Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”  NASB

I am not referring to the country song by David Ball, “Thinkin’ Problem,” but to a spiritual truth.  I have often said, “You are not necessarily what you think you are, but you are what you think.”  What I mean by that is we are the product of what or how we think.  The writer of Proverbs told us that our inner thoughts produce who and what we are (Proverbs 23:7). 

Jesus addressed that on numerous occasions and in Mark 7:20-23 we read, “…What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”  We know from various passages including Proverbs 4:23 that everything flows out of the heart and our minds are to be carefully guarded so that we think the right thoughts.

I have discovered that there are times in life, when we discover that what we think about becomes our doorway to victory or the prison cell of defeat.  There have been times when I was distraught and had difficulty maintaining a victorious outlook that the Holy Spirit would chasten me.  On more than one occasion I have heard, “You have a thinking problem.”  Not a drinking problem, but a thinking problem!  What I was focused on was producing death not life, defeat not victory, and the Spirit of God would not let me wallow in the mire of my self-focus. 

Paul gives us the key to entering into the Peace of God.  He gave us some incredibly valuable guidelines as to what we should focus on.  In our modern world and even in the church in 2021 it seems that many have abandoned those principles.  Let’s list the items Paul gave and let them speak for themselves.

The first thing we are to let our minds dwell on is the True! The Greek is alethes (al-ay-thace) and basically means not concealed.  It is open for all to see. Jesus said that the Truth was the key to our liberation from bondage.  The second on Paul’s list was the Honorable or Honest!  The Greek is semnos (sem-nos) which means venerable or honorable. In today’s world honor and integrity are absent far more than present in many lives and interpersonal dealings with others.  It almost seems as though Paul was using the same thought but with different words.

The third thing he listed was the Right or Just! The Greek is dikaios (dik-ah-yos) which means equitable in character and action. It implies innocence and holiness.  It is untainted by the world and impure and improper thoughts, desires, or deeds.  It is expressive of the character and nature of Jesus.   

The fourth thing listed was Pure!  The Greek is hagnos (hag-nos) and means clean, innocent, modest, mature, or perfect.  Purity of heart is a requirement of God for fellowship with Him.  He washes us with the Blood of Jesus and once washed expects us to seek to remain clean and pure.  If we are longing for the unclean, we will be devoid of peace for the tug of the world will block our vision of the perfection of God’s Love.

The fifth thing listed was Lovely!  The Greek is prosphiles (pros-fee-lace) and means friendly toward and acceptable.   Then he lists Good Reports! The Greek is euphemos (yoo-fay-mos) which means well-spoken of, reputable. 

He then moves to Virtue!  The Greek is arete (ar-et-ay) which is proper, manliness, excellence.  From virtue, he moves to Praise!  Praise is a key part of the life of a believer, but this goes beyond praise to God and praise of the good, right, true, honest, pure, lovely, good report.  It is focusing on the blessings and benefits of Life in Christ and Life.  It is turning the look from inward to upward and outward. 

It is in this state of mind that Paul said, “if practiced” will bring the Peace of God to us and it will be manifest in us.  What and how we think is the catalyst to bring us into the Presence and enables us to experience the Peace of God.  The peace that is beyond human ability to comprehend or produce. 

Let’s make up our minds to stop focusing on what we can see and focus on what He says, who He is, and what He has declared about us and for us.  We are more than conquerors in Jesus!

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

Genesis 17:1-2 – “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.  2 “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”  NASB

Did you catch the condition that is interwoven in every directive of God as a prerequisite for His blessings?  Abram was 99 years of age and God appeared to him with the promise of Covenant.  The declaration of God was, “I am God Almighty.”  The Hebrew word for God is ‘El’ and the word for Almighty is ‘Shaddai’.  We recognize the name El-Shaddai as one of the names of God that convey His Power as well as His Purpose.

Honestly, we need nothing more than the declaration of God that He is God and that He is Almighty!  That alone should give us peace and comfort.  That declaration alone should inspire a sense of trust that transcends all human emotions or thoughts.  When God identifies Himself descriptively as “God Almighty” we know immediately that He is going to announce something that is beyond human possibility or Impossible.  However, with Him, there is no Impossible and our Impossible is His normal.

But the condition that I want to call our attention to is the end of that sentence.  He said, “Walk before Me (the God Who Is Almighty).”  That, in my mind, is a terrible and wonderful consideration.  How can I walk before or in the presence of such a being?  He is Holy and Almighty.  He is the Living God, the Creator of all things, and the Giver and Sustainer of life.  Abram was told to walk or live before this one.  If he was not trembling when he heard that he should have been.

God did not stop there but continued saying, “and be blameless.”  The KJV renders it ‘perfect’ a word that comes from the Hebrew “tamiym” which means ‘entire’.  Be complete.  But, how can I be complete, perfect, blameless in the presence of God?  The Bible advises that each of us has sinned and come short of God’s Glory.  Inherent in our makeup is a spirit of rebellion dating back to the Garden of Eden.  It is only through the shed blood of Jesus that we are transformed and made new creations, Saved!

The Bible tells us that Abraham, who Abram became as a result of this Covenant believed God and it was accredited to him as righteousness.  His standing before God was not simply his behavior but his commitment to God.  He trusted God and that made him a candidate for the Blessing of God’s Covenant to be announced and implemented in his life.

The condition that is vital is “be blameless.”  You cannot be blameless if you harbor hate in your heart.  You cannot be blameless if you embrace doubt in your heart. You cannot be blameless if you continue to disobey the directives and purposes of God.  We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.”  The writer informs us of a vital truth that if we come to God, we must believe that He is.  If I question the existence of God, I cannot come to Him and have faith.  If I question Him as Creator of all things, I do not meet the minimum qualifications for faith. 

Not only must I believe that He is, but I must also believe that He is who He says He is.  He is a rewarder or a blesser of those who seek Him!  When I continue reading Genesis 17:2-5, I hear some of the most amazing words and it provides a powerful basis for my hope and trust.  He says to Abram, “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”  3 And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.”  NASB

What a Promise!  But it is even better for we read in Galatians 3 that Jesus redeemed us from the Curse of the Law and ushered us into God’s Grace so that…  So that what?  In Galatians 3:14, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessings of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  The Blessings and the Covenant of Abraham have been extended to us, but the condition is still a requirement.

Let’s pursue holiness and seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and enter into the fullness of the Abundant Life that Jesus came to bring. 

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

Ephesians 4:26-27 – “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.”  NKJV

Years ago, I had a church member tell me, as I became visibly angry over something, “Anger is sin!”  This individual believed that even the slightest agitation was a sign of a sinful heart and because I had become agitated they were convinced that there was sin in my heart and because of that, I should immediately resign from the church.  They never got over my momentary lapse and could not modify their belief to accept the above passage.  It was almost don’t confuse me with the facts my mind is made up.

Anger is destructive and if one has no control over their emotions they damage their own souls.  Here the apostle Paul declares, “Be angry and do not sin…”  He did not say if you become angry you have sinned.  Admittedly, you may have but every demonstration or experience of anger is not a sin.  The Bible warns usto guard against wrath, rage, and being quick-tempered.  It also warns against allowing to be unbridled and describes anger that is harbored in the heart is a condition of a fool. 

We are told to guard our mouths and that harsh words stir up strife.  James declared that a person that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and if we have control over our anger we are mightier than one who conquers a city.  Jesus warned that in our anger we are standing on the precipice of judgment.  Ephesians 4:27declares that we are to “give no opportunity to the devil.”  Here Paul instructs that if we become angry we are to resolve it quickly, “do not let the sun go down on your wrath”.  He could have stopped there but he did not and continued, “…nor give place to the devil.”

ANGER opens a door we do not want to open.  It allows the enemy of our soul to plant seeds of bitterness, vengeance, malice, jealousy, and even hatred.  Proverbs 14:29 gives a powerful revelation that a person who is slow to anger has great understanding, but if we are quick-tempered we exalt folly.  In Proverbs 25:28 we read, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”  Anger leaves us defenseless and gives the devil a clear pathway to our minds and our hearts.  If we are to resist the devil we must resist anger as well. 

If I see a child being abused physically or verbally I become angry.  If I see blatant wrong being committed I become angry.  If I see the American flag burned I become angry.  If I see or hear biblical values trampled by politicians and so-called Christian leaders I become angry.  My anger is sometimes directed at the ones committing the act but always at the devil for inspiring the act. 

However, I also seek to be forgiving and want to guard my heart against hate and bitterness.  Therefore, I strive to be like Stephen as he was being stoned to death, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  I also strive to be like my Lord Jesus as He hung on the Cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  I would be less than honest if I said I am always successful and become angry without sin.  Sometimes I have to not only repent of the anger but sinful anger.

It should be a Christian objective to never open a door to the devil needlessly and that is so easily done via the emotion of anger.  I pray for you that the LORD help you keep your emotions in check and never give place to anger nor allow it to remain, producing the root of sin and opening a door to the enemy of our souls.

God bless you as you go through this beautiful day!

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”  NKJV

I believe, through my study of Scripture and watching people, that generosity or the lack thereof reveals the heart of a person.  I am convinced that if God does not have our pocketbooks, He does not truly have our hearts for where the treasure is there the heart is also.  I know the context of this passage is focused on money, but I want to press it beyond that and do not believe that I am violating truth in doing so.

The Law of Sowing and Reaping extends far beyond any monetary consideration and the principle of reaping ‘what’ we sow, ‘later’ than we sow, and ‘more’ than we sow applies whether it is money, time, patience, or love.  In this truth, God promises that He will cause All Grace to abound to us so that we have All Sufficiency in All Things and have an abundance for Every Good Work. That is an incredible promise.

Sadly, some have taken it as a promise of personal wealth and attempted to manipulate God through their giving.  God is interested in the gift and the motivation behind the gift and His blessings are in accordance with that principle.  It would behoove us to examine what we are giving and why we are giving or what we are not giving and why.  It will reveal our heart either good or flawed.

I have personally experienced times when I desperately needed finances and had no means of acquiring those needed funds.  I recall one such incident in which I had a $500 need and had $55 to my name.  I do not mean had that amount of ready cash I mean that is All I had in this world. 

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said tithe on your need.  What?  I said “But, God, I have $55 to last me a full week a wife, and two small children to care for.  If I give the $50 you are asking for, I will have $5 left.”  Three times I heard ‘tithe on your need’.  I took the $50 and planned to put it in the offering on Sunday morning and as the plate came by, I tried but could not turn it loose.  I spent a miserable Sunday afternoon and on Sunday night when the offering took place, I threw the $50 in the plate as though it were a hot potato that I had to get out of my hand.  I believed God would care for us, but my humanity kept me awake all night battling thoughts of my failure in my responsibility to my family and they would have little to eat this week if…  That is the problem IF…  

            I could relate to the man that said to Jesus, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”  The next day after a time in prayer I went to town to run an errand for the church and a person walked up to me on the street and said, “The Lord spoke to me last night to give you this.”  They placed an item in my hand and walked away.  I sat in my car and opened my hand and it was a check for $550.00.  God met the need I had and gave me back the $50.00 above the need.  My family was cared for, the need was met, and my faith was given an adrenaline shot that has never been forgotten.  God responded to my obedience and blessed me despite my fears, questions, and even doubts.  From that time on my giving has been cheerful and I have not given out of necessity since that day but out of a desire to honor the Lord and help others.

I have faced times when I desperately needed someone to assist me, comfort me, love me or counsel me and found that the return on my investment in others came back to me many-fold.  God Never fails to send help in the time of need and if we allow Him to have control of our time and treasure, we will find that Grace will Abound to us in a mighty manner.

God bless you as you go through this day!

Romans 7:7-8 – “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the  contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.”  NASB

When I consider the Ten Commandments, I find some interesting truths interwoven in those declarations, directives, and prohibitions.  I have studied them individually and collectively and concluded that the last commandment is the heart of all the other commandments.  I believe that this commandment is the summation of all the others.  That may sound strange and you may insist that it is nothing of the sort. 

I suggest that if covetousness could be defined as the ‘want to’.  We can keep all the commandments, in a measure, by willpower, but not the last one.  Covetousness deals with our wanting to do something.  We may want to bear false witness but resist because we know it is the right thing to do.  We may want to steal but refrain because it is wrong to steal.  We may be tempted with lust and want to engage in adulty or fornication but refrain because we know it is a violation of God’s moral code.

I do not believe you can truly deal with the matter of covetousness by willpower.  It is a matter of the heart!  It is a matter of the ‘want to.’  If I want what you have, lust after what you have whether it is your possession, position, or wife, I have violated that commandment.  I may not steal, lie, or engage in inappropriate and illegitimate sexual behavior but I ‘wanted to.’  Therefore, I have coveted.

I may not acknowledge any God but the LORD.  I may not create an idol and worship it.  I may not take God’s name in vain.  I may honor the Sabbath with perfection.  I may use all the right words and do the right things concerning my parents.  I may not kill anyone, commit adulty, steal or lie.  That is great and commendable but if I had it in my heart to do any of those, I have fallen short in Covetousness.

Remember Jesus said in Matthew 22:40 that the two commandments referring to loving God and our neighbor was the foundation for the entire Law and Prophets.  Simply, if I LOVE YOU, I will not covet what you have.  I will not kill you if I love you. In fact, I will not want to kill you.  I may disagree with you and be the polar opposite on issues, but I will not want to harm you.  I will not lie about you or to you if I love you.  I will not desire to have an illicit affair.  If I love God, I need no prohibition about idolatry, the Sabbath, or honoring Him.  If I love Him, I WANT TO do those things. 

Covetousness has to do with the WANT TO not the ability to restrain myself.  That causes me to contend that Covetousness is the Root of Sin.  That is the base cause of Wars between nations.  Covetousness breeds jealousy and greed and those engender a willingness to commit acts against others that violate God’s moral law. 

It is a heart issue and only God can change the heart.  I believe that one of the signs that a person has been born again is revealed in their WANT TO!

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

Joshua 21:43-45 – “So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.”  NASB

If anyone questions the reality of God and the faithfulness of God, even a cursory examination of the Promises He made to the newly formed nation of Israel in the Old Testament should dispel that.  I love the declaration of (v.45) – “Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.”

I am inspired when I read passages like Isaiah 55:10-11 – “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”  ESV

God has never failed and will never fail.  We read in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus is the same past, present, and future.  We know that God is the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient God.  He is the Creator of all things.  He is the Living God!  In Numbers 23:19 we read, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Amplified).

The amazing reality of the fulfillment of the prophecies about Jesus coming in the flesh are astronomically improbable but they transpired.  The mathematical and statistical probability of those many prophecies being fulfilled in one person is off the charts, but they did. 

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God.  I have people tell me that it ‘contains’ the Word of God and I say, “Yes, it does but it goes beyond containing some of the Words of God and some of the Truth of God IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!”  If God says it, you can take it to the bank.

Do not become discouraged because God is Alive, and His Promises are “Yes and Amen!”  This God, our God, is the one who spoke the world into existence.  Everything is held together by His Word, Power, Person, and Provision.  Colossians 1:17 declares, “And He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together.”  He is the glue that keeps everything intact.  In Him is life and in that life is the fulfillment of Word.

I choose to believe what God has said and as I discover His promises in His Word and in Prayer I rejoice.  I know that My God shall supply all your and my needs according to His power and out of His love.

God bless you as you rest comfortably in the promises of God.  If He said it, He will do it!  Have a great day in Him!

Deuteronomy 1:8 – “See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.”  NASB

I am sometimes concerned that I and too many Christians fail to grasp our responsibility in the process of becoming all that God desires and acquiring His blessings and promises.  Too many seem to be like the song we used to sing in youth camps, “Here we sit like birds of a wilderness waiting to be fed.”  It was humorous as the kids waited for lunch to be served but in the Christian walk that is a faulty philosophy.

Here, God told Israel, “I have placed the land before you…”  We could render that, “I have set the Promises before you…”   God’s job is to make the objective, the promise, the provision available but it is not always a one-sided affair.  There is His part and our part.  He said to them, “…go in and possess the land.”  It is your responsibility and mine to appropriate the promises and press in, to the place of promise.

God gives us grace, authority, and power through the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual Weapons He has provided.  We are seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places.  John said, “as He is so are, we in this world.”  We have great and precious promises and weapons of warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.  It is our job to ‘bind the strongman’ and then spoil his house. 

Israel was given the title deed to the land by the owner of the land.  However, there were squatters on that land or promise that did not recognize God’s authority or ownership.  They were unwilling to vacate the premises simply because Israel declared that God had given them the inheritance.  No, they believed that possession was ownership and trusted their false gods or their own power.  Their view was the same as Pharaoh expressed in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey?” 

We fail to possess the promises if we do not know the promises.  Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people perish because of a lack of knowledge.”  It is impossible to fully possess or press into what you do not know exists.  If you are like the birds in the wilderness waiting to be fed and waiting on God to do it, you may have a very long and disappointing wait.  Knowledge is powerful and inspirational.

We fail to possess the promises if we allow doubt, and unbelief to be the most prominent in our hearts.  If we see it as impossible, it is to us.  I like the rendering of Hebrews 6:12 (NCV) says, “do not… become lazy. Be like those who through faith and patience will receive what God has promised.”  We must not only know it in our minds but believe it in our hearts. It is through the heart that the mind is convinced.

We fail to possess the promises if we focus on the negative and speak other than what God declares.  We need to agree with God.  Paul told us in Romans 4:17 that we are to “call those things that are not as though they were.”  I am not saying engage in metaphysics or mind over matter but even though you do not see it in the natural if it is a Promise of God, declare it by faith.  You are not declaring it to make God do it but agreeing with God that that is reality not what you see with the natural eye.

We fail to possess the promises we allow fear to grip our hearts and paralyze us.  I love what the writer declares in Hebrews 10:23, “It is through faith and PATIENCE that we possess the promises of God.”  The enemy will try to steal your Promise, your Vision, and your Hope.  He will attempt to tempt you to give up and resign yourself to waiting on God rather than pursuing the Promises and Purposes God has set before you.  Galatians tells us that we are not to become weary in well doing for in due season (at the time of harvest) we will reap if we do not give up and quit.

Remember the account of the twelve spies and how the two, Joshua and Caleb believed God and saw the promises as possible rather than focusing on the obstacles.  It is time that you and I determine to cross over our Jordan (difficulty or obstacle) and Possess the Promise Land.  Never, never, never, never Give Up!

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

1 Samuel 15:17-19 – “And Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel, 18 and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said,’ Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’ 19 “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”  NASB

How we see ourselves is reflected in what we do.  The statement of Samuel to Saul is very interesting.  He spoke of a time when Saul was ‘little in his own eyes.’  That could be negative and speak of a person that is so defeated they do not think they can do anything.  It could also speak of a positive character trait where the person was humble and did not have an overinflated view of themselves.  I believe that Samuel was referring to the latter in Saul.  The fact that when Samuel came to publicly announce him as king he was hiding, and they had to bring him forth.

In Romans 12:3 we read the warning or directive of the apostle Paul that no believer should think of him or herself more highly than they ought, but to have a sober evaluation of who and what they are.  He addressed that again in Philippians 2:3 saying, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  The apostle James spoke of this condition saying, “But He gives more grace.  Therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

I do not believe that Samuel, James, or the Paul was suggesting that a believer view themselves in a self-deprecating downward manner.  I believe they were saying that we should think of ourselves with an upward view.  By that I mean we should think of ourselves as highly as is proper in our calling.  We are ‘more than conquerors’ in Christ Jesus.  Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “…All things are possible to him who believes.” 

In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus is giving some powerful life instructions to those following Him.  His message was pointing out the contrast between things of earth, and the things of the Kingdom of God.  He was encouraging them to make the right choice.  He was conveying the idea that heaven is not simply a place awaiting us when we die but it is more than that.   The Kingdom of Heaven is the realm of God’s presence, through His divine grace that every believer has access to now!

Paul’s words in Romans 12 need to be rehearsed, ‘Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you’.  If we compare ourselves with others, we will develop a wrong view of ourselves and others.  Our only comparison is with Christ, not other people.  Long ago, I prayed and told the LORD that I did not desire to be an echo but wanted to be a voice. 

I was given some powerful advice by a seasoned elderly minister when I first acknowledged the call of God to preach.  He said, “Son, do not imitate anybody but Jesus.  Be who you are and use what God has given to you.  The Holy Spirit will develop the style God wants for you.”  I tried and failed numerous times but finally realized that the only way I was truly comfortable doing what I felt God had called me to do was to just be myself. 

I have had professors and other preachers tell me that I needed to be more this or that.  Some suggested more homiletical in style, others to be more expository, etc.  I tried three points and a poem and that did not work for me I felt constrained and my message felt canned, reheated, warmed over, and cold.  I tried various styles but when I finally realized if I was genuine in what I heard in my heart of hearts and spoke from my heart, God would bring about the desired results.  I did, I do, and He has, and He does.

I do not consider myself better than anyone but by the same token, I do not consider myself lesser.  It matters not if your gift and call are to nations or to a local congregation both are valuable to God.  It matters not if you are the CEO of a major corporation or an hourly worker, both are valuable.  There are parts of the human body that are more notable and visible than others, but all of the parts make up the whole and have an important role in the function of the body.  God created these bodies to function with some of the parts missing but He did not create worthless or unnecessary parts.  The optimum function requires all the parts to function as they were designed to function.  The same is true in the Kingdom. 

Do not think of yourself higher than you ought to think but do not think of yourself lesser either. 

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

2 Samuel 22:1-4 – “And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, Thou dost save me from violence. 4 “I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies.”  NASB

The Book of Samuel records one of the songs of David that reflects the Power of Praise and how much Praise was a part of the Life of David, the man God identified as being a man after His own heart.  David had been delivered from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul, his chief enemy.  As he mused on what had transpired, he was inspired to write this song of praise.  I will only use a portion of it but would like to call to our attention several things found in these few verses. 

David said, “The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer.”  The Rock is reflective of a foundation that is stable and sure.  The Fortress is a place of protection and Deliverer is expressive of power and might.  God is David and our sure foundation our place of protection and security and He has the Power to deliver.  He is our conqueror!

He reminded himself and all who would hear that our Rock (God) is a place of refuge.  I am reminded of Psalms 91 and Psalm 23 as I think of that.  He said that God was his shield and the horn of his salvation.  The shield speaks of protection from the arrows of the enemy and the horn of salvation speaks of the completion. He speaks of God being his savior!  Hallelujah!  That savior also rescues us from violence and those seeking our destruction, both human and demonic. 

Then he brings home the reality of the Power inherent in our Praise to God.  In Psalms 100:4 we are instructed to enter the gates of God with a thankful heart and the courts of God with praise.  We come with the High Praises of God in our mouths and those praises become a two-edged sword in our hands and in our mouths. 

In (v.4) we read, “I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies.”  Let me challenge you to break that down just a bit.  There can be no question of God’s worthiness of our praise.  In fact, our feeble attempts to magnify Him and properly honor him with our lips appear anemic.  However, David inserts something that we must not overlook.  He adds the word “and” after that declaration.  The “and” is the connector or the launching pad for an understanding of the inherent Power in Praise to God.  “And I am saved from my enemies.” 

It is as I praise God that there is a Power loosed in the heavenlies that frees the angelic hosts of Psalm 91 to move into action.  God is the deliverer from the snares of our enemies human and demonic.  He covers us with Himself and shields us from the attacks of forces seeking our destruction.  His presence banishes fear.  The angels are released to guard us in all our ways.  They bear us up in their hands so that we don’t even get stone bruises from the cobbled paths of life.  It is through God’s Power, Provision, and Protection that we enter into through Praise enables us to tread on the lions and cobras of life.

If we would learn the secret and benefit of Praise and from our hearts truly be thankful in everything and voice our thanksgiving and praise to God, we would move into a higher realm in life.  It is as we turn our focus inward and outward on a horizontal plane that we restrict ourselves from His person, presence, and power. As we lift up our eyes heavenward, we discover that we are able to view life through His eyes, and in that view, we find peace, confidence, and comfort.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  NKJV

Most of us are aware of the declaration of James that we are to rejoice in trials and few of us consider the benefits that come from our trials and tribulations.  I am not trying to advance a doctrine that encourages or desires trouble. God does not put sickness on your to teach you a lesson. What I am suggesting is that trouble is going to come and if we can embrace it keeping the faith there is a benefit to be gleaned.  God turns that meant for evil to our good when we allow Him to have full control.

Paul declares that our Heavenly Father is the Father of mercies and comfort!  Our Heavenly Father comforts us in All our tribulations with an objective in mind beyond enabling us to make it through the trial.  He comforts us so that we may be able to comfort others who are experiencing trials and tribulation. 

Therefore, when the enemy comes in like a flood and God raises up a standard against him and brings you through to the other side of the trial rejoice.  Rejoice in the deliverance and comfort of God and rejoice in the reality that because you have experienced you will be better able to comfort others facing trials.  A man or woman who has been through battle can comfort those enduring trials far better than one who has lived in an ivory tower with no difficulties. I am far more drawn to a person with a limp than a novice in a time of trouble.

We comfort others with the comfort we received from God.  We communicate His love, patience, longsuffering, guidance, wisdom, and mercy.  We testify of God’s keeping power. We testify of God’s undying love.  We testify of God’s fulfillment of His promise to never leave nor forsake us.  We are living epistles known and read among men examples of God’s love, grace, and power.

Therefore, next time the enemy targets you and it seems that everything that can go wrong does lift up your voice and your eyes and Rejoice!  Rejoice knowing that God will not fail and rejoice knowing that one day in the future you will be able to extend that comfort you are receiving from God to a brother or sister in this life.  Philippians 3speaks of the ‘power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.’  We want the resurrection power without the suffering.  We want the crown without the cross, but it will not come. 

I do not know what you are experiencing at this time but if you are suffering consider the additional benefit of that suffering that you will be able to comfort another along the way.  If there is a lesson to be learned in the trial diligently attend to it but above all rejoice in God’s provision and protection and rejoice in the joy that you will be able to be a helping hand to another along the journey.

God bless you as you go through this day!