I am so thankful for the sufferings of Christ Jesus. I am so thankful for the sufferings of those who hold strong to their faith in Christ. Through the suffering we can see God's glory. Our trials and the suffering through those trials are never in vain.
Do you think your trials not note worthy? Even in the "smallest" trials and the "smallest" sufferings God is glorified when we cling to Him. You see, just as all sin is the same "size" in God's eyes, just as all measure of blessings is the same in God's eyes, so is our sufferings. You either suffer for Christ or you do not. You either sin or you do not. You either use your blessings for Christ or you do not. There is no grey area in God's eyes.
As I was reading 2 Corinthians this morning, I was overcome with a sense of awe. I thought about how much the apostles suffered. I thought about how much they endured. All of it was done through their faith, their complete trust in God.
But then I considered "size" in God's eyes. Their suffering truly was great - but it was the fact that through all of the suffering, no matter how much, they clung to the promises of God. It came down to choice. They could either suffer for Christ or not. To them all that mattered was Christ. All that mattered was pleasing our Father. They took Him seriously and through them we are shown how to hang on, no matter what we must endure. Because all that we suffer here on earth is but worldly things. Once we have given our soul to Christ it is only our body that suffers. We must remember that our bodies are mere shells. Christ, too, suffered in the same ways we do. He showed us to turn to God. To keep His word. To do His work no matter what the world may say or do. That is faith. Faith in deliverance.
The deliverance we receive through or from trials on earth is only the beginning. The ultimate deliverance is when He delivers our souls through Heaven's Gate and into our Abba's Eternal Kingdom.
The road to God's Kingdom is narrow and difficult, even impossible at times. Yet NOTHING is impossible for God. Therefore if you are on His road you must trust Him that He will do the impossible and carry you through the places where you cannot make it alone. The road may seem lonely. But keep the faith that you are NEVER alone. His road may not have many other humans traveling on it, but it is not desolate. He places angels to help us along the way. His Holy Spirit is within us so that we may recognize Him and His help. Throughout the journey we are in God's hand. Though we, ourselves, may let go of Him He never lets go of us. Once we are in His hand NOTHING can take us from it.
His promises that He will always be there for us are fulfilled every time we cling to Him through our trials. When we tire, He is there to comfort and renew us. When we are recharged and set out again, He is there to amplify our light which is only a reflection of Him. Without Him there is no light.
Darkness is the absence of light. Our shadows are formed because our bodies do not allow light to pass through them. So how do we minimize our shadows so they are not cast out - covering anything that needs His light? The only answer is to have His light within us. So that we do not block His light but reflect it to cast out the darkness.
How do we best reflect His light? The only answer is to have more of Him within us. Feed the light or not. When you get into His word. When you spend quality time in His presence. When you spend time with Him, talking to Him, listening to Him. That is how you feed the light. The closer you are to Him, the deeper your relationship with Him, the brighter your reflection of Him becomes. You know the saying, "You are what you hang with."? I would much rather hang with God. Even if it means hanging on the cross with Christ.
The point is, you're either with God or without Him. The trials do not change. The circumstances do not change regardless of which choice you make - to be with God or not. But the way in which you go through them is dependent upon which choice you make. A person with God may have cancer and suffer greatly from their affliction, but they can have a peace so great and His light within them so bright that no one can deny seeing that light and peace within them. Yet a person without God suffering the same affliction will be overcome by their bodily affliction. Because they do not have His light within them, because they are not with God - the impossible remains impossible.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see."
How unworthy we are to receive such grace. But so much more does He love us that He would gift it to us if we only accept. Once we accept His freely given gift, we are saved. We are no longer lost in the darkness. The scales from our eyes fall away and we are no longer blind but can see because of His light. He lights our paths. He carries us when we have not the strength. He reveals the truth to us and His promises become more real to us as His ever faithfulness proves time and time again that He is worthy of our praise. He is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of our faith in Him. He WILL deliver us into His kingdom. Knowing, trusting, believing this TRUTH, this PROMISE, is all we need to keep going. Because if you truly trust, believe, and have faith in His deliverance, there is absolutely nothing to fear. He never tells us how it will happen. He just promises that it WILL happen. THAT is what we must hang onto. No matter what, no matter how, deliverance WILL happen.
21 April 2013
14 October 2012
God is the Perfect Parent
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Ever notice what happens when you allow bad behavior to go unchecked with your children? Notice that without correction and discipline your children continue with said unfavorable behavior and even get worse?
God is the perfect parent. Just as our children need diligent and prompt correction and redirection so do we! God will not tolerate poor behavior on our part. Disobedience needs to be corrected promptly before it gets completely out of hand.
The farther away we get from the right path, the harder it is to get back on course. My thoughts are that as much as we must keep ourselves on the right path (with God's leading, direction, and correction), we must also love our children onto the same right path. This includes prompt discipline.
If you are struggling with poor behavior in your children and it doesn't let up regardless of what you do to correct them, perhaps you need to reexamine the situation. Perhaps the child is confused. Perhaps you are sending mixed messages to your child. Are the things you yourself display the same things your child struggles with? Many times we see where we are faltering in our own walk when we look at our children. They display what we ourselves are showing. They are our image. If you do not like what you see in your children, perhaps you need to take a close look at yourself.
What are your actions, your lifestyle, teaching them? Is your language clean? Are you having outbursts of anger? Are your words rude, hateful, hurtful? Everything you say and do, how you respond to things, all of it makes up the examples our children learn from. No matter what you tell your children they should or should not do or say, your actions will speak volumes louder to them.
There should be no double standard here. God has set the perfect example for us to follow. He Himself does not do nor say things that He would not want us to do or say. Why should we place ourselves above the law, as it were, and our children below? If God doesn't hold double standards for us we have no right to do so for our children!
If you are still wondering how to parent, how to respond to your children, how to teach them, simply open your Bible and read God's word. Learn who God is and what He expects from YOU as His child. Set the same standards for your children. Parent your children the same way God, our ultimate Father, parents you.
Ephesians 6:4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
God's loving correction and redirection for His children are clear, and at times can be harsh by our standards. But God only does what He has to do to get our attention and get us back on track. He doesn't do more than needed, and He will not do less. Sometimes, when we refuse to listen to Him, He allows us to fall on our face. Yet, our beloved Abba never says "I told you so." Instead He is simply there with outstretched arms ready and waiting for us to come running back to Him.
Love your children the way God loves you. And be willing to change yourself, if need be, so that you can display the right examples for your children to live by. It's not just for them that you set this example, but also for yourself. By strengthening your faith and relationship with God, you are showing your children a wonderful example - putting God first in all things is the first step in keeping your feet on the right path, God's path, through life.
He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Ever notice what happens when you allow bad behavior to go unchecked with your children? Notice that without correction and discipline your children continue with said unfavorable behavior and even get worse?
God is the perfect parent. Just as our children need diligent and prompt correction and redirection so do we! God will not tolerate poor behavior on our part. Disobedience needs to be corrected promptly before it gets completely out of hand.
The farther away we get from the right path, the harder it is to get back on course. My thoughts are that as much as we must keep ourselves on the right path (with God's leading, direction, and correction), we must also love our children onto the same right path. This includes prompt discipline.
If you are struggling with poor behavior in your children and it doesn't let up regardless of what you do to correct them, perhaps you need to reexamine the situation. Perhaps the child is confused. Perhaps you are sending mixed messages to your child. Are the things you yourself display the same things your child struggles with? Many times we see where we are faltering in our own walk when we look at our children. They display what we ourselves are showing. They are our image. If you do not like what you see in your children, perhaps you need to take a close look at yourself.
What are your actions, your lifestyle, teaching them? Is your language clean? Are you having outbursts of anger? Are your words rude, hateful, hurtful? Everything you say and do, how you respond to things, all of it makes up the examples our children learn from. No matter what you tell your children they should or should not do or say, your actions will speak volumes louder to them.
There should be no double standard here. God has set the perfect example for us to follow. He Himself does not do nor say things that He would not want us to do or say. Why should we place ourselves above the law, as it were, and our children below? If God doesn't hold double standards for us we have no right to do so for our children!
If you are still wondering how to parent, how to respond to your children, how to teach them, simply open your Bible and read God's word. Learn who God is and what He expects from YOU as His child. Set the same standards for your children. Parent your children the same way God, our ultimate Father, parents you.
Ephesians 6:4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
God's loving correction and redirection for His children are clear, and at times can be harsh by our standards. But God only does what He has to do to get our attention and get us back on track. He doesn't do more than needed, and He will not do less. Sometimes, when we refuse to listen to Him, He allows us to fall on our face. Yet, our beloved Abba never says "I told you so." Instead He is simply there with outstretched arms ready and waiting for us to come running back to Him.
Love your children the way God loves you. And be willing to change yourself, if need be, so that you can display the right examples for your children to live by. It's not just for them that you set this example, but also for yourself. By strengthening your faith and relationship with God, you are showing your children a wonderful example - putting God first in all things is the first step in keeping your feet on the right path, God's path, through life.
04 August 2012
What Even a Little Doubt Can Do
Matthew 14:28-32
And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And Peter had come out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His had him, and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Peter started out with such faith as to know that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) - including walking on water to the Lord and Savior. He believed that if the Lord says it, it is possible. But the moment we take our focus off Jesus is the same moment we give and opening to two of the devil's - fear and doubt. Fear and doubt go hand in hand. The moment we let in doubt and fear we begin to sink. And it doesn't take but a drop of fear and doubt to pull us under. Only our faith in the Lord can lift us back up.
As soon as Peter began to sink he called out to Jesus to save him. Likewise, we need to call out to Jesus the moment we are in trouble. Notice that the instant Peter called out to Jesus, Jesus stretched out His hand to him. He came to where Peter was and lifted him up. He did not make Peter do or say anything, did not ask for promises, did not make a bargain with him. Jesus' instant response was to reach out to Peter. When we call out to God for help He is faithful and immediate in response. He will not allow us to drown. Yet we are the ones who much reach out in faith to Him.
Jesus asked Peter a question that wasn't answered. He said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Why did Peter doubt? Why did he start sinking? Because he allowed fear of the storm, the wind, around him to take his focus off his beloved Savior.
We need to keep our faith in the Lord strong and unfailing. We have no reason to fear if the Lord is in us. For if the Lord is for us who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Hold your faith in Christ Jesus as close and tight to you as you can. It is your shield. Flawless faith will cover you completely. Only our faith quenches any dart from Satan and his army. (Ephesians 6:16) He is relentless and takes pleasure in waiting patiently for the distractions he tosses at us to get our attention and cause us to let down our shield even just a little bit. He is waiting for any moment to make a successful hit with the darts of doubt and fear.
FEAR NO EVIL FOR THE LORD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.
(Psalm 23:4, Joshua 1:9)
23 July 2012
Encouragement in the Midst of Persecution
1 Corinthians 1:18-19
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
So many attacks on Christians for their faith. Christ foretold our persecutions.
John 15:18-25
If the world hate, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without cause.
John 13:16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
We are no greater than Christ. If He suffered rejection and persecution it should be no surprise to us that we suffer the same. Remember, though, it is not us that people are rejection. It is Christ. It is Truth and Life they are pushing away. Lovers of darkness do not want the Light to reveal their sins. Darkness hates the Light.
John 3:19-20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jesus is the Light of the world.
John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Ephesians 4:17-24
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Do not believe the lies that tell you you are not good enough to be used by God.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Keep walking the narrow path. Keep following Christ. In so doing you are a beacon of light for those who struggle in darkness. Those who seek the light can find Him. We are to point the way to Jesus.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Wear the armour of God and in Him you are provided with everything you need to stay the course before you.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
My prayer for you is that you remain strong in the Lord and never cease seeking His face. Stay strong, beloveds! God will never abandon you! And He has already provided for you all that you need. He is all sufficient.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
So many attacks on Christians for their faith. Christ foretold our persecutions.
John 15:18-25
If the world hate, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without cause.
John 13:16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
We are no greater than Christ. If He suffered rejection and persecution it should be no surprise to us that we suffer the same. Remember, though, it is not us that people are rejection. It is Christ. It is Truth and Life they are pushing away. Lovers of darkness do not want the Light to reveal their sins. Darkness hates the Light.
John 3:19-20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jesus is the Light of the world.
John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Ephesians 4:17-24
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Do not believe the lies that tell you you are not good enough to be used by God.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Keep walking the narrow path. Keep following Christ. In so doing you are a beacon of light for those who struggle in darkness. Those who seek the light can find Him. We are to point the way to Jesus.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Wear the armour of God and in Him you are provided with everything you need to stay the course before you.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
My prayer for you is that you remain strong in the Lord and never cease seeking His face. Stay strong, beloveds! God will never abandon you! And He has already provided for you all that you need. He is all sufficient.
20 July 2012
Backsliding?
Were you walking with God and have now backslid? Are you finding yourself back into old habits? Perhaps you are feeling God could not possibly take you back now. Perhaps it seems to you that because you already knew Him and have gone back to your old ways, fallen into the old traps of temptations, that God would not, nor could not, have mercy on you. This is a lie! Another fabrication the devil is using to try to keep you away from your glorious Savior's embrace! Do not believe it!! Our God is merciful and compassionate without weariness.
James 5:11e The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Turn back to the Lord. Do not let your fears, lies the devil has told you, from seeking Him again.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his though, let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
God never breaks His promises. He is holy and just, compassionate and merciful. Come back. I urge you to run back and fling yourself upon Him. Earnestly repent and He will deliver you. He has seen all and knows your heart. Nothing you bring to Him is a surprise to Him. He is simply waiting for your return. Waiting with arms wide open. Be restored, Beloved. Drink deep of the Living Waters and be renewed. Healing and comfort are but a breath away. Call to Him and He is there.
Isaiah 57:14-19 And one shall say, "Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, take the stumbling block out of the way of My people." For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," says the Lord, "and I will heal him."
James 5:11e The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Turn back to the Lord. Do not let your fears, lies the devil has told you, from seeking Him again.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his though, let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
God never breaks His promises. He is holy and just, compassionate and merciful. Come back. I urge you to run back and fling yourself upon Him. Earnestly repent and He will deliver you. He has seen all and knows your heart. Nothing you bring to Him is a surprise to Him. He is simply waiting for your return. Waiting with arms wide open. Be restored, Beloved. Drink deep of the Living Waters and be renewed. Healing and comfort are but a breath away. Call to Him and He is there.
Isaiah 57:14-19 And one shall say, "Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, take the stumbling block out of the way of My people." For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," says the Lord, "and I will heal him."
26 November 2011
Growing Fruit / Growing Faith
Matthew 13:23
But he that received the seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Beloved, do not be discouraged if you are not bearing fruit a hundredfold yet. Jesus said some bring forth their fruit of a hundredfold, or sixty, or thirty. Not everyone will bring the same amount. That's okay. It's a growing process.
The question isn't "how much?" but "ARE YOU?" Are you bringing forth fruit? Have you received His seed? Hearing His word and understanding it? Allow His word to saturate you. Like a sponge, it takes time to absorb it all inside. Let His living water gently rain down on you, drenching you, saturating you. Then you can bring forth the fruit thereof. Like all things, it takes time to grow faith. Little faith grows little fruit. Grow your faith and your fruit grows accordingly. Now, how do you grow your faith? By trust! Not just trust in anything or anyone. Your trust must be placed in God and ONLY God.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
If you don't know someone you're not going to trust them. Makes sense right? Why would trusting God be any different? We need to get to know Him before we can trust Him. Do you know Him? How well? Your faith is a direct result, a fruit, from trusting, from knowing God.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
All things are made new in Him. Including the path we walk. If we are new creatures in Him then we will certainly be on the right path. Now all we need to do is MOVE our feet!
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God's word is where we will find Him. It is where we can get to know Him. Read His word and get to know Jesus a little more every day. He is there - wanting, willing, and waiting to reveal more and more of Himself to you all the time. Just need to take the time to spend with Him, talking (prayer) to Him, and listening (reading the Bible) to Him. Do not expect to know all of Him, nor all at once. God is pretty big! ;-) Just take in what He gives to you. He knows how much and of exactly what you need at the exact time you need and can take it in. His methods may seem beyond our understanding, but remember that all things are possible with God.
Mark 10:27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Come my beloved - let us grow our faith!
But he that received the seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Beloved, do not be discouraged if you are not bearing fruit a hundredfold yet. Jesus said some bring forth their fruit of a hundredfold, or sixty, or thirty. Not everyone will bring the same amount. That's okay. It's a growing process.
The question isn't "how much?" but "ARE YOU?" Are you bringing forth fruit? Have you received His seed? Hearing His word and understanding it? Allow His word to saturate you. Like a sponge, it takes time to absorb it all inside. Let His living water gently rain down on you, drenching you, saturating you. Then you can bring forth the fruit thereof. Like all things, it takes time to grow faith. Little faith grows little fruit. Grow your faith and your fruit grows accordingly. Now, how do you grow your faith? By trust! Not just trust in anything or anyone. Your trust must be placed in God and ONLY God.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
If you don't know someone you're not going to trust them. Makes sense right? Why would trusting God be any different? We need to get to know Him before we can trust Him. Do you know Him? How well? Your faith is a direct result, a fruit, from trusting, from knowing God.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
All things are made new in Him. Including the path we walk. If we are new creatures in Him then we will certainly be on the right path. Now all we need to do is MOVE our feet!
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God's word is where we will find Him. It is where we can get to know Him. Read His word and get to know Jesus a little more every day. He is there - wanting, willing, and waiting to reveal more and more of Himself to you all the time. Just need to take the time to spend with Him, talking (prayer) to Him, and listening (reading the Bible) to Him. Do not expect to know all of Him, nor all at once. God is pretty big! ;-) Just take in what He gives to you. He knows how much and of exactly what you need at the exact time you need and can take it in. His methods may seem beyond our understanding, but remember that all things are possible with God.
Mark 10:27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Come my beloved - let us grow our faith!
06 November 2011
A New Perspective: It's STILL Not About You!
Many people see Christianity and think that Christians think they're so much better than they are. Or they think being a Christian is about their walk with Jesus or bettering their own life. Even Christians themselves this this way. How very self-centered these thought are!
Your walk with Christ, the life changes in you and how your perception of things change are all just side effects, symptoms, of what really matters.
What really happened the day you accepted Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior?
You realized you cannot truly live without Christ. You realized HE was what you were searching for. HE was what was missing in your life. When you allowed Jesus to come into your heart HE SAVED you from eternal damnation. Without Jesus you will burn in Hell for eternity.
It was all about Jesus when you first got saved, and it's STILL all about Him now.
What makes you think Jesus saving you turns everything into being about you? The world does not revolve around you and neither does God.
People get so wrapped up in themselves so easily. It is the same for a Christian as anyone else. It is the flesh, human nature to turn things to an inward focus rather than an outward one THROUGH God's perspective.
He wants no one left behind.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is patient with us so to give as much time possible for as many men that will repent to do so. It is during the wait for God's perfect timing that we tend to think it's about us. We think if we just do or say the right things for long enough, or if we get close to perfect as possible then that will cause Christ's return to happen faster. God already has an appointed time for Christ's return. And only HE knows when that will be. Nothing you can do or say will change His set time.
Acts 17:24-31
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in reighteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
It just is not about us. It's about Christ and saving souls. Your walk with Christ is only supposed to encourage others and point the way to Christ. It's not supposed to be the main attraction - only a sign pointing the way to go. Just a lighthouse. You are not the stopping point, just a guide.
Our lives here on earth, as Christians, are to be used to help further His kingdom. After all, He is what matters! The closer our walk with Christ, the more He can use us. Opening yourself up to the Holy Spirit's guidance and shining light grows you and strengthens you to do more work for Him. The strength you gain is not for your benefit alone. It is to be stronger to do more of HIS work. To God be the glory! The greater His glory shining through you, the greater the light is for the lost so they can find the only Salvation from eternity in Hell due to failure to repent of their sins against God.
Stop clouding His light inside you Christian! Let His light SHINE!!
Your walk with Christ, the life changes in you and how your perception of things change are all just side effects, symptoms, of what really matters.
What really happened the day you accepted Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior?
You realized you cannot truly live without Christ. You realized HE was what you were searching for. HE was what was missing in your life. When you allowed Jesus to come into your heart HE SAVED you from eternal damnation. Without Jesus you will burn in Hell for eternity.
It was all about Jesus when you first got saved, and it's STILL all about Him now.
What makes you think Jesus saving you turns everything into being about you? The world does not revolve around you and neither does God.
People get so wrapped up in themselves so easily. It is the same for a Christian as anyone else. It is the flesh, human nature to turn things to an inward focus rather than an outward one THROUGH God's perspective.
He wants no one left behind.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is patient with us so to give as much time possible for as many men that will repent to do so. It is during the wait for God's perfect timing that we tend to think it's about us. We think if we just do or say the right things for long enough, or if we get close to perfect as possible then that will cause Christ's return to happen faster. God already has an appointed time for Christ's return. And only HE knows when that will be. Nothing you can do or say will change His set time.
Acts 17:24-31
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in reighteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
It just is not about us. It's about Christ and saving souls. Your walk with Christ is only supposed to encourage others and point the way to Christ. It's not supposed to be the main attraction - only a sign pointing the way to go. Just a lighthouse. You are not the stopping point, just a guide.
Our lives here on earth, as Christians, are to be used to help further His kingdom. After all, He is what matters! The closer our walk with Christ, the more He can use us. Opening yourself up to the Holy Spirit's guidance and shining light grows you and strengthens you to do more work for Him. The strength you gain is not for your benefit alone. It is to be stronger to do more of HIS work. To God be the glory! The greater His glory shining through you, the greater the light is for the lost so they can find the only Salvation from eternity in Hell due to failure to repent of their sins against God.
Stop clouding His light inside you Christian! Let His light SHINE!!
31 October 2011
Don't Wait for the Attack
Psalm 18:37
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
Isn't it interesting that it says "I have pursued mine enemies"? (emphasis mine) We are not to put on our battle gear and wait for our enemies to come to us. We are to chase after them, overtake them, and not stop until they are consumed.
Do not assume the job is done when you chased the enemy. Do not assume the job is done even after you overtake them. The job is only done when the enemy has been consumed to the point that they cannot rise against you ever again.
I am speaking of the spiritual battle that rages around us all of the time. Do you think that simply because we cannot see the spiritual battle that is isn't really there? That it won't affect us? Doesn't one single rotting orange among many affect the others around it? The longer you allow this molding and rotting fruit to lay with the others the more fruit around it also begins to decay.
Do not believe you cannot accomplish this. For our victory has already risen with our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. STAND IN HIM. Christ Jesus has already won the war for us. If He is in you, hesitate no longer in boldly reminding the enemy who you belong to!
You really don't have to let the devil bully you. Resist him and he WILL FLEE from you!
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
Isn't it interesting that it says "I have pursued mine enemies"? (emphasis mine) We are not to put on our battle gear and wait for our enemies to come to us. We are to chase after them, overtake them, and not stop until they are consumed.
Do not assume the job is done when you chased the enemy. Do not assume the job is done even after you overtake them. The job is only done when the enemy has been consumed to the point that they cannot rise against you ever again.
I am speaking of the spiritual battle that rages around us all of the time. Do you think that simply because we cannot see the spiritual battle that is isn't really there? That it won't affect us? Doesn't one single rotting orange among many affect the others around it? The longer you allow this molding and rotting fruit to lay with the others the more fruit around it also begins to decay.
Do not believe you cannot accomplish this. For our victory has already risen with our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. STAND IN HIM. Christ Jesus has already won the war for us. If He is in you, hesitate no longer in boldly reminding the enemy who you belong to!
You really don't have to let the devil bully you. Resist him and he WILL FLEE from you!
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
19 October 2011
The Raging Storm Is Not Your Own
The storm raged around me and I wanted God to fix it. I wanted Him to make it all better. I begged. I pleaded. I asked Him to fix me, to change my heart that I would stop reacting the way I was to what was happening around me.
God doesn't work that way. Yes, He wants us to come to Him. Yes, He wants us to call out and ask forgiveness. He wants us to repent, to lay it all down at His feet. But He won't take it from you. It is yours to let go of and to TRUST God to take care of it. God has promised to deliver you from your afflictions.
Hosea 5:15-6:1
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Come let us return to the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
God was waiting for me. I was the one who needed to take action. He was waiting for me to acknowledge my offense AND seek Him. God promises that He WILL heal us, He WILL bind us up. Not maybe. But He will. You DO believe the Bible, don't you? It is God's word. He cannot lie.
Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
God will saturate us with Himself IF we follow Him. To follow him means to obey His commands.
Believe it or not, I still could not figure out what God wanted from me and what it was I was doing wrong. i had pieced together some of what it was. I needed to trust and obey. Yes, Lord! I want to do that! I WANT to trust and obey You! Yet somehow I just couldn't get myself in line. The storm raged and I continued to flail about being helplessly tossed about by the crushing waves. Change me, God! I cried out to Him. Change my heart that I want what is right and good and pleasing to You!
My heart did not need changing. I already wanted to do what God wanted me to do. I simply needed to let go. As I started letting go, God's Spirit reminded me of something I could focus working on. Good! I had a starting place!
Colossians 3:9-17
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
I needed to be reminded I am a new creation in Christ. And in so being I need to let go of the old creation. Daily. Moment to moment if need be.
I am to be holy and beloved, merciful, kind, meek, longsuffering, bearing up my brothers and sisters in Christ, forgiving, charitable, and allow God's peace to rule my heart. All of which I am called to be thankful for.
I need to keep Christ centered in my thoughts, in my heart. And whatever I do and say I am to do in the name of the Lord Jesus, and thanking God.
So I have a goal now. Something to work on. God also gave me purpose for it. He knew I could not function without knowing a reason for my actions. I needed motivation.
God reminded me - IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME!! The storm that rages around me is not about me. God's Spirit keeps whispering to me Saving souls is more important. More important than my pity party. More important than the turmoil in my home. More important than me and my perspective of the raging storm.
As long as I allow the storm to loom larger than God in my eyes then i am allowing the storm to affect not just me, but everyone around me. How can I show Jesus if I'm too busy standing in front of the Light He gave me to let shine?!
If I let the storm distract me I am capable of clouding the light of others in my home as well. No only am I not sharing Jesus with others, but I am also hindering those of my family to show Him too. How dare I try to take His glory! How dare I step in front and try to make the storm about me! The storm has NEVER been about me, nor will it ever be.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour;
John 12:23-32, 46
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in the world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I until this hour.
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
the people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake unto him.
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
It is up to us to claim the peace Jesus offers. It is up to us to remember that the battle we are fighting is not about us. It is about Jesus. It is about how many we can reach out to in His name - that they too might find His peace and have eternal life at His side.
God doesn't work that way. Yes, He wants us to come to Him. Yes, He wants us to call out and ask forgiveness. He wants us to repent, to lay it all down at His feet. But He won't take it from you. It is yours to let go of and to TRUST God to take care of it. God has promised to deliver you from your afflictions.
Hosea 5:15-6:1
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Come let us return to the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
God was waiting for me. I was the one who needed to take action. He was waiting for me to acknowledge my offense AND seek Him. God promises that He WILL heal us, He WILL bind us up. Not maybe. But He will. You DO believe the Bible, don't you? It is God's word. He cannot lie.
Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
God will saturate us with Himself IF we follow Him. To follow him means to obey His commands.
Believe it or not, I still could not figure out what God wanted from me and what it was I was doing wrong. i had pieced together some of what it was. I needed to trust and obey. Yes, Lord! I want to do that! I WANT to trust and obey You! Yet somehow I just couldn't get myself in line. The storm raged and I continued to flail about being helplessly tossed about by the crushing waves. Change me, God! I cried out to Him. Change my heart that I want what is right and good and pleasing to You!
My heart did not need changing. I already wanted to do what God wanted me to do. I simply needed to let go. As I started letting go, God's Spirit reminded me of something I could focus working on. Good! I had a starting place!
Colossians 3:9-17
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
I needed to be reminded I am a new creation in Christ. And in so being I need to let go of the old creation. Daily. Moment to moment if need be.
I am to be holy and beloved, merciful, kind, meek, longsuffering, bearing up my brothers and sisters in Christ, forgiving, charitable, and allow God's peace to rule my heart. All of which I am called to be thankful for.
I need to keep Christ centered in my thoughts, in my heart. And whatever I do and say I am to do in the name of the Lord Jesus, and thanking God.
So I have a goal now. Something to work on. God also gave me purpose for it. He knew I could not function without knowing a reason for my actions. I needed motivation.
God reminded me - IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME!! The storm that rages around me is not about me. God's Spirit keeps whispering to me Saving souls is more important. More important than my pity party. More important than the turmoil in my home. More important than me and my perspective of the raging storm.
As long as I allow the storm to loom larger than God in my eyes then i am allowing the storm to affect not just me, but everyone around me. How can I show Jesus if I'm too busy standing in front of the Light He gave me to let shine?!
If I let the storm distract me I am capable of clouding the light of others in my home as well. No only am I not sharing Jesus with others, but I am also hindering those of my family to show Him too. How dare I try to take His glory! How dare I step in front and try to make the storm about me! The storm has NEVER been about me, nor will it ever be.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour;
John 12:23-32, 46
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in the world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I until this hour.
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
the people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake unto him.
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
It is up to us to claim the peace Jesus offers. It is up to us to remember that the battle we are fighting is not about us. It is about Jesus. It is about how many we can reach out to in His name - that they too might find His peace and have eternal life at His side.
06 October 2011
Are You Praising Him?
There are 37 Psalms that begin with praising or commanding to praise the Lord. 10 Psalms begin specifically with the words "Praise ye the Lord". 8 of the 10 Psalms also end with "Praise ye the Lord". 1 of the 2 Psalms (Ps 111) that begins, but does not end, with "Praise ye the Lord" lists in 10 verses various reason to "Praise ye the Lord". The other one (Ps 112) describes how a man is blessed through delighting (or praising) the Lord.
The word "praise" is used 248 times throughout the Bible. 160 of the 248 times it is used in the Book of Psalms. In the Book of Psalms the word "praise" is used in reference to praising God. If God took so much care to repeat Himself that many times we can gather a few things from it!
Number 1: Why bother repeating anything unless it's important? God, being God, would not bother saying anything if it were not in some way important. But if God, being God, takes the time to repeat Himself that many times, it must be a pretty big deal to Him, and therefore should also be a pretty big deal to us.
Number 2: Humans is so dumb! Really. We just don't seem to get it. And when we do, we tend to forget at the most inopportune times. I think most of us can easily find something to praise God for. If nothing else, we can praise Him for our existence and, if we are one of His children, we can certainly praise Him for our Salvation!
Yet, there are times when even those two basic and fundamental praise worthy truths can fade in our minds and sometimes even our hearts. The storm clouds come rolling in and we lose sight of God. Not because He somehow left us, because He has promised never to do so, but because we have allowed our troubles to grow in our mind to the point that we believe they are larger than God.
Even the most steadfast and faithful Christ follower can allow this to happen. Peter loved Jesus more than anything and devoted everything he was to Him, yet he allowed fear to loom larger than his beloved Savior in his mind enough to deny Him not just once, but three times.
Many devoted Christ followers simply wear themselves out. Weary and heavy laden, even though they're doing God's work, they give into the Devil's lies, and can lose sight of our glorious Father in Heaven.
Are you going through such a storm and have allowed your troubles to appear larger than our Almighty God? Let's take a look at Psalm 34. Although not one of the chapters beginning with "Praise ye the Lord", through it we can be reminded to "praise" our beloved Father no matter what is happening, not matter what our circumstances.
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
If we are blessing and praising the Lord we must be thinking about Him. And not just thinking, but actually thinking specifically about Him being praiseworthy. We are to bless Him at "all times". Not just in good times when we are high upon the mountain tops, but also when we are in our valleys - no matter how deep or wide they may be.
If we are praising Him "continually" (meaning never stopping) there should be no room for anything else. The idea that His praise should be continually "in my mouth" reminds us that these praises are to be spoken, not just thought. Share your praises!
Psalm 34:2
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
When you share a praise with another humble believer they too will be glad. Then verse 3 can be of no surprise.
Psalm 34:3
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Now it's not just you praising the Lord! The next 4 verses give reasons the Lord is praiseworthy.
Psalm 34:4-7
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
The Lord can do more than deliver us out of our troubles. Verse 7 says "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him". That is a promise of protection. Keeping our hearts and minds focused on praising God "continually" at "all times" protects us - His angel delivers us from our troubles.
Psalm 34:8-10
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Trust the Lord. BELIEVE He is and will continue to take care of you. When we are in the midst of our storms we tend to forget His promises to us and we start to believe lies.
Psalm 34:11-14
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
If we are at "all times" "continually" praising God, it should be no problem to watch our mouths and let no evil escape our lips. It is not enough to stop doing evil. Notice we are not told to do neutral. We are told to do good. Not only are we to seek peace, but we must pursue it. Because...
Psalm 34:15-18
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
God is aware of what we go through.
Psalm 34:19-22
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
God promises to reward your faithfulness to Him. He promises to deliver the righteous out of ALL their afflictions. He promises to protect His children, that they are not afflicted beyond what they can handle. (v 20) And though the wicked fall the wicked and hate the righteous, God promises His children will never become desolate, grievous, and without hope; for their hope lies in Him. By the way, God never breaks a promise.
The word "praise" is used 248 times throughout the Bible. 160 of the 248 times it is used in the Book of Psalms. In the Book of Psalms the word "praise" is used in reference to praising God. If God took so much care to repeat Himself that many times we can gather a few things from it!
- Praising God MUST be important for Him to repeat it so many times.
- God, being our Creator, must have known His children would inevitably need reminding.
- It is easy to sing praises when times are easy - yet if we aren't reminded to praise, we can sometimes forget because of how easy times may be.
- It is difficult to praise in the midst of our storms.
Number 1: Why bother repeating anything unless it's important? God, being God, would not bother saying anything if it were not in some way important. But if God, being God, takes the time to repeat Himself that many times, it must be a pretty big deal to Him, and therefore should also be a pretty big deal to us.
Number 2: Humans is so dumb! Really. We just don't seem to get it. And when we do, we tend to forget at the most inopportune times. I think most of us can easily find something to praise God for. If nothing else, we can praise Him for our existence and, if we are one of His children, we can certainly praise Him for our Salvation!
Yet, there are times when even those two basic and fundamental praise worthy truths can fade in our minds and sometimes even our hearts. The storm clouds come rolling in and we lose sight of God. Not because He somehow left us, because He has promised never to do so, but because we have allowed our troubles to grow in our mind to the point that we believe they are larger than God.
Even the most steadfast and faithful Christ follower can allow this to happen. Peter loved Jesus more than anything and devoted everything he was to Him, yet he allowed fear to loom larger than his beloved Savior in his mind enough to deny Him not just once, but three times.
Many devoted Christ followers simply wear themselves out. Weary and heavy laden, even though they're doing God's work, they give into the Devil's lies, and can lose sight of our glorious Father in Heaven.
Are you going through such a storm and have allowed your troubles to appear larger than our Almighty God? Let's take a look at Psalm 34. Although not one of the chapters beginning with "Praise ye the Lord", through it we can be reminded to "praise" our beloved Father no matter what is happening, not matter what our circumstances.
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
If we are blessing and praising the Lord we must be thinking about Him. And not just thinking, but actually thinking specifically about Him being praiseworthy. We are to bless Him at "all times". Not just in good times when we are high upon the mountain tops, but also when we are in our valleys - no matter how deep or wide they may be.
If we are praising Him "continually" (meaning never stopping) there should be no room for anything else. The idea that His praise should be continually "in my mouth" reminds us that these praises are to be spoken, not just thought. Share your praises!
Psalm 34:2
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
When you share a praise with another humble believer they too will be glad. Then verse 3 can be of no surprise.
Psalm 34:3
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Now it's not just you praising the Lord! The next 4 verses give reasons the Lord is praiseworthy.
Psalm 34:4-7
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
The Lord can do more than deliver us out of our troubles. Verse 7 says "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him". That is a promise of protection. Keeping our hearts and minds focused on praising God "continually" at "all times" protects us - His angel delivers us from our troubles.
Psalm 34:8-10
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Trust the Lord. BELIEVE He is and will continue to take care of you. When we are in the midst of our storms we tend to forget His promises to us and we start to believe lies.
Psalm 34:11-14
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
If we are at "all times" "continually" praising God, it should be no problem to watch our mouths and let no evil escape our lips. It is not enough to stop doing evil. Notice we are not told to do neutral. We are told to do good. Not only are we to seek peace, but we must pursue it. Because...
Psalm 34:15-18
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
God is aware of what we go through.
Psalm 34:19-22
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
God promises to reward your faithfulness to Him. He promises to deliver the righteous out of ALL their afflictions. He promises to protect His children, that they are not afflicted beyond what they can handle. (v 20) And though the wicked fall the wicked and hate the righteous, God promises His children will never become desolate, grievous, and without hope; for their hope lies in Him. By the way, God never breaks a promise.
"PRAISE YE THE LORD!!"
How do you praise the Lord? Check out Psalm 150.
03 October 2011
The Lord is Leading - Are You Following?
Are you struggling under your own strength?
Have you cried out to God for help?
The Lord is faithful to all those who sincerely turn to Him, asking Him to lead. Yet you still must choose to follow where He takes you. He will not force you to go where you will not to go.
Have you chosen to follow Him? Or are you resisting His lead?
Psalm 107:4-6 (KJV)
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
We start out wandering the wilderness on our own strength. We can't not find rest on our own. There is no place to be found because we keep trying to do it in our own strength, in our own "solitary way". (v. 4)
Finally our soul is so wear it faints within us. We have spiritually starved our soul. (v. 5) It was only when we hit rock bottom on our own strength that we finally cry out to God. (Why, oh why, do we wait so long?!)
God is ever faithful. In verse 6, it says "and he delivered them out of their distresses." It doesn't say God demands anything from us. He will deliver us right after we cry out to Him. (*Side note* You ever notice that you are much more sincere in your out reach to God when you are in peril? And that sometimes it seems that God isn't as quick to respond when you are not distressed? Perhaps we aren't as sincere in our reaching when we are not struggling.) There is nothing we can give to God that isn't already His - therefore all He asks of us is that we seek Him and ask Him of the things we need. He already knows what we need before we even do. (Matthew 6:8) He just wants us to ask!
Now in verse 7 it says "he led them forth". God will lead us out of our troubles, "by the right way". There is a specific way God leads us. We will never get out of something (especially a self-dug pit) by taking the wrong way. By blazing our own trail. God knows best and only His way, only His chosen path for us will get us where we need to be.
Also, notice it says, "that they might go". God will lead us. He will show us the "right way" and He even tells us where His way will lead. Yet He only Leads. the choice to follow is still ours to make. God says "this is the right way to go. All you need to do is follow this path I've shown you."
And finally verse 7 tells us where God's "right way" leads us. If we keep on His path we will "go to a city of habitation", or dwelling place. And it's not just a quaint little village. No! It's a CITY He's leading us to. A place of rest and refuge. This place is the exact opposite of where we were.
We would be out of the wilderness and into a city, and they would not be alone anymore. For to get to this place you must walk with God down the path of His "right way". If you need to follow Him to get to the city He leads you to, He will not leave you there! (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) No more is it a "solitary way" but it becomes His way, and His alone. No more does the soul faint for starvation, hungering and thirsting after the things of God.
Psalm 107:8-9
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Have you cried out to God for help?
The Lord is faithful to all those who sincerely turn to Him, asking Him to lead. Yet you still must choose to follow where He takes you. He will not force you to go where you will not to go.
Have you chosen to follow Him? Or are you resisting His lead?
Psalm 107:4-6 (KJV)
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
We start out wandering the wilderness on our own strength. We can't not find rest on our own. There is no place to be found because we keep trying to do it in our own strength, in our own "solitary way". (v. 4)
Finally our soul is so wear it faints within us. We have spiritually starved our soul. (v. 5) It was only when we hit rock bottom on our own strength that we finally cry out to God. (Why, oh why, do we wait so long?!)
God is ever faithful. In verse 6, it says "and he delivered them out of their distresses." It doesn't say God demands anything from us. He will deliver us right after we cry out to Him. (*Side note* You ever notice that you are much more sincere in your out reach to God when you are in peril? And that sometimes it seems that God isn't as quick to respond when you are not distressed? Perhaps we aren't as sincere in our reaching when we are not struggling.) There is nothing we can give to God that isn't already His - therefore all He asks of us is that we seek Him and ask Him of the things we need. He already knows what we need before we even do. (Matthew 6:8) He just wants us to ask!
Now in verse 7 it says "he led them forth". God will lead us out of our troubles, "by the right way". There is a specific way God leads us. We will never get out of something (especially a self-dug pit) by taking the wrong way. By blazing our own trail. God knows best and only His way, only His chosen path for us will get us where we need to be.
Also, notice it says, "that they might go". God will lead us. He will show us the "right way" and He even tells us where His way will lead. Yet He only Leads. the choice to follow is still ours to make. God says "this is the right way to go. All you need to do is follow this path I've shown you."
And finally verse 7 tells us where God's "right way" leads us. If we keep on His path we will "go to a city of habitation", or dwelling place. And it's not just a quaint little village. No! It's a CITY He's leading us to. A place of rest and refuge. This place is the exact opposite of where we were.
We would be out of the wilderness and into a city, and they would not be alone anymore. For to get to this place you must walk with God down the path of His "right way". If you need to follow Him to get to the city He leads you to, He will not leave you there! (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) No more is it a "solitary way" but it becomes His way, and His alone. No more does the soul faint for starvation, hungering and thirsting after the things of God.
Psalm 107:8-9
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
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