Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 87

How to Teach Vision to Your Kids

King David, arguably the greatest leader in Israel’s history, had a vision to build a house for God. He longed to build a Temple that would be an appropriate resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. He wanted the Temple to state clearly to the rest of the nations that there was only one true God—the God of Israel, the God who made the heavens. While David’s vision was affirmed by the prophet Nathan, he also learned that it would be his son, Solomon, who would actually oversee the completion of the Temple’s construction and the fulfillment of his vision. The Lord promised David, “When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.  He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever,” (1 Chronicles 17:11-12). David received a clear vision of the mission God had for his child, and he knew that he had to steward that vision well.

So do we. We may not know what they will do specifically. God probably won’t tell us if our kids are to be missionaries or housewives or teachers or painters. That’s not for us to know. But we do know that God wants them to be Kingdom builders. We know that he wants them to give and serve and worship. He wants them to love his Word and hate sin. He wants them to manifest the fruit of his Spirit and help to spread his message around the world. We also know that God has a specific calling, a mission, a vision for their lives, and it’s our job as godly parents to steward that information well.

So what did David do? When given the information that his son was to build a house for God, how did David respond? He prayed. Specifically, he prayed back to God what God had promised him. He basically said, “Father, because you promised you would, I now have the boldness to ask: Continue my kingdom’s reign through my son and use him to build your house.”

Let’s hear it in David’s own words, “And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised . . . .” (1 Chronicles 17:23). Isn’t that amazingly simple? David prayed what God had promised. This is a classic example of true pinpoint praying in Scripture. David’s prayer was specific and it was based on God’s Word to him. No wonder he prayed with such boldness: He was asking God to do what he already said he would.

You know that the Bible is filled with truths about what God wants to do in his followers’ lives, including the lives of your children. You also probably have many specific promises he has given you for your kids from his Word (if not, you’ll have them soon as you begin searching the Bible for pinpoint prayers for your kids). So what do you do now? Start praying. Boldly go before God and pray his promises back to him. Tell him you believe that he has said he would do certain things in your kids’ lives, and that’s why you’re asking him now. Such praying is exactly the kind of praying that David did; it’s the kind of praying that the Bible encourages; and, it’s the kind of praying that God honors. If you believe that God has given you certain promises for your kids, then you need to steward those promises by praying them back to him.–From Pray Big for Your Child.

Here are the Keys to My Truck. Keep’em.

I went to a party at a friend’s house last week. It was an unusual gathering. My friends own a large house in a beautiful part of town and they’re always using it to offer a respite to tired or wounded ministers, missionaries, single moms or others in need.

Such was the occasion last week. A ministry family we love dearly–they were at the center of the Katrina restoration efforts in Mississippi and are still dealing with the effects of the storm–lost their baby son at 37 days. My friends invited the couple, their parents and their 2 young boys to come and stay with them for a few days. The party was our chance to see and encourage them.

Also there was a young couple–my friend’s daughter and son-in-law–who just received an emergency placement of a three-year-old from Child Protective Services. The beautiful little girl was taken from her parents because of their recurring Meth habit. It also happened to be the little girl’s third birthday, so we celebrated with her in high fashion.

One of the couples who attended the party came in two cars–rather, a truck and a car. When they were leaving, they walked over to the couple from Mississippi and handed them the keys to the truck. It was a gift.

You need to know that this couple isn’t independently wealthy. They work hard to pay their bills and live modestly. But they know the pain the good folks from Mississippi have been through, including their financial struggles, and felt led to do something. So they gave them their truck.

It was stunning.

Friends, that’s what life is about for Jesus-followers. We are to live for others, not ourselves. Our stuff isn’t for us, but for God to do with as he pleases. Your house or that extra bedroom or that truck you love isn’t even yours. It’s God’s, and that means he intends you to use it to help someone else.

It’s time to open the conversation about what it means to have Enough. Stay tuned.

 

How to Make Good Decisions

Facing a dilemma? Here are a few things to remember when trying to make good choices and decisions:

What does the Bible say? Always seek God’s Word on big decisions. Even though it may not address your decision specifically, its timeless principles will guide you well. And remember that God will never lead you to violate what’s taught in his Word. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path, Psalm 119:105.
What do your counselors say? Don’t be afraid to get several opinions from people you trust. Their views, even though they may conflict, will help you look at all sides of your decisions with more objectivity. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed, Proverbs 15:22.
When in doubt, wait. There’s nothing wrong with slowing down a decision. If you can afford to, give it more time. Clarity often comes with incubation. I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God, Psalm 38:15.
Go with your gut. When it comes down to crunch time and you have to make a decision, go with your gut feeling. If you have to live with the implications of the decision, make sure it’s your decision you’re living with. If you’re truly seeking God, don’t be afraid to follow your instincts. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4.

Want to read more about good decision-making? Learn how to pray for yourself.

The New Rules: When Is It OK to have Sex?

I’m sure I won’t make many friends with this blog, but I feel that I have to say something. It’s kind of like eating lunch with a friend who has lettuce stuck in his teeth–you want to tell him but you know it’s going to be awkward. This is going to be awkward, at least, and it’s much more serious than having food stuck in one’s teeth.

Here we go: I’m amazed at how many of my Christian friends and acquaintances completely disregard the Bible’s teachings on sex and marriage. Again, I’m not talking about non-believers, as I would expect them to have little regard for the Bible and feel no obligation to follow its teachings. But Christians know better, or at least we’re supposed to.

Instead of adhering to the Bible’s repeated teachings that sex is a gift for men and women in the context of marriage, new rules and exception clauses seem to apply. Here’s just a few of the statements I hear:

We’re living together, so it’s OK
We’re two consenting adults
He told me he loved me
No Christian I know still thinks sex before marriage is wrong, so why should I
Surely God can’t expect a 32-year-old man to live without sex
I want to know if the sex is going to be good before I commit
We prayed about it first

Against the backdrop of these uninspiring excuses, let me offer the following: Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral, Hebrews 13:4

Friends, God isn’t some mean, nay-saying deity who gets his jollies by telling us what we can’t do. He is the creating God of the universe who knows better than any of us what’s best for us. If we disregard his teachings, then we’re set up to fail every time. Think about it–name any culture in history that has embraced the kind of sexual redefining that’s going on these days and thrived. The disregard for God’s teachings on sex are directly proportional to cultural decline (see Romans 1:18ff). Any doubts? Just look around.

Why the restraints? Why does God put limits on such a fun, exhilarating practice like sex? Because it’s a covenant act. It’s an act that expresses a no-holds-barred, unconditional, no turning back kind of love. It’s the kind of love best expressed on a cross, not in a bed.

Sex is designed by God to symbolize and express covenant love. So, I humbly submit this blog and ask that each of us rethink our understanding of sex. God’s Word, not our culture and appetites, is still the best determiner of what’s good and right.

When you Meet Others’ Needs, God Meets Yours

A friend sent me this recently after reading the manuscript for my upcoming book Enough: Finding More by Living with Less. Honestly, I hear this kind of thing all the time. Here’s what he wrote:

I’ll preface it by saying giving is not something new for us.  Having just done taxes I noticed we gave away 16% of our income last year but your book helped sharpen my radar in looking for needs and giving to them.

So here is this story…

We know a widowed woman who lives in Michigan and makes $495 a month of social security.  We decided to send her some money and when we had prayed about it we felt led to send her $150.  On Wednesday we received a thank you note from her telling us she did not know how she was going to pay her bills this month and then our check came in the mail and how thankful she was to God for always providing.  On the very next day I received  a letter in the mail from a car dealership that we had bought a car from 8 years ago – we don’t even have the car anymore because we outgrew it with all our kids – saying they had been charging a document preparation fee illegally and were reimbursing everyone who had bought a car there in the amount of $175.

Are you ready to discover the more of living with less?

Three Words that Change Everything

Years ago, I came to a critical crossroads in my life. I was up to my ears in unforgiveness, abiding anger, relational inauthenticity and spiritual disorder. I was a mess. I knew that I needed to face the music and begin the healing process, but I was afraid of what it would cost me. My inner black caldron of emotional pain would have to be opened. Years of relational and family dysfunction would have to be confronted. My own sin and pitiful coping mechanisms would have to be brought into the light. In short, if I wanted to get healthy, I could expect a lot of PAIN.

Now I like to think that I’m as tough as the next guy, maybe tougher. But when faced with the choice of deliberately walking into a season of emotional chaos . . . or not, my survival instincts tend to kick in. Why hurt in the name of being healthy when I can continue in my unhealth and avoid the chaos that authenticity brings? But try as I might to avoid the Spirit’s not-so-subtle promptings, I knew I needed to face my dark side. I remember the very day that I went for a long walk on a country road not far from my home. I wrestled with God and weighed the pros and cons and potential costs of bringing all my baggage into the light. There was no easy out; if I got honest, things were going to get rough.

Somewhere on that country road I reached a critical, watershed moment in my life. I crossed what I now call my So Be It line. I decided that I need to get healthy, to face my pain, and to do whatever it took to become the man that God was requiring me to be. I readily accepted the implications and certain relational chaos that would no doubt come. I remember saying out loud, “So be it.” And at that moment, I was free.

My life changed instantly. The pain and relational chaos did come. I had to have some brutal conversations with family members. I had to forgive and seek forgiveness. I spent countless hours in a counselor’s office sorting through all my emotional baggage. It was worth every moment of it. As an adult Christian, my So Be It moment was the most important of my life. Since then, I have prayed nearly every day for God to continue to give me a So Be It mindset. I will not negotiate with God. I refuse to arm wrestle or posture with my Creator. I am the Lord’s slave; may it be to me as He has said.

Are you a So Be It Christian? Have you crossed the line of radical obedience? Pray for a So Be It mindset. Tell God that you left your rights at the altar when you were married to Jesus. Tell Him that you will not negotiate, you will not posture, and you will not bargain. Close the door of obedience behind you. When you do, know that the best years of your Christian life still lie ahead of you. Become a So Be It Christian.–From Pray Big: The Power of Pinpoint Prayers

How to Have a Good Fight

I don’t know who this is for, but someone needs this today. Here are a few great guidelines for handling relational conflict.

1. Give the benefit of the doubt. In conflict our imaginations can run wild. Don’t assume the wost about the other person. Assume she has good intentions and ultimately means well.

2. Find out the back story. In conflict, there’s typically more going on than you can see. Try to discern what else is happening in the life of the person you’re in conflict with. It may give you great perspective on why he is acting the way he is and even make you compassionate toward him.

3. Listen more than you talk. Before you make your points, hear hers.

4. Don’t talk about the other person–that’s gossip and even slander. Talk to him. The only one you can talk to about the person you’re in conflict with is God. (The exception being a counselor or someone advising you on how to work through the conflict.)

5. Don’t try to win, try to grow. The point of conflict isn’t always to prevail, it’s to mature. Be humble enough to ask God to grow you through the conflict, regardless of how it turns out.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

Lessons from Booger

Meet Booger. Booger is a feral cat that lives on 10th Street in Waco. Booger roams the neighborhoods that cradle the south side of the Baylor University campus and survives on the kindness of the students who live in the area (except for that fact that they named him Booger).

I met Booger last week when I was moving my daughter home from Waco. I saw a grey flash and then heard Emily say, “Oh, hey Booger.” I’m not a real cat guy, but he had me at “Hey Booger.”

Maybe it’s the sad state of feral cats. Maybe it’s the hunger I know he suffers from. Maybe it’s his orphaned state, but suddenly Susie and I had the great idea of giving Booger a home.

So yesterday when I was back in Waco I tried to put Booger in a crate so I could bring him back to Austin. He wanted not part of it. Booger clearly wanted our attention and the food we might offer him, but he didn’t want to be confined, not that I can blame him. He wanted us, but on his terms. So when I left Waco last night, it was without Booger. He remained behind on 10th Street, free but hungry.

Such is the way with so many of us and God. We want him to feed us, we want his protection and comfort, we want whatever he can give us, but we don’t want the supposed confinement that comes from a relationship with him. Dad baggage, church baggage, religious baggage, etc., all work to make us hungry for what God may do for us but leery of releasing control to him. Such commitment looks more like slavery than freedom. We’d rather have our independence and face the ravages of spiritual hunger than be tied down by an autocratic master.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it . . . .

Don’t be a feral person. Don’t be a spiritual stray. Don’t seek God just enough to get what he can offer, for the best that he can ever offer is himself.

 

Would You be Willing to Read and Review My New Book?

I’m looking for 30-50 people to read and review my new book Enough: Finding More by Living with Less.

Here’s how it works:

Contact my assistant Joni (Email Joni Here ) and tell her you want to review the book
The first 50 who respond will receive a free copy, probably in the next few month
After you read it, post your review (good or bad) on Amazon.com. Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, Facebook, your blog, church or home-school  newsletters, and/or any other place that you think might reach people who would want to know about Enough.

The result will be that you’ll help communicate a very important message to hundreds of thousands of people. Enough is going to be a game-changer for many people, families and churches.

Thanks for being a part of the Enough Revolution.

 

Lessons from a 40 Day Daniel Fast

I just completed a 40 day Daniel Fast. Unlike conventional fasts where you don’t eat any food, the Daniel fast calls for a greatly restricted diet and only small amounts of what you actually do eat. I began on April 1 and didn’t eat any meat, chicken, dairy, sweets and sugar, and I didn’t drink any caffeine or alcohol. I basically only ate and drank small amounts of 100% natural foods.

It may sound tough, but I have to confess it was actually amazing and quite enjoyable. In fact, at day 21 (the usual length of a Daniel Fast) I decided to stretch it to 40 days.

I felt led to the fast by the Holy Spirit in March. I’ve been praying for God to use my book Enough that will be released in a few weeks. I’m quite passionate about its message and want it to be read all over the world. I felt God’s Spirit tell me to fast for the book’s release.

Here’s some of what I gained/learned:

I had loads of more energy and my thinking was much clearer and sharper
I was able to work with much more focus and for longer periods of time without growing fatigued
The timing of the fast was critical (God obviously knew), as we have been walking through significant changes and even tests at our church
I was able to exercise as hard as I wanted–picture me riding the hills around our church with a giant branch of broccoli sticking out of my jersey pocket
God anointed my teaching and speaking in powerful ways
God increased my ability to recognize and resist Satan’s oppression and attacks
God brought several interesting opportunities to me for promoting the book that were not on the radar 6 weeks ago.
And mostly importantly, I feel much closer to Jesus

In other words, God greatly honored the fast. I feel certain that I will seek the Lord’s permission to do it again in the near future.

I encourage every person seeking to know and hear God better to try fasting (pray about and decide what God would have you fast from) as part of your spiritual disciplines. He will greatly honor your efforts.