Tag: christianity

Professor Rabbi Apostle Paul: “that people throughout the province of Asia – both Jews and Greeks – heard the word of the Lord.” Acts 19:8-10

Acts 19:8-10 Amplified Bible

8 And he went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and  arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discrediting and speaking evil of [a]the Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding [b]daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus [instead of in the synagogue]. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the inhabitants of [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], Jews as well as Greeks, heard the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Acts 19:8 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads:

“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”

This verse comes from the book of Acts, which is the fifth book in the New Testament.

It was written by Luke, the same author of the Gospel of Luke, and it follows the spread of the early Christian church and the ministry of the apostles after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The verse specifically focuses on the missionary work of the apostle Paul in Ephesus.

In historical context, Paul’s visit to the synagogue in Ephesus represents his total commitment to spreading the message of Jesus Christ to both Jews and Gentiles.

The synagogue was a central place of worship and teaching and fellowship for the Jewish community. Paul’s decision to speak boldly there for three months shows his unyielding dedication to sharing the gospel with those who were familiar with the Old Testament scriptures and Jewish religious traditions.

The theme of boldness and perseverance in the face of opposition is prominent in this verse. Paul’s willingness to engage in such disputes and debates about the kingdom of God demonstrates his strong conviction, passion for spreading the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

This passage serves as a reminder for all us contemporary Christians to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel, even when faced with resistance or skepticism.

The phrase “the things concerning the kingdom of God” refers to the central message of Jesus’ ministry and the early Christian church.

The kingdom of God encompasses God’s sovereign rule and reign over all of creation, as well as the establishment of righteousness, peace, and salvation for humanity through faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s preaching and persuasion about the kingdom of God would have included teachings about Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, his death and resurrection, and the persistent call to repentance and faith in him for salvation.

The symbolism of Paul’s three-month ministry in the synagogue also carries significance as well.

In biblical numerology, the number three is often associated with divine completeness, such as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the three days of Jesus’ burial before his resurrection.

Paul’s extended time in the synagogue demonstrates his thorough and his comprehensive approach to teaching and explaining the kingdom of God to the Jewish community in Ephesus.

Overall, Acts 19:8 from the King James Version captures the boldness, and the persistence, and commitment of the early apostles in proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ.

It also highlights the importance of engaging with different audiences and communities, regardless of any resistance or opposition encountered.

This verse serves as a powerful example and inspiration for contemporary Christians to boldly and faithfully share the gospel of the kingdom of God in their own spheres of influence.

Preaching the Kingdom of God

It was impossible to be in Paul’s company for very long without hearing from him about one subject: the kingdom of God.

When he arrived at a new city and, as was his custom, sought out a Jewish synagogue in which to begin his proclamation of Jesus Christ, it was the kingdom that was his theme.

When he was under house arrest in Rome, he welcomed visitors and seized the opportunity to talk to them (Acts 28:30-31).

In this, Paul was following his Lord, who, when He began His public ministry, preached, “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

But what is the “kingdom of God”?

When thinking about this kingdom, the Jewish mind looked for the overthrow of their Roman oppressors, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, and the establishing of justice.

Yet Paul knew that wasn’t the story.

He knew that the kingdom of God had been realized in the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. The oppressor He had defeated was far worse than the Romans.

The access to God He had secured was far more wonderful than that enjoyed at the temple. The justice He guaranteed was greater than anything yet seen in this world, and it lay in the future, awaiting His return to make all things new.

Yet the kingdom was and remains not only a future reality but a present one in the lives of those who have bowed the knee to its King.

Paul routinely spoke about the kingdom of God to people who were concerned about oppression and justice.

If we’re not careful, we can present people with the claims of Jesus in such a way that we give the impression that we don’t, and He doesn’t, actually care about any of the issues of our day.

But people should have real questions about the troubles of this world—and we should have answers.

When faced with such questions, we shouldn’t respond with superficial, triumphalist statements.

Simplistic Christianese platitudes aren’t going to cut it.

Our answer should be to say,

“Yes, I am concerned about oppression.

Yes, I am concerned that people in the world are subjugated.

Yes, I am concerned about justice.

The Bible has a lot to say about these things.”

Then we need to show people the answer to our world’s frictions and fractures is ultimately found in King Jesus,

who overturns oppression and sets captives free and abolishes the dividing wall of hostility and makes a new people who are committed to justice in this world without forgetting that there is a world to come

—one of perfect justice and one that has only one entry point: faith in Jesus Christ.

Is our view of the kingdom big enough?

How well do we see that it is not just as a future reality but also as a present one, changing everything as it moves, transforms what men and women believe and how men and women live?

Will we live as members of that kingdom, proclaim that kingdom, as Paul did?

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …..

Praying ……

Psalm 40

Thanksgiving and a Cry for Help
For the choir director. A psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2 He brought me up from a desolate[a] pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and they will trust in the Lord.

4 How happy is anyone
who has put his trust in the Lord
and has not turned to the proud
or to those who run after lies!
5 Lord my God, you have done many things—
your wondrous works and your plans for us;
none can compare with you.
If I were to report and speak of them,
they are more than can be told.

6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
you open my ears to listen.[b]
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.
7 Then I said, “See, I have come;
in the scroll it is written about me.
8 I delight to do your will, my God,
and your instruction is deep within me.”

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
see, I do not keep my mouth closed[c]—
as you know, Lord.
10 I did not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal your constant love and truth
from the great assembly.

11 Lord, you do not[d] withhold your compassion from me.
Your constant love and truth will always guard me.
12 For troubles without number have surrounded me;
my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my courage leaves me.
13 Lord, be pleased to rescue me;
hurry to help me, Lord.

14 Let those who intend to take my life
be disgraced and confounded.
Let those who wish me harm
be turned back and humiliated.
15 Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
be appalled because of their shame.

16 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation continually say,
“The Lord is great!”
17 I am oppressed and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my helper and my deliverer;
my God, do not delay.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When they had heard this they were enraged, were crying out, “Great is goddess Artemis of the Ephesians!” exposing our own unexpected Idols. Acts 19:23-31 

Acts 19:23-31 Revised Standard Version

23 About that time there arose no little stir concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Deme′trius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Ar′temis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.  26 And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Ar′temis may count for nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 When they heard this they were enraged, and cried out, “Great is Ar′temis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion; and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Ga′ius and Aristar′chus, Macedo′nians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 Paul wished to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not let him; 31 some of the A′si-archs also, who were friends of his, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The magnificent temple of Artemis in Ephesus was famous all over the world.

People traveled from many places to worship at the beautiful temple and participate in all it had to offer.

Anyone who might threaten any of the processes and practices of idol worship had to be stopped.

Losing idolatry as the center of life in Ephesus threatened the livelihoods of many in Ephesus.

The crowd of people whose livings were tied to idol worship went berserk when they realized the potential impact of the teaching about Jesus.

They feared losing their money more than they wanted to know the truth.

They feared losing their financial income and the prestige of their city more than they wanted to be people of character.

A riot ensued, and the Roman government would not tolerate social unrest.

Paul’s friends and the Holy Spirit kept him safely away from the trouble, and as a result of the Gospel message about Jesus, a cluster of house churches formed a Christian beachhead in the very religious but very lost city of Ephesus.

Paul’s subsequent letter to these believers speaks about the Holy Spirit, prayer, the power within us, the armor of God, our battle against dark and evil forces.

Culturally, socially, and economically, everything was stacked against monotheistic faith in Jesus as God come to be with us.

Nevertheless, propelled by the power of the Spirit, the message of Jesus was unstoppable, even in the heart of an idolatrous stronghold!

The threat that the powers of darkness felt should be good news for us.

Jesus brings grace, deliverance and profound wisdom for people enslaved by dark powers, ignorance, false spirituality, and cultural slavery.

Idols may have been more apparent during the time of the very early church.

Individuals could purchase idols of wood, silver, stone from local craftsmen.

Many cities even had large idols housed within temples, such as in Ephesus where the famous statue of Artemis stood.

These small shrines of Artemis were what brought Paul and his companions trouble when they visited Ephesus to preach the gospel.

When Demetrius the silversmith noticed many people in Ephesus were turning away from worshiping the silver shrines of Artemis that he created, he feared the loss of his livelihood (Acts 19:24-27). Stirring up the other tradesmen and people in the city, they rioted against Paul and his companions (Acts 19:29).

Believers often disposed of their household gods after placing faith in Christ.

In many parts of the world today, this practice continues as new Christians remove idols from their home to demonstrate their devotion to Jesus. Yet, the problem of idolatry is not restricted to bowing down in front of carved images.

For many believers, especially those in the West, the temptation to worship an idol comes in abstract ways.

We might not kneel before coins or dollars, but we can worship wealth and greedily grasp onto our money.

Or we sacrifice all we have for the sake of a company or position.

Other idols, though, come in disguised forms.

The casual observer may assume we are merely engaging with cultural practices or staying abreast of current trends.

But there are times when we form idols from specific identities, roles, or activities.

This form of idolatry can be unexpected, so we must be mindful of our attitudes and do as those early Christians did – dispose of the idols to demonstrate our devotion to Christ.

For, as our Lord said, we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).

An Ideal Version of Ourselves

Social media makes it easier for us to compare our lives to others; we see their outfits, families, homes, and highlight reels.

From this position of comparison, we begin to envision an “ideal version” of ourselves. We decide that to achieve happiness and fulfillment, we must chase after this imagined version of life with the perfect body, spouse, family, house, job, etc.

An ideal becomes our idol.

Lots of us may not at first notice this new enthronement in our heart, since we might draw inspiration from those we follow online.

Our patchwork imitation may start as an innocent interest as we copy recipes online or start buying similar outfits to what we see on our feed.

But we quickly fall headlong into the trap of worshiping a “perfect” image of ourselves by pursuing a specific physical look or imitating experiences to achieve an aesthetic.

Eventually, this pursuit becomes more important than following Christ.

To identify and topple this idol, we must examine our thoughts and actions.

Do we think that this ideal life will bring us fulfillment?

Are we placing too much of our time and energy into this pursuit?

The clearest sign that we have formed an idol is if we have unilaterally focused our resources on achieving this imagined goal.

Jesus told us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

The goal of the Christian life is not to look more like those we see online or to copy all the trends that we think will make us happy.

Worshiping an ideal will never bring us contentment; rather, we will experience abundant joy when we truly follow Jesus. It is Him we are meant to imitate, and to His image we are being conformed (Romans 8:29; see also Ephesians 5:1-2).

A Social Media Influencer, Celebrity, or Christian Teacher

The same impulse that tempts us to enthrone a “perfect” version of ourselves is the same one that makes us elevate a person or group of people highly admired.

In a culture filled with athletes, social media influencers, celebrities, and even famous Christian teachers and pastors, it is too easy to idolize a human being.

We watch interviews of our favorite actors or artists and become enamored – if only we could be like them.

Our social media feed is filled with videos and posts from an influencer, and we start aligning ourselves more with their views.

Or we find ourselves focusing more on what a beloved Christian teacher says than what God’s Word teaches.

There is a real danger of idolatry if we keep our hearts unchecked in these types of scenarios.

The problem is not the internet or videos.

Nor is it the fault of the individual, though they should be wary of fan worship (i.e., if a person is treated as “a god”, they might start to believe they are one).

No, the real issue lies in focusing on the creature and ignoring the Creator (Romans 1:25).

God is the One who endowed people with skills and gifts.

Instead of idolizing someone for their practiced musical ability or posts online, we should praise the Lord for the variety of skills He has given to humankind.

Their talent does not originate within them since every person was made for the glory of the Lord (Isaiah 43:7).

Whatever gifts they may have – whether musical, theatrical, or practical – they come from the Creator. We should express thanksgiving for such gifts, turning our eyes away from the “Ideal” person to the One God who created all things.

Family

Families are a significant part of lives and should be viewed as gifts from the Lord (James 1:17).

Many husbands and wives are working to ensure their children mature with a solid foundation of biblical truth and emphasize modeling a love for Christ.

We need more families who are committed to following Jesus in the world, and authentically showing their neighbors the beauty of knowing the Lord our God.

Yet, there are some believers who overemphasize the role of the family.

Yes, it is important and good, but following Jesus should be the main priority of every believer.

Our Lord modeled this when He answered the people who said his mother and brothers were looking for Him:

“Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:49-50).

If we discover our theological views are more formed by family members than by a rigorous study of the Bible, or that we allow devotion to parents or children to override obedience to God, then we have transformed our family into an idol.

Our characters, our heart and our worship are focused inwardly towards those around us, establishing blood relatives as the greatest authority and source of wisdom in our lives.

We have taken that which is good and disfigured it by misplacing our priorities.

To love our families as the Lord intends, we must love God wholeheartedly and treasure Him more than anything else in life.

He has made us His children, and we are now part of a new family, one which is not defined by any physical relation but by the blood of Christ (John 1:12-13).

Even if parents, siblings, children, aunts, or grandparents decide to disown and forsake us, we would have family to welcome us: the community of believers.

Psalm 27:8-10 Revised Standard Version

8 Thou hast said, “Seek ye my face.”
    My heart says to thee,
“Thy face, Lord, do I seek.”
9     Hide not thy face from me.

Turn not thy servant away in anger,
    thou who hast been my help.
Cast me not off, forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me up.

May we praise God for the gift of family while also avoiding the temptation to shape it into an idol.

We do not live for the approval or acceptance of relatives, but to please the Lord (Galatians 1:10).

A Spouse

Like family, marriage is a blessing from the Lord.

In fact, God instituted marriage for the benefit of humankind.

He said it was not good for man to be alone, and so He made Eve as a suitable helper and equal partner for Adam (Genesis 2:18).

In the New Testament, the image of marriage took on greater meaning as the church was compared to a bride being prepared for her husband, Christ.

Our Lord demonstrated the greatest act of love by sacrificing His life for the sake of the church (see Ephesians 5:25).

Humans have distorted this gift, though, by changing marriage into something different than God created.

Non-Christians and Christians often worship the idea of having a spouse.

They assume that being married will fix their problems and bring unending happiness. Thus, being a husband or wife becomes their greatest purpose and, for many, is perceived as a divine calling.

Some churches have sadly fueled this by teaching that marriage is necessary for becoming mature in Christ.

Married couples are not immune to this form of idolatry.

A husband or wife could become obsessed with attempting to be the perfect spouse or by placing their identity in this role.

We can spot this idol by the way we talk or use our time.

Do we regularly talk about how great our spouse is without acknowledging flaws, even to the point of using vocabulary that should only be ascribed to God?

Or do we get jealous when we hear of a friend’s engagement?

Are we obsessively consuming marriage-themed content in the form of books and podcasts, rarely focusing on growing spiritually, learning more about God?

If we think marriage is the ultimate purpose in life, then we need to remember the temporary nature of being a wife or husband (Matthew 22:30).

What is eternal is being the Bride of Christ.

Comfort

There is nothing quite like the feeling of wrapping ourselves in a blanket or drinking a warm mug of tea.

Simple pleasures in life, including the basic comforts of shelter, water, warmth, and food, are reasons for gratitude.

Far too many people in the world do not have basic access to these necessities, which provides a greater reason for not taking them for granted.

But those of us in Western society often assume comfort should be our default position.

As it is, we live in a culture that profits from comfort – –advertisements highlight cozy moments or encourage us to buy many items as a way to treat ourselves. The message we receive from these ads and items is that discomfort is something to be avoided at all costs, or at least seriously minimized.

But if we start basing decisions, rhythms in life on what is most comfortable in the situation, then we’ll often find ourselves in opposition to God’s commands.

Turning the other cheek can be painful.

Loving our enemies is difficult.

Expressing generosity entails sacrifice.

The Christian life is, by the Lord’s definition, uncomfortable; we must deny ourselves and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25).

Enjoying comfort is not sinful; neither is giving thanks for an opportunity to treat ourselves and others.

However, idolatry arises when we prioritize our sense of ease over obeying the Lord. We must remember diligence and hard work are needed in the Christian walk, just as much as rest.

Our Opinions

With widespread access to online forums and posts, individuals can easily voice their opinions about any topic.

Had an unpleasant experience with a product?

We can comment on the company’s review page.

Outraged about current events?

Social media allows us to vent our feelings.

Everyone has their unique perspectives and views.

And there are times when we should share our thoughts with others, such as when building others up or offering advice.

However, we fall into idolatry when we begin equating our opinions with 100% authoritative truth.

Anything we believe is more important than what others say.

We place our views over the good of others, thinking our perspective trounces the biblical command to love our neighbor (Mark 12:31).

Noticing this idol in our lives is challenging, but we can discern its influence by taking note of our attitude.

Are we intolerant of others when they voice a thought disagreeing with our own?

Do we take a narrow view, believing only those who align with our perspective are following the truth?

Scripture is the Word of God; our opinions are not (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

No one can claim to understand every issue perfectly, as everyone will continue to mature in their knowledge. For example, our view on certain issues will likely evolve and mature as we submit ourselves unto the Lord and study His Word.

We should stand firm in the truth of Scripture, acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but recognize that our opinions are always secondary to God’s truth.

We misplace our views by setting them over God. Instead of rushing to make our thoughts known about issues, we can practice the biblical command to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying …..

Psalm 84 Complete Jewish Bible

84 (0) For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of the sons of Korach:

2 (1) How deeply loved are your dwelling-places,
Adonai-Tzva’ot!
3 (2) My soul yearns, yes, faints with longing
for the courtyards of Adonai;
my heart and body cry for joy
to the living God.

4 (3) As the sparrow finds herself a home
and the swallow her nest, where she lays her young,
[so my resting-place is] by your altars,
Adonai-Tzva’ot, my king and my God.

5 (4) How happy are those who live in your house;
they never cease to praise you! (Selah)
6 (5) How happy the man whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are [pilgrim] highways.

7 (6) Passing through the [dry] Baka Valley,
they make it a place of springs,
and the early rain clothes it with blessings.
8 (7) They go from strength to strength
and appear before God in Tziyon.

9 (8) Adonai, God of armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
10 (9) God, see our shield [the king];
look at the face of your anointed.
11 (10) Better a day in your courtyards
than a thousand [days elsewhere].
Better just standing at the door of my God’s house
than living in the tents of the wicked.

12 (11) For Adonai, God, is a sun and a shield;
Adonai bestows favor and honor;
he will not withhold anything good
from those whose lives are pure.

13 (12) Adonai-Tzva’ot,
how happy is anyone who trusts in you!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Fill your minds, meditate on things true, noble, reputable, and authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8-9

Philippians 4:8-9 Amplified Bible

8 Finally, [a]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. 9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Breaking Free from Negative Thoughts ….

Have you ever felt stuck in a mental loop of “I’m not good enough” or “Everything’s going wrong”? You’re not alone in this mental tug-of-war.

As someone who’s been there and occasionally still visits, I can tell you that negative thought patterns are about as common as donut shops—they are everywhere, and sometimes it feels like they’re on every corner of our minds.

But here’s the thing: just as we can choose which donut shop to frequent, we can also choose which thoughts to entertain. The Bible puts it beautifully ….

Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Let’s be real—this isn’t about slapping a “good vibes only” sticker on your water bottle and calling it a day.

It’s about recognizing that while negative thoughts might be frequent visitors, they don’t have to be permanent residents in your mind.

God has given us all the tools to renovate our thinking, and just like any good home improvement project, it starts with acknowledging what needs to change.

Remember, even the disciples had their moments of doubt and negativity.

Peter, the rock upon whom Christ would build His church, once let fear override his faith and began to sink while walking on water.

But Jesus didn’t let him drown in his negative thoughts—he reached out His hand.

That same hand is extended to all of us today.

Understanding the Power of the Mind

Your mind, my mind, is the command center of a sophisticated spacecraft—it influences everything from your emotional climate to our spiritual trajectory.

The writer of Proverbs knew this when he wrote in 

Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” This spiritual principle is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.

Pray about it—have you ever noticed how fast a single negative thought can snowball faster than a winter storm in the Rockies?

One day you’re worried about a project at work, before you know it, you’re mind is updating your resume, wondering if you’ll end up moving into your parents’ basement. Our minds are powerful engines, and the octane we choose matters.

But here’s the good news: the same mind that can spiral into negativity can also be transformed into a powerhouse of faith and possibility.

The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote to the Romans in Romans 12:2, encouraging them to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

He wasn’t suggesting a simple attitude adjustment; he was outlining a complete mental renovation project.

Now, I’m not saying this transformation happens as quickly as instant coffee dissolves in hot water.

It’s more like brewing a perfect cup of pour-over—it takes time, attention, and the right technique.

But just as that carefully crafted coffee is worth the wait, so is the renewal of your mind.

Consider King David, who often found himself in situations that could have easily led to negative thought patterns.

Yet time and again, we see him redirecting his thoughts to God’s faithfulness.

I’m sure that a typical example of one such moment was when he wrote 

Psalm 42:11, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disturbed within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.”

In this verse, it’s clear that he was almost having a nervous breakdown from whatever troubles he was going through, but rather than cave into negativity, he showed reverence and trust in God. 

Breaking Free: Practical Steps

Now, let’s get down to breaking free from negative thought patterns.

Let’s look at practical, Bible-based strategies that work in real life, not just in theory.

First up is the Replace and Renew Method.

When a negative thought pops up, usually at the most inconvenient time, counter it with God’s truth.

If your mind whispers, “You’re not enough,” respond with, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthened me” (Philippians 4:13). It is like playing spiritual whack-a-mole; you must be prepared to counter those thoughts as they arise.

The next step is gratitude, which is a game changer.

It’s hard to stay negative when you’re actively practicing thankfulness.

Imagine the Apostle Paul writing from prison—a situation that could breed negative thoughts!

He said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

The idea is to start small—thank God for basic things happening in your life, such as morning coffee, the sunshine, or even the fact that you’re breathing. 

Also thank God for the lives of your friends and loved ones.

Then we can take it a step further by acknowledging his involvement in specific events in your life, community, workplace, or country.

Before you know it, you’ll find reasons for gratitude everywhere.

Then there’s the community connection.

Surrounding yourself with faith-filled believers isn’t just good churchmanship; it’s essential mental health practice.

As Proverbs 27:17 puts it, “as Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Having spiritually inclined support from family, friends, neighbors, or church members helps us as believers. They serve as our support in times of weakness. 

They are the vessels God uses to comfort and inspire us in our distress.

So, when you’re struggling with negative thoughts, sometimes you need to reach out in faith to someone else to remind you of God’s promises.

Let’s not forget the prayer pause.

When negative thoughts start swirling, take a moment to pause and pray.

Remember the instruction in Philippians 4:6, which says, 

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” 

And trust God, the simple act of turning our worries into prayers can break the cycle of negative thinking.

Living in Renewed Freedom

As you consistently apply these tools, you’ll notice a change.

It might be subtle at first—like the days getting longer as winter turns to spring.

But gradually, you’ll find your default thinking patterns shifting from “worst-case scenario” to “God’s got this.”

Remember, this journey isn’t about achieving perfect thinking—it’s about progress, not perfection.

Even Paul, that giant of faith, admitted to an ongoing battle with his thoughts and desires (Romans 7:15-20).

The difference is that you are now prepared to fight back when negative thoughts attempt to take over.

As you continue on this path of mental renewal, you’ll discover that

“the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

This doesn’t mean you’ll never have another negative thought; it means you’ll know how to handle them when they come.

You’re not alone in this battle. God hasn’t left you to figure this out by yourself.

He’s provided His Word as a roadmap, His Spirit as a guide, and His people as companions on the journey.

From today onwards, commit to taking your thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).

When negative patterns try to establish themselves in your mind, remember that you have the power, through Christ, to choose a different path.

Your mind is valuable real estate—don’t let negative thoughts be squatters there any longer.

Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusted in thee.”

As you learn to anchor your thoughts in God’s truth, you’ll find that peace isn’t just a destination—it becomes your constant companion on the journey.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying ….

Psalm 42 Complete Jewish Bible

0) For the leader. A maskil of the descendants of Korach:

2 (1) Just as a deer longs for running streams,
God, I long for you.
3 (2) I am thirsty for God, for the living God!
When can I come and appear before God?

4 (3) My tears are my food, day and night,
while all day people ask me, “Where is your God?”
5 (4) I recall, as my feelings well up within me,
how I’d go with the crowd to the house of God,
with sounds of joy and praise from the throngs
observing the festival.

6 (5) My soul, why are you so downcast?
Why are you groaning inside me?
Hope in God, since I will praise him again
for the salvation that comes from his presence.
7 (6) My God, when I feel so downcast,
I remind myself of you
from the land of Yarden, from the peaks of Hermon,
from the hill Mizar.
8 (7) Deep is calling to deep
at the thunder of your waterfalls;
all your surging rapids and waves
are sweeping over me.
9 (8) By day Adonai commands his grace,
and at night his song is with me
as a prayer to the God of my life.
10 (9) I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
under pressure by the enemy?
11 (10) My adversaries’ taunts make me feel
as if my bones were crushed,
as they ask me all day long,
‘Where is your God?’ ”

12 (11) My soul, why are you so downcast?
Why are you groaning inside me?
Hope in God, since I will praise him again
for being my Savior and God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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What if we could all see our whole selves only through God’s eyes? Can you or I contemplate how different we would act and feel? 1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9-10 Amplified Bible

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a  [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

On my mind today is formulating A Prayer to See Myself Through God’s Eyes.

Am I praying for revelation from God of the very final digit of the value of Pi?

105 trillion digits

Pi calculated to 105 trillion digits, smashing world record. A U.S. computer storage company has calculated the irrational number pi to 105 trillion digits, breaking the previous world record. The calculations took 75 days to complete and used up 1 million gigabytes of data. For trivia buffs that number is 6 six.

What is the 300 trillion digit of pi? For Trivia fanatics that digit is 5 five.

Will pi ever be solved?

The number π is an irrational number, meaning that it cannot be expressed exactly as a ratio of two integers, although fractions such as 22/7 are quite commonly used to approximate it. 

Consequently, its decimal representation never ends, nor enters a permanently repeating pattern.

It is a transcendental number, meaning that there cannot be a solution of an algebraic equation involving only finite sums, products, powers, and integers.

So, I guess then, that to expect a revelation from God; A Prayer to See Myself Through God’s Eyes; will not occur any time soon, if at all – perhaps the very exacting last moment of Eternity? But by then, where will be to recognize it?

If we could see ourselves through God’s eyes, can we imagine how light we would feel?

What a weight would be lifted. All the burdens, condemnation, and judgment would be gone.

We can be so hard and judgmental on ourselves that we believe God thinks the same way towards us.

That’s why I’m reminding you that God sees us through Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Remember, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways.

Isaiah 55:6-9 Amplified Bible

6 
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
7 
Let the wicked leave (behind) his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion (mercy) on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor 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 higher than your thoughts.

It is so easy to doubt our salvation and dismiss our righteousness, forgetting it is our own.

The first is a gift, and the other was imputed to us through Jesus’ sacrifice.

When God looks at us, He sees that our debt has been paid in full, He sees the righteousness we wear through Christ, He sees we are chosen by Him, royal priests, a holy nation, and His very own royal possession.

The sacrifice of Jesus was so complete and perfect that no one is able to pluck us out of God’s hands. Once we belong to him, we are His forever.

Our God doesn’t do half jobs; what he starts, he absolutely completes.

In God’s eyes, even before the world began, before Jesus chose to be the sacrificial lamb, the Godhead saw our worth. They wanted to give humanity a way out because we were all destined to a Christ-less eternity.

That is when Jesus chose to die for us.

When parents are blessed with a child, whether through adoption or biological birth, we see those children as beautiful.

The way they smell, their complexion, down to their tiny toes, is just perfect.

God saw us vulnerable, helpless, and destined for hell and chose to love us and save us. When we see ourselves through God’s eyes, we see ourselves as loved.

Not on a surface level, but unconditionally. Whether we love him back or not.

If we mess up after we trust him, he still loves us.

His loving gaze towards us is steadfast, unchanging, and unfailing.

Where we fall short is when we think of God as merely human.

We would write off those who treat us unjustly, but God is not a man that he should lie.

John 3:16 is very true.

God loves us.

When he looks at us, we have been forgiven.

Our sins have been cast into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be used against us again.

The Bible says as far as the east is from the west, so far has our God removed our transgressions.

Knowing that when God looks at us, he is not looking at us in condemnation should cause us to give him praise.

It makes me want to worship, sing, dance, and magnify the name of the Lord.

I stand in awe of his mercy and grace and thank God that I get to love him back and praise Him.

I also want to share my faith with those outside the fold.

Sin separates us from God, so seeing myself through God’s eyes motivates me to live a holy life. It doesn’t cause me to want to sin but encourages me to resist temptation so I can continue to enjoy the sweetest fellowship God and I share.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying ….

Psalm 27

By David.

1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation.
    Who is there to fear?
    Yahweh is my life’s fortress.
    Who is there to be afraid of?

2 Evildoers closed in on me to tear me to pieces.
    My opponents and enemies stumbled and fell.
3         Even though an army sets up camp against me,
            my heart will not be afraid.
        Even though a war breaks out against me,
            I will still have confidence in the Lord.

4 I have asked one thing from Yahweh.
    This I will seek:
    to remain in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life
        in order to gaze at Yahweh’s beauty
            and to search for an answer in his temple.
5 He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble.
    He keeps me hidden in his tent.
    He sets me high on a rock.
6 Now my head will be raised above my enemies who surround me.
    I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in his tent.
    I will sing and make music to praise Yahweh.
7 Hear, O Yahweh, when I cry aloud.
    Have pity on me, and answer me.
8 When you said,
    “Seek my face,”
        my heart said to you,
            “O Yahweh, I will seek your face.”[a]
9 Do not hide your face from me.
    Do not angrily turn me away.
        You have been my help.
            Do not leave me!
                Do not abandon me, O Elohim, my savior!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
    Yahweh will take care of me.
11 Teach me your way, O Yahweh.
    Lead me on a level path
    because I have enemies who spy on me.
12 Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents.
    False witnesses have risen against me.
        They breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh
    in this world of the living.

14 Wait with hope for Yahweh.
    Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
    Yes, wait with hope for Yahweh.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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I am Meditating about the Benefits of our Multi-generational churches! Titus 2:1–8

Titus 2:1-10 New American Standard Bible

Proclaim Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, proclaim the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be [a]temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in [b] perseverance.

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may [c]encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

6 Likewise urge the young men to be [d]sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with [e]purity in doctrine, dignified,  8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Have you seen the car commercial that talks about having “this or that” and how much better it is to have “this and that and the other”?

That commercial illustrates how I feel about the local church I get the privilege of being an Associate Pastor in. We are planted in the quiet rural backroads of Jarrettsville, Maryland and what started simply as a “old country church” has become something far more complex and in need of repairs —yet beautiful.

Many of the churches in our area swing far to one side of the pendulum: they are either comprised of mainly small families, or they have few families but a large group of diverse aged students. Rarely does a church have much of both, but by God’s grace, we are blessed by a small mix of young and order families.

We are the and We need each other

Psalm 71:18 says,

“Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Likewise, Psalm 145:4 declares,

“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

Hebrews 10:19-25 New American Standard Bible

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let’s approach God with a [a]sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to [b]encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but  encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Throughout the Biblical Canon we clearly see that each generation is called to nurture one another, build on the foundation passed on from the previous one.

Mark 4:13-20 New American Standard Bible

Explanation of the Parable

13 And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 And in a similar way these are the ones sown with seed on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and yet they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately they [a]fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown with seed among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the [b]world, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter and choke the word, and it [c]becomes unfruitful. 20 And those are the ones sown with seed on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.”

What this illustrates in our local churches context is that in each successive generation, we all absolutely need each other in order to produce Kingdom fruit; a healthy fruitful local church and see Jesus’ mission going very forward.

Mentoring Discipleship

Deuteronomy 6:4-12 New American Standard Bible

4 “Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 And you shall love the Lord  your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. 8 You shall also tie them as a [a]sign to your [b]hand, and they shall be as [c]frontlets [d]on your forehead. 9 You shall also write them on the  [e]doorposts of your house and on your gates.

10 “Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and carved cisterns which you did not carve out, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, 12 be [f]careful that you do not forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [g]slavery.

We need older men and women planting their know how and maturity into younger men and women. This is how we help build godly character, invest in future generations, and help ensure legacies of faith in Jesus going forward.

Sacrificial Service

Psalm 118:24-29 New American Standard Bible

24 This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, O Lord, do save us;
Please, O Lord, do send prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice [a]to the horns of the altar with cords.
28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I exalt You.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting.

In all aspects of life we have been covenanted by God to give our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving in the house of the Lord to serve Jesus and one another.

With a church of multi-generational families the opportunities to sacrifice and serve are innumerable – as the effort of our counting the stars in the night sky.

Carrying our Crosses, Bearing our Burdens, Trusting God

Proverbs 3:5-10 New American Standard Bible

5 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.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your [a]body
And refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the first of all your produce;
10 Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Each of us has probably already made many decisions today. And for the rest of the day, we will continue to make conscious and not-so conscious decisions.

The choices we make say something about who we are and whom we serve.

Is life “all about me,” or am I aware that what I do is really my response to my Creator and Provider?

We read, “In all your ways submit to him.”

That calls for implicitly trusting that God’s ways are good, that following them leads to bearing Kingdom fruit, and living life to the full, as God intends for us.

When Joshua challenged Israel,

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the  Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”” (Joshua 24:15),

Joshua knew that his decision to serve the Lord shaped all his other decisions.

When we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, all our other decisions are based on obeying his teachings, not relying on our own “best understanding.”

Guided by the God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and God’s Word, we know what to do.

We know God’s Spirit will not tell us to do what God’s Word says we may not.

And obedience eventually leads to being on the right path, whatever the cost.

Knowing what to do comes more readily with a whole-hearted commitment to serving Jesus and our neighbors. Then, like Jesus, we will be focused on our own calling to be fruitful disciples who make decisions based on knowing God’s will.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying ….

Psalm 119:33-40 Complete Jewish Bible

ה (Heh)

33 Teach me, Adonai, the way of your laws;
keeping them will be its own reward for me.
34 Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah;
I will observe it with all my heart.
35 Guide me on the path of your mitzvot,
for I take pleasure in it.
36 Bend my heart toward your instructions
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
with your ways, give me life.
38 Fulfill your promise, which you made to your servant,
which you made to those who fear you.
39 Avert the disgrace which I dread,
for your rulings are good.
40 See how I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness, give me life!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Who is like our God? The Creator of all we can see or we can ever imagine. Isaiah 40:12 – 20

Isaiah 40:12-20 New International Version

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[a] of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.

18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
    To what image will you liken him?
19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
    and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol that will not topple.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

This section of Isaiah has some of the most majestic and superb language about God found in Scripture.

God himself is asking man, 

Can you do what I do?

Can you hold the waters of earth in the hollow of your hand? 

I stood on the pier at San Diego.

It was a gorgeous day.

I watched the great combers coming in from the Pacific.

As I watched those great billows crashing on the sand I thought of the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, extending thousands upon thousands of miles to the West.

I thought about the great volumes of waters in what small part of the ocean I could look out at and repeatedly stumbled trying to calculate those remaining.

The volume of the Pacific Ocean, representing about 50.1 percent of the world’s oceanic water, has been estimated at some 714 million cubic kilometers (171 million cubic miles).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean#:~:text=The%20volume%20of%20the%20Pacific,(171%20million%20cubic%20miles).

These words came to my mind, Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand? God himself in majesty and greatness controls all the forces of earth.

Verses 13 and 14 speak of God’s incredible wisdom: 

Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has instructed him? (Isaiah 40:13 RSV)

Who could do that?

Many attempt to.

I confess there have been times when I have been confronted with a difficult problem which I studiously analyzed and thought I had solved.

Then I have come to God and told him step by step what he could do to work out the problem—only to find, to my utter astonishment, that he just completely ignored my approach and did nothing about it.

I have become irritated over this.

I have said to him, “Lord, even I can see how to work this out. Surely you ought to be able to understand just how much time it has taken to work it out this far.”

But as the problem remained, and a whole new situation came to light, I humbly realized that God saw far more than I could see, that he knew of obstacles I had no knowledge of, complexities that had touched the lives of hundreds of people.

He was working out purposes that would go on not only for the moment, but on and on, one generation after another; infinity unto infinity, eternity to eternity, that his solution ultimately was the best one.

I had to say, as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 11, 

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33 RSV).

In Verses 15 to 17, God compares himself with the proud nations of earth:

“Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the isles like fine dust.” (Isaiah 40:15 RSV).

How feeble the boasts of men, leaders of the nations, with their ‘claims’ to the glory, might and power, when they are compared with the sheer enormity, the greatness, the majesty and the strength of God himself.

Psalm 139:17-18 New King James Version

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

They are nothing, as a grain of sand in the desert God says, absolutely nothing.

Ephesians 3:14-19 New King James Version

Appreciation of the Mystery

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [a]of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,  being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now, stand in front of a mirror and repeat each statement below … contemplate their meaning (individually and Acts 2 collectively)…. their current relevance …. their current significance, insignificance (individually and Acts 2 collectively)…. their unifying or divisive or polarizing abilities, qualities and also influences ….

Praying ….

Psalm 139:23-24 English Standard Version

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts![a]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting![b]

  1. The prophet Isaiah gives a vision of the gospel in Isaiah 40:12-17.
  2. Mankind has always found it difficult to believe and accept the word of God.
  3. Our failure to believe the Bible is due to a lack of understanding who God is.
  4. We think of God as like ourselves instead of the almighty, glorious God he is.
  5. Many stumble over Christian doctrines because they have a wrong view of God.
  6. We must start with God, not ourselves, to understand the Bible and its teachings.
  7. Isaiah 40:12-15 shows God’s greatness, might, and power in creation.
  8. Isaiah 40:16 shows God’s transcendent glory that surpasses all human comprehension.
  9. Isaiah 40:17 shows God’s ways are inscrutable and beyond human understanding.
  10. We must come to God with a childlike faith, not demanding to understand everything.
  11. When we see God as he is, we realize how sinful we are and need Jesus as Savior.
  12. Jesus died to bring us to God and save us, not just make us feel happy.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen

Praying ….

Psalm 119:25-32 Christian Standard Bible

ד Daleth

25 My life is down in the dust;
give me life through your word.
26 I told you about my life,
and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
27 Help me understand
the meaning of your precepts
so that I can meditate on your wonders.
28 I am weary[a] from grief;
strengthen me through your word.
29 Keep me from the way of deceit
and graciously give me your instruction.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to your decrees;
Lord, do not put me to shame.
32 I pursue the way of your commands,
for you broaden my understanding.[b]

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Grant us thy Grace for Letting Go, of Casting Away, that Which We Cannot Control nor Change. 1 Peter 5:1-11

1 Peter 5:1-11 New American Standard Bible

Serve God Willingly

5 Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a [a]fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [b]with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as domineering over [c]those assigned to your care, but by [d]proving to be [e]examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading [f]crown of glory. 5 You [g ] younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [h]So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [i] brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself  perfect, confirm, strengthen,  and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

When it comes to worry, we have a lot to worry about.

We could fill a blog with a dozen-plus reasons people might be anxious or be fearful in this fallen world.

And we could generate article after article detailing those dozen-plus negative consequences our worries bring.

Instead, let’s hear from God.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7, the apostle addresses the problem of anxiety and provides us with hope-giving, life-changing help to handle it.

Peter writes,

1 Peter 5:6-7 Amplified Bible

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

Three simple but profound truths emerge from this brief text.

1) Amid Your Anxiety, God Calls You to Humble Yourself before Him

Peter writes his letter to Christians in exile, believers scattered all over the Roman world (1 Pet. 1:2) who are suffering persecution for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (1:6; 4:12).

When we look at the world around us and the daily pressures that consume us, like Peter’s readers, we realize how little we can control our lives.

We can’t change the economy, the climate, the government, our health, or our friends and family.

We can’t make people act the way we want.

We have a lot to worry about.

For this reason, Peter calls us to humble ourselves before God.

In the previous verse, he exhorts us to humble ourselves before each other and reminds us of God’s deep opposition to pride.

But here, as he treats the problem of anxiety, Peter recognizes that nothing short of completely submitting to the Lord can bring us help and hope.

2) The Way to Humble Yourself amid Your Anxiety Is to Cast It on God

In verse 7, Peter tackles “anxiety.”

While the New Testament sometimes uses this term (Greek, merimna) in a positive sense for the proper care/concern we should have for others (e.g., 2 Cor. 12:28; Phil. 2:20), here, since Peter writes to suffering readers and calls them to cast their anxiety upon the Lord, the word carries its normal negative sense of worry or anxiety.

While the NIV translation above begins verse 7 with a command, in the Greek text, it’s a participle that modifies the main command in verse 6, “humble yourselves.”

The participle . . . explains how believers can humble themselves under God’s strong hand. . . . Believers humble themselves by casting their worries on God. Conversely, if believers continue to worry, then they are caving in to pride.

In other words, Peter roots our anxiety in our self-dependency and self-reliance.

Worry is a form of pride because when believers are filled with anxiety, they are convinced they must solve all the problems in their lives in their own strength.

The only god they trust in is themselves.

When believers throw their worries upon God, they express their trust in His mighty hand, acknowledging that He is Lord/Sovereign over all of life.

Believers fight anxiety by faith.

We “cast” our anxieties by throwing them on God, the same vivid verb Luke 19:35 uses when the disciples “threw their cloaks” on a colt. Fighting anxiety requires the concrete act of deliberately entrusting our worries to God in prayer.

Here, a simple distinction makes a major difference: we entrust to the Lord the things we can’t control, and we trust the Lord to do what He promises to do.

We cannot and must not trust the Lord to do what we want Him to do.

He is not our personal genie or divine bellhop; biblical faith depends on God’s assurances, not our hopes.

But we can and must entrust the many details of our lives we can’t control into His sovereign, wise, and loving hands.

We shouldn’t trust the Lord to change our family and friends; we should  entrust them into His hands, trusting the Lord to do what His Word guarantees.

3) God Invites You to Humble Yourself and Cast Your Anxiety on Him Because of Who He Is and What He Promises

Thankfully, God’s Word doesn’t issue raw commands but persuades us with powerful promises.

Consider 8 descriptions of God found in verses 6-7 and the immediate context:

  • God “shows favor” to those who humble themselves (v. 5). Peter’s call in verse 6 to “humble yourselves” follows (“therefore”) this kind, generous assurance.
  • God’s hand is “mighty” (v. 6a)—mighty enough to handle those circumstances you worry about.
  • God promises to “lift you up” in due time—His all-wise timetable—if you humble yourself (v. 6b).
  • God “cares for you” (v. 7). Note Peter doesn’t say God cares for you because you cast your anxiety on Him. No, it’s the opposite. His care for your predates your actions. Because He already cares, you can now cast!
  • God reminds you that you are not alone; other believers are facing “the same kind of suffering” (v. 9; also 1 Cor. 10:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:3-5).
  • God is the God “of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ.” (v. 10a). Whatever your present pressures, God still graciously guarantees a glorious inheritance (cf. 1:3-5).
  • God will restore you, strengthen you, make you firm, and make you steadfast ( 10b). The Lord is both eager and able to bear your anxieties.
  • God’s sovereign power reigns “forever and ever” (11). The problems that tempt you to worry are short-lived; God’s power—His mighty hand of v.6—never ends.

What does humble yourself under the mighty hand of God mean?

Humbling ourselves means recognizing that our worth comes from Christ, not performance.

Whether you struggle with pride in success or failure, remember God values you as His child, no matter how you perform.

What is the moral lesson of 1 Peter 5:7?

Peter writes that we should take that fear and cast it—throw it—onto our Father God.

In fact, he tells us to take all of our anxieties, everything that worries us, and to give it to the God who cares so deeply for us.

This is not a promise that God will fix everything which worries us.

Humble yourself in Him, and He will lift you in His time. 

Humility and anxiety, together, is like fire and water. 

They cannot exist at the same time.

How do I cast my worries to God?

Prayer is the best way to give your anxieties to God and to exercise and demonstrate real faith in Him.

Therefore, to eliminate worry and receive peace, ask God for help, and as the Scripture says, do it with a grateful heart.

  1. Pick up your bible and start reading and studying .
  2. Surrender your worries to God.
  3. Stay in the present moment.
  4. Meditate on God’s Word.
  5. The Lord Himself will go before you. …
  6. God’s way is perfect. …
  7. Don’t be afraid! …
  8. So don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will have its own worries.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Such is the Spoken Word of God: God always Reigns! Plants Restores and Revives us, when life is falling apart. Amos 3:11-15

Amos 3:11-15 New International Version

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
    pull down your strongholds
    and plunder your fortresses.”

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b]”

13 “Hear this and testify against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;
the horns of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house
    along with the summer house;
the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed
    and the mansions will be demolished,”
declares the Lord.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

To begin, let me ask you a couple of questions:

What comes to your mind when you think about God?

Is your understanding of Him rooted in Scripture, or is it shaped by your own experiences, desires, or even misconceptions you’ve picked up along the way?

The way we view God is no small matter.

A distorted picture of Him can lead us down paths of doubt, error, fear, and misunderstanding, depriving, robbing us of the peace and assurance that only from knowing Him as He truly is.

My heart’s desire is to redirect you away from these dangers and guide you into a clearer, more informed, more biblical, and more joyful view of our great God.

Some people imagine God as a distant creator—a kind of cosmic tyrannical administrator who set everything in motion but now stays out of the picture, except for the occasional “system maintenance.”

Perhaps others see Him as little more than a tired grouchy old too stern judge, watching for every mistake to punish us.

Or maybe, they think of Him as powerful but limited, either unable to intervene in the chaos of the world or restrained by human choices.

None of these depictions are the God of the Bible.

Instead, Scripture presents us with a God who is far greater, far more glorious, and far more trustworthy than anything or any character that we could invent on our own. A God who reigns supremely over all creation, infinite in His being, perfect in all of His attributes, and yet still merciful in all His dealings with us.

One of the most helpful summaries I’ve come across that beautifully captures the biblical teaching about who God is comes from the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: https://www.the1689confession.com/

The Lord, our God, is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

This God, the God of the Bible, reigns over every part of corner of creation.

He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and fully in control.

And, when we know God as He truly is, that’s good news for us!

Because our hearts are filled with peace, our faith is strengthened, and we are freed from the anxieties, and the worries that come from false views of Him.

That’s why, as we begin this devotional—Let God Reign—we’ll take time to explore some of the attributes of God, starting today with His sovereignty.

In the devotions ahead, we’ll also consider His goodness, immutability, omnipotence, incarnation, and omniscience.

Of course, even an encyclopedias of sermons couldn’t exhaust the riches of who God is, but my prayer is that this series will deepen your love for Him, challenge any of your remaining unbelief, and increase your trust in the Lord. So let us just begin today by considering the absolute sovereignty of our great God.

It starts with the acknowledgment that:

1. God is Sovereign

Whether you and I want to admit it or not, this is reality: God is sovereign.

First, let us define our terms; what does it mean for God to be sovereign?

Here are a few definitions for us to reference:

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Sovereignty

The biblical concept of God’s kingly, supreme rule and legal authority over the entire universe.

Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Philosophy of Religion Sovereignty

The possession of ultimate authority and power.

Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition Sovereignty of God

God’s authority and power to accomplish his will as the supreme Ruler of all things.

From taking these definitions collectively, we find that sovereignty means God is the absolute King of the universe, with complete ownership, power, and all authority over all of creation- and He is able to accomplish all His holy will.

There is no one and nothing outside of His rule.

James 1:17 ESV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Our families, our resources, our reputations, and even our ability to know and love Him are neither random nor earned; they are graciously and providentially given by your King.

Let’s consider God’s work in our lives:

His providence has woven together a beautiful tapestry for each of our lives –

Psalm 139:1-18 English Standard Version

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

139 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.

Consider what the vast tapestry of your life looks like for a moment –

It would begin with:

how He formed you in the womb,

where and when you were born,

what type of family you grew up in,

every single moment of happiness,

all the friendships you enjoy,

each of the jobs and responsibilities you have ever had,

the skills and talents you exercise,

seeing the love of your life for the first time,

getting married,

experiencing the joy of holding your child for the first time,

your daily bread,

your home, your daily protection, and even beyond all of those blessings: 

if you are a Christian He has even ordained how and when He adopted you,

He has ordained your ongoing sanctification, eventually He will providentially ordain for your journey to your heavenly home!

He has woven countless bright threads into your life’s tapestry.

Do we have such a good, wise, and loving Father who cares for our every need?

Can we praise God this whole day for just how good His providence is to us!?

Thank you, faithful God, for your ever present providential hand upon our lives!

In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 84 The Message

84 1-2 What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
    I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
    where I could sing for joy to God-alive!

3-4 Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
    sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
    singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
    How blessed they are to live and sing there!

5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live,
    whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
    discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
    at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

8-9 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen:
    O God of Jacob, open your ears—I’m praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
    our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.

10-12 One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
    beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
    than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is God,
    generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
    It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Our mutual goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not to cut them out. Colossians 4:2-6

Colossians 4:2-6 Amplified Bible

2 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. 3 At the same time pray for us, too, that God will open a door [of opportunity] to us for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear [and speak boldly and unfold the mystery] in the way I should.

5 Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious]. 6 Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

This short concise section of Scripture offers a great deal of instruction.

Paul addresses the critical concepts of earnest prayer, vigilance in prayer and thanksgiving, praying for open doors of opportunity for communicating and sharing the gospel, and the boldness to teach the gospel clearly, and daily.

He then instructs the members at Colossae to walk in wisdom, not being deceived by those outside the church, and to redeem the time.

His teaching includes graceful speech, and knowledge of just how to answer questions that come your way. While this passage is only five verses, it packs a great deal of teaching into this small, but potent, parcel of information.

The over-arching principles found in this passage are basic thoughts by which to live the Christian life. 

Prayer is a lifeline, a power source for the believer.

Prayer should be a priority, a matter of vigilance, and Christians should be thankful for the opportunity to commune with the Creator.

Prayer should involve time with God to speak to Him, to hear from Him, and to pray His word as well.

It also should involve praying for others, as Paul asks the Colossians to pray for his ministry opportunities.

Even though he is in chains, he longs to see the gospel preached and souls saved. Wisdom is another principle expounded upon here. Know well your community and do not be taken advantage of by those who would abuse you.

Wisdom leads to time management and prioritizing the events and tasks of your day in order to achieve more.

Christians should not live haphazard lives, but rather be organized and efficient as well.

Finally, grace is a principle upon which a Christian should base their lives and especially their speech. Our words matter, because how we are received has a lot to do with the feelings we arouse in others as we speak to them. God will direct your words as you seek Him and submit to the Holy Spirit’s leadership.

So, Paul instructs his disciples to pray, use Godly wisdom, to speak with grace.

These are powerful principles for Christians to bring to bear on their lives and relationships.

Seek God deeply and then follow His leadership and direction in your life in every way.

He will direct your paths, your words, and your actions when you spend time with Him, making Him a priority, and listening to His voice.

Be His disciple and live well!

Additional thoughts worth meditating upon …

Proverbs 27:6 Amplified Bible

6 
Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out their of love and concern],
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].

Some conversations are life-giving, inspiring individuals towards greater hope, while others are draining and difficult.

At times, we can feel as if we are defending ourselves from blows like a warrior shielding himself against the attacks from an enemy.

Or we might be the ones dealing the blows, using our words as weapons, aiming to wound just as we have been wounded. Regardless of our role in the proverbial fight of words, certain talks with others leave us battle-weary and exhausted.  

As much as we dislike challenging conversations, they are inevitable in life, as is the possibility that we will misuse words and harmed by the speech of another.

Yet, that does not mean we have to continue treating the relationship as an area of scorched earth war. Even after hard talks, we can bring in elements of grace and healing through a willingness to admit wrongdoing, to quickly forgive, to mutually acknowledge the slippery sloped complexities of the crisis situation.  

We can also start adding saltiness to our speech, as Paul advised the Colossian believers to do. Their speech was meant to be appealing and life-giving.

Likewise, graciousness and love should color the way we talk to others, even during heavy conversations in which we may have to give rebuke. Our words are not meant to be sickly sweet like a flatterer or sharp because of rashness, but lovingly honest since “Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6).  

In the aftermath of a hard talk, we can use our words to promote healing, even if difficult things had to be said, for the wise will use their speech to heal, not cause more unnecessary harm (Proverbs 12:18).

Proverbs 12:18 Amplified Bible

18 
There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

There is value in speaking the truth in love, which does not negate the need to address issues and engage in heavy conversations (Ephesians 4:15).

Ephesians 4:15 Amplified Bible

15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.

However, we should do so with a focus on showing the love and grace of God, affirming our care for the individual. 

So, if you have recently experienced a difficult conversation that weighs heavily upon you, take heart.

Healing is possible, as is the ability to start using your words to bring disarming peace into hard talks.  

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 19 Amplified Bible

The Works and the Word of God.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
2 
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge.
3 
There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];
Their voice is not heard.
4 
Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
5 
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 
The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 
The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 
The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
10 
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed];
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 
Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
13 
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Fact or False: A Bible which is falling apart at the seams will usually belong to someone who is truly falling apart. Psalm 119:97-104

Psalm 119:97-104 Christian Standard Bible

מ Mem

97 How I love your instruction!
It is my meditation all day long.
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers
because your decrees are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders
because I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
to follow your word.
102 I have not turned from your judgments,
for you yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet your word is to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Encouraging believers to immerse themselves in studying the Scriptures, to discern, meditate upon, understand God’s promises, to discern lies, false and fraudulent teaching, so to find strength, wisdom, and comfort in God’s Word.

Laudable goal?

Certifiably impossible?

Worthy of being locked away with all the gold in Fort Knox?

A secret second only to the recipe of Coca Cola … two halves – each half is held by two persons neither of whom knows who the other is.

Today, we are going to dive deep into God’s word, for exploring the immense power of His promises, the deadly poison of lies, and the life-giving habits of Scripture study.

Listen to what Charles Spurgeon once said. “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” Ain’t that the truth? There’s something about immersing ourselves in Scripture that steadies our hearts and clears our minds.

The Power of Promises in Scripture

The power of God’s promises in Scripture is a profound and transformative force in the life of a believer.

These promises are not mere words on a page, but divine assurances that truly provide hope, strength, and guidance in our daily walk with Christ.

They are the bedrock of our faith, the anchor for our souls, and the compass that directs our path.

Delving deeper into the power of God’s promises, we discover that they are not only a source of comfort but also a catalyst for spiritual growth and maturity.

Their inherent truthfulness: Unlike human promises, which can be broken or unfulfilled, God’s promises are infallible and unchanging.

Numbers 23:19 reminds us, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

This verse assures us that God’s promises are steadfast and reliable. When God makes a promise, He will undoubtedly fulfill it, regardless of the circumstances.

This unshakeable truthfulness provides us with a sense of security and peace, knowing that we can fully trust in God’s word completely.

They’re incredibly personal: They are not generic or one-size-fits-all, but tailored to our individual needs and circumstances.

Whether it’s a promise of provision, protection, or peace, or purpose, each promise speaks directly to our hearts, addressing our deepest fears, desires, and aspirations.

This personal nature of God’s promises makes them a vastly powerful tool for spiritual growth.

As we claim these promises, experience them, fulfilled in our lives, our faith in God deepens, our connectional relationship with Him becomes more intimate.

They’re transformative: They have the power to change our perspective, attitudes, and actions.

When we grasp the full extent of God’s promises, we begin to see ourselves and our circumstances through the lens of His love and faithfulness.

This new perspective can radically alter how we respond to life’s challenges and opportunities.

Instead of reacting out of fear, doubt, or self-reliance, we can respond with faith, hope, and dependence on God.

This transformative power of God’s promises is beautifully captured in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

A source of hope: In a world filled with uncertainty, disappointment, and pain, God’s promises offer beacons of hope shining brightly in the darkness.

They remind us that no matter what we are going through, God is with us, and He has a good plan for our lives.

This hope is not just wishful thinking or blind optimism, but a confident expectation based on the character and promises of God.

Romans 15:13 declares, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

They are the words that God has spoken over us, the infallible promises He has made to us, and the truths that He wants us to cling to in every season of life.

Friends, here would be a good place to share a personal testimony about how God’s promises have been true in your own life. How did they affect your faith?

The Poison of Lies

From the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, we see the destructive power of deception.

The serpent, embodying the father of lies, deceived Eve, leading to the fall of humanity into sin. Lies are not just false statements or untruths; they are a perversion of God’s truth, a distortion of His perfect design. They are a tool of the enemy, used to sow doubt, confusion, and discord among God’s people.

Their subtlety: They often come cloaked in half-truths, making them difficult to discern.

This is why it is so crucial for us to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, to know His truth intimately.

When we know the truth, we can recognize the lies.

Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

A corrosive effect on our relationships:

This is true both with God and with others.

They create barriers of mistrust and misunderstanding.

They can lead us to doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness, to question His love for us.

Lies can also cause us to view others with suspicion and fear, undermining the unity and love that God desires for His people.

Can lead us into sinful behaviors and attitudes: When we believe the lie that we can find fulfillment and satisfaction living apart from God, we may be tempted to pursue worldly pleasures and desires.

Or when we believe the lie we are not loved or valued, we may seek validation and approval from others, leading us  deep into pride, jealousy, and insecurity.

God’s truth brings freedom, peace, and joy: It reveals our true identity as beloved children of God, created in His image.

It assures us of His unfailing love and faithfulness, His power and presence in our lives.

It guides us in the way of righteousness, leading us into a life of purpose and fulfillment.

As Jonathan Edwards once said, “Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.”

When we align our thoughts and beliefs with God’s truth, we are protected from the poison of lies.

We are equipped to discern deception, to reject falsehood, and to walk in the light of God’s truth.

The Habits of Scripture Study

Studying Scripture is not just about reading the Bible.

It’s about immersing ourselves in God’s Word, meditating on it, and applying it to our lives.

It’s about letting the Word of God shape our thoughts, our actions, and our very being.

Psalmist in Psalm 119:97 declares, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”

This is the kind of relationship we should strive to have with God’s Word.

Regularity: Just as we need physical food every day, we need spiritual food every day.

We should set aside a specific time each day for Bible study.

It could be early in the morning, during lunch break, or before bed.

The important thing is to make it a daily habit.

Meditation: This is not just about reading the Bible, but thinking deeply about what we read.

It’s about pondering the meaning of the words, asking God for understanding, and letting the Word of God sink deep into our hearts.

It’s about letting the Word of God shape our thoughts and our actions.

Application: James 1:22 warns us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Studying Scripture is not just about gaining knowledge. It’s about transforming our lives.

We need to apply what we learn from the Bible to our daily lives.

We need to live out the truths we learn from God’s Word.

Memorization: Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Memorizing Scripture helps us all to recall God’s promises in times of need, resist temptation, and share the Gospel with others.

Conclusion

As we wrap up today, let’s remember the power of God’s promises, the danger of lies, and the importance of immersing ourselves in Scripture.

Let’s make it our daily habit to study God’s Word, to meditate on it, and to let it transform us from the inside out.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Psalm 8

God’s Glory, Human Dignity
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of David.

1 Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
You have covered the heavens with your majesty.[a]
2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies,
you have established a stronghold[b]
on account of your adversaries
in order to silence the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I observe your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you set in place,
4 what is a human being that you remember him,
a son of man[c] that you look after him?
5 You made him little less than God[d][e]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all the sheep and oxen,
as well as the animals in the wild,
8 the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea
that pass through the currents of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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