Ecclesiastes 7:26 NIV) Solomon most likely wrote the above verse from Ecclesiastes in his later years. Who better to write about the enslaving nature of sexual sin than the man who had hundreds of wives and concubines? The scripture tells us that Solomon’s love for foreign women eventually led to his plunge into idolatry. Chasing sex, he allowed these women to lead his heart astray: “his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4 NIV).


In the verse above, the woman can be used metaphorically as sexual sin in general. As in the first few chapters of Proverbs, Solomon here also warns people to steer clear of sexual sin. Those who do not will be ensnared by it. Regardless of gender, sexual sin can enslave people when they give it an opportunity to do so. It is the type of slave master who does not release its victims once they are ensnared. It seeks to consume every area of the slave’s life.

Today, remember, God created us to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it. At the fall of Adam and Eve, the devil usurped man’s dominion and was given the power of death. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, he took dominion away from the devil. And now those who believe in Jesus rightfully inherit that dominion over the earth, the forces of evil and sin. Paul explained in Romans that we are not to allow sin to reign in our bodies. We have dominion over sin and have the freedom to use our bodies to please God.


…so use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Romans 6:13-14 (NLT)

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for dying in my place on the cross and rising from the dead. Father, thank You for winning back dominion for us over evil, sin and death. God, help those of us that struggle with sexual sin, we confess all our sins to You and repent asking for Your total forgiveness, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Don’t Worship Your Dreams

You Should Never Give up on Your Dreams

Have you heard the saying “what goes around comes around?” God has a system in place in order to bless you, and it works on the principle of sowing and reaping. What you pour out to others, it will come back to you in increased measure. When you give generously, a generous harvest will return to you. When you help others succeed, you will find abundant success on your own path too.

Remember there are people in your life who will help you reach your full potential. These are people that God has placed in your life for you to help along, for you to sow into. The higher they rise up, the higher you will rise up too. When you give generously of your time, talent and resources, you are setting yourself up for greater success.

Today, what are you doing to invest in the lives of the people around you? Are you helping others get ahead? Step out and sow a seed, not necessarily of money. Look for ways to help others. As you sow success, you’ll reap success, and move forward and upward into the life God has in store for you!

“Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1 NLT)

Pray With Me

Jehovah, I open my heart to You and the success You have in store for me. Use me to be a blessing in the lives of others, helping them become successful in You. Show me where to invest my time, talent and resources, to help others succeed for Your glory, in Christ’ name! Amen.

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Life Changing Moments

Before the foundations of the world, God laid out an exact plan for your life. In this plan, He has placed life-changing moments in your life. These moments are not ordinary, they can even be moments of pain, they are destiny-altering moments. They are designed to thrust you years ahead into your God-given success. 

In the book of Ecclesiastes, it says, that “time and chance come together for every person.” That means you’ll have opportunities to meet the right people, opportunities to advance in your career, and opportunities to fulfil your dreams.  

Today and in your future, God has already arranged times of increase, blessing, and success. You may not see a lot of good breaks right now, but be encouraged because there are seasons of favor and increase marked for your life! 

“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for ordering my life. I look forward to increase and a brighter future. Father, thank You for making a way when there seems to be no way. God, I will step out today in faith and expectancy, knowing that You have placed special life-changing moments in my future for my good, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Flip Your Negative “What if’s”

What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?

Many people miss out on the good things because they allow fear to distract them and hold them back. They say, “What if I fail?” “What if people don’t like me?” “What if I make a mistake?” However, “What if you do succeed?” “What if people do like you?” “What if you do it better than anyone else?” Let’s expect God’s goodness and favour, and not focus on the negative “what if’s.”

The Scripture talks about how time and chance will come together for every person. In other words, there are moments of favour that God has already released into your future. If you’ll let that sink down into your heart today, it will change your whole outlook on your future. 

Today, go out with an attitude of faith and expectancy, you’ll see those good things He has in store, and not the negative fearful thinking the enemy wants you to have. Then you’ll walk into divine moments of favour, moments of blessing, moments of increase, and embrace all the good things God has in store for you! 

“…time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, NIV) 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for the good things You have planned for my future. Father, thank You for the positive expectations that Your Spirit brings which gives me daily peace, joy and protection. God, I choose to keep my heart and mind focused on the blessings in my future and not the negative fearful “what if’s,” in Christ’s Name! Amen

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There Is A Time For Bills

There Is A Time For Bills

I ran out to the mailbox. It was -35 with the wind, so I didn’t want to be out there very long. I put the key in the lock, turned it, and opened the door. I didn’t even look inside. I just thrust my hand in and grabbed everything.

Minus 35 is cold. Wind or not.

As I raced back to the house, I glanced at what was in the pile. Bills. A letter about tax receipts. More bills. Something for my brother-in-law. And more bills.

I got back into the house. Sighs were mixed with shivers from the winter air.

A wave of frustration, a wave of fear, a wave of “Oh God, what are we going to do” hit me. Then completely subsided when the Holy Spirit said these words.

“There is a time for bills.”

Leave it to God to remind me of the Scriptures.

It was a play on the wisdom literature of Solomon, from the book of Ecclesiastes.

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Sometimes this is a hopeful passage. Other times, it’s read when we are profoundly sad.

There are people that read this as if it’s the way that God does things, controls things, acts in the world; as if God made people die, or wanted them to be torn down, killed, or thrown away. But I find that completely out of his character.

Rather, I see Solomon’s book a reflection of how life works. That life works in a kind of cycle. There is a sort of balance. A time to be born and then die. A time when you plant and then harvest.

It’s a cycle. There is a time when things happen. There is a time when things don’t happen.

And there is a time when the mail is all bills like it was that day.

It wasn’t a sign that God was punishing me or my family. It wasn’t a sign of us being irresponsible with what God had blessed us with. It was that time for the bills to arrive.

And there will come a day, hopefully not as cold, when I will check the mail and it will not be bills, bills, and more bills. Because it will be the time when bills are paid.

We can be quick to blame God for what is happening in our times, things that are irritating or uncomfortable; things that may add stress or make our anxiety jump. But that is not his character. That is not who God is.

Remember what Jesus said about his heavenly Father, our heavenly Father,

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

– Matthew 7:9-11

Life works in cycles. Sometimes it is a time to plant. Sometimes it is a time to harvest. Sometimes it is a time for bills. And if you find yourself in that time now, remember: there is also a time when the bills are paid. And God will provide.

This article first appeared on Christian Thought Sandbox.

 

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