Andy Bonikowsky's Blog, page 6
January 5, 2021
Stress
For many, this Covid year has brought about some intensely stressful situations.
And so, I’d like to analyze this thing called stress for a few minutes, for it may not be what we sometimes think it is. First of all, it is very much a thing of the mind, an invisible war that takes place in our thought life, and something all of us have to deal with.
However, since it is usually triggered by very visible and tangible situations, we tend to think of it almost as a physical malady. If we add the various bodily symptoms that often come with it, it is no wonder that we may see it as an evil attacking us from “out there” somewhere.
Stress can come to us in many ways and from many directions. It may come through a demanding boss, unpleasant co-workers, or nasty clients. There is a kind that comes knocking at our door when bills are due and money is scarce. Other common sources are family tensions, health problems or uncertainties, huge and intimidating projects, or complex ministry situations.
Sleepless nights are a frequent product, as well as tightness in the chest, loss or increase of appetite, irritability, etc…
But ultimately, stress is very much a spiritual battle. At least, I see it that way in my life. There comes a point when I have to stop blaming circumstances and take a look deeper and inside.
In order to get some perspective on the issue, let’s consider three very familiar Bible stories.
First, think of the Israelites, right out of Egypt. They soon found themselves facing a sea of water with the Egyptian chariots pressing in from behind. They were mega stressed, so much so that they blamed Moses for taking them to their death and wished they were slaves back in Egypt! But should they have been stressed? NO, absolutely not. From reality’s perspective, they weren’t in the slightest bit of danger. And after the miracles they had just witnessed, they should have been looking up and saying, “Hmmmm. I wonder how God is going to get us out of THIS mess?”
Now let’s think about the three Hebrews standing before Nebuchadnezzar. They could probably hear the roar of the fire and feel the increase of temperature coming from the furnace. Knowing it was their next stop, shouldn’t they have stressed out? NO, and they didn’t. Why not?
Because they believed God.
Finally, move forward a few chapters and think about Daniel, and how stressed he was when the lion’s den decree was passed. Actually, he wasn’t, was he? Why not?
Because he believed God.
Now let’s ask ourselves why we are often stressed into desperation over circumstances that don’t come even close to these I mentioned? Why were we stressed out?
Because we failed to believe God.
We didn’t rule our minds and control our thinking, and we either forgot or ignored basic truths like these:
Psalm 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Isaiah 26:3-4, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on thee…
So the next time I feel stress beginning to invade my soul, I trust I’ll have the maturity to acknowledge what’s really happening and repeat what a certain gentleman said long ago, “Lord, please help my unbelief!
And so, I’d like to analyze this thing called stress for a few minutes, for it may not be what we sometimes think it is. First of all, it is very much a thing of the mind, an invisible war that takes place in our thought life, and something all of us have to deal with.
However, since it is usually triggered by very visible and tangible situations, we tend to think of it almost as a physical malady. If we add the various bodily symptoms that often come with it, it is no wonder that we may see it as an evil attacking us from “out there” somewhere.
Stress can come to us in many ways and from many directions. It may come through a demanding boss, unpleasant co-workers, or nasty clients. There is a kind that comes knocking at our door when bills are due and money is scarce. Other common sources are family tensions, health problems or uncertainties, huge and intimidating projects, or complex ministry situations.
Sleepless nights are a frequent product, as well as tightness in the chest, loss or increase of appetite, irritability, etc…
But ultimately, stress is very much a spiritual battle. At least, I see it that way in my life. There comes a point when I have to stop blaming circumstances and take a look deeper and inside.
In order to get some perspective on the issue, let’s consider three very familiar Bible stories.
First, think of the Israelites, right out of Egypt. They soon found themselves facing a sea of water with the Egyptian chariots pressing in from behind. They were mega stressed, so much so that they blamed Moses for taking them to their death and wished they were slaves back in Egypt! But should they have been stressed? NO, absolutely not. From reality’s perspective, they weren’t in the slightest bit of danger. And after the miracles they had just witnessed, they should have been looking up and saying, “Hmmmm. I wonder how God is going to get us out of THIS mess?”
Now let’s think about the three Hebrews standing before Nebuchadnezzar. They could probably hear the roar of the fire and feel the increase of temperature coming from the furnace. Knowing it was their next stop, shouldn’t they have stressed out? NO, and they didn’t. Why not?
Because they believed God.
Finally, move forward a few chapters and think about Daniel, and how stressed he was when the lion’s den decree was passed. Actually, he wasn’t, was he? Why not?
Because he believed God.
Now let’s ask ourselves why we are often stressed into desperation over circumstances that don’t come even close to these I mentioned? Why were we stressed out?
Because we failed to believe God.
We didn’t rule our minds and control our thinking, and we either forgot or ignored basic truths like these:
Psalm 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Isaiah 26:3-4, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on thee…
So the next time I feel stress beginning to invade my soul, I trust I’ll have the maturity to acknowledge what’s really happening and repeat what a certain gentleman said long ago, “Lord, please help my unbelief!
December 21, 2020
Simeon's Light
This Christmas story is about the amazing encounter of an elderly gentleman, a young married couple, and their first baby boy. It is full of mystery and wisdom, faith and hope, patience and happiness!
Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/42572996
Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/42572996
December 17, 2020
An Almighty Lesson
In this lesson from the life of Jacob, we see how vital the truth of God’s omnipotence is, and its power to change the outlook and attitude of one who after a century of horrible choices, was the very definition of misery. It is a message of hope and encouragement for all of us, who to one degree or another, have failed to live up to the high calling we have in Christ.
Spreakers audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/42298601
Spreakers audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/42298601
November 26, 2020
Thanksgiving Surprise
God loves to surprise. He promises to do so, and in my experience He has awesomely kept His word. Since beginning to record His surprises twenty-one years ago, I have recorded over 650 unusual ones. Sometimes they are negative, but overwhelmingly they are positive, because God is good by nature.
If you have a few minutes to read, maybe you will rejoice in seeing the hand of God through what He did yesterday. And as usual, the blessings are often in the tiny details. Here are the main facts.
Two days ago I arrived in Greenville for a quick trip on family business. On Tuesday I went to the DMV with my granddaughter, to buy tags for our car. Because I was registering it in SC for the first time, the lady said there was a fee of $250. My response to her was, “Ouch!” I had no idea. But I had no choice, so I paid for it and walked out thinking, “Lord, that didn’t feel very good.”
Yesterday I was here at Karen Dr. getting ready to meet my sister-in-law for lunch when an elderly gentleman, a long time friend of our family, came by. He lives in another state and I was shocked to see him come to the door. He had heard from my father-in-law that I was here and came by to invite me to lunch, along with a retired missionary couple. I first checked with Debbie, and she was good with it, so I agreed to meet at Red Lobster in 25 minutes.
When I arrived at the restaurant, this gentleman was getting out of his car, and immediately came to me quite embarrassed because he’d just realized he’d accidentally forgotten his wallet. If the restaurant didn’t accept a check, would I mind paying for the meal and he would make the check out to me?
The four of us had a delightful lunch after which I paid. He insisted on following through with the check and asked how much it was. I showed him the amount on my phone and he started writing. Before we left the table I went ahead and unfolded the check.
I said, “Sir, that is enough for us to eat here for a few days!” It was almost exactly what I had left at the DMV the day before.
God loves to surprise. It is one of the many ways He shows us His love and proves His invisible but very real existence. If it were just once or twice, we might feel the pressure to let the skeptic argue for coincidence. But when it happens over a lifetime? Nah, I don’t think so!
I thank and praise Him for being so loving, so faithful, and so kind.
Happy Thanksgiving! AB
Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
If you have a few minutes to read, maybe you will rejoice in seeing the hand of God through what He did yesterday. And as usual, the blessings are often in the tiny details. Here are the main facts.
Two days ago I arrived in Greenville for a quick trip on family business. On Tuesday I went to the DMV with my granddaughter, to buy tags for our car. Because I was registering it in SC for the first time, the lady said there was a fee of $250. My response to her was, “Ouch!” I had no idea. But I had no choice, so I paid for it and walked out thinking, “Lord, that didn’t feel very good.”
Yesterday I was here at Karen Dr. getting ready to meet my sister-in-law for lunch when an elderly gentleman, a long time friend of our family, came by. He lives in another state and I was shocked to see him come to the door. He had heard from my father-in-law that I was here and came by to invite me to lunch, along with a retired missionary couple. I first checked with Debbie, and she was good with it, so I agreed to meet at Red Lobster in 25 minutes.
When I arrived at the restaurant, this gentleman was getting out of his car, and immediately came to me quite embarrassed because he’d just realized he’d accidentally forgotten his wallet. If the restaurant didn’t accept a check, would I mind paying for the meal and he would make the check out to me?
The four of us had a delightful lunch after which I paid. He insisted on following through with the check and asked how much it was. I showed him the amount on my phone and he started writing. Before we left the table I went ahead and unfolded the check.
I said, “Sir, that is enough for us to eat here for a few days!” It was almost exactly what I had left at the DMV the day before.
God loves to surprise. It is one of the many ways He shows us His love and proves His invisible but very real existence. If it were just once or twice, we might feel the pressure to let the skeptic argue for coincidence. But when it happens over a lifetime? Nah, I don’t think so!
I thank and praise Him for being so loving, so faithful, and so kind.
Happy Thanksgiving! AB
Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
November 18, 2020
Our Shield
When we think of shields we often think of ancient weaponry, for protection, and in the Bible that is the context. But the concept itself is timeless and very relevant, quite often a serious source of anxiety or peace, depending on your worldview.
Spreakers audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/4202402
Spreakers audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/4202402
November 11, 2020
Not a Thread
Have you ever been offered a fortune that for ethical reasons you could not accept? Not me. What an interesting predicament. But this is exactly what happened to Abram.
Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41921023
Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41921023
Answers
Has God answered our prayers? Of course He has.
I have walked with the Lord for many years and He has always answered my prayers. He always answers the prayers of His children.
Sometimes He has done so in remarkable ways, when rejoicing and celebration exploded from my heart. At other times I have been greatly disappointed, and it took weeks, months, or years before I could heartily give Him thanks.
But He has never failed to respond. It is not in His character to ignore His children.
However, He always has the big picture in mind, and it’s as wide as eternity.
We need to be careful that our focus not be so narrow that we cannot accept His answers when they don’t match up with our hopes and dreams.
Besides, He can always surprise us with His goodness.
And He will!
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?
(Luke 11:12
I have walked with the Lord for many years and He has always answered my prayers. He always answers the prayers of His children.
Sometimes He has done so in remarkable ways, when rejoicing and celebration exploded from my heart. At other times I have been greatly disappointed, and it took weeks, months, or years before I could heartily give Him thanks.
But He has never failed to respond. It is not in His character to ignore His children.
However, He always has the big picture in mind, and it’s as wide as eternity.
We need to be careful that our focus not be so narrow that we cannot accept His answers when they don’t match up with our hopes and dreams.
Besides, He can always surprise us with His goodness.
And He will!
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?
(Luke 11:12
November 3, 2020
Building a Name
Millions are voting and the world is watching. Even here in Spain, the headlines are all about the elections in the USA. So many projects, so many plans, and so many dreams are on the table. This week’s devotional is about the decision of multitudes at Babel and that of one man in Ur of the Chaldees. There are important and relevant lessons we can learn for today, even from these events that took place thousands of years ago.
Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41775936
Audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41775936
October 28, 2020
INVISIBLE THINGS
In the beginning of time, God walked with man, visibly, as best we understand.
Then came a time of at least 6,000 years when His visibility was sort of erratic. At some points, centuries came and went when Jehovah was invisible to the human race. At other times, He appeared as an Angel or similar. Once, for several decades, God the Son walked on earth and was visible to and touchable by anyone nearby.
At the end of time, Revelation 22 shows us that the Lord will live among us and we will see His face, FOREVER.
Right now our entire world is in a wild battle with an invisible enemy, Covid19. At least it’s invisible to most of us. And if there is one thing man generally fears, it is an evil he cannot see.
How important and how “simple” (not necessarily easy) it is for those of us who know and love God, to be different, to be calm, to be light. Our omnipotent Father is not limited like we are. He is visible or not, as He chooses, so invisibility is no issue for Him. He can see any enemy in the darkness better than that enemy can see itself.
We can confidently claim this truth: “The Lord is my shepherd… I will fear no evil.”
Psalm 139:12, “The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.”
Hebrews 4:13, “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him…
Then came a time of at least 6,000 years when His visibility was sort of erratic. At some points, centuries came and went when Jehovah was invisible to the human race. At other times, He appeared as an Angel or similar. Once, for several decades, God the Son walked on earth and was visible to and touchable by anyone nearby.
At the end of time, Revelation 22 shows us that the Lord will live among us and we will see His face, FOREVER.
Right now our entire world is in a wild battle with an invisible enemy, Covid19. At least it’s invisible to most of us. And if there is one thing man generally fears, it is an evil he cannot see.
How important and how “simple” (not necessarily easy) it is for those of us who know and love God, to be different, to be calm, to be light. Our omnipotent Father is not limited like we are. He is visible or not, as He chooses, so invisibility is no issue for Him. He can see any enemy in the darkness better than that enemy can see itself.
We can confidently claim this truth: “The Lord is my shepherd… I will fear no evil.”
Psalm 139:12, “The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.”
Hebrews 4:13, “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him…
The Everlasting Bow
Everyone enjoys seeing a rainbow. There’s just something about it that grabs and keeps our attention. And the believer is Christ should delight in an extraordinary way because we understand its origen as well as its eternal significance.
Spreakers audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/4166637
Spreakers audio: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/4166637
