January 30--out of order--SORRY!
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” This wise counsel in Romans 13:12 is rather like the “two minute warning” in a sports event. It’s letting us know there isn’t much time left to accomplish what He’s set before us to do.
We can look around us and see the evidence that the end of all things is at hand. There are wars and rumors of war. Man deals treacherously with his fellow man. The fabric of families is unraveling. There is wanton rebellion against God and His Word and even within the church there is a diluted gospel that betrays the message of salvation in order to promote the world’s “I’m OK; you’re OK” message of tolerance.
We are immersed in conflict with darkness and the darkness threatens to swallow up the Truth of Salvation through Jesus Christ. If we allow the darkness to prevail, many lost souls will be denied the opportunity to hear the message of the Lord’s wondrous sacrifice in the behalf of errant mankind.
But if we will put on the armor of HIS LIGHT—HIS TRUTH—we shall prevail for Light must conquer darkness! The only way the darkness can overcome is if we grow weary and abandon the fight. Let us not falter in this last hour to perform our great commission. Let us vanquish the darkness and welcome HIS day!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
January 31
Confidence. Trust. These words are crucial to any relationship. When trust is betrayed, when confidence is diminished, the relationship falters. Even if it is somehow patched together again, the broken pieces usually evidence the fracture and things are never quite the same.
But there is a relationship that can never, will never be impacted by betrayal or its resultant brokenness and that is the relationship we have with our precious Savior and Lord. Jesus has assured us that He will always be with us. The notion of being abandoned by Him is totally beyond and above the range of possibility.
The faithfulness of our God is emphasized again and again in His immutable Word. He assures us that our confidence may be placed so fully in Him that we may even, “…lie down in peace and sleep, for You, Lord, make me to dwell in perfect safety,” Psalm 4:8. If we can sleep, no matter what befalls, we know our hearts are at peace. There are no sleepless nights to the one who trusts the unfailing promises of God.
Though trials may come, though friends may fail, though dreams may go unrealized, HE who sits on the Throne of Mercy and Grace shall ever be merciful and gracious. His watch-care over those who place their trust in Him shall not falter. Though governments may disappoint, though economies may fail, though life may challenge, He shall give sweet peace to those whose confidence remains in Him.
Confidence. Trust. These words are crucial to any relationship. When trust is betrayed, when confidence is diminished, the relationship falters. Even if it is somehow patched together again, the broken pieces usually evidence the fracture and things are never quite the same.
But there is a relationship that can never, will never be impacted by betrayal or its resultant brokenness and that is the relationship we have with our precious Savior and Lord. Jesus has assured us that He will always be with us. The notion of being abandoned by Him is totally beyond and above the range of possibility.
The faithfulness of our God is emphasized again and again in His immutable Word. He assures us that our confidence may be placed so fully in Him that we may even, “…lie down in peace and sleep, for You, Lord, make me to dwell in perfect safety,” Psalm 4:8. If we can sleep, no matter what befalls, we know our hearts are at peace. There are no sleepless nights to the one who trusts the unfailing promises of God.
Though trials may come, though friends may fail, though dreams may go unrealized, HE who sits on the Throne of Mercy and Grace shall ever be merciful and gracious. His watch-care over those who place their trust in Him shall not falter. Though governments may disappoint, though economies may fail, though life may challenge, He shall give sweet peace to those whose confidence remains in Him.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
January 29
I Samuel 12:24 recommends a mindset that can transform the life of the one who exercises it. The wisdom the Lord imparts in this verse is irrefutable, though it is too infrequently applied. It admonishes, “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart, for consider how great are the things He has done for you.”
The counsel here is three-fold. First, we are admonished to “fear the Lord.” If we fear Him—hold Him in reverent awe—we will need tremble at nothing. If we fear the Lord, He will embolden us to face any foe with assurance of victory. He who knows the end from the beginning gives us the assurance that He will go before us and guard behind us.
The second point He makes in this strategic verse is that we “serve Him faithfully with all our hearts.” He is not impressed with partial commitment or half-hearted faith. No matter how things look, God wants us to trust Him and walk in the expectancy of seeing Him move in our behalf as we lay our lives at His feet in total surrender to Him.
The final and perhaps most helpful bit of counsel regards how we shall achieve that level of reverential fear and heartfelt faithfulness, and He tells us it is by “considering what He has done for us.” When we reflect upon His faithfulness to us in the past, we are reminded of His integrity, of His power, of His love which have brought us this far and will take us every place He wants us to go.
I Samuel 12:24 recommends a mindset that can transform the life of the one who exercises it. The wisdom the Lord imparts in this verse is irrefutable, though it is too infrequently applied. It admonishes, “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart, for consider how great are the things He has done for you.”
The counsel here is three-fold. First, we are admonished to “fear the Lord.” If we fear Him—hold Him in reverent awe—we will need tremble at nothing. If we fear the Lord, He will embolden us to face any foe with assurance of victory. He who knows the end from the beginning gives us the assurance that He will go before us and guard behind us.
The second point He makes in this strategic verse is that we “serve Him faithfully with all our hearts.” He is not impressed with partial commitment or half-hearted faith. No matter how things look, God wants us to trust Him and walk in the expectancy of seeing Him move in our behalf as we lay our lives at His feet in total surrender to Him.
The final and perhaps most helpful bit of counsel regards how we shall achieve that level of reverential fear and heartfelt faithfulness, and He tells us it is by “considering what He has done for us.” When we reflect upon His faithfulness to us in the past, we are reminded of His integrity, of His power, of His love which have brought us this far and will take us every place He wants us to go.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
January 28
The Bible gives us insight into the solution to all our problems and the key to unlock any door of opportunity that is closed to us. We don’t need to take a course on successful management techniques, we don’t need to discover the secrets of winning friends and influencing people, we don’t need to discover how to present our innate abilities in the most compelling way.
The effective “method” capsulated for us in Ephesians 6:10 but reiterated throughout the Word is, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might,” and goes on to say in verse 11, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.”
The Lord Jesus Christ has made ample provision for us to attain all we need in time and to possess all He has supplied to us through eternity via His great Gift of Himself. He also knows that the enemy of our souls will go about seeking to destroy our chances for temporal blessing and for eternal reward. Our precious Savior and King wants us to know that of ourselves we may stumble and falter in our journey toward all He has in His heart for us to possess.
But we are not limited to what we can achieve, to what we can accumulate through our own efforts as we journey through time toward our Heavenly Home. Jesus wants us to focus on Him, to rely upon Him. He wants us to know that although our human strength may be insufficient, His matchless strength is more than enough for all we need. He wants us to journey confidently through life, knowing His strength is sufficient for all earthly goals and all spiritual battles.
The Bible gives us insight into the solution to all our problems and the key to unlock any door of opportunity that is closed to us. We don’t need to take a course on successful management techniques, we don’t need to discover the secrets of winning friends and influencing people, we don’t need to discover how to present our innate abilities in the most compelling way.
The effective “method” capsulated for us in Ephesians 6:10 but reiterated throughout the Word is, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might,” and goes on to say in verse 11, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.”
The Lord Jesus Christ has made ample provision for us to attain all we need in time and to possess all He has supplied to us through eternity via His great Gift of Himself. He also knows that the enemy of our souls will go about seeking to destroy our chances for temporal blessing and for eternal reward. Our precious Savior and King wants us to know that of ourselves we may stumble and falter in our journey toward all He has in His heart for us to possess.
But we are not limited to what we can achieve, to what we can accumulate through our own efforts as we journey through time toward our Heavenly Home. Jesus wants us to focus on Him, to rely upon Him. He wants us to know that although our human strength may be insufficient, His matchless strength is more than enough for all we need. He wants us to journey confidently through life, knowing His strength is sufficient for all earthly goals and all spiritual battles.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
January 27
It’s almost as if God knew that there would be skeptics among His creation; that there would be doubters who would scoff at the notion of an infinite Being who made heaven and earth and all that exists. In reality, HE who knows all things, the One who has known the end from the beginning challenges those riddled with unbelief to ponder the evidence.
In Psalm 66:5 He says, “Come and see what God has done, how awesome are His works in man’s behalf.” He is like the great Defense Attorney who adjures mankind to be the objective jury, to thoughtfully weight the evidence so they can come to a right conclusion about Him.
He knows that if man will but weigh the evidence, if he will employ an open mind and a sincere heart to the evidence, he cannot but conclude that the Lord is and that He is the Lover of mankind, the Provider, the Healer, the Teacher, the Guide, the Savior—HE is all man needs to live a blessed life on earth and to be rewarded for his faith with glorious life through eternity!
If he will but, “Come and see…” come and see the stars and planets in their orbits, come and see the recesses of space beyond the scope of man’s most sophisticated telescopes, come and see the intricate world of the microscope that parallels the realm of the stars, come and see the beauty and provision around us that enriches and sustains life—and believe in the God who loves.
It’s almost as if God knew that there would be skeptics among His creation; that there would be doubters who would scoff at the notion of an infinite Being who made heaven and earth and all that exists. In reality, HE who knows all things, the One who has known the end from the beginning challenges those riddled with unbelief to ponder the evidence.
In Psalm 66:5 He says, “Come and see what God has done, how awesome are His works in man’s behalf.” He is like the great Defense Attorney who adjures mankind to be the objective jury, to thoughtfully weight the evidence so they can come to a right conclusion about Him.
He knows that if man will but weigh the evidence, if he will employ an open mind and a sincere heart to the evidence, he cannot but conclude that the Lord is and that He is the Lover of mankind, the Provider, the Healer, the Teacher, the Guide, the Savior—HE is all man needs to live a blessed life on earth and to be rewarded for his faith with glorious life through eternity!
If he will but, “Come and see…” come and see the stars and planets in their orbits, come and see the recesses of space beyond the scope of man’s most sophisticated telescopes, come and see the intricate world of the microscope that parallels the realm of the stars, come and see the beauty and provision around us that enriches and sustains life—and believe in the God who loves.
Monday, January 26, 2009
January 26
What do you do if you’re among the “poor and needy”? What do you do if you have no resources with which to sustain yourself, let alone reach out to share with others in need? What do you do if you’ve lost your job and the work you’ve been doing seems to have folded up—not just within your small sphere but universally?
The Word of God addresses that eventuality in Psalm 40:17 where the author declares that he is “poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought of me and provides for me, for You, my God, are my Help and my Deliverer—make no tarrying!”
These are the words of a man who is in the throes of despair. His extremity is beyond his own ability to solve. Yet in his dilemma, he has confidence that the One in whom he places his trust is worthy and that his faith in Him must remain steadfast. The psalmist does not wallow in his circumstances! He declares them honestly in a straight-forward manner. Then, he goes on to reaffirm his faith!
He knows the extremity in which he finds himself does not indicate that the Lord has stopped caring about him—he knows the Lord “takes thought” of him and he knows that He “provides for” him. With the affirmation that the Holy One is his Source, he claims that his help and his deliverance will come without delay and he trusts the One on whose promise of provision he depends.
What do you do if you’re among the “poor and needy”? What do you do if you have no resources with which to sustain yourself, let alone reach out to share with others in need? What do you do if you’ve lost your job and the work you’ve been doing seems to have folded up—not just within your small sphere but universally?
The Word of God addresses that eventuality in Psalm 40:17 where the author declares that he is “poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought of me and provides for me, for You, my God, are my Help and my Deliverer—make no tarrying!”
These are the words of a man who is in the throes of despair. His extremity is beyond his own ability to solve. Yet in his dilemma, he has confidence that the One in whom he places his trust is worthy and that his faith in Him must remain steadfast. The psalmist does not wallow in his circumstances! He declares them honestly in a straight-forward manner. Then, he goes on to reaffirm his faith!
He knows the extremity in which he finds himself does not indicate that the Lord has stopped caring about him—he knows the Lord “takes thought” of him and he knows that He “provides for” him. With the affirmation that the Holy One is his Source, he claims that his help and his deliverance will come without delay and he trusts the One on whose promise of provision he depends.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
January 25
Psalm 37:21 gives some pertinent insights into how we should approach life in trying economic times. The psalmist acknowledges that, “The wicked borrow and pay not again,” and indeed we see many people—both the wicked who laid the foundation of the mess we’re in as well as the innocent who simply blundered into ill-conceived economic programs—who are deeply into debt that they cannot repay.
The psalm goes on to say what the response should be of those who trust the Lord. The righteous are to, “…deal kindly and give.” The implication is that the Lord shall provide for His people even in tough times, and that when He does, the supply He graciously extends is not to be selfishly horded or consumed. His provision is intended to be shared.
The one outstanding fact we may gather from the information within this short verse is that God’s economy is not based upon worldly circumstances. If the stock market crashes and banks collapse and companies sink under the weight of their accumulated debt and individuals find themselves in dire economic straits, those who put their trust in Jesus still have cause to hope!
God has made it abundantly clear that if we need something we may approach His Throne of Grace where we shall find His full provision. He expects those who trust Him to reflect His heart of compassion and generosity. There is no time when that reflection is more needful or more an evidence of what a loving God He is than when we share of what we have during tight economic times.
Psalm 37:21 gives some pertinent insights into how we should approach life in trying economic times. The psalmist acknowledges that, “The wicked borrow and pay not again,” and indeed we see many people—both the wicked who laid the foundation of the mess we’re in as well as the innocent who simply blundered into ill-conceived economic programs—who are deeply into debt that they cannot repay.
The psalm goes on to say what the response should be of those who trust the Lord. The righteous are to, “…deal kindly and give.” The implication is that the Lord shall provide for His people even in tough times, and that when He does, the supply He graciously extends is not to be selfishly horded or consumed. His provision is intended to be shared.
The one outstanding fact we may gather from the information within this short verse is that God’s economy is not based upon worldly circumstances. If the stock market crashes and banks collapse and companies sink under the weight of their accumulated debt and individuals find themselves in dire economic straits, those who put their trust in Jesus still have cause to hope!
God has made it abundantly clear that if we need something we may approach His Throne of Grace where we shall find His full provision. He expects those who trust Him to reflect His heart of compassion and generosity. There is no time when that reflection is more needful or more an evidence of what a loving God He is than when we share of what we have during tight economic times.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Have you ever heard anyone authoritatively declare, “If there were a God, He wouldn’t allow there to be wars and divorces and diseases! He would cause man to employ his inner resources to ‘fix’ the world, If He exists, He just doesn’t care about people or He’d let them work out the world’s problems.” Perhaps the quote is not verbatim, but the doubt expressed is familiar.
Your own questions remain answerless until you read I Corinthians 1:27, 28, 29. In this amazing passage, the Lord gives His explanation as to the why of His allowing man to flounder in his endeavor to resolve life’s problems. He declares His only solution—and it is not found in man! Until man lifts His eyes to the Source of His freedom from all that perplexes him, he will not be able to rectify the wrongs of life.
The wondrous truth of the Word tells us that God has “chosen the weak things of the world to confound the strong and the base things of the world to confound the mighty and the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise and the contemptible things of the world to bring to nothing the things that are lofty…” Why does He do this?
His answer is straight- forward and clear—“…so no man shall ever glory in His presence or have any reason to boast.” When the answer comes, it will be obvious that it flows from the blood on the cross. Nobody can formulate a plan for world peace or for personal peace through every trial until he turns his eyes to the Prince of Peace!
Your own questions remain answerless until you read I Corinthians 1:27, 28, 29. In this amazing passage, the Lord gives His explanation as to the why of His allowing man to flounder in his endeavor to resolve life’s problems. He declares His only solution—and it is not found in man! Until man lifts His eyes to the Source of His freedom from all that perplexes him, he will not be able to rectify the wrongs of life.
The wondrous truth of the Word tells us that God has “chosen the weak things of the world to confound the strong and the base things of the world to confound the mighty and the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise and the contemptible things of the world to bring to nothing the things that are lofty…” Why does He do this?
His answer is straight- forward and clear—“…so no man shall ever glory in His presence or have any reason to boast.” When the answer comes, it will be obvious that it flows from the blood on the cross. Nobody can formulate a plan for world peace or for personal peace through every trial until he turns his eyes to the Prince of Peace!
January 24
The Old Testament paved the way for the New Testament; in essence it paved the way for Jesus. The entirety of the Word is rooted in who God is, in whom Jesus is. It is a cycle of God’s immutable law, man’s inability to keep God’s immutable law, Christ keeping God’s immutable law in our behalf, our receipt of Jesus’ gift of forgiveness when we accept His having kept the immutable law for us, the immutable law of God being satisfied in us through Jesus.
The Lord has done it all. The only part in which we have the opportunity to participate is in our acceptance of what Jesus has done for us. Our part is crucial—not to His eternal plan in its entirety but to His eternal plan as it regards us. We cannot be the recipients of all the glorious things He has for us if we do not take the initial step of receiving Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
In Acts 3:19 we are told we must, “…repent that your sins may be blotted out and that you may enjoy the times of refreshing that come from being in the presence of the Lord.” Until we have executed our part of the plan, repented of our sins and received the salvation supplied by the propitiatory death of Jesus, we cannot be delivered from being denizens of stale haunts of sin into the refreshing of free air that our Lord supplies to those who enter His presence.
We can only praise Him that the promise is for not only the most amazing GIFT of time or eternity—the GIFT of Jesus as our Savior and Deliverer who washes us clean of all the worthless, worldly pursuits that have besotted us and makes us worthy to enter into the presence of the Living God, but the promise includes another aspect! We are told that we shall be refreshed. We shall no longer be the weary, worn, sin-laden bearers of guilt and shame! We will be free!
The Old Testament paved the way for the New Testament; in essence it paved the way for Jesus. The entirety of the Word is rooted in who God is, in whom Jesus is. It is a cycle of God’s immutable law, man’s inability to keep God’s immutable law, Christ keeping God’s immutable law in our behalf, our receipt of Jesus’ gift of forgiveness when we accept His having kept the immutable law for us, the immutable law of God being satisfied in us through Jesus.
The Lord has done it all. The only part in which we have the opportunity to participate is in our acceptance of what Jesus has done for us. Our part is crucial—not to His eternal plan in its entirety but to His eternal plan as it regards us. We cannot be the recipients of all the glorious things He has for us if we do not take the initial step of receiving Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
In Acts 3:19 we are told we must, “…repent that your sins may be blotted out and that you may enjoy the times of refreshing that come from being in the presence of the Lord.” Until we have executed our part of the plan, repented of our sins and received the salvation supplied by the propitiatory death of Jesus, we cannot be delivered from being denizens of stale haunts of sin into the refreshing of free air that our Lord supplies to those who enter His presence.
We can only praise Him that the promise is for not only the most amazing GIFT of time or eternity—the GIFT of Jesus as our Savior and Deliverer who washes us clean of all the worthless, worldly pursuits that have besotted us and makes us worthy to enter into the presence of the Living God, but the promise includes another aspect! We are told that we shall be refreshed. We shall no longer be the weary, worn, sin-laden bearers of guilt and shame! We will be free!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
January 22
The psalmist understood that the best intentions of man sometimes go awry. He realized that of himself he was incapable of fulfilling his own will to live a godly life, let alone to realize God’s perfect will for his life. He knew that awaking each new day means awaking to new challenges and opportunities to be faced and if he were to prosper in them, he could not face them alone.
In Psalm 25:4,5, he implores of the Lord to, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me. For You only do I wait all day long.” Because he knew his frame, because he knew his proclivity to falter in his resolve, he turned to the One who could keep him steadfast.
Like him, we are perhaps well-intentioned but weak-willed. Like him, we yearn to begin our day with Jesus and walk with Him through the circumstances of our lives. We, too, recognize that although we intend to hide ourselves under the shadow of His wing our tendency is to stray from Him. As Jesus observed about us, our “spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Therefore, we must seek afresh each day the way we should walk. We must allow the Holy Spirit to be our Guide through the highways and by-ways of life. We need Him every day—every hour!—for without Him, we cannot know which way to turn. If we wait for Him, He will lead us rightly and we will walk in truth and blessing.
The psalmist understood that the best intentions of man sometimes go awry. He realized that of himself he was incapable of fulfilling his own will to live a godly life, let alone to realize God’s perfect will for his life. He knew that awaking each new day means awaking to new challenges and opportunities to be faced and if he were to prosper in them, he could not face them alone.
In Psalm 25:4,5, he implores of the Lord to, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me. For You only do I wait all day long.” Because he knew his frame, because he knew his proclivity to falter in his resolve, he turned to the One who could keep him steadfast.
Like him, we are perhaps well-intentioned but weak-willed. Like him, we yearn to begin our day with Jesus and walk with Him through the circumstances of our lives. We, too, recognize that although we intend to hide ourselves under the shadow of His wing our tendency is to stray from Him. As Jesus observed about us, our “spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Therefore, we must seek afresh each day the way we should walk. We must allow the Holy Spirit to be our Guide through the highways and by-ways of life. We need Him every day—every hour!—for without Him, we cannot know which way to turn. If we wait for Him, He will lead us rightly and we will walk in truth and blessing.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
January 21
There is a key to success that we can use to unlock each day’s blessings. The Lord desires that we awaken each morning with a sense of expectancy about the day that is rooted in our faith that HE is our loving God, our provider who wants to bless us beyond our ability to imagine.
In I Kings 2:3 the Word reveals the secret to discovering the good our Heavenly Father desires to bestow upon His children. If we will but apply it, we enhance our opportunity to walk in the fullness of His provision and to realize the utmost of our potential.
He says, “Keep the charge of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Keep His statutes, abide in His commandments that you may prosper in all your ways.” Proverbs 23:7 further affirms that, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In concert, these verses assure us that if we hide the Word of God in our hearts, it shall be the reservoir from which will flow all that we think and all that we do. It will be the core of who we are.
From that core of truth, from that well of honor and integrity from which our words and our actions will emerge, prosperity will materialize. When we have allowed the law of God to be the basis of our existence, the realization of His plan for our lives shall be the outcome. When we are at the center of His will, we can know that we shall not be disappointed in our hope. Keeping the charge of the Lord inevitably keeps us blessed and secure.
There is a key to success that we can use to unlock each day’s blessings. The Lord desires that we awaken each morning with a sense of expectancy about the day that is rooted in our faith that HE is our loving God, our provider who wants to bless us beyond our ability to imagine.
In I Kings 2:3 the Word reveals the secret to discovering the good our Heavenly Father desires to bestow upon His children. If we will but apply it, we enhance our opportunity to walk in the fullness of His provision and to realize the utmost of our potential.
He says, “Keep the charge of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Keep His statutes, abide in His commandments that you may prosper in all your ways.” Proverbs 23:7 further affirms that, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In concert, these verses assure us that if we hide the Word of God in our hearts, it shall be the reservoir from which will flow all that we think and all that we do. It will be the core of who we are.
From that core of truth, from that well of honor and integrity from which our words and our actions will emerge, prosperity will materialize. When we have allowed the law of God to be the basis of our existence, the realization of His plan for our lives shall be the outcome. When we are at the center of His will, we can know that we shall not be disappointed in our hope. Keeping the charge of the Lord inevitably keeps us blessed and secure.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
January 20
One of life’s greatest fears is death, but perhaps more than we fear death, we dread the thought of being helpless. We distain the thought of growing old and weak. We recoil at the notion of being held against our will and handled with rough hands that would humiliate and harm us.
We know that Jesus Himself was tortured and reviled—He was punished for the sins of all mankind. He submitted Himself willingly to the ignominy of the cross because He loves us so completely. Because He has endured humiliation and torture and death, He understands our fear.
He speaks to it. He comforts us in the throes of our dilemma that wrests peace from our soul and afflicts us with doubt and anxiety about the future and our ability to deal with it. In His words, we can find rest for our weary spirit. He says, ”My grace is sufficient for you, for My great power is made perfect in your weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9
He assures us that when our time of affliction comes, when our moment of depletion is upon us, we won’t have to rely upon our own resources to deal with them. Though we may be fraught with fear and racked with pain, His strength will overcome the onslaught against us and deliver us from the limitations of our own frail resources into the deliverance afforded by His strong Word.
One of life’s greatest fears is death, but perhaps more than we fear death, we dread the thought of being helpless. We distain the thought of growing old and weak. We recoil at the notion of being held against our will and handled with rough hands that would humiliate and harm us.
We know that Jesus Himself was tortured and reviled—He was punished for the sins of all mankind. He submitted Himself willingly to the ignominy of the cross because He loves us so completely. Because He has endured humiliation and torture and death, He understands our fear.
He speaks to it. He comforts us in the throes of our dilemma that wrests peace from our soul and afflicts us with doubt and anxiety about the future and our ability to deal with it. In His words, we can find rest for our weary spirit. He says, ”My grace is sufficient for you, for My great power is made perfect in your weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9
He assures us that when our time of affliction comes, when our moment of depletion is upon us, we won’t have to rely upon our own resources to deal with them. Though we may be fraught with fear and racked with pain, His strength will overcome the onslaught against us and deliver us from the limitations of our own frail resources into the deliverance afforded by His strong Word.
Monday, January 19, 2009
January 19
King David had it all—fortune, fame, military prowess, his choice of the lovely ladies in the land. Many today would find him to be enviable. We’d like to have the accolades that were heaped upon him. We might even suppose he was enthralled with his fortuitous life.
But here’s what he said in the matter, ”Blessed is the man whom You choose and cause to come near to You, that he may dwell in your courts, be satisfied with the goodness of Your house.” Psalm 65:4
Though King David’s coffers overflowed with wealth, though his name was on the lips of all his people, though he conquered all his foes, though his harem was enviable, his true happiness, his joy, was not in those things. His delight was not in the things of the earth. Perhaps it takes one who possesses all the world can offer to understand that temporal things cannot truly satisfy.
The inner man, the essence of who a man really is, needs so much more than the things that moths and rust can corrupt. To have peace deep in his soul, a man must sense the wooing of his Maker, His beckoning into His inner court. David realized that all else is extraneous. The only source of true blessing is in the heart-temple where Jesus dwells, in the presence of the One from whom all blessings flow. May He satisfy us, too, with the goodness of His house.
King David had it all—fortune, fame, military prowess, his choice of the lovely ladies in the land. Many today would find him to be enviable. We’d like to have the accolades that were heaped upon him. We might even suppose he was enthralled with his fortuitous life.
But here’s what he said in the matter, ”Blessed is the man whom You choose and cause to come near to You, that he may dwell in your courts, be satisfied with the goodness of Your house.” Psalm 65:4
Though King David’s coffers overflowed with wealth, though his name was on the lips of all his people, though he conquered all his foes, though his harem was enviable, his true happiness, his joy, was not in those things. His delight was not in the things of the earth. Perhaps it takes one who possesses all the world can offer to understand that temporal things cannot truly satisfy.
The inner man, the essence of who a man really is, needs so much more than the things that moths and rust can corrupt. To have peace deep in his soul, a man must sense the wooing of his Maker, His beckoning into His inner court. David realized that all else is extraneous. The only source of true blessing is in the heart-temple where Jesus dwells, in the presence of the One from whom all blessings flow. May He satisfy us, too, with the goodness of His house.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
January 18
God’s deliverance of His ancient people Israel from bondage in Egypt is one of the great miracles of the Old Testament. He sent Moses to lead forth these children of His who had been slaves from the land of their captivity—with its wealth—and He destroyed Pharaoh and his mighty army when they pursued them!
Yet even in experiencing such a miraculous deliverance, the people grumbled and Moses had to seek God’s assurance that He was still with them. When he was distraught by the “stiffnecked” attitude of the people, Moses sought the Lord God. He says to the Lord, “If I have found favor in Your sight, please show me the right way to go so I may understand You, find grace in Your sight, and lead Your people rightly…for how else will everyone know that YOU are indeed God and we abide through Your grace?” Exodus 33:13-16
Moses yearned for the nearness to God that we who serve Him still long to have, and He comforts us in our search for a deeper and more fruitful walk with Him as He did Moses. When we have determined to turn aside from the worldly endeavors that have left us unsatisfied and give ourselves to Him in full surrender, He takes us through the deep waters of the sea of life on dry ground as He did the children of Israel!
He speaks to us words of comfort as He did to Moses when He cried for affirmation. He tells us the same thing He said to Moses, “You have found grace in My sight and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17 The Lord’s presence and power in our behalf has no limitation. He can do all things, He can perfect all that concerns us. The only thing that can cause us to lose our way is to be stiffnecked and unwilling to follow.
Yet even in experiencing such a miraculous deliverance, the people grumbled and Moses had to seek God’s assurance that He was still with them. When he was distraught by the “stiffnecked” attitude of the people, Moses sought the Lord God. He says to the Lord, “If I have found favor in Your sight, please show me the right way to go so I may understand You, find grace in Your sight, and lead Your people rightly…for how else will everyone know that YOU are indeed God and we abide through Your grace?” Exodus 33:13-16
Moses yearned for the nearness to God that we who serve Him still long to have, and He comforts us in our search for a deeper and more fruitful walk with Him as He did Moses. When we have determined to turn aside from the worldly endeavors that have left us unsatisfied and give ourselves to Him in full surrender, He takes us through the deep waters of the sea of life on dry ground as He did the children of Israel!
He speaks to us words of comfort as He did to Moses when He cried for affirmation. He tells us the same thing He said to Moses, “You have found grace in My sight and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17 The Lord’s presence and power in our behalf has no limitation. He can do all things, He can perfect all that concerns us. The only thing that can cause us to lose our way is to be stiffnecked and unwilling to follow.
January 18
God’s deliverance of His ancient people Israel from bondage in Egypt is one of the great miracles of the Old Testament. He sent Moses to lead forth these children of His who had been slaves from the land of their captivity—with its wealth—and He destroyed Pharaoh and his mighty army when they pursued them!
Yet even in experiencing such a miraculous deliverance, the people grumbled and Moses had to seek God’s assurance that He was still with them. When he was distraught by the “stiffnecked” attitude of the people, Moses sought the Lord God. He says to the Lord, “If I have found favor in Your sight, please show me the right way to go so I may understand You, find grace in Your sight, and lead Your people rightly…for how else will everyone know that YOU are indeed God and we abide through Your grace?” Exodus 33:13-16
Moses yearned for the nearness to God that we who serve Him still long to have, and He comforts us in our search for a deeper and more fruitful walk with Him as He did Moses. When we have determined to turn aside from the worldly endeavors that have left us unsatisfied and give ourselves to Him in full surrender, He takes us through the deep waters of the sea of life on dry ground as He did the children of Israel!
He speaks to us words of comfort as He did to Moses when He cried for affirmation. He tells us the same thing He said to Moses, “You have found grace in My sight and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17 The Lord’s presence and power in our behalf has no limitation. He can do all things, He can perfect all that concerns us. The only thing that can cause us to lose our way is to be stiffnecked and unwilling to follow.
God’s deliverance of His ancient people Israel from bondage in Egypt is one of the great miracles of the Old Testament. He sent Moses to lead forth these children of His who had been slaves from the land of their captivity—with its wealth—and He destroyed Pharaoh and his mighty army when they pursued them!
Yet even in experiencing such a miraculous deliverance, the people grumbled and Moses had to seek God’s assurance that He was still with them. When he was distraught by the “stiffnecked” attitude of the people, Moses sought the Lord God. He says to the Lord, “If I have found favor in Your sight, please show me the right way to go so I may understand You, find grace in Your sight, and lead Your people rightly…for how else will everyone know that YOU are indeed God and we abide through Your grace?” Exodus 33:13-16
Moses yearned for the nearness to God that we who serve Him still long to have, and He comforts us in our search for a deeper and more fruitful walk with Him as He did Moses. When we have determined to turn aside from the worldly endeavors that have left us unsatisfied and give ourselves to Him in full surrender, He takes us through the deep waters of the sea of life on dry ground as He did the children of Israel!
He speaks to us words of comfort as He did to Moses when He cried for affirmation. He tells us the same thing He said to Moses, “You have found grace in My sight and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17 The Lord’s presence and power in our behalf has no limitation. He can do all things, He can perfect all that concerns us. The only thing that can cause us to lose our way is to be stiffnecked and unwilling to follow.
January 17
“…Abide in the Holy Spirit and you will not gratify the lust of the flesh.” These words in Galatians 5:16 are almost a gauntlet God has tossed down before unrepentant man, for man, apart from God, wants nothing less than to abandon the pursuit of self-gratification.
Whether it is relational or professional success, personal wealth, political power, or any of the myriad other goals that drive us, we desire above all else to be gratified in our endeavors. Whether it is the inner satisfaction that comes with achieving that which we desire or whether it is the power over others that we can exercise when we have attained it, we long to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
What we neglect to grasp in our relentless pursuit of all the things we think we need to satisfy our inner longings is that when we have achieved them, they have an expiration date! Who among us has not attained a long-sought-after goal only to find ourselves still aching within! Who among us has not gone from one conquest to another thinking this one would satisfy but ultimately abandoning it for another?
The only prescription for getting off the treadmill of pursuit and disappointment is the one recommended by the Healer of our mind and soul and body. Jesus, when we have received Him as Savior and Lord, sends us the Holy Spirit to abide within. The lordship of the eternal God within our heart, the temple of our being, assures that our longings will be tempered by His perspective—and the joy it gives will last eternally.
“…Abide in the Holy Spirit and you will not gratify the lust of the flesh.” These words in Galatians 5:16 are almost a gauntlet God has tossed down before unrepentant man, for man, apart from God, wants nothing less than to abandon the pursuit of self-gratification.
Whether it is relational or professional success, personal wealth, political power, or any of the myriad other goals that drive us, we desire above all else to be gratified in our endeavors. Whether it is the inner satisfaction that comes with achieving that which we desire or whether it is the power over others that we can exercise when we have attained it, we long to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
What we neglect to grasp in our relentless pursuit of all the things we think we need to satisfy our inner longings is that when we have achieved them, they have an expiration date! Who among us has not attained a long-sought-after goal only to find ourselves still aching within! Who among us has not gone from one conquest to another thinking this one would satisfy but ultimately abandoning it for another?
The only prescription for getting off the treadmill of pursuit and disappointment is the one recommended by the Healer of our mind and soul and body. Jesus, when we have received Him as Savior and Lord, sends us the Holy Spirit to abide within. The lordship of the eternal God within our heart, the temple of our being, assures that our longings will be tempered by His perspective—and the joy it gives will last eternally.
January 17
“…Abide in the Holy Spirit and you will not gratify the lust of the flesh.” These words in Galatians 5:16 are almost a gauntlet God has tossed down before unrepentant man, for man, apart from God, wants nothing less than to abandon the pursuit of self-gratification.
Whether it is relational or professional success, personal wealth, political power, or any of the myriad other goals that drive us, we desire above all else to be gratified in our endeavors. Whether it is the inner satisfaction that comes with achieving that which we desire or whether it is the power over others that we can exercise when we have attained it, we long to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
What we neglect to grasp in our relentless pursuit of all the things we think we need to satisfy our inner longings is that when we have achieved them, they have an expiration date! Who among us has not attained a long-sought-after goal only to find ourselves still aching within! Who among us has not gone from one conquest to another thinking this one would satisfy but ultimately abandoning it for another?
The only prescription for getting off the treadmill of pursuit and disappointment is the one recommended by the Healer of our mind and soul and body. Jesus, when we have received Him as Savior and Lord, sends us the Holy Spirit to abide within. The lordship of the eternal God within our heart, the temple of our being, assures that our longings will be tempered by His perspective—and the joy it gives will last eternally.
“…Abide in the Holy Spirit and you will not gratify the lust of the flesh.” These words in Galatians 5:16 are almost a gauntlet God has tossed down before unrepentant man, for man, apart from God, wants nothing less than to abandon the pursuit of self-gratification.
Whether it is relational or professional success, personal wealth, political power, or any of the myriad other goals that drive us, we desire above all else to be gratified in our endeavors. Whether it is the inner satisfaction that comes with achieving that which we desire or whether it is the power over others that we can exercise when we have attained it, we long to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
What we neglect to grasp in our relentless pursuit of all the things we think we need to satisfy our inner longings is that when we have achieved them, they have an expiration date! Who among us has not attained a long-sought-after goal only to find ourselves still aching within! Who among us has not gone from one conquest to another thinking this one would satisfy but ultimately abandoning it for another?
The only prescription for getting off the treadmill of pursuit and disappointment is the one recommended by the Healer of our mind and soul and body. Jesus, when we have received Him as Savior and Lord, sends us the Holy Spirit to abide within. The lordship of the eternal God within our heart, the temple of our being, assures that our longings will be tempered by His perspective—and the joy it gives will last eternally.
Friday, January 16, 2009
January 16
Everyone wants to be happy and everyone has found happiness to be elusive at some time or another in life. The root of the word “happy” is the same as the root for the word “happen.” Happiness is contingent upon what happens. When challenging things happen, happiness tends to vaporize.
God’s Word gives another perspective. In Psalm 118:14, 15, it says, “The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing is in the tents of the righteous and the mighty hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength.”
This beautiful passage assures us that it is the strength that the God of Creation imparts to His righteous ones that brings them through the most challenging of trials victoriously. It is His strong right hand that gives them the victory. And it is not a mere by the “skin-of-your-teeth” victory! Indeed not! The righteous one who trusts in the Lord comes through the circumstances that threaten him singing a glorious song that anticipates the victory!
Not a dirge—a song! The Word promises that He gives a “song as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept and gladness of heart.” Isaiah 30:29. The person who trusts in Jesus will be helped by the mighty hand of the Lord whose valiant intervention will bring the believer through in victory but even before it does, the man of God will overflow in song—knowing that He who has promised is faithful! ”What He has promised, He will perform.” Romans 4:21
Everyone wants to be happy and everyone has found happiness to be elusive at some time or another in life. The root of the word “happy” is the same as the root for the word “happen.” Happiness is contingent upon what happens. When challenging things happen, happiness tends to vaporize.
God’s Word gives another perspective. In Psalm 118:14, 15, it says, “The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing is in the tents of the righteous and the mighty hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength.”
This beautiful passage assures us that it is the strength that the God of Creation imparts to His righteous ones that brings them through the most challenging of trials victoriously. It is His strong right hand that gives them the victory. And it is not a mere by the “skin-of-your-teeth” victory! Indeed not! The righteous one who trusts in the Lord comes through the circumstances that threaten him singing a glorious song that anticipates the victory!
Not a dirge—a song! The Word promises that He gives a “song as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept and gladness of heart.” Isaiah 30:29. The person who trusts in Jesus will be helped by the mighty hand of the Lord whose valiant intervention will bring the believer through in victory but even before it does, the man of God will overflow in song—knowing that He who has promised is faithful! ”What He has promised, He will perform.” Romans 4:21
Thursday, January 15, 2009
January 15
Psalm 90:14 has an exponential blessing that one might overlook if one does not read it carefully. It says, “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” That’s quite a promise!
We’re accustomed to lavish blessings from the Lord. So much so, in fact, that our tendency is to take all of them for granted. Further, we busy ourselves with the day-to-day demands of life and neglect to delve into the Word where we can find the key to unlocking miracles in our lives. But when we have found one of this magnitude, we should not let it go.
We are reminded here that to put Him first is to assure not only the outworking of the day’s challenges and the realization of the day’s hope. In this passage we are given so much more than the promise of a bright day! The Word tells us here that when we begin in sweet communion with our God, we go far beyond a good day!
His immutable promise is that when we turn our lives over to Him, we will be satisfied with His love that cannot fail—ever! The blessing of His presence and the wonder of His love transcend the moment, go far beyond the day, and flood the entirety of our life with the blessing of joy and gladness that will cause our hearts to overflow with the wonder of His amazing provision of all we need!
Psalm 90:14 has an exponential blessing that one might overlook if one does not read it carefully. It says, “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” That’s quite a promise!
We’re accustomed to lavish blessings from the Lord. So much so, in fact, that our tendency is to take all of them for granted. Further, we busy ourselves with the day-to-day demands of life and neglect to delve into the Word where we can find the key to unlocking miracles in our lives. But when we have found one of this magnitude, we should not let it go.
We are reminded here that to put Him first is to assure not only the outworking of the day’s challenges and the realization of the day’s hope. In this passage we are given so much more than the promise of a bright day! The Word tells us here that when we begin in sweet communion with our God, we go far beyond a good day!
His immutable promise is that when we turn our lives over to Him, we will be satisfied with His love that cannot fail—ever! The blessing of His presence and the wonder of His love transcend the moment, go far beyond the day, and flood the entirety of our life with the blessing of joy and gladness that will cause our hearts to overflow with the wonder of His amazing provision of all we need!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
January 14
The Psalmist seems to have an insight into our hearts. Perhaps it is because he is so like us that God chose him to write the words that have the insight into our pain and sorrow and convey it so effectively to the Throne of God. In Psalm 143:8, he cries to the Lord.
“Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto You.” These words at once reveal some compelling things about not only the man who penned them but about those of us who have read them through the centuries.
They acknowledge first of all that it is important to go to God each day—preferably beginning in the morning and hopefully, continuing through the day. Secondly, they remind us that it is important that we listen to hear God speak to us, for when we have heard Him, we shall know within the depth of our being the way that He wants us to proceed through the day.
As we allow ourselves to trust Him, as we allow ourselves to hear Him, as we lift our souls in surrender to Him, He will guide us into the fullness of all He desires us to do and to be. Because Jesus has saved us, He has opened the portals of heaven to us and has met us at the Throne of Mercy and Grace where He will bestow upon us all we need to know the way we should walk.
The Psalmist seems to have an insight into our hearts. Perhaps it is because he is so like us that God chose him to write the words that have the insight into our pain and sorrow and convey it so effectively to the Throne of God. In Psalm 143:8, he cries to the Lord.
“Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto You.” These words at once reveal some compelling things about not only the man who penned them but about those of us who have read them through the centuries.
They acknowledge first of all that it is important to go to God each day—preferably beginning in the morning and hopefully, continuing through the day. Secondly, they remind us that it is important that we listen to hear God speak to us, for when we have heard Him, we shall know within the depth of our being the way that He wants us to proceed through the day.
As we allow ourselves to trust Him, as we allow ourselves to hear Him, as we lift our souls in surrender to Him, He will guide us into the fullness of all He desires us to do and to be. Because Jesus has saved us, He has opened the portals of heaven to us and has met us at the Throne of Mercy and Grace where He will bestow upon us all we need to know the way we should walk.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January 13
God uses some weighty words in Lamentations 3:22-23. Think about them as you read: “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great and abundant is His faithfulness.”
Four of the six are nouns that name positive attitudes that He has toward His people—mercy, loving-kindness, compassions, faithfulness—and they reassure even the most corrupt among us of the tender heart that our God has toward His errant creation. In that assurance we boldly approach His Throne, knowing He will not turn us away, though our lives are encumbered with sin and shame.
Because of His mercy, because His mercy and His faithfulness are described with the adjective “abundant” we know we are covered. We know that when He looks upon us He doesn’t see our sin but He sees the covering of righteousness that has been placed upon us by Jesus on the cross. We know His mercy compels Him to look upon us with favor and grace.
And, because we have a Savior whose sacrifice is efficacious, we needn’t fear being put out of God’s holy chamber—or being consumed by the flame of His wrath! We may approach Him, we may lay our sin at His feet with hands that are washed by the blood of Jesus. We may approach Him knowing His compassion and loving-kindness will send us away cleansed!
God uses some weighty words in Lamentations 3:22-23. Think about them as you read: “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great and abundant is His faithfulness.”
Four of the six are nouns that name positive attitudes that He has toward His people—mercy, loving-kindness, compassions, faithfulness—and they reassure even the most corrupt among us of the tender heart that our God has toward His errant creation. In that assurance we boldly approach His Throne, knowing He will not turn us away, though our lives are encumbered with sin and shame.
Because of His mercy, because His mercy and His faithfulness are described with the adjective “abundant” we know we are covered. We know that when He looks upon us He doesn’t see our sin but He sees the covering of righteousness that has been placed upon us by Jesus on the cross. We know His mercy compels Him to look upon us with favor and grace.
And, because we have a Savior whose sacrifice is efficacious, we needn’t fear being put out of God’s holy chamber—or being consumed by the flame of His wrath! We may approach Him, we may lay our sin at His feet with hands that are washed by the blood of Jesus. We may approach Him knowing His compassion and loving-kindness will send us away cleansed!
Monday, January 12, 2009
January 12
The Word of God gives us a lot of insight into how He expects us to interact with our spouse, children, friends, strangers. It also lets us know how He expects us to relate to Him. And the basis of any relationship that we have with the Lord begins with hunger. He fully expects that we shall yearn after Him as we ache for food when we are physically hungry.
Isaiah 26:9 says, “My soul yearns for You in the night; my spirit within me seeks You earnestly, for it is only in Your presence that there is any righteousness or justice in the world.” To yearn is to long after. He doesn’t desire that we simply make a place for Him in the busy-ness of our activities occasionally. No, He wants us to be compelled to seek fellowship with Him!
As we are compelled to satisfy physical hunger, He desires that we have no alternative but to satisfy our longing for relationship with Jesus. It is in finding a place of communion with Him, in breaking the bread of life with Him that the Word can become our sustenance, our strength, our full supply. In allowing His presence within ourselves to impact who we are, we thereby effect a transformation within the sphere of our influence.
He intends that each of us who name His name becomes His ambassador who propagates the purposes of His Kingdom and its King, thereby conforming the world to Himself—one soul at a time. When the knowledge of Him has covered the world as the waters cover the seas, then will come to pass His desire that His disciples shall indeed dwell in His true righteousness. It is then that true justice shall emanate from the Holy One who is wholly righteous and just.
The Word of God gives us a lot of insight into how He expects us to interact with our spouse, children, friends, strangers. It also lets us know how He expects us to relate to Him. And the basis of any relationship that we have with the Lord begins with hunger. He fully expects that we shall yearn after Him as we ache for food when we are physically hungry.
Isaiah 26:9 says, “My soul yearns for You in the night; my spirit within me seeks You earnestly, for it is only in Your presence that there is any righteousness or justice in the world.” To yearn is to long after. He doesn’t desire that we simply make a place for Him in the busy-ness of our activities occasionally. No, He wants us to be compelled to seek fellowship with Him!
As we are compelled to satisfy physical hunger, He desires that we have no alternative but to satisfy our longing for relationship with Jesus. It is in finding a place of communion with Him, in breaking the bread of life with Him that the Word can become our sustenance, our strength, our full supply. In allowing His presence within ourselves to impact who we are, we thereby effect a transformation within the sphere of our influence.
He intends that each of us who name His name becomes His ambassador who propagates the purposes of His Kingdom and its King, thereby conforming the world to Himself—one soul at a time. When the knowledge of Him has covered the world as the waters cover the seas, then will come to pass His desire that His disciples shall indeed dwell in His true righteousness. It is then that true justice shall emanate from the Holy One who is wholly righteous and just.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
January 11
God’s Word is of incalculable value. It is a treasure to be hidden in our hearts, but it is also intended that we spend it upon others as well. In Deuteronomy 11:18-20, we are told that the Lord expects us to not only “fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds,” but also, “talk about them when you sit in your house and when you are traveling the highways. Ponder them when you lie down and when you rise up…”
This brief passage encompasses a large responsibility that the Lord places upon those who are His own. His Word is not intended to be merely an honored volume that adorns our coffee table. First and foremost, He intends that we fix His Word in our hearts and minds. We are to be filled with His Word. If it is established within our hearts, the seat of our emotions, our motives will be pure. If it is established within our minds, we will have wisdom for all life’s decisions.
Yet this is not the extent of His expectation. When we have fixed the Word of God within ourselves, we are then to share it with others. We know God expects fathers especially to be prophets and priests over their families. It is a two-fold responsibility, both of which require our understanding of the power of the Word. Yet it doesn’t end with the family. We are also to be bold in proclaiming the truths of the Word in the highways and by-ways of life.
A seat partner on an airplane should not debark the plane without having heard Christ’s message of salvation. Co-workers should be elucidated as to the power of Christ’s incalculable gift. If we comply with the admonition to ponder them on our couch and upon arising, we will indeed be so steeped in His glorious Word that it shall radiate from us—through our conversation and through the living epistle of our lives!
God’s Word is of incalculable value. It is a treasure to be hidden in our hearts, but it is also intended that we spend it upon others as well. In Deuteronomy 11:18-20, we are told that the Lord expects us to not only “fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds,” but also, “talk about them when you sit in your house and when you are traveling the highways. Ponder them when you lie down and when you rise up…”
This brief passage encompasses a large responsibility that the Lord places upon those who are His own. His Word is not intended to be merely an honored volume that adorns our coffee table. First and foremost, He intends that we fix His Word in our hearts and minds. We are to be filled with His Word. If it is established within our hearts, the seat of our emotions, our motives will be pure. If it is established within our minds, we will have wisdom for all life’s decisions.
Yet this is not the extent of His expectation. When we have fixed the Word of God within ourselves, we are then to share it with others. We know God expects fathers especially to be prophets and priests over their families. It is a two-fold responsibility, both of which require our understanding of the power of the Word. Yet it doesn’t end with the family. We are also to be bold in proclaiming the truths of the Word in the highways and by-ways of life.
A seat partner on an airplane should not debark the plane without having heard Christ’s message of salvation. Co-workers should be elucidated as to the power of Christ’s incalculable gift. If we comply with the admonition to ponder them on our couch and upon arising, we will indeed be so steeped in His glorious Word that it shall radiate from us—through our conversation and through the living epistle of our lives!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
January 10
When should we be listening for the voice of God? All the time. But, if we will make a point of tuning ourselves to Him upon awakening, we will have more opportunity to hear Him speak to us through the day. The reality is that if we begin to busy ourselves with daily tasks upon arising, the likelihood is that we’ll forget to turn our hearts and minds toward Him at all that day.
And if we neglect Him, we shall, sadly, neglect ourselves. If we negate His relevance by ignoring Him in the morning, we will negate our best time of assuring a blessed day for ourselves! There will be no other time through the day to actually begin the day with Him and to actually involve Him in the entirety of what we do all day long.
So, the Psalmist reminds us, “In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3 NIV) If we will follow the example of the one who enjoyed such sweet fellowship with the Lord, the one through whom He penned so many of the up-lifting words of the sweet songs of His heart, we, too will find our expectation heightened because He wants us to anticipate much from Him!
We will more fully anticipate hearing the Lord speak to us because in His presence we shall be reminded that His mercies are new each day; that His delight is in us because we have chosen to abide in His presence. We shall be enriched, enlightened, encouraged, emboldened—because we know the Living Christ and commune with Him. We shall discover how blessed we are to hear and obey!
When should we be listening for the voice of God? All the time. But, if we will make a point of tuning ourselves to Him upon awakening, we will have more opportunity to hear Him speak to us through the day. The reality is that if we begin to busy ourselves with daily tasks upon arising, the likelihood is that we’ll forget to turn our hearts and minds toward Him at all that day.
And if we neglect Him, we shall, sadly, neglect ourselves. If we negate His relevance by ignoring Him in the morning, we will negate our best time of assuring a blessed day for ourselves! There will be no other time through the day to actually begin the day with Him and to actually involve Him in the entirety of what we do all day long.
So, the Psalmist reminds us, “In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3 NIV) If we will follow the example of the one who enjoyed such sweet fellowship with the Lord, the one through whom He penned so many of the up-lifting words of the sweet songs of His heart, we, too will find our expectation heightened because He wants us to anticipate much from Him!
We will more fully anticipate hearing the Lord speak to us because in His presence we shall be reminded that His mercies are new each day; that His delight is in us because we have chosen to abide in His presence. We shall be enriched, enlightened, encouraged, emboldened—because we know the Living Christ and commune with Him. We shall discover how blessed we are to hear and obey!
Friday, January 9, 2009
January 9
How many of us actually listen to hear God speak to us? Not many. How many of us actually expect God to convey His heart to us in any way at all, let alone in an audible voice! The fact that we don’t anticipate communion with our Maker is a sad indictment against our spiritual condition.
If God is who He says He is and does what He says He’ll do, we should be listening for His voice all the time, for He desires fellowship with His people. From the beginning of creation, He has sought His loftiest handiwork that He might walk with them in the Garden and speak with them face-to-face. As our first ancestors hid from Him, unfortunately, so do we.
But the Lord says of those who fear and worship Him that they “…shall He teach in the way that they should choose. He Himself shall…(share) of the secret of the Lord.” (Psalm 25:12-14) Evidently, it is the Lord’s intention to teach His people not only the way they should choose for personal guidance, but also to share of His secrets with them. God longs to impart the deep things of life and faith and time and eternity to the ones who reverence Him!
If He desires to be close to His people, to whisper in their ear of His love and His truth, what is the hindrance? It’s us! If we can’t hear Him, it’s because we have allowed our free will to turn us from Him to other pursuits. If we will but return to the appointed place of sweet communion, if we will delve into His Word and listen with our spirits to His Spirit’s teaching, we shall discover that our spiritual ears have indeed heard Him—and in hearing, we shall be blessed.
How many of us actually listen to hear God speak to us? Not many. How many of us actually expect God to convey His heart to us in any way at all, let alone in an audible voice! The fact that we don’t anticipate communion with our Maker is a sad indictment against our spiritual condition.
If God is who He says He is and does what He says He’ll do, we should be listening for His voice all the time, for He desires fellowship with His people. From the beginning of creation, He has sought His loftiest handiwork that He might walk with them in the Garden and speak with them face-to-face. As our first ancestors hid from Him, unfortunately, so do we.
But the Lord says of those who fear and worship Him that they “…shall He teach in the way that they should choose. He Himself shall…(share) of the secret of the Lord.” (Psalm 25:12-14) Evidently, it is the Lord’s intention to teach His people not only the way they should choose for personal guidance, but also to share of His secrets with them. God longs to impart the deep things of life and faith and time and eternity to the ones who reverence Him!
If He desires to be close to His people, to whisper in their ear of His love and His truth, what is the hindrance? It’s us! If we can’t hear Him, it’s because we have allowed our free will to turn us from Him to other pursuits. If we will but return to the appointed place of sweet communion, if we will delve into His Word and listen with our spirits to His Spirit’s teaching, we shall discover that our spiritual ears have indeed heard Him—and in hearing, we shall be blessed.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
January 8
I Chronicles 29: 17 and 18 begins with an eventuality that we, in the natural, try to avoid. It states, “You, O Lord, try the heart and delight in the uprightness of my heart…I have seen with joy Your people who offer up voluntarily and freely to You…keep forever such purpose and thoughts in the minds of Your people and establish their hearts toward You.
Of course we have no objection to the preponderance of the passage. Those of us who profess to know His name desire to delight Him, yearn to freely give back to Him a portion of all the blessings He lavishes upon us, endeavor to keep our minds fixed upon Him and our hearts inclined toward Him. It is the part about the heart being tried that causes us to cringe.
If we could establish the plan for our lives, we would walk in comfort and pleasure and blessing. We would enjoy perfect health, we would attain great success, we would have perfect relationships, we would know God in the fullness of His power—employed in our behalf—whenever we have a need. But He tells us ahead of time that there will be times when our hearts’ resolve will be tried.
Indeed it is difficult to stand strong when we are broken. Or is it in our brokenness that we become strong! Perhaps our faith is tried most in times of blessing—when we feel self-sufficient. Perhaps He’s saying our heart’s trial can come in any form! If that is so, then He is telling us here that He desires that we maintain our steadfastness in the good times and in the bad times.
I Chronicles 29: 17 and 18 begins with an eventuality that we, in the natural, try to avoid. It states, “You, O Lord, try the heart and delight in the uprightness of my heart…I have seen with joy Your people who offer up voluntarily and freely to You…keep forever such purpose and thoughts in the minds of Your people and establish their hearts toward You.
Of course we have no objection to the preponderance of the passage. Those of us who profess to know His name desire to delight Him, yearn to freely give back to Him a portion of all the blessings He lavishes upon us, endeavor to keep our minds fixed upon Him and our hearts inclined toward Him. It is the part about the heart being tried that causes us to cringe.
If we could establish the plan for our lives, we would walk in comfort and pleasure and blessing. We would enjoy perfect health, we would attain great success, we would have perfect relationships, we would know God in the fullness of His power—employed in our behalf—whenever we have a need. But He tells us ahead of time that there will be times when our hearts’ resolve will be tried.
Indeed it is difficult to stand strong when we are broken. Or is it in our brokenness that we become strong! Perhaps our faith is tried most in times of blessing—when we feel self-sufficient. Perhaps He’s saying our heart’s trial can come in any form! If that is so, then He is telling us here that He desires that we maintain our steadfastness in the good times and in the bad times.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
January 7
The nuance of meaning in I Chronicles 16:10-12 may elude us upon first reading, but we must not allow ourselves to miss it. It says, “Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face and be in His presence. Remember the marvelous things He has done, His miracles, His righteousness.”
The Lord and His strength, His marvelous miracles and righteous judgments are glorious, but even if our lives may seem to be falling apart, even if there seems no miracle at hand and no righteousness in the circumstances that surround us—no matter what—we are to rejoice as we seek Him, as we seek the miracle we need, as we seek His righteous intervention into our situation!
Why would He expect us to rejoice even in our misery? Why would He admonish that we must rejoice though our hearts may be broken and our hopes disappointed? He does so because He desires His best for us! He wants us to reap the benefit of the assurance that His joy is our strength! His joy is a mighty force that He desires us to realize in any battle we face.
He knows that if we will but rejoice in Him—not in our situation which may be untenable, not in our achievements which may be negligible, not in our well-being which may be questionable—in Him! Only in Him—then will He be empowered to reach down from Heaven and deliver us! Our joy builds faith. Our faith invokes His power. His power is our victory!
The nuance of meaning in I Chronicles 16:10-12 may elude us upon first reading, but we must not allow ourselves to miss it. It says, “Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face and be in His presence. Remember the marvelous things He has done, His miracles, His righteousness.”
The Lord and His strength, His marvelous miracles and righteous judgments are glorious, but even if our lives may seem to be falling apart, even if there seems no miracle at hand and no righteousness in the circumstances that surround us—no matter what—we are to rejoice as we seek Him, as we seek the miracle we need, as we seek His righteous intervention into our situation!
Why would He expect us to rejoice even in our misery? Why would He admonish that we must rejoice though our hearts may be broken and our hopes disappointed? He does so because He desires His best for us! He wants us to reap the benefit of the assurance that His joy is our strength! His joy is a mighty force that He desires us to realize in any battle we face.
He knows that if we will but rejoice in Him—not in our situation which may be untenable, not in our achievements which may be negligible, not in our well-being which may be questionable—in Him! Only in Him—then will He be empowered to reach down from Heaven and deliver us! Our joy builds faith. Our faith invokes His power. His power is our victory!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
January 6
The Lord promises to be our rest. He knows the world and the evil one and the ordinary challenges of life are exhausting. He knows that of ourselves, we become drained of energy—and thereby drained of hope. Indeed, when we are physically tired, we are most vulnerable to the devices of the enemy of our souls.
But it is not God’s intent to allow us to be vulnerable to the world, the flesh or the devil, nor does He leave us to our own devices as we do battle against the foe and the circumstances he uses against us. HE knows our frame and HE knows our need—and HE has the complete supply that will overcome in our behalf—beginning with rest.
Indeed, His promise is that we may go to Him for rest. It is His plan to be our place of respite. Psalm 17:15 assures, “I will behold You in righteousness and I will be completely satisfied when I awake beholding You.” To have seen Him in the place of rest in the night and to have awakened with a vision of Him in the morning is to be equipped to face a new day with its challenges; it is to be lavished with His strength and equipped with His power.
Seeing the Lord is to recognize who He is, what He possesses, what He holds out to us, and how all that He is makes a difference for good regarding all that we are. When we have beheld Him, when we have discerned His glory, we are strengthened, we are refreshed, we are energized, we are emboldened to wrestle down the problems of life and to rejoice in the victory He gives us over them.
The Lord promises to be our rest. He knows the world and the evil one and the ordinary challenges of life are exhausting. He knows that of ourselves, we become drained of energy—and thereby drained of hope. Indeed, when we are physically tired, we are most vulnerable to the devices of the enemy of our souls.
But it is not God’s intent to allow us to be vulnerable to the world, the flesh or the devil, nor does He leave us to our own devices as we do battle against the foe and the circumstances he uses against us. HE knows our frame and HE knows our need—and HE has the complete supply that will overcome in our behalf—beginning with rest.
Indeed, His promise is that we may go to Him for rest. It is His plan to be our place of respite. Psalm 17:15 assures, “I will behold You in righteousness and I will be completely satisfied when I awake beholding You.” To have seen Him in the place of rest in the night and to have awakened with a vision of Him in the morning is to be equipped to face a new day with its challenges; it is to be lavished with His strength and equipped with His power.
Seeing the Lord is to recognize who He is, what He possesses, what He holds out to us, and how all that He is makes a difference for good regarding all that we are. When we have beheld Him, when we have discerned His glory, we are strengthened, we are refreshed, we are energized, we are emboldened to wrestle down the problems of life and to rejoice in the victory He gives us over them.
Monday, January 5, 2009
January 5
We discover a wonderful aspect of God’s provision for us in Psalm 36:8-10. The verses state, “You cause them to drink from the stream of Your pleasures, for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. O, continue Your loving-kindness to those who know You and let Your righteousness continue to the upright in heart.
We who believe in Jesus praise Him for the righteousness He has supplied to us through the washing away of our sins when we accepted His work at Calvary. We know that apart from Him, we have no ground on which to stand before our Holy God. Though our joy is complete in this alone, He does not end His mercy there. He has yet more to lavish upon us, more for us to receive.
Paul observed that our hope extends far beyond the realm of the temporal and embraces the eternal, yet here we see that God’s desire is to give us blessed lives while we sojourn in this tabernacle of flesh as well as joy unspeakable in eternity. Here, the Word assures us that it is our Lord’s good pleasure to allow us to drink from the stream of His pleasures!
There is a caveat, however! Though He wants us to drink from the stream of HIS pleasure, we are not to indulge the pleasures of sin that last only for a short while before they cause our downfall. It is only while we are with God—walking in His light under the cover of Christ’s salvation that His loving-kindness can be our portion. It is a sacrifice that costs us nothing and supplies us everything!
We discover a wonderful aspect of God’s provision for us in Psalm 36:8-10. The verses state, “You cause them to drink from the stream of Your pleasures, for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. O, continue Your loving-kindness to those who know You and let Your righteousness continue to the upright in heart.
We who believe in Jesus praise Him for the righteousness He has supplied to us through the washing away of our sins when we accepted His work at Calvary. We know that apart from Him, we have no ground on which to stand before our Holy God. Though our joy is complete in this alone, He does not end His mercy there. He has yet more to lavish upon us, more for us to receive.
Paul observed that our hope extends far beyond the realm of the temporal and embraces the eternal, yet here we see that God’s desire is to give us blessed lives while we sojourn in this tabernacle of flesh as well as joy unspeakable in eternity. Here, the Word assures us that it is our Lord’s good pleasure to allow us to drink from the stream of His pleasures!
There is a caveat, however! Though He wants us to drink from the stream of HIS pleasure, we are not to indulge the pleasures of sin that last only for a short while before they cause our downfall. It is only while we are with God—walking in His light under the cover of Christ’s salvation that His loving-kindness can be our portion. It is a sacrifice that costs us nothing and supplies us everything!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
January 4
Jesus said that a cup cannot contain both sweet and bitter water at the same time. If we want water to be refreshing, it must be pure. The smallest amount of adulteration will render the water unfit to drink. Our inner man must be guarded as carefully as we would guard the water we drink or the food we eat. A little poison, a little bacteria, a little grime can be deadly. So can a little sin.
If we are to be pure vessels, if we are to maintain the integrity of our personhood and if we are to be useful to the Lord in pouring out of His truth and His love upon those around us, we must keep ourselves free of the destructive force of a little bit of negativity, a little bit of evil.
If we harbor secret sin that we think no one will recognize, we do not understand its power. The Lord makes it absolutely clear that His expectation of those who profess the name of Jesus is that they be holy even as the Lord Himself is holy. How can we, who were conceived in sin and born in iniquity attain such a lofty goal? His Word holds the key to our conformance to His perfection.
It says, “O God, You are my God. I seek you earnestly for my soul hungers and thirsts after You…Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, I will follow after You.” (Psalm63:1-3) A man cannot be overcome of evil who allows himself to seek fully after the Lord. As he is filled with Jesus, there will be no place for the enemy or his mischief within his spirit, his life, or his relationships.
Jesus said that a cup cannot contain both sweet and bitter water at the same time. If we want water to be refreshing, it must be pure. The smallest amount of adulteration will render the water unfit to drink. Our inner man must be guarded as carefully as we would guard the water we drink or the food we eat. A little poison, a little bacteria, a little grime can be deadly. So can a little sin.
If we are to be pure vessels, if we are to maintain the integrity of our personhood and if we are to be useful to the Lord in pouring out of His truth and His love upon those around us, we must keep ourselves free of the destructive force of a little bit of negativity, a little bit of evil.
If we harbor secret sin that we think no one will recognize, we do not understand its power. The Lord makes it absolutely clear that His expectation of those who profess the name of Jesus is that they be holy even as the Lord Himself is holy. How can we, who were conceived in sin and born in iniquity attain such a lofty goal? His Word holds the key to our conformance to His perfection.
It says, “O God, You are my God. I seek you earnestly for my soul hungers and thirsts after You…Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, I will follow after You.” (Psalm63:1-3) A man cannot be overcome of evil who allows himself to seek fully after the Lord. As he is filled with Jesus, there will be no place for the enemy or his mischief within his spirit, his life, or his relationships.
January 1
There is an old saying, “All is well that ends well,” and although that is true to a degree, the reality is that it is the things that begin well that hold the most promise of success. We all know of young people, for example, who were lost in vain pursuits until almost middle age before they chose a good career path. Though they may achieve great success, it is usually the one who began at a much earlier point who arrives at the pinnacle of success in any field.
Though we rejoice that God’s Word is true when it says, “My foot was slipping but Your mercy and loving kindness, O Lord, held me up” (Psalm 94:18), we are even more greatly blessed by the fact that if we will allow Him, He will keep our foot from slipping from our youth.
Far more important than any worldly success is the spiritual success the Lord desires that we have. He would have us to seek after Him from an early age and to devote our lives to Him and to the furtherance of His Kingdom. Yet, if we do not make that a priority during our tender years, He does not abandon us to the foolish choices of our youth. He will take us up, He will embrace us to Himself, He will set our feet on the solid rock of faith in Jesus any time we surrender our lives to Him.
No matter where we may have begun our life’s journey, each day is a new opportunity to go forward with the Lord. His Word assures us that His mercies are fresh each day. No matter how many yesterdays we have undone by our failures and foibles, each morning gives us the chance to do it right today. May we begin where we are to start right with Jesus, for where He enters the picture, the picture becomes bright with hope and promise for a new dawn of hope and faith and fulfillment.
January 2
Have you ever cried all night? Most people have had those long, sleepless nights when some troubling eventuality has prevented sleep and dispelled hope. This is the perfect scenario for what is described in Psalm 6:6,8. It says, “I am weary with my groaning. All night I water my pillow with tears…the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.”
The circumstances that brought the psalmist to his point of despair may not be relevant to your current situation but the hope he receives in the midst of it is. It doesn’t matter if you are broken because of the economic turndown, or if you have lost your job, or if your health is suffering or if your relationships are broken. Indeed, all that matters when you are in the pit of despair is that the Lord hears.
He hears because He cares about every aspect of your life. No matter the nature of your distress, He “careth for you.” I Peter 5:7 assures us of the fact that the Lord’s heart feels your pain. Because He cares, you may rest in the assurance that He will bring to pass the solution to your unfortunate circumstances.
He assures that He will not leave His people without comfort. He will involve Himself in their lives to the extent that they will allow Him and He will remedy the problems that cause them to weep in the night. Because your God loves you, He will perform mighty things in your behalf. Can you trust Him to do as He says He’ll do in His immutable Word?
January 3
We yearn for blessings. We pursue blessings. And much of our yearning and pursuit is after the things of earth that cannot satisfy. We consume ourselves with a lust for things that leave us feeling just as empty when we have attained them as we were before we had them. Sometimes, it was only the joy of the chase that delighted us.
We empty ourselves of time and energy in order to fill ourselves with the possessions, the achievements, the “rewards” that the earth fancies to be of value only to discover they are not the beat-all-end-all we thought they would be. The old saying is that the man who “dies with the most toys wins,” when in reality it is the man who dies with the most toys who is most disillusioned. Toys cannot and will never be able to fill the void within each of us that hungers to be satisfied.
So what does satisfy? The answer to that question and the end of our search lies within the Word of God. He who has fashioned us knows exactly what we need to find fulfillment in life. He has programmed us to function best and to enjoy life most fully when we follow His instruction manual. The Bible is God’s guide to life’s fullest realization of everything that makes a person whole, well, blessed, satisfied.
And the Bible says, “Blessed is the man who walks not after the counsel of the ungodly, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law does he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:1,2) The man who is truly happy is the man who delights himself in doing the will of God, in being the person the Lord has fashioned him to be. The vain pursuits of earth disappoint. The eternal truth of the Living Word of God gives great and eternal delight.
There is an old saying, “All is well that ends well,” and although that is true to a degree, the reality is that it is the things that begin well that hold the most promise of success. We all know of young people, for example, who were lost in vain pursuits until almost middle age before they chose a good career path. Though they may achieve great success, it is usually the one who began at a much earlier point who arrives at the pinnacle of success in any field.
Though we rejoice that God’s Word is true when it says, “My foot was slipping but Your mercy and loving kindness, O Lord, held me up” (Psalm 94:18), we are even more greatly blessed by the fact that if we will allow Him, He will keep our foot from slipping from our youth.
Far more important than any worldly success is the spiritual success the Lord desires that we have. He would have us to seek after Him from an early age and to devote our lives to Him and to the furtherance of His Kingdom. Yet, if we do not make that a priority during our tender years, He does not abandon us to the foolish choices of our youth. He will take us up, He will embrace us to Himself, He will set our feet on the solid rock of faith in Jesus any time we surrender our lives to Him.
No matter where we may have begun our life’s journey, each day is a new opportunity to go forward with the Lord. His Word assures us that His mercies are fresh each day. No matter how many yesterdays we have undone by our failures and foibles, each morning gives us the chance to do it right today. May we begin where we are to start right with Jesus, for where He enters the picture, the picture becomes bright with hope and promise for a new dawn of hope and faith and fulfillment.
January 2
Have you ever cried all night? Most people have had those long, sleepless nights when some troubling eventuality has prevented sleep and dispelled hope. This is the perfect scenario for what is described in Psalm 6:6,8. It says, “I am weary with my groaning. All night I water my pillow with tears…the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.”
The circumstances that brought the psalmist to his point of despair may not be relevant to your current situation but the hope he receives in the midst of it is. It doesn’t matter if you are broken because of the economic turndown, or if you have lost your job, or if your health is suffering or if your relationships are broken. Indeed, all that matters when you are in the pit of despair is that the Lord hears.
He hears because He cares about every aspect of your life. No matter the nature of your distress, He “careth for you.” I Peter 5:7 assures us of the fact that the Lord’s heart feels your pain. Because He cares, you may rest in the assurance that He will bring to pass the solution to your unfortunate circumstances.
He assures that He will not leave His people without comfort. He will involve Himself in their lives to the extent that they will allow Him and He will remedy the problems that cause them to weep in the night. Because your God loves you, He will perform mighty things in your behalf. Can you trust Him to do as He says He’ll do in His immutable Word?
January 3
We yearn for blessings. We pursue blessings. And much of our yearning and pursuit is after the things of earth that cannot satisfy. We consume ourselves with a lust for things that leave us feeling just as empty when we have attained them as we were before we had them. Sometimes, it was only the joy of the chase that delighted us.
We empty ourselves of time and energy in order to fill ourselves with the possessions, the achievements, the “rewards” that the earth fancies to be of value only to discover they are not the beat-all-end-all we thought they would be. The old saying is that the man who “dies with the most toys wins,” when in reality it is the man who dies with the most toys who is most disillusioned. Toys cannot and will never be able to fill the void within each of us that hungers to be satisfied.
So what does satisfy? The answer to that question and the end of our search lies within the Word of God. He who has fashioned us knows exactly what we need to find fulfillment in life. He has programmed us to function best and to enjoy life most fully when we follow His instruction manual. The Bible is God’s guide to life’s fullest realization of everything that makes a person whole, well, blessed, satisfied.
And the Bible says, “Blessed is the man who walks not after the counsel of the ungodly, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law does he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:1,2) The man who is truly happy is the man who delights himself in doing the will of God, in being the person the Lord has fashioned him to be. The vain pursuits of earth disappoint. The eternal truth of the Living Word of God gives great and eternal delight.
January 1, 2009
Dear Seeker,
I pray God grants you every joy and blessing as you stand at the threshold of a new year. May the Lord be your strength and your provision and may He bless you with a keen awareness of His love for you and His power at work in your behalf.
May you be confident that His hedge will always be around you through every trial, and may you know He guards and protects you as you go into future endeavors that please Him.
May He hear your every prayer and supply your every need. May He give you power in your prayers to the pulling down of strongholds. May He glorify Himself in you and in your family and in those you love always. He loves you and He wants you to know Him well.
Dear Seeker,
I pray God grants you every joy and blessing as you stand at the threshold of a new year. May the Lord be your strength and your provision and may He bless you with a keen awareness of His love for you and His power at work in your behalf.
May you be confident that His hedge will always be around you through every trial, and may you know He guards and protects you as you go into future endeavors that please Him.
May He hear your every prayer and supply your every need. May He give you power in your prayers to the pulling down of strongholds. May He glorify Himself in you and in your family and in those you love always. He loves you and He wants you to know Him well.
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