Monday, September 7, 2015
The Real
For the child of God nothing is more dangerous than to look only at the
present circumstances instead of focusing on the treasures of eternity.
The eternal promises are even more real and certain and tangible than
the tribulations of the present tense.
The Goodness of God
How often have I sung "God is so good?" Yet, as I have been reminded
lately, how often do I demonstrate through my actions that I doubt that
that is true? Is my "contentment" too often resignation?--"Well,
that's just the way things are. There's nothing I can do about it. I
may as well just accept it. God's not going to do anything about it."
Do I pray disbelieving? I don't think God is going to change that
person's heart, but I'm supposed to pray for them, so . . .? Do
I fear my future believing God is not going to do good for me? Do I
quit asking Him for what I think I need, because I doubt He will do good
in my life?
There isn't anyone in my life beyond the reach of God's grace. Anyone.
There isn't any future ahead of me that will not be "greater than I can imagine."
There isn't anything I need that He will not supply--and abundantly more.
God deliver my heart from the doubts of your goodness. Fill my prayers with fervent confidence in your promise to always do good. Root out the complacency in my faith before it becomes a bitter spirit. May I with a child's faith in a loving Father sing with joy, unwavering, unquestioning joy, "God is so good. God is so good. God is so good, He's so good to me."
There isn't any future ahead of me that will not be "greater than I can imagine."
There isn't anything I need that He will not supply--and abundantly more.
God deliver my heart from the doubts of your goodness. Fill my prayers with fervent confidence in your promise to always do good. Root out the complacency in my faith before it becomes a bitter spirit. May I with a child's faith in a loving Father sing with joy, unwavering, unquestioning joy, "God is so good. God is so good. God is so good, He's so good to me."
Revival
The next President of the United States, whoever that may be, has no
chance of stirring up a revival in America. Only prayer can make it
happen. And revival occurs one person at a time. And not in the life
of the "other guy." And revival is not a stirring up of religious
ritual. It's a heart thing--a melding of will and love--a steady
obedience to God's commands no matter the personal cost. God's revival
throughout history has always been the setting aside of a faithful
remnant, a faithful few. Will you be one of the few?
__________
No human being can throw up a roadblock to God's plans--thwart God's will. Whatever you see going on around you, the hand of God is at work in it. Even that which is meant for evil, God will use for good. Grace will triumph.
__________
No human being can throw up a roadblock to God's plans--thwart God's will. Whatever you see going on around you, the hand of God is at work in it. Even that which is meant for evil, God will use for good. Grace will triumph.
Loved
The eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign. Lord of
Lords and King of Kings knows me as His child. Knows all there is to
know about me--deeds, thoughts, motives, doubts, faults, fears,
complaints, hypocrisy--and loves me. Not "loves me anyway"--just
devotedly loves me.
Friday, September 4, 2015
To Ignore
There's all the difference in the world between ignoring something and
ignorance. The latter is regrettable, but the former is tragic--at
least in spiritual terms. God consistently tells us in Scripture that
those who know what to do, who know what is right, but refuse to do so,
or in some cases, turn from doing what they know is right, are under a
stricter judgment. Those who have sat under the teaching of God's Word
and refuse to accept it and obey its precepts are in grave
danger now and eternally. To simply ignore God's truth or to proclaim
that you don't believe it any more as if by doing so you can escape
responsibility for it is a fool's mindset. God is neither impressed by
nor debased by such a profession. Those in ignorance can be taught.
Those who ignore or deny are stiff-necked, unteachable. God in His
loving patience will give time for repentance--but not all the time in
the world.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Psalm 1
"How spiritually prosperous is the man (or woman) who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit
in the seat of scoffers!"
The choices you don't make are just as vital to your spiritual walk as the choices you do make. And not many choices are more significant than the friends and confidants you chose to be active participants in your life--those with whom you fellowship. Wrong friends. Wrong path. Wrong walk. A lifetime of wrong choices. The loss of a sense of His presence. And what a loss that is!
The choices you don't make are just as vital to your spiritual walk as the choices you do make. And not many choices are more significant than the friends and confidants you chose to be active participants in your life--those with whom you fellowship. Wrong friends. Wrong path. Wrong walk. A lifetime of wrong choices. The loss of a sense of His presence. And what a loss that is!
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."
His delight--not his duty. A choice to hunger and thirst after righteousness is the only path to satisfaction--to godliness with contentment. To a life of rich blessing. Is your mind so saturated with His Word that day or night His freedom giving thoughts are constantly active, constantly counseling you in the way that you should go?
"And he (or she) will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he grows toward maturity."
How does choosing the right friends and choosing to delightfully feast on the Word impact the quality of your life? You will stand firm in the storms. You will endure the worst droughts. You will reflect His character to all those around you--be a blessing to those God has placed in your life. You will grow on to spiritual maturity in all that you do.
"The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away."
They are spiritually dead. Lifeless. No fruit. No substance. The opposite of everything you are in Him. What fellowship has light with darkness?
"Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord approves the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
Choose your friends wisely. Walk in His way not their way. Delight in His Counsel not their empty words. Be His evergreen. Firmly planted, not as powerless as chaff in the winds of life's storms. How spiritually prosperous are you? How spiritually prosperous will be the whole course of your life? Whose approval are you seeking?
His delight--not his duty. A choice to hunger and thirst after righteousness is the only path to satisfaction--to godliness with contentment. To a life of rich blessing. Is your mind so saturated with His Word that day or night His freedom giving thoughts are constantly active, constantly counseling you in the way that you should go?
"And he (or she) will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he grows toward maturity."
How does choosing the right friends and choosing to delightfully feast on the Word impact the quality of your life? You will stand firm in the storms. You will endure the worst droughts. You will reflect His character to all those around you--be a blessing to those God has placed in your life. You will grow on to spiritual maturity in all that you do.
"The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away."
They are spiritually dead. Lifeless. No fruit. No substance. The opposite of everything you are in Him. What fellowship has light with darkness?
"Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord approves the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
Choose your friends wisely. Walk in His way not their way. Delight in His Counsel not their empty words. Be His evergreen. Firmly planted, not as powerless as chaff in the winds of life's storms. How spiritually prosperous are you? How spiritually prosperous will be the whole course of your life? Whose approval are you seeking?
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Psalm 32
Who you are:
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Blessed. Transgressions forgiven--lifted up and taken away. Sin covered--made invisible to God. Iniquity, not imputed--it will never be put on your account. Blessed.
Your attitude toward your sin:
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him. Thou are my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou does surround me with songs of deliverance.
He, the One whose heart's desire is to walk with us all day long in the light, reveals to us our sin that we might confess and find cleansing--live in the rhythm of His songs of deliverance. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another."
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Blessed. Transgressions forgiven--lifted up and taken away. Sin covered--made invisible to God. Iniquity, not imputed--it will never be put on your account. Blessed.
Your attitude toward your sin:
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him. Thou are my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou does surround me with songs of deliverance.
He, the One whose heart's desire is to walk with us all day long in the light, reveals to us our sin that we might confess and find cleansing--live in the rhythm of His songs of deliverance. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another."
His promise:
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous ones, and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart.
Instruction. Teaching. Concerned counsel. Nearness. Trust, be glad, and shout in His promise. Don't resist like the stubborn mule. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous ones, and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart.
Instruction. Teaching. Concerned counsel. Nearness. Trust, be glad, and shout in His promise. Don't resist like the stubborn mule. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
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