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!

Psalm 139:23-24 – “Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts.  Test me, and know my concerns.  ²⁴ See if there is any idolatrous way in me,and lead me in the everlasting way.”

As I arose and began my daily prayer, reading, and musing on the Word of God, Psalm 139 became my focus.  That one Psalm contains a lifetime of revelation, but I will extract what impressed upon my heart today.

A reality that is incredibly comforting to some and one that robs some of sleep is that God is everywhere and sees everything.   He not only sees but also hears even before we do or say anything.

Let that soak in for a moment.   God knows and sees EVERYTHING!   That is either the greatest source of comfort or the worst nightmare.   We may fool other people and even ourselves, but not God.

God knew us before we were conceived.   He formed us precisely as He desired in the womb.  He wrote the desired destiny of our lives in His book before we were even conceived.  (Psalm 139:13-16).

God gave us the ability to think, the gifts, talents, and natural abilities before we were born to enable us to fulfill His destiny for us.   We were created for a purpose and should never compare ourselves with others or lament our seeming inability to do certain things.  We have the ability to do what we were designed for.

Yes, we hone, sharpen, and develop those abilities, but they make us unique.   I don’t need to be you, and you don’t need to be me, but in the scheme of things, our combined abilities accomplish God’s purposes if we cooperate with Him and learn contentment in our calling and purpose.  Maybe He didn’t design us to be the visible part.  Be content with who you are.  Your role is valuable to the kingdom.

Psalm 139:23-24 should be our continual prayer, desire, and attitude.  “Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts.  Test me, and know my concerns (cares, fears, desires).  24.  See if there is any idolatrous way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

Psalm 141:3-4 – “O LORD, place a guard on my mouth (a muzzle might be needed).  Protect the opening of my lips.  4.  Do not let me have evil desires (accomplished by filling our hearts and minds with Him) or participate in sinful activities (discipline and commitment).”

This is all founded upon the reality that God is everywhere and knows everything.  God has chosen to love us, even seeing and knowing us, because He is love and knows who He created us to be.   Our part is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in becoming.  That would also include never justifying ourselves or believing we cannot be who He designed us to be.

You are one in a million, unique, and original, and you have a special purpose.   Take what you have and use it for God.   Little is much if God is in it, and remember, the reward is not based on the magnitude but on obedience and faithfulness.  If God didn’t design you to be world-famous, you will live miserably trying to be.   Bloom where you are planted and be the flower you were designed to be; then, you will have peace and impact the kingdom more than you will know in this life.

Knowing that God knows enables us to be at peace in all things!

Matthew 16:13-20 – “When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven!  ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.  Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, something filled my heart that intrigued, challenged, and inspired me.   What was that – “The Door to Demonstrated Authority.”

Jesus told Peter (and, by inference, us), “I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”   What are the keys for?  To lock or unlock doors in the natural.  In the spiritual keys are clues that unlock or unveil hidden truths and revelations.

He then said (explaining the usage of those keys of truth), “Whatever (how much is whatever?) You bind on earth Will Have Been Bound in Heaven, AND whatever you release on earth Will Have Been Released in heaven.”

Those keys available for believers were founded upon a particular revelation.  “Who do you say I am?”   Who is Jesus to you?  Peter said, and we must see and confess – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”   Unless we comprehend the Cross and the Christ of the Cross, we have no spiritual authority.   But if we know who He is.   If we know Him as both Savior and Lord, we have the spiritual keys of Demonstrated Authority to bind and loose.

If we have that authority, why don’t we consistently use it?  Rather than making excuses like “God is Sovereign” or something similar, if we see the Revelation and Victory of the Cross and the Christ of the Cross, we realize that the “keys” of authority granted to us are not intermittent but continuous.

What we bind or loose on earth Has Already been bound or loosed in Heaven.  The Completed Work of the Cross means healing is done.  Deliverance is done.  Provision is done.  Guidance is done.  Wisdom is done.  What was not provided through the Cross?  Therefore, when we see and believe the completed work of the Cross, we know we have authority that is demonstrable in Jesus.  We have access to whatever has been bound or released in heaven.  We can call it into reality in Jesus’ Name.

The fact that we exercise this authority intermittently reveals that we either do not see or do not believe the completed work.  We doubt ourselves and, in that state, doubt God.  So, “Lord, help us to have eyes to see spiritually, ears to hear the divine, and hearts to believe, embrace, and implement the Provision of the Cross.”

We allow the devil to win through our inconsistency.   Peter said, “Such as I have, I give.”   What did he have?   Faith?   Yes, but more than faith.  He had the keys of the kingdom of heaven and knew he could unlock the door that was already unlocked in heaven and release healing to the lame man.

We have the keys.   We need to see it, believe it, and exercise it.  The devil can only win if we fail to exercise our authority.  Let’s exercise it consistently!

May your day be victorious, and may you fully utilize ‘The Keys of the Kingdom.”

Psalm 116:1 –  I love the Lord because…”

As I began reading, praying, and musing on the Word of God today, I heard a question in my spirit that made me shut down and think.  The question was, “Why Do You Love the LORD?” Think about that.

Psalm 116:1 – “I love the LORD because…”   Before reading the Psalmist’s reason, ask yourself, “Why Do I Love the LORD?”   Is it because of what He does?    Is it the blessings we receive?  Is it because of what He does or because He Is?  For me, it is Who He is?

The Psalmist said, “because He heard my plea for mercy, AND listened to me.”   Those are valid reasons, but are they the best reasons?   He is our provider, but the greatest provision was salvation and loving us.

The Psalmist asked in verse 12, “How can I repay the LORD for His acts of kindness to me?”   If that is an action based on gratitude, it is honorable.  If it is action, trying to reach a position of deserving God’s blessings, it is not.

He said, “I will celebrate my deliverance and call on the name of the LORD.”  (Verse 13).   “I will fulfill my vows to the LORD before all His people.” (Verse 14)  In verses 17-19, he listed three places where he will fulfill his vows to God.   

• Before the people (publicly).  
• In the Courts of God’s temple.  (Church). 
• In God’s presence.

If we truly love God, we will seek to do His will, proclaim His Name, extol His acts of blessing, and desire His presence.   We cannot earn His favor.  We do not earn salvation by works or deeds.  It is by grace through faith that we enter the kingdom.  However, our love for God should propel us to be doers, not just hearers.  Rewards come by works, Salvation by grace.

But the original question reveals the true condition of our hearts and can be seen in Satan’s challenge to God about Job.   Is it what God does for us that elicits our service?  Is it the answer to our prayers and giving us our desires?  Is He alone enough?  Is His love for us enough to draw our love?  If He never answered another prayer, would we love Him?

In Psalm 119:15, the Psalmist reveals a key to victory.  “I will meditate on Your precepts and focus on Your behavior.”   Think about that.  The dual focus is on what God says and who God is.   That’s how we become transformed, the Word and Person of God.  The cliché “WWJD?”   It is germane to consider what Jesus would do in any situation!   We learn His precepts and see the application in His behavior, enabling us to always live victoriously.

Why do we love the LORD?   The truly legitimate reason is Who He Is!  What He does is the outflow of who He is.   Who He is in us transforms us, and as He lives His life in us, He enables us to model our behavior after Him.   We love Him because He first loved us, because of who He is, because He is love, and His love gives us life.

I have inadequately addressed the question, but I hope the Holy Spirit will challenge you to consider it personally.  Why Do You Love the LORD?

May the Love of God flood your hearts today and every day.