Exodus 23:20 – “Behold, I will send an angel before you to GUARD you on the way AND to bring you into the land which I have prepared.” [Emphasis mine.]

As I read, prayed, and meditated today, a promise of God to Israel resonated with me.   Since God is without partiality, if He would do that for them, He surely will do it for us.

Reflecting on Exodus 23, I said, “I receive it for myself.”  Then Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 arose in my consciousness.  As I relished the deep comfort and truth of those Psalms, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the Truth of “Lifestyle Persistence,” as is revealed in 1 John.

What do I mean by “Lifestyle Persistence?”  John gave some incredible revelations and guidance regarding our daily lives, worship, righteousness demonstration, and interpersonal relationships!  He spoke of a lifestyle of sin and a lifestyle of righteousness.

I do not mean having both, but one or the other.  If we practice sin, not just stumbling occasionally but developing a lifestyle of disobedience, we experience God’s disfavor, which separates us from God. On the other hand, if we practice righteousness, we find God’s favor.   I do not mean to imply that we can earn it.  It is an outworking of our heart’s true condition.

1 John 3:9-10 – “Whoever is born of God Does Not commit sin Because God’s seed is in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.  10. In this, the children of God can be distinguished from the children of evil; Whoever Does Not Practice righteousness and does not love his brother does not belong to God.”

• Lifestyle and not a singular moment or act.  Practice is the key.

What almost seems like an aside but isn’t is 1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask Anything according to His will, He Hears us; for If we beseech Him to hear us concerning the things that we ask of Him, we are assured that we have Already Received from Him those things that we desire.”

1 John 5:18 – “We Know that Everyone who is born of God does not sin; for he who is born of God Guards himself, and the evil one does not come near him.”

• If We Practice a lifestyle of righteousness, obedience, and love, the angel guides and guards us.

We are enabled and emboldened to resist the devil, and he has to flee!  It is time to exercise our authority in Christ over every facet of our lives.  You and your house are part of the promise.  If Jesus is the same past, present, and future and no respecter of person – Why Not Now?  It is time to Claim Your Promises!

May the Incredible Creator of All Things Empower You to Be Who He says you are!