Luke 9:23 – – “Then He said to them all, If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, several thoughts permeated my consciousness: God’s call to salvation, God’s provision for living, and the visible manifestation of confidence through a relationship with God.

Luke 9:23 addresses the issue of discipleship, which involves dethroning self and enthroning Jesus.    It is to resign as Lord of our lives and receive Him as Lord. It is to take up his cross daily.   Each day requires consideration of what it means to follow Jesus fully.   It is to determine that we will give our whole self to Him today.

Luke 12:27 – “Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!”

The natural growth process of the flowers is contrasted with human effort.   The next verse solidifies the reality that if we trust God, He will provide for our needs.   If we try to do it ourselves, we experience the frustration, stress, and pressure of image and possessions. 

In verse 31, we have the answer, “Instead, pursue His Kingdom (Him), and all these things will be given to you as well.”   There is a place for labor, but at the end of the day, it is not our efforts but His grace that provides what we need and more.

In verse 35, He says, “Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning…” In His care and provision, live daily in the confidence of His supply.

Then, we see the visible demonstration of confidence that flows out of our relationship with Jesus in Luke 9:16, “Then, He took the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven. He gave thanks and broke them.” How does that visibly demonstrate confidence?

The posture in prayer is revealing.   Do we bow our heads or look at our feet?   Jesus lifted His head and looked up to heaven.   He knew the Father was listening to him and had accepted him.   We tend to hope to be heard and accepted.   If we ask another human for something, do we look down and ask sheepishly or look them in the eye and ask boldly, hopefully, and confidently?   It all depends on our relationship and our security and confidence in that Relationship!

We are encouraged to come boldly before the throne because we are IN Him.   Let’s begin to live as children of the King and with the confidence He brings. We can trust Him. 

Be Bold Because God Loves You!   You are Redeemed and Transformed!

Luke 3:7-9 – “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

As I read, prayed, and considered the Word of God today, the condition of the heart, the evidence of faith, and transformation filled my consciousness.

John the Baptist in Luke 3 was baptizing large crowds, and some religious leaders came to be baptized.  John said something that today’s church would say was too harsh.   He called them snakes and said, “Therefore, produce fruit that proves your repentance…”   We know that it is not works that save us, but grace and faith, so that sounds contradictory.  However, if a person truly repents, a transformation occurs on the inside that is visible on the outside.

In Luke 5:36-39, we see this in a little different light.  New patches applied to old garments reveal what many try to achieve spiritually.  They take the new (gospel message) and try to add it to their old lifestyle—no change of heart.   

Then he spoke of the wineskins.   Again, some try to have God’s new wine operative in their unchanged lives.   In verse 39, we see the key: “No one after drinking the old wine wants the new, for he says, “The old is good enough.'”

Not only do we have to be transformed on the inside in salvation, but we also have to be flexible and pliable—moldable with a constant flow of God’s grace and Spirit.  Too many become satisfied with the status quo rather than seeking the continuous flow.  The transformation of our lives is reflected in our words.  What fills our hearts overflows in our words.  Words and actions are reflection pools.

What is in our hearts?  Do our lives reveal a changed heart?  What percentage of the time do we reflect a changed life?  Total transformation produces a continual overflow.

LORD, I pray that You will be manifested in us and represented by us.

Take the beatitudes of Luke 6 as your promise and measuring rod.  Make Luke 6:38 your daily activity.  Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 6:43-46.  What we are is reflected in the fruit we produce.  Fruit is not faked; it is produced.

Victory is our promise, and fruit is responsibility.  Fruit comes from the tree, and the tree is either a redeemed heart or a carnal mind. 
Be victorious!

May your day be filled with His Presence, and your Transformation be complete!

Proverbs 30:5-6 – “Every word of God is purified; He is like a shield for those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and prove you a liar.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, something tugged at my heart that I felt was a call to action.   This flowed out of my reading of Proverbs 30.

I paused and pondered the thought of God’s Word being purified.    The Word of God is pure, so how could it be purified?    This appears to be a figure of speech (hypo-catastasis) comparing every Word of God to some precious metal that has been refined (purified).   The message, to me, was that God’s Word is trustworthy.  It has no defects, flaws, misinformation, mistakes, or falsehoods.   It is totally reliable.

The continuation reveals the purpose and power of God’s Word: a shield, covering, and protection.  Then, He gives a needed warning about human interpretation.

As I continued to read, in verses 11-14, I saw a description of today’s society.   The phrase, “There is a generation.”   This describes a group or class of people who exhibit the character traits listed: a lack of respect, arrogant contempt for others, greed, self-centeredness, and a willingness to devour others and eliminate them to satisfy their ideological agenda.

The very interesting discussions about contentment or satisfaction, awe-inspiring things, things that bring fear and destruction, how size and strength are not what defines success, but wisdom, the visibly impressive things.

Those are not my focus.   They pointed to God’s grace and awesomeness and led me to the call to action in Proverbs 31:8 – “Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.”

As believers, we are commanded to warn when danger is coming.  We are to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.  If we sit silent in this hour as evil grows, selfishness increases, and life other than one’s own becomes valueless, we will lose God’s favor.

As believers, we do not have the luxury of indifference.  We do not have the luxury of personal preference.  We do not have the luxury of silence in the face of evil.  We do not get to “live and let live,” straddling the fence on matters of life that endanger the defenseless.  We are commanded to warn.  I ask you to make your own list of those in our world who cannot speak for themselves, those who are weak, vulnerable, and unable to defend themselves.  Then, ask God, “What is my assignment?”

I’m crying in repentance and asking for directions.  My voice, prayers, finances, and vote are to be invested in defending those who cannot defend themselves and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.  Children, babies, the unborn, the elderly who are abandoned, and the blind (spiritually as well as naturally).

We must proclaim Jesus’ message and stand in the gap for those who cannot speak for themselves.   Silence is not an option.  

Have a fantastic Day basking in the Pure, Purified Word of God!

Mark 3:10 – “For He (Jesus) had healed many so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward Him in order to touch Him.”

God is unchanging!   Jesus completely defeated the devil and purchased our redemption.  God loves us!  In the Word, we discover immutable things that inspire!

In Mark 3, they saw the miracles and healings.  They knew that there was something in Jesus that produced the healings.  They concluded that “if” they could touch that power (Him), they could be healed.   So, they sought to touch Him.   The woman with the issue of blood kept saying that very thing, “If I can touch Him.”   In Gennesaret, on His second visit, they asked to touch the hem of His garment.

The reality was that Jesus had the power to heal and deliver.   They desired to touch Him.   I had some questions that came into my heart that challenged me.   “How much do we want to touch Him?”    Another, “How desperate are we to touch Him?”   Then, “Why did they not simply want Him to touch them?”

The woman with the issue of blood was destitute and desperate.  She violated proper Jewish protocol by pressing through the crowd (hindrances) and TOUCHING HIM.

Jesus touching us requires nothing from us.  It requires no commitment, desperation, or effort, just reception of His touch.  We need that, but if we are going to press into His provisions, we have to TOUCH HIM!

We have to press through the things that separate us, get near enough to touch Him, and make a concerted and committed effort to get to Him.  Too often, we pray, “LORD, touch us when the need is for us to touch Him.”  We ask Him to take our part and do our part and His.  He will touch us when we touch Him.

My heart cries, “LORD, help me to become desperate enough to do whatever is needed to get close enough to TOUCH YOU!”   I know that he will TOUCH US when we get near enough to TOUCH HIM!   He longs for us to accept His invitation to “Come to Him.”

In His presence is peace, provision, and power.  Touching Jesus is my goal today!  Touching Him is all that matters!  We will be transformed as we cast off all that hinders us and press in close enough to touch Him.  In that condition, we will receive and gain power to pull down strongholds.

The goal today is to TOUCH JESUS and then be TOUCHED by JESUS!

Proverbs 6:16-24 – “There are six things that the Lord hates,
even seven things that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members.  ²⁰ My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.  ²¹ Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck.  ²² When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.  ²³ For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life, ²⁴ by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, Proverbs 6 became my cause to pause and muse.   In verses 16-19, we have a list of seven things God hates.  The list is pretty encompassing, and most can identify some areas of need.   I would go through them, but they are not my primary focus, although they are worthy of examination.  (I encourage you to do that.)

Beginning in verse 20, the reminder of the value of godly parenting and our obedience to God’s precepts takes center stage.   In verse 21, the instruction is, “Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck.” There are many possibilities in this, but what leaped out at me was diligently embracing the godly life teachings of applying the precepts of God’s Word to our lives.  Keep them so alive in the heart and mind that they are like a necklace or headband, constantly apparent.

In verses 22-23, there is the benefit or result of that action, condition, and position.

• They will guide you when you walk about (go through your day).

They become our spiritual GPS.  The Word is a lamp and light to illuminate our path.

• When you lie down to sleep, they will watch over you.

Think about that – having God’s Word and godly life instructions, the guiding factor in our lives, builds a canopy of protection administered by the angels even when we sleep.  God’s precepts, obeyed and embraced, become our fortress of defense.  Not only protected but instructed in our sleep.

• When you wake up, they will talk to you.

Wow!  That gives a whole new level to self-talk.  Let your conscience be your guide is visualized in this.  When God’s precepts (Word) are hidden or embedded in our hearts, they continually speak to us and give us the reasoning ability to discern right from wrong and provide the pathway to wisdom.

Having God’s Word and godly life instructions deeply ingrained in us guides us, guards us, and encourages us.  Our conscience is equipped to talk us through every encounter.  God’s Word speaks as we read and hear it read.

Also, the Word in us talks to us from the time we get up until we go to sleep, and then it protects us.  What a promise and provision.  What a motivation to fill our hearts and minds with the Word and embrace the godly life instructions given.  What a motivation to teach children the Ways of God.

God gives us the plan and pattern for living in peace, power, provision, and fullness.  Having it is up to us.  How much do we want it, and how much effort will we put in to have it?  Victory is promised, and possessing it is our responsibility.

Have a Great Day in Jesus; you are an Overcomer!