Timothy Tilton

4 yrs

Refined “in the furnace of suffering”

Friday September 18

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isa 48:10 KJV

Never become jealous of someone else’s talent. And don’t be intimidated by it, because the God who called and equipped them, will use you too. When you learn to appreciate and applaud the gift of God in someone else’s life, you put yourself in a position where He can bless you as well. The fact is, we’re all necessary to God’s plan. The Bible says, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (1Co 12:18 KJV). God sets and God allocates! So seek Him and you’ll find your assignment. Why did Jesus say, “Many are called, but few chosen” (Mt 20:16 KJV)? Part of the answer is found in these words: “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” You need more than just a calling—you need character in order to have credibility. And that means spending time in the refiner’s fire. Generally speaking, it’s not your calling that gets you into trouble; it’s your character—or lack of it! God says: “I want to see how you respond under pressure. When you want a yes, but you have to live with a no. When you desire to be in public ministry, but you’re assigned to a back room.” God is a wise businessman; He doesn’t put untested merchandise in His window. So what “furnace of suffering” are you in today? Are you feeling the heat of the refiner’s fire? If so— rejoice! When you come out, you’ll be equipped and ready for service. And that’s the word for you today!

4 yrs

Protect your spiritual life

Thursday September 17

“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Job 33:4 KJV

You can put metal bars on the windows of your house, a security system in your car, video cameras in your business, and stash your prized belongings in a bank vault. But what are you doing to protect your most valuable possession, namely, your spiritual life? Elihu told Job, “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” When God breathes His spirit into you at the point of salvation, you become spiritually alive. Now you have the ability to love Him, serve Him, and bring pleasure to Him. And that’s what the Enemy is after—the part of God that’s inside you! And to get to it he will attack your body, wage war against your mind, and try to control you through habits, doubts, and fears. He will even work through other people, including close friends and family members. When God breathed into Adam, he became alive. He recognized who he was and what he was called to do in life. Don’t miss the lesson here! Until you recognize that God created and redeemed you for a purpose, other people will try to “breathe” their identity and agenda into you. And that’s dangerous, because when someone can define you they can control you! “How can I protect myself?” you ask. Live each day with a consciousness of the presence of God! The psalmist said, “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.” (Ps 61:3-4 KJV). When you’re in that place of safety, the Enemy can’t touch you or anything that is rightfully yours.

4 yrs

Be ready to receive

Wednesday September 16

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Jn 16:24 KJV

The Bible doesn’t tell us how long the lame man in Acts chapter 3 had sat begging at the temple gate, but it was a daily occurrence. When he saw Peter and John, the odds are he wasn’t expecting anything—just another day trying to survive. Then Peter said, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Ac 3:6 KJV). Here’s what happened next: “And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (v. 8 KJV). There’s an important lesson here for you. God has set times for doing certain things. He has a calendar and your name is on it: “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.” (Ps 102:13 KJV). If you’re not spiritually attuned you can miss your “set time” and forfeit what God has for you. That means you must learn to live in expectation, because God’s blessings are either coming toward you or passing you by. Miracles happen to those who believe in them, ask for them, expect them, and receive them. The Enemy will try to keep you so preoccupied, cynical, and hopeless that when God sends the answer you prayed for, you won’t recognize it, reach for it, or receive it. Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (Jn 16:23-24 KJV). So, be ready to receive.

4 yrs

What it takes to win

Tuesday September 15

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” 1Co 9:26 KJV

Whether it’s in the world of sports or the kingdom of God, all winners exhibit these five traits: (1) Self-awareness. Winners are honest about their strengths and weaknesses. The Bible says, “...for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee;...” (1Ch 28:9 KJV). In prayer you see yourself as you are. As you read God’s Word, you begin to see yourself as you can be. (2) Focus. Wherever you are today, be there—because that’s where God is. People who spend their lives “waiting for their ship to come in” are usually disappointed, or die on the pier. Winners live in the present moment. They refuse to be in one place while their mind is in another. (3) Confidence. Winners overcome anxiety by keeping their eyes on the goal. As they get closer, their confidence increases. Jude writes, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” (Jude v. 20 KJV). This is something you must do for yourself, and do daily through prayer and God’s Word. (4) Toughness. Winners sacrifice the present for the future. They’ve learned to say no to indulgence and yes to discipline, because to them the prize is worth the price. Paul writes: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1Co 9:27 KJV). (5) A game plan. Winners recognize that talent alone isn’t enough; you need a plan to live by. So, have you discovered God’s plan for your life? Are you living by it? If not, talk to Him about it today. It’s one of the most important conversations you will ever have.

4 yrs

Be sure to praise God!

Monday September 14

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Ps 34:1 KJV

The psalmist said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth…O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” (vv. 1 & 3 KJV). Observe three things in this Scripture: (1) Praise comes from an act of your will. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” It’s not an impulse; it’s a decision you make regardless of your feelings. The word hallelujah is a command form of the word “praise.” It’s an expression of worship, but it’s also an order to start praising the Lord. (2) Praise stirs your emotions. “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” (v. 2 KJV). First, David praised the Lord because he was commanded to. Second, he praised Him because he wanted to. That’s the order of things. If you want to change your feelings—change your focus. Before it was over, David was singing, “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” (v. 22 KJV). (3) Praise rubs off on others. “O Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Praise is contagious; it changes the atmosphere around you. When you get together with people of praise, decorum gives way to delight, and you find yourself lifted to a realm of joy you never knew. And praise has many forms of expressions. Psalm 150 outlines nine different ways to praise God. You can speak, shout, sing, clap your hands or raise them. You can play musical instruments, you can stand, kneel, or dance. The point is—be sure to praise God!