FORGIVENESS


Matthew 18:21-22 – “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”  NASB

I ask that you read through verse 35 for this discussion on Forgiveness.  If we have not discovered that the devil uses ‘schemes’ to entrap and harm us, we need to acknowledge that reality.  It is important that we uncover or discover his schemes so that we can effectively defeat him and destroy the works of darkness in our lives and spheres of influence.  As we discover the schemes and our weaponry provided by the Grace of God and the Power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to receive Forgiveness, Defeat the devil, and help others be Free of his diabolical destruction in their lives. 

In this process, we find it necessary to address the matter of Forgiveness of the lack thereof.  That is one of the major areas in which the devil gains legal ground in the lives of believers and unbelievers.  Jesus identified just how important this truth is:

Matthew 6:12 – “Forgive us (as) we forgive others.”   (The as is the key or a key that too often we omit or overlook.)

Matthew 6:14 – “(If) we forgive others, God will forgive us.”  (Don’t miss the key.)

Matthew 18:21 – “How often are we to forgive?”  (Never numeric specifics.)

Matthew 18:35 – “God’s forgiveness to us is tied to our forgiving others.”

Mark 11:25 – Forgiving others is the key to God’s forgiveness but also answers to prayers.

Luke 6:37 – A Rule and Principle of Life – We Reap What We Sow.

The Law of Retribution flows to its inevitable conclusion UNLESS forgiveness is accomplished in the heart.  This is validated in James 1:13-15.  The matter of anger is a prime example.  What I mean is, ‘anger’ is a stimulus.  It engenders a response and each response becomes a stimulus to the other party or parties which then produces a response from them and becomes a stimulus that perpetuates the condition or situation.

(i.e.) – Arguments incite fights.  Group hassles morph into riots.  National tensions become wars.  (James 4:1-2).  The Law of Stimulus and Response. The Law of Sowing and Reaping or Retribution flows to its natural conclusion UNLESS Forgiveness is practiced.

Let me caution that Will Power or suppressing responses only delay the inevitable.  If it is seething in the heart it will eventually become a full-blown reality in life.  Therefore, the only remedy is ‘The Cross’.  Jesus is truly the only answer to the condition of harboring hurt or resentment in the heart and is the key to Forgiveness! 

Tragically, we sometimes find that something has blinded our minds and obscured the Cross, creating a situation in which we are held captive.  We become ‘bound’ and ‘bent’ toward destruction UNLESS there is outside or divine help.  It does involve our will, but it is far more than mere will-power.

None of us would have a problem with Forgiveness were it not for the condition of Sin!  Too often, I’ve heard people argue, “But, I’m only human or I’m not perfect.”  Those statements are true but can never be a justification for sin or failure to forgive.

God’s Standard and Plan is for us to become ‘totally transformed’ so that we do not sin!  Jesus always meets us where we are, in all of our sinfulness, and brings us up to His level.  It is a Process!

Jesus informed us in Luke 6:40 that the student or disciple is not above his teacher, but when fully trained he becomes like the teacher.  In 1 John 4:17, we are told that our objective is to be “as Jesus is” in this present world.  We learn in the Psalms that we become like what we focus on or worship.  Then in Jude 24, we discover that Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling and 1 John 2:6 instructs that “he who abides in Him (Jesus) ought to walk as He (Jesus) walks.”

I realize that I have not gotten to the nuts and bolts of forgiveness but hope that I have elevated your focus as to the importance of Forgiving and being Forgiven.  We will address that more in upcoming devotionals.  Until then, may the Lord richly bless you and help you to enjoy His fullness, grace, mercy, and peace.

Have a fantastic day in Him today!

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WHAT CAN I DO? – – Grandparents Part Two…


Revelation 22:1 –“And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” NASB

Ecclesiastes 7:1 – “A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.”  NASB

I want to call several things to our attention regarding the Family, Parents, and especially Grandparents, as that is the primary focus of my devotional.

First, I ask that you consider the Despair of Grandparenthood.  Before you protest and say, “Despair?” let me continue.  I believe there is a level of despair in Grandparenthood that is often overlooked or given little consideration.  There is a certain level of Fear in Grandparenting.  We all experience, to one degree or another, the Fear of Rejection.  After all, the old Fogey is out of touch with modern times, right?  There is the Fear of Aging and the loss of productivity, self-worth, and physical ability.  There is the Fear of Failure.  That would be the fear of not properly influencing the children and grandchildren that they become good parents, grandparents, and citizens.

Then, there is the Despair of Frustration.  The lack of willingness of others to hear our counsel is frustrating. We see the pitfalls and dangers and when our warnings and offerings of guidance are not heeded it is frustrating.  There is another element of frustration in seeing our children and grandchildren fail to heed our counsel and repeat our mistakes. 

I do not and will not adopt the attitude, “Well they are grown now, so what can I do?”  I cannot control their lives and do not want to.  I cannot make their decisions and do not want to.  However, I can pray and give them an example that, hopefully, will draw them into the light and the right paths.

The emotional strain is beyond belief when one deeply cares about the lives of those they are seeking to influence.  When you have done all, you can and given it your best shot and they still reject your counsel and rebel against God, it is heartbreaking.  It results in a state of broken-heartedness and many times we cry, “LORD, what can I do?”  Let me offer hope, there is an answer to that question.

There is an Obligation Imposed, by God on Grandparents.  We are to give those following an example worthy of being followed.  Let me ask, “What is the image you are projecting?”  Most of us desire to give our children and grandchildren a heritage of character rooted and grounded in a good name.  It is more than being well-spoken of.  It is more than a good reputation.  It is a life that bears spiritual fruit and exhibits Christlikeness.  It is not only a name remembered on earth but written in heaven.

That demands the question, “How Can I Project That Image?”  First, make a total commitment of your life to Jesus.  Second, endeavor to live totally committed daily and be conscious of your example.  I have discovered that sheep are led much easier than they are driven.  There is a poem that I share to remind us of a powerful truth:

“We are a living gospel, a chapter each day, by deed that we do, by word that we say; men read what we live, whether faithless or true, Say!  What is the gospel according to you?”

I heard about a Hindu woman who was converted and incredibly persecuted by her husband because of her faith.  The missionary asked how she responded.  She said, “I cook his food better when he complains. I keep the house cleaner when he is mean.  When he gives harsh words, I speak softly and kindly.”  She said, “I try to demonstrate that I am a better woman because I am a Christian.”  He could not resist and was converted too.  I had a person tell me that she got saved because of her grandmother.  She said, “I could not argue with her life.”

What can we do?  My own grandparents greatly influenced my life and did so with a godly heritage.  They wanted me to be better and do better.  They clearly had a desire to give us a godly heritage and a followable example.  That is the cry of my heart, “LORD, help me to be a right influence on my grandchildren.  Help me demonstrate to them a dedicated and committed life.”  I declare that “With God’s help I will do my best to be the example that will give them a godly influence.”

God bless you as you continue your journey in Christ!

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WHAT CAN I DO?


Revelation 22:1 – “And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” NASB

Ecclesiastes 7:1 – “A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.”  NASB

I want to address a group of people that are sometimes overlooked or their value in our lives underestimated.  That group is known as “Grandparents.”  In my estimation, and I am now one, Grandparents are a very special and important group of people.  Well, they should be and have a heavy weight of responsibility in the extended family.  They have, by virtue of longevity, garnered wisdom needed to be imparted to the generations following.

Wise counsel is important in all phases of life.  In Proverbs 13:10 we are informed that “with the well-advised there is wisdom.”  That is invaluable in life.  Solomon also declared that we should never reach a place or a mindset that we feel our parents and grandparents have nothing worthwhile to impart to us.  Proverbs 23:22, “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not their mother when she is old.” 

There are a number of things I want to bring to our consciousness for consideration.  I ask that you bear with me and allow me the latitude to walk through the process of life.

First, Remember the Journey to Grandparenthood began with childhood.  All grandparents were once children with grandparents.  I know that seems a bit trite, but sometimes we lose sight of the fact that those preceding us on the chronological scale of life have been where we are as children and parents.  They were, likely, terrible toddlers, irresponsible adolescents, and adventurous young adults.  Their music and culture may have been very different, but they were like we on the journey.

Those Grandparents, having matured and learned through the ups and downs of life and are now seasoned veterans of the School of Life.  Their encounters, experiences, and experiments have brought them to this advanced degree in Life’s School.  They know, from experience and observation, what it is to hurt in defeat and to have overflowing joy in success.  Their counsel should be valued, for it comes through the eyes of those who have traveled Life’s Rugged Road.

Second, We Should Be Aware, The Bible is Quite Clear Regarding the Family Unit and its Importance and Purpose.  God’s first order in the Garden included the Family Unit.  He established the family before He established the church.  Yet, the church plays an incredibly important role in the development of the family or should. 

There are some clear guidelines or rules to be observed regarding the family unit.

Children are a gift of God to the home.  Children are to honor their parents, heed the counsel of those parents, recognize and honor God with their lives.  Parents have a tremendous responsibility toward God regarding those lives they have brought into this world.  They are to teach, train, guide, provide for, control and love those children.  They are charged with shaping their lives for God and good.

Parents are charged with the responsibility of training their children in the way they should live.  They do this by giving them instruction and a pattern to follow.  The question arises, “How can we train anyone in a way that we ourselves do not know?”

Thirdly, Grandparents have a major responsibility and role in the area of influence through word and example.  They have already impacted the lives of the parents, their own children.  This influence can be very good or very bad, but it is there. 

Our text speaks of treasures more valuable than silver, gold, or any earthly treasure.  That treasure is “A Good Name!”  I am fully persuaded that there is no person who truly says, “I do not care what my children or grandchildren become.”  I don’t believe that we are indifferent about the directions they take in life.  We do not want to see them become enslaved to addiction or lifestyles that lead them into societal, moral, financial, and spiritual difficulty. We want them to become responsible adults and turn out good.  We want them to rise higher than we in life.

I have always cautioned people when children are around that “Little eyes see, and little ears hear.”  That brings me to the major points I want to make and will do so in the next devotional. 

God bless you and may He make you a positive influence for those younger than you!

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DELIVERANCE FROM ANXIETY – Part Three…


Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  NASB

We have considered the first phases or legs of our journey into Deliverance from Anxiety, “Trusting God with All Our Hearts.”  We have considered the second, “Leaning Not to Our Own Understanding.”  Today, we will move to the third phase or leg and hopefully, the Holy Spirit will quicken your heart to receive the fullness of this Promise and walk into full deliverance from Worry!

Why depend on our own ability when we have God available and willing to help, lead, and guide in all things and at all times?  Sadly, many do because they are more comfortable in their own ability than they are in the unseen and unknown realm of Trusting God!

Now, let’s consider the third leg or phase of this journey into Full Deliverance from Anxiety, “In All Your Ways, Acknowledge Him and He Will Direct Your Path.”  If the other two were simple but difficult this part is possibly more difficult to fully embrace.  Why?  Because we have been taught to follow our own hearts and thoughts.  We are taught to be self-sufficient and independent, to a fault.

In 1 Timothy 4:12b, we read, “…show yourself an example of those who believe.”  In Psalms 37:23a, we hear the words, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD…”  The prophet Isaiah declares it powerfully in Isaiah 30:21, “And your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” 

God has promised to supply all our need (Philippians 4:19).  He has promised to be with us always (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:6; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5, and Romans 8:38-39).  He has promised to protect us and in John 14, He has promised to return for us, where He began with the words, “Let not your heart be troubled…”  Don’t worry, don’t fret, don’t be anxious, just Trust Me!

Therefore, if God is in control and He is, then there are zero reasons to worry.  If God is All-Powerful, and He is, then there is no reason to fear.  Worry is not a product of Faith or a fruit of Salvation, it is an attack of the enemy of our souls attempting to ruin our lives. It is designed to divert our trust and confidence from God to self and thereby doom us to failure and misery. 

Worry is rooted in confusion and is birthed out of fear.  The devil is the author of confusion and fear whereas God is the author of Peace and Confidence.  God is not worried!  That is an understatement and overly simplistic.  Saying it makes me “Mr. Obvious” but sometimes the obvious needs to be voiced.  God knows He is in control and is well able to handle any situation.  With that in mind, I ask, “Why Worry?”

Who is the LORD?  Is the arm of the LORD shortened that it cannot save?  Can He no longer save, heal, deliver, and provide?  Is the Bible speaking the truth when it says, “He can do all things and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”?

I came to Christ when the Holy Spirit used this passage to penetrate my own understanding and pointed me to the only hope I had, Jesus.  God has used this passage to help me escape the prison of Anxiety and Worry that was somewhat hereditary in my family.  May the LORD bring you to full deliverance from anxiety and grant you the Peace that Passes all understanding guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 

I pray that you will have a fantastic worry-free day!

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DELIVERANCE FROM ANXIETY – Part Two…


Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  NASB

In the last devotional we considered the first plank in the platform or first leg in the journey to Freedom from Anxiety.  That was that we must “Trust in the LORD with All our Heart.”  Complete and absolute trust is required.  It is not optional.  It may not be easy to make that kind of commitment, but it is necessary!

The next leg is, we must “Lean Not unto Our Own Understanding…”  That is possibly more difficult than the first part.  Man does not appear to have the ability or intelligence to guide his own life successfully without divine input and enablement.  I don’t care how smart you are or think you are, you are not that smart or that disciplined.  We all need God’s help!

In Isaiah 55:8-9, we discover an incredible revelation, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.  9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”  Also, in Proverbs 14:12 we hear the arresting truth, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” 

In Jeremiah 17:5-7, we are confronted by the Living God with this declaration from the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient Creator, “Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD.” 

The man or woman that Trusts God completely and does not rely on his or her own understanding or ability becomes like a Tree that is planted by the waters of life and prospers.  We do not understand all things in the natural, therefore, how could we expect to understand all things in the spiritual realm?  God has a master plan at work and is in control.  We can trust Him! 

We only see the outward and know only the superficial or circumstantial. God sees it all.  We see the beginning from the end, but God sees the end from the beginning.  He is ALL KNOWING!  We have no power to change people and only a few things, God has All Power!  Nothing is impossible with Him.  Although He will never violate the will of man, He has the power to bring to bear circumstances and conditions in and on our lives that lead us to His truth.

The first phase is to “Trust God Completely” and the second phase is, “To reject our own Understanding” and replace it with His guidance.  Before we get to the third phase or leg in this journey I will pause and ask that you muse on these two important points and open your heart to the third tomorrow. 

May the LORD enlighten your mind and open your heart to receive His total deliverance from Anxiety and give you peace. 

Have a fantastic day in Him!

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DELIVERANCE FROM ANXIETY…


Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  NASB

Anxiety is a problem all have, have had or will battle!  I am incredibly grateful to the LORD for His wonderful grace and goodness.  This passage has tremendous meaning to me, it was the passage the LORD used to reach me.  Later, He used it to teach me some wonderful truths and bring victory! 

I have discovered that in the human mind there is an element which requires divine help to overcome and rid ourselves of its torment.  That is Anxiety or Worry!  I have defined ‘Chronic Worry’ as misapplied trust and misdirected confidence.  It is trust in the wrong direction and in the wrong source.  Until this problem is overcome it will deal almost continual misery to the person affected or afflicted by it.  Worry or Anxiety is one of the most effective tools of the devil in hindering our spiritual progress and the development of faith.

The writer of Proverbs gives a simple but powerful pathway to the victory over Worry.  It is worth our time to consider and hopefully, that consideration will lead to a new place of victory in our lives.

Worry – – Causes a person to be sick physically, depressed mentally, and hinders them from rising to that place of victory and power that is promised to believers in the Word. 

Worry – – Hinders prayer by putting more trust in the arm of flesh that can be seen than in the Omnipotent God who cannot be seen. 

Worry – – Is a deterrent to faith.  It causes one to lose hope before the victory arrives because it is rooted in the natural realm rather than in the supernatural.

You were not born worried!  It is learned not inherent in our DNA.  Parents teach their children to worry by their lives, their words, and their actions.  People become good at worrying because they practice and practice it. 

Worry – – Can be overcome by learning to rely on God to perform His Word. There are two types of things we should never worry about:  Those things we cannot help and those we can.  Most of us find ourselves worrying in one of those dimensions from time to time. 

This passage gives us a pathway to spiritual victory and that pathway is incredibly simple although not always easy.  I ask that you join me in the journey of discovery of our Promised Deliverance from Anxiety. 

First, we must “Trust in the LORD will All our Heart.”  That implies complete and total trust.  That implies placing our lives totally and completely in His hands.  That is simple but not always easy.  We are to live a life of expectancy and obedience.  Could I remind you that each of us had to Trust God for our salvation?  We had to place our confidence in His ability and faithfulness to keep His Word and Forgive us.  Likewise, we are to Trust Him in Everything! 

We trust His faithfulness in times of joy and in times of grief.  We trust Him in our tears, storms, valleys, and mountains.  In all things!  We trust when the bills are paid and when they are not.  It is easy to declare that we “Trust God” when things are secure and there is no drama or trauma in our lives.  We are to trust Him when we are sick and when we are well.  We are to trust Him when we are prospering and when we are in want.  We trust in times of Spiritual abundance and in times of Spiritual drought. 

We are to put our total confidence in God.  In 1 Peter 1:5:7 we read, “Casting all your care on Him; for He careth for you.”  Isaiah 26:3 reminds us of His Power and Promise saying, “The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace because he trusts in Thee.” 

Therefore, the first step to receiving “Deliverance from Anxiety” is to Trust God with our all.  Our heart, mind, body, and soul resting in Him.  That may not be easy, but it is the objective and the first requirement in attaining victory over Worry in our lives! 

God bless you as you proceed on the pathway of Freedom from Anxiety!

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PHASES OF A DEVOUT SOUL…


Psalms 25:1-7 – “To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in Thee I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none of those who wait for Thee will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

4 Make me know Thy ways, O LORD; Teach me Thy paths. 5 Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, Thy compassion and Thy lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Thy lovingkindness remember Thou me, For Thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.”  NASB

To me, these are some of the most beautiful and touching words found in the Psalms.  They provide a sense of understanding as to why God would call David a man after His own heart.  The true character of David shines forth in the Psalms he wrote.  The reveal his heart powerfully.

When I consider the progression or phases of a Devout Soul I see, in verse one, the Soul Rising to God.  “Unto Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul…”  David is allowing his soul to ascend into the presence of God in devout thoughts (v.1), in gratitude (Psalm 103), in adoration toward God (Psalm 48).  This is David’s personal exertion of his will.  No other person can lift your soul into the presence of God, but you!  It is an exercise of your will and the surrender of your heart.

Then in verse two, I see His Soul Trusting in God.  “O my God, I trust in Thee…”  Trusting in God reveals his dependence on God.  It expresses his complete awareness of his human inability and God’s ability.  It expresses a belief and confidence in the sufficiency of the Almighty.  It is an expression of the confidence and recognition that God is Sovereign and with Him, there is nothing impossible.  Therefore, he trusts and rests in God.

Then, we see in verse 5 the Soul Waiting on the LORD.  “For Thee, I wait all the day…”   This is echoed in Psalms 27:14; 62:5; Proverbs 20;22; and Isaiah 40:31. To wait expresses patience, hope, confidence, and trust.  In waiting, we learn to serve.

Next, in verse three, we see the Devout Soul Reaching out to God in Prayer.  “Let none that wait on Thee be ashamed…”  The prayer recorded in verses 3-7 fall into two categories.  It is a Prayer for Self.  He reveals his confidence in the power and willingness of God to deliver him, guide him, and rests in the security of knowing that God will not forget him but will Remember him!  It is also a Prayer for Others.  He prays for the success of the good, the righteous, and the godly.  He also prays for the defeat of those who hate God, reject God, and reject His people.

I see the Psalmist expressing a progression of his soul in the development of trust and confidence in God.  He reaches out to God and seeks His presence.  He Trusts in God and rests fully in His Power, Person, and Purpose.  He Waits on the LORD, listening for the direction he is to take, and Prays!

May the LORD be with you as you grow in His Grace and Seek His Face!

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FAITH IN FORCE…


Psalms 16:8 – “I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  NASB. [Read verses 1-11 for the full impact of this truth.]

I love the progression of truth revealed in this Psalm.  It is here that we catch a glimpse of a faith that comes or grows to maturity and is rooted and grounded in God and His Word.  The declaration of verse 8 is nothing short of incredible!  It is with purpose and intent that the Psalmist focuses on God.  It is not a casual reference to a timid superficial belief in a creed or a creator, but a declaration of Total Confidence in God!

David declares that God is the portion of his inheritance and his maintainer.  He declares that God is his counselor and because of his view of God, he has developed a faith that is in full force, alive, and active!  It is a faith that produces life, peace, joy, and hope!  That should be the objective of each believer.

Here in Psalm 16, we hit the high-water mark of religious life in two aspects.  It is revealed in an ardent devotion to God and it holds a clear certainty of eternal blessedness beyond the grave.  That is powerful!  It is Faith in Full Bloom that is being expressed and demonstrated in this Psalm.  There are three facts or factors that I want to briefly call your attention to and hope they are inspirational as well as challenging.

Notice the Effort of Faith expressed in the words, “I have set the LORD always before me…”  This is a personal exercise of faith.  He is making a conscious effort to keep himself continually in touch with the unseen creator of all things.  This is, in my view, the essence of true religion.

His whole soul cleaves to God.  He has developed an intelligent, reasoned, and the reasonable decision that God alone is all that he needs, as expressed in verse 8.  He is making a determined decision to totally surrender all his heart, mind, body, and soul to God, as is expressed in verse 2.  God was always in the forefront of his mind and always before him or he kept himself always before God.  He brought his thoughts into captivity to the obedience of the Creator.  It was not based on feelings or emotion but Truth!

Next, consider the Friend of Faith as described in the words, “He is at my right hand…”  God is the Object of Faith.  This is the result of effort and God honors it by giving his aide, protection, and wisdom.  David expresses that by his effort of Faith, he becomes aware in a new way, of the presence of God at his side.  He discovers God as the Friend of Faith.

The divine presence is the source of his strength and if God is at his ‘right hand’ then the words of Psalm 91 become visible.  We are in the shadow of the one who is protecting us, guiding us, and guarding us.  He is our Protector, Director, and Friend as well as our Savior!

Then, notice the Stability of Faith expressed in the words, “shall not be moved…”  If God is there, close at my side, what can move me?  Notice verse 10’s promise that we will not be abandoned.  Consider verse 11’s promise that God will guide us and reveal to us the pathway of life He has chosen for us. 

The secret of a quiet heart is to keep near God.  In abiding in the shadow of the Almighty we find that no storm can wreck our ship and our anchor will hold in Jesus!  Real communion with God is the guarantee that the man who develops it and receives His grace will never die.  Oh, he will in the natural, but not in the eternal.

Therefore, it is imperative that we seek to keep near to God.  We need to keep Him ever before us and in the forefront of our minds and consciousness.  We need to allow our faith to rise and we will discover that we can stand no matter what comes because of His Presence.  We need to keep God ever before us in our Thought Life, Prayer Life, and Devotional Life.  If God is for us who can be against us and what difference does it make if they are?

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in His Grace!

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WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, Read The Directions – Part Two…


2 Timothy 2:15 – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”  NASB

Yesterday we discussed the first instruction in ‘reading the directions’ and the benefits of that action.  It was “Seek First The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”  I suggest that the next revelation in ‘Reading the Directions’ is we Discover How We Are To Fit Into God’s Plans.

Directions are worthless unless read and followed.  It has been a strategy of the enemy of our souls to insist that the Bible is so complicated that only the select of the elect can understand it.  If you cannot understand it, why bother investing your time and energy into reading it?   In Isaiah 35:8 we read, “And a highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it.”  God has a plan and has given us a road map to spiritual victory, we err in failing to utilize it.

It is easy to tell someone else how to run their life. The Bible gives directions for all.  I am reminded of a story I heard years ago.  A boy was walking in the woods and saw a man with a gun.  The boy asked the man what he was hunting, and he said bears.  The little boy said, “If I was a big as you, I’d hunt bears with my bare hands.”  The man smiled and said, “Son, there are a lot of little bears out here too!”  God’s word deals with the big and the small in life.  Maybe you cannot kill a big bear, but you can find one your size and handle him if you read the directions.

In life, the small things are not unimportant and cumulatively they have a major impact on both the quality and quantity of life.  If you see an automobile driving down the road you see the exterior and the eye appeal but all of that would be worthless without the internal parts that make it function.  Paul said that even the little parts of the body are important and necessary (1 Corinthians 12:22).

I have met people who, because they are not the lead or have a major role in something, they do nothing.  They want the glory, the recognition, the prestige rather than helping the objective become a reality.

Additionally, reading God’s Directions informs us How We Can Be Spiritually Healthy.  That is not an insignificant blessing and benefit.  A person can eat nothing but healthy nourishing food but if he sits idle and does not move or exercise, he will wither away.  The saying, “Use it or lose it” is a truth that is unavoidable in many areas of life.

The Bible tells us in Psalms 55:17 to take one spoonful of Communion with God before each meal.  If you question that let me quote it, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”  Sounds a lot like what I suggested doesn’t it?  We are to take a tablespoonful at bedtime in Ephesians 4:26-27,” Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.” 

Many people would not dream of going to bed without a shower, a bath, or brushing their teeth but think nothing of going to bed with a soiled conscience and bruised relations.  The Bible teaches us to be cautious because many things are habit-forming.  For example, if you allow yourself to engage in telling little white lies or distorting the truth in a minuscule manner or tasting the morsels of gossip you will find that it becomes easier to expand them and even enjoy them.

When all else fails ‘read the directions.’  In 1 Thessalonians 5:22, the directions warn us to “shun the very appearance of evil.”  The enemy will try to convince us that this or that is not harmful, but the Bible warns in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death…”

A few years ago, many were rocked by the news that a father had put poison in some Halloween candy and gave it to his son.  People asked, “How could a father do such a thing?”  As I lamented over the depth of that depravity in any human being, the thought came to mind, “Millions are doing the same thing spiritually.  There are fathers and mothers who are murdering their children spiritually by listening to and believing the lies of the devil and not guiding their children in a life of godliness.”  The Bible tells us to ‘train the children.’  Train them in the way they should go and when they are advanced in years that will come back to them and help keep them on the right track. 

If your life is in shambles or if you experience overwhelming difficulty in life, let me encourage you to “Go to the Direction Manual and Read it!”  God has Promised to hear all who call and never leave or forsake us. 

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

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WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, Read The Directions…


2 Timothy 2:15 – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”  NASB

Reading God’s directions should not be our last resort but the first order of business.  A few months ago I was driving through a small town in East Texas and saw the church marquee that had a picture of a Bible and these words, “When all else fails, read the directions.”  I laughed and said, “Amen!”  Then the Holy Spirit quickened my heart and I heard the question, “Why wait until all else fails?” 

Many men and some women have a tendency to attempt something first before reading the enclosed directions.  In putting together purchased items I have found that sometimes the directions are about as useful as a screen door on a submerged submarine.  However, the point is well taken that reading the directions can save time, heartache, and produce a much better, finished product.  Men are notorious for not asking directions when traveling. 

God has given directions for life in His Word (Bible) and failing to read those directions opens the door to many difficulties, disappointments, and hardships we could have avoided.  I have dealt with countless people who kept trying to ‘put their life together’ before turning to the LORD only to discover that no matter how they tried, failure was the result. 

If we want to put the pieces of our life together, I suggest that the Bible is the best and first place to turn for instructions and guidance.  There is clear guidance in God’s Word so let’s consider some of the directions we all should be reading and applying to our daily lives.

First, “Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God.”  (Matthew 6:33).  That should go without saying, but too frequently that is not the first thought of our minds or hearts in life.  If we put money before God, money will become our god.  If we put pleasure before God, pleasure will become our god.  If we put business before God, business will become our god.  First things first is not just the best approach but the only viable approach to anything.

In doing construction work much of my life and building things, I quickly discovered that if you are going to build a house you do not start with the roof or even the walls.  No, you begin with the foundation which is needed to support both the walls and the roof.  Unfortunately, even though we know simple rules for building in the natural we omit them in the spiritual realm.  If God is not first, He will become an afterthought or addendum in our lives and that leads to spiritual tragedy and emptiness.

We need the Living God to sustain us, guide us, equip us, and empower us in life.  If you are in financial difficulty try praying to your bank for help or your business or your stash of cash.  But, if we call upon the LORD God Almighty, He can and will bring us the help that we need. 

A few years ago, suicide was the number two killer of college students.  At that time there were over twenty-five thousand people taking their lives each year because things had become so fouled up.  There are millions addicted to drugs or some other substance trying to cope with life because they have trusted something other than God. 

It is God’s desire to give us Perfect Peace and Keep, Protect, and Provide for us.  He wants us to seek Him first.  That command has incredible promise attached to it and should be the cry of every heart to “Seek God First and Above Everything.”  As we do so, we find that His blessings abound and are abundant.

I want to deal with this a bit more and will continue in the next devotional.  But, until then may the LORD richly bless you and guide your footsteps. 

Have a rewarding and blessed day in Him!

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