Keenly aware of my physical weaknesses and limitations—and the fact that I’m growing older
much more rapidly than I‘d like—each morning I open the cupboard and reach for an assortment of nutritional supplements to help provide what my body needs. Each formula has something that I need, but no one source is enough to provide all that I need.

How thankful I am that in my relationship with the living God, I can truly say that He alone is enough for my every need. I never have to ask, “Is He enough?”

His death on the cross is sufficient for my salvation.  Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

His strength is sufficient to overcome my weakness.  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, (Matthew 11:28)

His authority is sufficient to overcome my inadequacy.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me”. (Matthew 28:18)

His power is sufficient for any struggle I face.  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

His strength is sufficient to pick me up when I fall.  The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. (Psalm 145:14)

His wisdom and knowledge are sufficient to direct my every step.  But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold,        (Job 23:10).

His grace is sufficient for my every need.  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

The words of 19th century author Hannah Whitall Smith sum it up well:  “If God is what He would seem to be from His revealings; if He is indeed the “God of all comfort” (2 Cor.1:3); if He is our Shepherd; If He is really and truly our Father; if, in short, all the many aspects He has told us of His character and His ways are actually true, then we must come to the positive conviction that He is, in Himself alone, enough for all our needs and that we may safely rest in Him absolutely and forever.”                                                                                        (ANN SHORB)

Jesus said, “I am the Door of the sheep” (John 10:7). Sounds peculiar, doesn’t it? It stretches the imagination to think of a person acting as a gate, or a door. But that’s just what a shepherd does, particularly one who is devoted to his sheep.

One day Sir George Adam Smith, an Englishman who traveled extensively in the Middle East, came across a sheepfold and said to the shepherd, “That is where they go at night?”

“Yes,” said the shepherd, “and when they are in there, they are perfectly safe.”

“But there is no door,” said the Englishman.

“I am the door,” replied the shepherd.

Sir George looked at him and asked, “What do you mean by the door?”

The shepherd answered, “When the light has gone out, and all the sheep are inside, I lie in that open space, and no sheep ever goes out but across my body, and no wolf comes in unless he crosses my body; I am the door.”

When Jesus said He is the Door of the sheep, He meant that the fold has only One entrance; life has One source; spiritual nourishment is obtained One way; heaven can be entered through One entrance. And the single means of access to all that is life is Jesus.                                            (RICK EZELL)

The life of Daniel provides a clear example of a man who was faithful to God in his career.

Daniel lived in the context of foreign conquest and exile. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, solidified his conquest over the people of Judah by bringing the best and brightest Israelites to Babylon to work in his royal court. The Book of Daniel mentions four of these chosen men: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. For three years they underwent training in the Babylonian language, tradition, political structure, literature and many other subjects. They worked amidst the best of the best, the elite of Babylonian society. Here are three lessons Daniel models for Christians seeking to honor God in the workplace.

Lesson #1: Christians can and should enter the workplace.  As Hugh Whelchel explains: In the tent city in Babylon, a young man in the crowd heard Jeremiah’s letter and believed that it meant a new vocational call on his life. From that moment, he totally committed his life to working for the Shalom, the peace and well-being, of the great city of Babylon. The young man’s name was Daniel. Daniel pursued the Shalom of the city through his position in Nebuchadnezzar’s royal court.

You may not have a position in a king’s inner circle, but you can still work towards Shalom in the place you are called to right now.

Lesson #2: Christians should pursue excellence in the workplace.  We’ve already seen how Daniel and his friends were the cream of the crop of Israelite men. These guys stood out, even from the best. They strove for excellence as they worked to bring shalom to Babylon. Because of God’s blessing of skill and success, Daniel and his friends are given greater responsibility as administrators over the province of Babylon.

Likewise, you have been blessed with certain skills, which you are called to develop in order that you might do good work. Like Daniel, we should strive for excellence in our jobs.

Lesson #3: Christians should be obedient in the workplace.   In Daniel 1:8-15, Daniel and his friends refused the diet of royal food and wine set before them by the Babylonians. They saw refusing the king’s food as an act of obedience to God. Another example of obedience is when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a golden statue Nebuchadnezzar built.

There may be times when your office culture conflicts with your Christian values. You may be asked to do or say something unethical. Daniel and his friends are a model of obedience for us when facing these situations.

Throughout these first few chapters it must be noticed that Daniel and his friends excelled at their careers despite the fact that they did not choose them. They remained obedient to God throughout this experience, despite being a part of their conqueror’s inner circle. These are qualities that we as Christians should develop, too, as we seek the peace and prosperity of our surrounding culture.                                                                                        (TAYLOR BARKLEY)

Loves Sacrificially:  Jesus is the finest example of a true Christian friend. His love for us is sacrificial, never selfish. He demonstrated it not only through His miracles of healing, but more fully through the humble service of washing the disciples’ feet, and then ultimately, when He laid down His life on the cross. If we choose our friends based only on what they have to offer, we’ll rarely discover the blessings of a genuine godly friendship. Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” By valuing your friend’s needs above your own, you’ll be on your way to loving like Jesus. In the process, you’ll likely gain a true friend.

Accepts Unconditionally:  We discover the best of friendships with brothers and sisters who know and accept our weaknesses and imperfections. If we’re easily offended or hold on to bitterness, we’ll have a hard time making friends. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes now and then. If we take a truthful look at ourselves, we’ll admit that we bear some of the blame when things go wrong in a friendship. A good friend is quick to ask forgiveness and ready to be forgiving.

Trusts Completely:  A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24). This proverb reveals that a true Christian friend is trustworthy, indeed, but emphasizes a second important truth as well. We should only expect to share complete trust with a few loyal friends. Trusting too easily can lead to ruin, so be careful about putting your confidence in a mere companion. Over time our true Christian friends will prove their trustworthiness by sticking closer than a brother or sister.

Keeps Healthy Boundaries:  If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong. Likewise, if you feel used or abused, something is amiss. Recognizing what’s best for someone and giving that person space are signs of a healthy relationship. We should never let a friend come between us and our spouse. A true Christian friend will wisely avoid intruding and recognize your need to maintain other relationships.

Gives Mutual Edification: True Christian friends will build each other up emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Friends like to be together simply because it feels good. We receive strength, encouragement, and love. We talk, we cry, we listen. But at times we also have to say the difficult things our dearest friend needs to hear. Yet, because of the shared trust and acceptance, we are the one person who can impact our friend’s heart, for we know how to deliver the hard message with truth and grace. I believe this is what Proverbs 27:17 means when it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

As we’ve reviewed these traits of godly friendships, we’ve probably recognized areas that need a little work in our efforts to build stronger bonds. But if you don’t have lots of close friends, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, true Christian friendships are rare treasures. They take time to nurture, but in the process we grow more Christlike.                                                 (MARY FAIRCHILD)

The leadership principles which I admire most are found in the leadership style of Jesus. Jesus’ leadership is still impacting culture today.

Here are 12 leadership principles of Jesus that inspire me:

Jesus was willing to invest in people others would have dismissed. Consider the disciples. They were not the “religious” elite, yet Jesus used them to start His church.

Jesus released responsibility and ownership in a ministry. Consider how Jesus sent the disciples out on their own. No micro-management it appears.

Jesus had a leadership succession plan.  Jesus consistently reminded the disciples He wouldn’t always be with them. Of course, He was still the “leader”, but He left others to take the ministry forward.

Jesus practiced servant leadership better than anyone. The King of kings was willing to wash the feet of His followers.

Jesus was laser focused on His vision. Regardless of the persecutions or distractions, Jesus kept focused on the mission God had called Him to complete.

Jesus handled distractions with grace. When the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touched His garment, Jesus stopped to heal her, even though He was headed to a definite purpose.

Jesus was into self-development. Jesus constantly slipped away to spend time with God.

Jesus was into leadership development and replacement. He very purposefully prepared the disciples to take over the ministry. He pushed people beyond what they felt they were capable of doing.

Jesus held followers to high expectations. Jesus was not afraid to make huge requests of people. “Follow Me” meant the disciples had to drop their agenda to do so. He told the disciples they must be willing to lose everything to follow Him.

Jesus cared more about people than about rules and regulations. He was willing to jeopardize Himself personally by breaking the “rules” to help someone in need.

Jesus celebrated success in ministry. He rewarded people generously who were faithful to Him and His cause.

Jesus finished well. Any questions whether His ministry was effective? Still working today.                                                              (RON EDMONDSON)

Even as a child, William Holman Hunt spent considerable time reading the Bible.

Born in London in 1827 to a Christian family, he was fueled by this inspiration, and began dreaming of becoming an artist. Through many struggles he realized that his only hope was in Jesus. And he felt inspired to use his talents to use art to teach Biblical truths.

Around 1850, he began working on a painting that symbolized what Christ meant to him, and the importance of salvation. He called the painting, “The Light of the World.” Hunt later commented that he intended “to show how the still small voice speaks to a human soul in the turmoil of life.”

He sensed how important light was, both to this painting and to the Christian life. So he painted at night, with only a lamp to give him light. He wanted to feel darkness, and the impact of light.

As author Cynthia Pearl Maus had described, in this painting, Hunt focused on light in two ways. There was a lantern in Jesus’ hand representing “the light of conscience,” revealing sin with a fire that “is red and fierce.” The other light was in His face. Hunt wanted people to understand that He was the “Light of the world,” and that He was standing at the door of their hearts, and ready to come in (Revelation 3:20).

Today, more than ever, the world needs the Light of the Gospel. Jesus is at the door, of people in every nation. He is ready to bring salvation, joy, and peace. He waits for men and women to invite Him in. Dedicate yourself to bringing this Light to the World. And seek to live in that Light!                                                       (INSPIRATION MINISTRIES)