When Caesar crossed the English Channel from Gaul and landed on the shore, he knew that the odds were against his winning the battle. After thinking of the seriousness of the situation he did a strange thing.

When he landed on the shore he had all of his men get off of the ships and gather around him. He then ordered all but a few to move forward and not look back. Then, he ordered the remaining few to stay with him. At his command they were to set fire to all of the ships.

After the first party made their way forward he issued the order to set the ships ablaze. When the ships were blazing he then gave another command for the men to turn around and see the burning ships.

The men were stunned as they looked at the burning vessels. They realized that they were now stranded in enemy territory and could not retreat to safety. There was nothing that they could do but advance and fight. And they did. With every ounce of strength they possessed they fought their way forward and won!

When we are faced with overwhelming challenges and difficult decisions, we must look to God and ask Him what is the best way to advance and win the battle. He knows what we should do. However, we must trust in Him, His advice and His strength to be victorious.

Prayer: Each day, Lord, we face tasks that are trying and problems that are perplexing. May we look to You for Your insight and wisdom as we advance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Gary Player, the great golfer, was completing the final hole in the final round of an important tournament. His ball landed in the sand trap and it appeared as though he would not win. He walked into the bunker, looked at his ball and then the green, and then positioned himself for a make-or-break swing. Finally, he blasted the ball with all of his might, it went up into the air and rolled into the cup!

One of his spectators shouted, “You were sure lucky, Gary!”

“Yes,” he replied, “but the more I practice and the harder I work, the luckier I get!”

Luck waits for someone or something to turn up and bring good fortune. It spends countless hours looking into the future believing that there will be a turn of events, an unanticipated shower of good things falling from the clouds, an unexpected opportunity that comes in the mail or over the phone. It seems to suggest that if we wait long enough, patiently enough, quietly enough, good things will happen.

Some think that chance happenings, good or bad, are a result of one’s “luck.” Is there such a thing? Is there a reference to it in God’s Word? No. But He does say that we are to seek and trust His understanding of things, not ours.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, not to wait and wonder, but to work and watch for signs and signals that give us Your directions. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Writing in his diary, a young man predicted his future: “Someday I’m going to do something special with my life. I will become famous!”

Years later, an old man said to his family, “I could have done great things with my life, but I didn’t. I am so sorry. I wish I had. I am a failure.”

How tragic, because the old man and the young man were the same person.

God gives to each of us a limited number of days, a select number of skills and with them the ability to earn our livelihood. None of us know the length of our lives. Some of us never develop the skills God has given us. And many do not use the fruit of their labor wisely. We must be aware of how we use God’s gifts.

An important question to ask ourselves every day is this: “What am I going to do with the time, the talents and treasures God has given me today?”

We have no assurance of tomorrow, we may lose the skills that we have through a tragedy and our treasures may be taken from us. But when we attach our lives to God’s power and plan, we will have no regrets.

Prayer: Teach us Lord, to be faithful to You and to make the very most of all You have given us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6