Tag: faith

Do not wait until it is too late: seek the Lord while He can still be found. Pray to him while he is close at hand. Isaiah 55:6-7

Isaiah 55:6-7 New American Standard Bible

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked abandon his way,
And the unrighteous person his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

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.

Hurry Up! Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late: Seek the Lord While You Still Can …

It is rather an obvious observation to say we are presently living in a generation that’s information overloaded, distracted by any noise, and busy chasing things that’ll never satisfy, will certainly cause all manner of physical, spiritual harm.

All the impact and temptations and wreckage from social media gaffs, success, comfort, clout, it represents life wasted on things having no eternal weight.

But behind the screens, the noise, and the veneer of having it all together, there is an annoying throbbing toothache in the soul that refuses to go away.

People are spiritually starving while they are feasting on literal emptiness.

And into that emptiness, God speaks through Isaiah with piercing clarity: “Seek ye the LORD while he may still be found, call ye upon him while he is yet near” (Isaiah 55:6).

Understand, this is not any gentle or subtle suggestion, it’s a divine warning.

God is not hiding, but He also will not remain available forever. (Romans 1:24-25

24 Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for [a]falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed [b]forever. Amen.

The offer of salvation is real, but so is the deadline.

The same passage from Isaiah 55 opens with an invitation:

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters… without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

God initially offers eternal life freely. You don’t need wealth or status. What you do need is repentance and faith. But the urgency is clear, the window is closing.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 16 that still shakes the soul.

A rich man clothed in purple silk and living in daily indulgence ignored a poor man named Lazarus who lay suffering just outside his gate.

One had everything in this life but nothing in the next.

The other had nothing in this life but everything in eternity.

When they died, the roles were reversed.

Lazarus was comforted.

The rich man found himself in torment. 

Too late, he realized the truth. 

Too late, he begged for relief. 

Too late, he asked someone to warn his brothers.

But Abraham told him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:29).

In other words, they already have the Word of God and if they reject that, no miracle will wake them up. 

That applies just as much today.

We have the Scriptures.

We have the testimony of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We have the Gospel.

Yet people scroll past it, mock it, ignore it.

They wait for a miraculous sign, a gut feeling, another better time.

The Bible says, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

There may not be a later.

None of us is promised tomorrow.

And once death comes, the door is shut (Hebrews 9:27).

The rich man found that out the hard way. 

You don’t have to.

God is still calling. Isaiah 55: 7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

There’s unlimited mercy waiting for anyone who will turn back, real mercy, full forgiveness, eternal life.

But it requires our response.

It means forsaking our sins, rejecting the lies this world feeds you, and Psalm 51 turning fully to the Lord. That kind of surrender isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.

God’s ways are always higher than ours (Isaiah 55: 8–9), and His Word never fails (Isaiah 55:11).

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 than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it produce and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.

When He speaks, things happen.

When He calls, souls are changed.

But if you ignore that call long enough, your heart can grow too hard to hear it.

That’s why  Hebrews 3: 15 warns, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

The truth is, the opportunity to be saved is open now but it will not stay open forever.

That’s why the Gospel must be preached not only with hope but with urgency.

The message is crystal clear: turn now, while you still can.

Don’t be lulled into complacency by comfort or distracted by finite temporary pleasures.

This world is passing away, but the one who does the will of God will live forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.

So, what are you waiting for?

More proof?

More time?

More signs?

You’ve already been given what you need: the Word of God, the invitation of grace, and the warning of coming judgment.

Don’t be like the rich man who realized the truth only when it was too late.

Don’t gamble your soul on “someday.”

Come to Christ now.

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Call upon Him while He is near.

Time is running out, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

God’s Eternity and the Brevity of Human Life.

A Prayer of [a]Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, You have been our [b]dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
[c]Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3 You turn mortals back into dust
And say, “Return, you sons of mankind.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
[d]Or like a watch in the night.
5 You have [e]swept them away like a flood, they [f]fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass that [g]sprouts anew.
6 In the morning it flourishes and [h]sprouts anew;
Toward evening it wilts and withers away.

7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And we have been terrified by Your wrath.
8 You have placed our guilty deeds before You,
Our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a [i]sigh.
10 As for the days of our [j]life, [k]they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we disappear.
11 Who [l]understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear [m]that is due You?
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may [n]present to You a heart of wisdom.

13 Do return, Lord; how long will it be?
And [o]be sorry for Your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness,
That we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days.
15 Make us glad [p]according to the days You have afflicted us,
And the years we have seen [q]evil.
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants
And Your majesty [r]to their children.
17 May the kindness of the Lord our God be upon us;
And [s]confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, [t]confirm the work of our hands.

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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For you are also to love the resident alien, since you were also resident aliens in the land of Egypt. Praying for those who struggle to love their neighbor. Deuteronomy 10:17-21

Deuteronomy 10:17-21 Christian Standard Bible

17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 You are also to love the resident alien, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You are to fear the Lord your God and worship him. Remain faithful[a] to him and take oaths in his name. 21 He is your praise and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awe-inspiring works your eyes have seen.

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.

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (later canonized as Saint) landed on the shores of America, she began her mission to serve Italian immigrants in New York.

Her perspective was not one of privilege, but of someone who was familiar with the struggles and stereotypes placed on Italians at that time.

As a woman and a foreigner, she knew all too well the prejudices against people like her.

But her work did not stop with those from her native land–her ministry also encompassed any in need of help, from women caught in bad situations to the orphan and the poor. Showing remarkable resilience; Orphanages, hospitals, and schools that she helped build around the world were open to all in need.   

Because she lived among the people and been one of them, by her strength of resolve, she openly challenged and confronted the established prejudices and biases to make enormous (miraculous) differences advocating for those under her care. She consistently modeled the love of Christ for those needing it most.  

The Israelites also knew how it felt to be strangers in an unknown land.

For over four hundred years, they lived in Egypt as foreigners and, for most of the time, heavily distressed, mistreated, oppressed slaves (Exodus 12:40).

They knew firsthand what it was like to experience mistreatment at the hands of others, and, thus, should not want others to endure the same suffering.  

God specifically encouraged them to always remember their past as a people living in a foreign land, so that they could show care to others, just as He had shown compassionate care to them.

This included loving foreigners living in their land, reflecting the Lord’s love for them. Since God had treated them fairly and justly, and shown them love by providing food and clothing, the Israelites were expected to do the same.

They were the best people for the job because of their past.  

Directly challenged by corrupt temple authorities, Jesus affirmed the greatest commandments were love the Lord, and love one’s neighbor (Mark 12:30-31).

A person’s neighbor included not only those who lived nearby, but also those who were quite different in regard to ethnicity, nationality, and location, as the parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates quite clearly (Luke 10:25-37).

Those who made the costly decision to love their neighbor as themselves were modeling the radical impartial love of God. And they were, by extension, loving Christ since whatever is done for the poor, hungry, and stranger is done for Him (Matthew 25:34-40).   

We might not be like Mother Cabrini, traveling the world to establish care for those who are overlooked, oppressed and underserved.

But we can, like her and other followers of Jesus, enter into those dark places around us to bring light and to extend a hand of welcome to the stranger.

We can seek to be a friend to the “foreigner” and raise our voices to defend the cause of the needy and oppressed. There are always opportunities all around us–in our communities, homes, and workplaces–if we are just willing to look.  

God, the Defender ….

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 Christian Standard Bible

17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing.

Many people are blessed with a relational safety net—a means of protection when they face a sudden tragedy or unexpected loss.

Parents or guardians and other family members are often seen in this way.

When we know we have access to that kind of security, everyday life can seem easier and less stressful.

But some people do not have those types of relationships.

What’s more, there may be several reasons why a person might face sudden unfortunate circumstances.

We can imagine a person who, after the death of a spouse or partner, is truly experiencing loneliness or the fear of having an increasingly isolated life.

Or perhaps we can imagine the trauma of a teenage child who loses a parent—and their life is suddenly changed forever. Maybe you know of someone with a difficult story like that—or maybe something like that has happened to you.

Wherever you are and whoever you are, God has mercy on you.

And no matter what you’re going through, God sees you.

God is there to defend you, to protect you, to clothe you in righteousness, and warm your iced soul, nourish you with the bread of life, which is Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28-30 Christian Standard Bible

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Psalm 15

A Description of the Godly

A psalm of David.

1 Lord, who can dwell in your tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?

2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart—
3 who does not slander with his tongue,
who does not harm his friend
or discredit his neighbor,
4 who despises the one rejected by the Lord[a]
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his word whatever the cost,
5 who does not lend his silver at interest
or take a bribe against the innocent—
the one who does these things will never be shaken.

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 progress feels invisible. When waiting on God to act as promised is marching onward towards its futility. Accomplishments aren’t succeeding. Isaiah 55:8-11

Isaiah 55:8-11 New International Version

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

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.

Finding Comfort and Faith in God’s Perspective 

Life doesn’t always go the way we would expect.

Sometimes, we face challenges, confusion, or situations that feel beyond our control.

In those moments, trying to make sense of everything can seem impossible.

Isaiah 55:8-11 provides comfort and wisdom for difficult times. It reminds us that we’re not alone in navigating life’s complexities. 

God’s Thoughts and Ways are Different 

Isaiah 55:8 begins with God declaring, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.”

This statement is profound—it tells us that God operates on a level that’s far beyond human understanding.

Picture a parent watching their child struggle to understand a complex concept.

A parent has a broader understanding of the situation.

Similarly, God sees the world and its workings from a perspective we can’t fully grasp nor comprehend. 

In essence, this passage is a reminder of God’s infinite wisdom. We may try to fit life’s events into neat categories.

Yet, God’s plans are bigger than we can imagine.

They are also more detailed than we can comprehend. It’s like looking at a single puzzle piece versus seeing the entire completed puzzle.

What may seem random or confusing to us fits perfectly into God’s greater picture. 

Understanding the Bigger Picture 

Isaiah 55:9 further emphasizes this point.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

This comparison highlights the vast difference between God’s perspective and ours.

Imagine standing on the ground and trying to see the horizon.

Now, compare that to viewing it from an airplane.

It’s a completely different vantage point.

God sees the “horizon” of our lives in ways we can’t, which is both humbling and reassuring. 

When we face difficulties, it’s natural to ask, “Why is this happening?” or “What’s the purpose of this?”

We might not always receive clear answers.

Isaiah reminds us to have faith.

There is a purpose behind every situation, even if it’s not immediately visible to us. 

God’s Word in Action 

Isaiah 55:10-11 introduces a beautiful analogy to explain how God’s plans unfold.

It states, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so is My word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty. It will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 

Think about rain and snow—their job is to nourish the earth, helping plants grow and flourish.

Similarly, God’s word and plans are purposeful.

They aren’t random or wasted.

Just as every drop of rain contributes to life on earth, every part of God’s plan has meaning and significance.

This verse reassures us that God is intentional in His actions. His word and will are designed to bring about good, even if we don’t instantly understand how. 

Trusting in God’s Plan 

One of the hardest things to do in life is to trust when you don’t have all the answers.

Isaiah 55 encourages us to lean into faith rather than frustration.

When we acknowledge that God’s ways are higher, we see they are rooted in love and wisdom.

It becomes easier to let go of the need to control or understand everything. 

This trust is not blind faith; it’s a deep understanding that God has our best interests at heart.

It’s like trusting a skilled pilot to navigate through turbulence.

It’s akin to relying on a seasoned guide to lead us through unfamiliar terrain.

We may not know the path, but we can trust the One who does. 

The Invitation to Peace 

Isaiah 55:8-11 is not just a call to trust—it’s an invitation to find peace.

Life’s uncertainties can feel overwhelming, but this passage reminds us that we don’t have to have all the answers.

God’s perspective is broader, His ways are higher, His plans are rooted in love.

When we accept this, we can let go of anxiety.

We find rest in the assurance that God is working for our ultimate good. 

Consider this: When we try to solve everything ourselves, it can feel like carrying a heavy load uphill. But when we place our trust in God, it’s like handing over that burden to someone stronger and more capable.

This act of faith brings comfort, knowing that we are not alone in navigating life’s challenges. 

Living Out This Faith 

So, how can we apply the truths of Isaiah 55:8-11 in our daily lives?

Here are a few steps: 

  • Let go of control: Accept that you don’t need to have all the answers. Trust that God sees the bigger picture. 
  • Focus on faith: When life feels uncertain, turn to prayer, scripture, or reflection to strengthen your relationship with God. 
  • Find comfort in purpose: Remember that God’s plans are intentional. Even when you can’t see the outcome, trust that His word will accomplish what it is meant to. 
  • Embrace humility: Recognize that it’s okay to not understand everything. Lean into the peace that comes from trusting a higher power. 

A Message of Hope 

Ultimately, Isaiah 55:8-11 is a message of hope.

It reminds us that we are not alone in trying to make sense of life.

God’s perspective is higher, His plans are greater, and His love is unwavering.

Even when life feels confusing or difficult, we can find comfort.

We know that God is guiding us toward something beautiful. 

The next time you’re faced with uncertainty, remember the words of Isaiah.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways My ways.”

It’s a gentle reminder. Trust the One who sees the full picture.

Even when we can only see a part of it. 

Through all of this…we still have God’s promises.

The Lord tells us in Isaiah 55 that His word is like the rain and snow – that it will water the earth and make it bud and flourish. (v. 10)

He goes on in verse 11, “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 

God has a purpose for the rain, and the rain will achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

So it is with what might seem like unanswered prayers.

In our waiting, let’s take our eyes off what we don’t know and turn them to what we do know – who God is and His promises.

Let us remember that God has a far greater perspective on the events of our lives than we do.

We can stay focused on knowing God’s plans are perfect – just as He is perfect.

We can trust that whatever He does will be in His perfect will and timing.

By clinging to these truths, we can then turn away from doubt or worry during our waiting.

Let us remember too that God has a purpose in the waiting. 

Isaiah 40 reminds us that

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (v. 29)

He promises “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  

Waiting helps us to rely on His grace and His goodness.

Waiting patiently strengthens our trust in Him.

We can know that He will renew our strength.

Waiting on God is never easy, but let us wait knowing that there might be a greater purpose.

So we can let our hearts not grow weary.

Knowing we will soar like eagles.

We know this because God promised it, and He will never let you down.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

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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Open wide your eyes and see—how good our God is. Witness all of that quiet confidence in God’s Goodness. Psalm 34:8-10

Psalm 34:8-10New Living Translation

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
    for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

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.

God is good, the Bible tells us.

In fact, Jesus says only God is good.

We can repeat the words, but that doesn’t mean we have experienced it.

Often, we feel like we have to experience something to fully understand it.

Is God’s goodness personally real to us or simply a theological statement? 

We often struggle to recognize God’s goodness.

Crises arise and constantly vie for our attention.

Problems need fixing, or things get worse.

Others hurt and wound us.

We make our own mistakes and hurt others.

These dark days threaten to obscure, destroy the higher truth of our good God.

Theological statements alone don’t change our hearts.

These declarations are important only insofar as they describe a greater reality.

Yet words can’t even hope to describe the greater reality.

Words are limited.

The only way to understand and know God’s goodness is through personal experience and encounter.

I can say water is wet. And it might be true.

But “water is wet” cannot compare to the experience of jumping in a pool. 

It takes two steps to experience God’s goodness personally.

First, we look back on our lives and see the places God has been good to us.

We rehearse and remember when and where God has been good to us.

This includes his salvation and spiritual blessings, as well as individual blessings in our lives.

Second, we start to reframe current struggles as blessings, as well.

Just as God sent his Son into a dying world to speak life and shine his light, he places us in situations where we can do the same.

In these challenges, he tests and exposes our faith and his grace.

While we reframe our challenges, we renew our minds.

Further, facing these hardships in faith reminds us that we don’t have the power or ability to change anything.

Only God can.

We must rest upon the Lord’s grace and goodness, implicitly trusting He acts for our common good even when we don’t currently see it in action. 

Taking refuge within our Father, we personally learn how God’s goodness transcends our current situation. How his light shines brighter in the dark. 

I’m also here to introduce and unpack another fun phrase called Godfidence.

Godfidence is the level of confidence we have in God.

It is knowing that God is in control and having the confidence to walk in that.

Philippians 4:13 is a great depiction of what Godfidence is, the verse says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Don’t you feel empowered just from hearing that?

We can do ALL, not some but ALL things through Christ who gives us strength.

What assurance, what joy is it to know that Christ has our back in all situations?

Confidence is seen as self but Godfidence is given only through Jesus Christ.

It is something we can’t form ourselves, only coming from what faith we have in Christ.

People with confidence act different, they walk different, they are different.

People with Godfidence take it to another level, they have a level of confidence that is steadfast and unmatched. People with Godfidence know who the head of their lives is and are not afraid to give themselves over un to God to lead them.

The word may seem funny but it is a clever play on words.

I’m not sure who exactly came up with the merger, but what they created was a way for this new generation of young thinkers to have confidence to think God.

We should all want to maximize God with our God given potential and the best way to do that is having Godfidence.

It is taking self out the way and allowing God to be the head.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,”

This hard hitting passage of Scripture is from Galatians 2:20, it is one of the best ways to describe laying down ourselves so that God can have the control.

We must know, implicitly trust in who He is.

We must learn to experience Him.

We must learn to study Him.

Study the scriptures

The Bible is the ultimate manual for life.

The Bible gives us clear directions on how to live our lives and have confidence in our Maker.

The more determined we are to learn of God, the more we can grow, mature, have confidence in God; who always wants us to use and to be filled with the knowledge of His Son our Savior Jesus, Holy Spirit, and fully submit our lives.   

Pray. Pray. Pray.

James 5:16 Amplified Bible

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt  and  persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

Have a fervent prayer life!

Dr. Charles Stanley says “live your life on your knees”.

Never ever stop praying.

God reveals his plans, his purpose for our lives through prayer and speaking with him.

Submit yourself to the Lord

Matthew 16:24-28 English Standard Version

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a]  will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death  until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

As Matthew 16:24-26 states, we must die to ourselves daily.

God wants us to submit ourselves to Him so that our lives can be lived for him.

God wants to give us Godfidence but it can only be given if we submit our lives.

Trust Him

John 14:1-7 English Standard Version

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

God wants access to us.

God wants us to have access to Him.

The only way to implicitly trust in Him is to give Him complete and total access to us.

Once we do this, a shift will happen in our lives.

God will open up to us in ways we never would have allowed ourselves to believe or to imagine or acknowledge and experience.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON 
  1. What are some ways God has shown is goodness to you in the past? Think of both spiritual and situational blessings. 
  2. What are some difficult areas you’re dealing with right now? How can you find God’s goodness within the hardship? 
  3. How can you take time and take refuge in God through the difficulties?

Luke 24:30-35 New American Standard Bible

30 And it came about, when He had reclined at the table with them, that He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them. 31 And then  their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from [a]their sight.  32 They said to one another, “[b]Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was [c]explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34  saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!” 35 They began to relate [d]their experiences on the road, and how He was recognized by them at the breaking of the bread.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

The Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.

107 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
3 And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the [a]south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a [b]desert region;
They did not find a way to [c]an inhabited city.
5 They were hungry [d]and thirsty;
Their souls felt weak within them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
7 He also had them walk on a [e]straight way,
To go to [f]an inhabited city.
8 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [g]wonders to the sons of mankind!
9 For He has satisfied the [h]thirsty soul,
And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.

10 There were those who lived in darkness and in [i]the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and [j]chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And rejected the plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and [k]the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [l]wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.

17 Fools, because of [m]their rebellious way,
And because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted.
18 Their souls loathed all kinds of food,
And they came close to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And saved them from their [n]destruction.
21 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [o]wonders to the sons of mankind!
22 They shall also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His [p]wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised a stormy wind,
Which lifted the waves [q]of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken person,
And [r]were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves [s]of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired harbor.
31 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [t]wonders to the sons of mankind!
32 They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a [u]wilderness,
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 And a fruitful land into a salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a [v]wilderness into a pool of water,
And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And He has the hungry live there,
So that they may establish [w]an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
And [x]gather a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them and they multiply greatly,
And He does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they become few and lowly
Because of oppression, misery, and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt upon noblemen
And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
41 But He sets the needy [y]securely on high, away from affliction,
And makes his families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad;
But all injustice shuts its mouth.
43 Who is wise? He is to pay attention to these things,
And consider the mercy of the Lord.

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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With the arrival of Savior Jesus, the only solution is life on God’s terms. Romans 8:1-2

Romans 8:1-2 Christian Standard Bible

The Life-Giving Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,[a]  2 because the law[b] of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you[c] free from the law[d] of sin and death.

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.

Praying for Repentance Without Shame

Shame can take up and occupy a large space in our hearts. When we feel regret or embarrassment over our actions, it can feel almost impossible to shake.

We convince ourselves that we do not deserve forgiveness, so we struggle to fully pray for the loving authentic embrace which the freedom Christ offers.

Instead, we tend to shove our shame and regret deep down where no one can see it or suspects it exists. But over time, we realize that no amount of hiding, ignoring, or covering it up or false pretenses can truly make it go away.

God calls us to authentic repentance. He invites us to bring our shame out of hiding and lay it at the foot of the cross. All of it. Not just the manageable parts or the not-so-bad parts, but the ugly, stingy, painful parts that make us cringe.

Jesus already knows those parts exist. He always has. And He loves us anyway.

Do you believe that?

Do we believe that Jesus not only loves us despite our mistakes, but that He also forgives us for them?

Not only that, but He loved us so much, He willingly bled and died on the cross on our behalf, taking all of the guilt and punishment for the sins we committed.

That kind of grace is difficult to fully grasp, and many of us wrestle to believe 0.0001% of what occurred and fathom its depths, that, it is truly meant for us.

The enemy would love nothing more than for us to carry around that burden of shame, guilt, preventing us from living in the abundant freedom Jesus offers.

He wants us to cower, to hide, disappear into the valley of the shadow of death, covering up our failures, and believing we are too far gone. But Jesus invites us to bring all of our mistakes into the light and allow Him to carry them for us.

In the Bible, Romans 8:1, Paul the Apostle wants readers to understand the true depths of God’s grace.

Romans 7:14-25 New Living Translation

Struggling with Sin

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[b] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

The word therefore points us back to everything Paul wrote in chapter 7, where he describes the continuous internal struggle which we’ll all confront between wanting to obey God and still battling sin.

“I do not do the good I want to do, but instead I keep doing the very thing I do not want to do.” Romans 7:19

There is a tension between wanting to live a life that reflects Christ while still wrestling with those sinful desires and imperfect actions.

It is part of the human condition that we all experience.

But the beauty of Romans 8:1 is this: sin does not have the final word.

Shame does not win.

Darkness does not define you.

When we feel conviction, we can allow it to lead us toward repentance, healing, and restoration.

But condemnation no longer has any power over those who are in Christ.

God invites us to walk beside Him despite our failures.

He offers freedom instead of guilt, hope instead of hiding, and restoration instead of shame.

He is a God who restores, and He longs for you to live in the freedom only He can give.

Are you carrying around a shame that you can’t shake?

Is regret affecting your everyday life, threatening to take you down?

If so, this prayer is for you.

Let’s pray,

Lord, I struggle to fully believe in Your all-powerful ability to forgive and restore the things I have done in my life. I wrestle with the idea that You would so willingly lay down Your life to pay for sins I knowingly committed. I am not sure I will ever fully grasp the depth of the grace and forgiveness You offer, but please do not let my lack of understanding keep me from walking in the freedom You have for me.

I rebuke the spirit of condemnation rooted in my heart. Lord, please forgive me for all the ways I have fallen short, for the sin hidden in my heart, and for the ways I have disobeyed You. I want to come humbly before Your throne of grace, ready and willing to lay down everything that burdens my soul.

I rebuke the lies that tell me I am not good enough, that I am too far gone, or that my sin is too big for You to redeem. Your Word speaks the opposite. You love me no matter what, and You long for me to walk with You out of my pain, shame, sin, and the weight of guilt.

Show me Your ways, Lord. Lead me away from sin. Show me the better path, and give me the strength and courage to make choices that reflect my love for You instead of my love for the world.

Allow my life to be a light for You as I choose light instead of darkness. Give me the courage to share this truth with the people You place in my life. Lord, I know You desire for everyone to walk in the freedom You offer. Please help me to be effective in Your kingdom as I share the good news of Your grace and redemption.

Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for reaching into the depths of my soul and restoring what sin tried to take from me. Replace my shame with truth, light, peace, and the abundant life found only in You. Amen.

In your precious name we pray,

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Psalm 32 Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 32
The Joy of Forgiveness
Of David. A Maskil.

1 How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom
the Lord does not charge with iniquity
and in whose spirit is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was drained[a]
as in the summer’s heat.Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately.[b]
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
9 Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.

10 Many pains come to the wicked,
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.

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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A heart being transformed by truth; When my heart has whispered, “Seek God,” My whole being replied, “I am seeking him!” Praying; “do not hide your face from me now!” Psalm 27

Psalm 27 New American Standard Bible

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for 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.

Psalm 27 highlights an extraordinarily deep longing for God’s presence, and it can this longing transforms our lives when we understand and apply its truths.

Today, we will explore the profound truth found in Psalm 27:4 (NLT): “The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.”

This verse highlights a deep longing for God’s presence, and it can transform our lives when we understand and apply its truths.

We will look at three key points: seeking God’s presence, delighting in God’s beauty, and meditating on God’s truth.

1. Seeking God’s Presence

The psalmist, David, expresses a singular desire to dwell in God’s house.

The Hebrew word for “seek” is “baqash,” which conveys an earnest pursuit or longing.

David’s life was filled with challenges, yet his greatest desire was not relief from his enemies but an intimate relationship with God. This shows the importance of prioritizing God’s presence above all else.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Jesus emphasizes the importance of seeking God first, promising that everything else will follow.

A.W. Tozer writes, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One” (The Pursuit of God).

In our busy lives, it’s easy to get distracted by worldly pursuits.

We must intentionally seek God’s presence through prayer, worship, and reading His Word.

Make time every day to connect with Him and prioritize His presence in your life.

Consider a child who, in the midst of a crowded room, runs to their parent’s arms. In the same way, we should run to God, seeking His presence above all else, finding comfort and joy in Him alone.

2. Delighting in God’s Beauty

David speaks of “delighting in the Lord’s perfections.” The Hebrew word “noam” refers to pleasantness or beauty.

David finds ultimate joy and satisfaction in the beauty of God’s character and His works.

This delight goes beyond mere admiration; it is a deep, soul-satisfying pleasure in God’s holiness and goodness.

Psalm 16:11 (NLT): “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

This verse reinforces the joy and delight found in God’s presence.

John Piper states, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” (Desiring God).

We are surrounded by many things that promise satisfaction but often leave us empty. True delight is found in God’s beauty. Spend time reflecting on His attributes and works. Worship Him not just for what He does but for who He is.

Imagine standing before a magnificent painting, mesmerized by its beauty.

Our experience with God should be similar but infinitely greater, finding deep satisfaction in His glorious presence.

3. Meditating on God’s Truth

David desires to “meditate in his Temple.

” The Hebrew word “hagah” means to ponder, muse, or meditate.

Meditation involves deep, continuous reflection on God’s Word and His truths. It is not a passive activity but an active engagement with God’s revelation.

Psalm 1:2 (NLT): “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

This verse highlights the blessedness of those who continually meditate on God’s law.

Dallas Willard writes, “The process of spiritual formation in Christ is one of progressively replacing… destructive images and ideas with the images and ideas that filled the mind of Jesus himself” (Renovation of the Heart).

Meditation on God’s Word transforms our minds and hearts.

Make it a habit to reflect deeply on Scripture, allowing it to shape your thoughts and actions.

Use tools like journaling or scripture memorization to aid your meditation.

Think of a gardener who tends to their garden daily, ensuring that every plant receives the care it needs.

Similarly, we should tend to our spiritual lives through regular meditation on God’s truth, allowing it to cultivate growth and transformation.

Psalm 27:4 calls us all into a transformative journey through seeking God’s presence, delighting in His beauty, and meditating on His truth.

Psalm 27:8-9 ‘When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.’9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

These verses are a truly powerful declaration of the Psalmist’s commitment to reassessing his life’s priorities to seek God’s presence and favor above all else.

The theme of seeking God’s face is a recurring motif throughout the Bible, symbolizing the believer’s longing for intimacy and fellowship with God.

In these verses, the Psalmist is responding to God’s strong call to seek His face, demonstrating a heart that is eager to know and experience the presence of the Lord.

These verses not only speak to the individual believer’s strongest desires for finding God’s face, but it also reflects a much broader theme of humanity’s yearning for an intimate relationship with their Creator.

The context of these verses is important to understanding its deeper meaning.

In Psalm 27, David expresses confidence in God’s protection and deliverance, despite facing opposition and adversity.

He begins the Psalm by declaring,

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, KJV).

Throughout the Psalm, David’s faith is unwavering, as he proclaims his trust in the Lord’s goodness and his desire to dwell in God’s presence.

It is within this context of seeking refuge and reassurance that David declares his fullest possible commitment to seeking God’s face.

Appreciate the symbolism of seeking God’s face which goes far beyond a mere physical encounter.

It represents a deeper, spiritual longing for divine communion and guidance.

In the Bible, God’s face is often associated with His favor, blessing, and presence.

When the Psalmist declares, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek,” he is expressing his turning away from his fears of his enemies towards the path which ultimately leads, guides and directs his far greater desire for God’s favor and intimacy.

This desire stems from an overwhelming recognition of God’s sovereignty and the incomparable transformative power of His presence in the believer’s life.

Furthermore, the act of seeking God’s face implies a deliberate and earnest pursuit of the Lord.

It involves a whole-hearted devotion and a willingness to set aside distractions and worldly pursuits in order to prioritize God’s presence.

These verses challenge believers to prioritize their relationship with God above all else, recognizing that true fulfillment and purpose are found in Him alone.

As Christians, we can draw inspiration from this verse to cultivate a deeper longing for God’s presence in our own lives.

In a world filled with too many distractions and demands, it can be easy to lose sight of the importance of seeking God’s face.

However, just as the Psalmist demonstrates his unwavering commitment to prioritizing God, we too are called to seek His face with sincerity and devotion.

Ultimately, Psalm 27:8 serves as a reminder of the profound significance of turning away from those distractions and demands, seeking God’s presence.

Vigorously examining our drifting own hearts and align our desires with His, recognizing true fulfillment is found only in the intimate presence of the Lord.

It invites us to embrace a life of purpose and meaning, rooted in a deep and abiding relationship with our Creator.

As we seek His face, may we be transformed by His love, grace, and truth.

This week, commit yourselves to prioritizing God’s presence, finding delight in His incomparable majesty, and meditating on His Way, His truth and His Life.

Pray the Holy Spirit to guide you in these essential spiritual practices and grow and mature, strengthen and transform your hearts and minds and your souls.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

42 As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and [c]appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

5 Why are you [d]cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
[e]For the help of His countenance.

6 [f]O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From [g]the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a [h]breaking of my bones,
My enemies [i]reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The [j]help of my countenance and my 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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A tree planted by God, deeply rooted in Christ, transformed by trust: the truest blessings, trusting in our God. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:5-8 New International Version

5 This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

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.

5 This is what the Lord says:

This passage of scripture presents two side of a coin.

It shows us what it looks like to place TRUST in God vs. man.

trust – hie for refuge[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]

It is not a discouragement from our daily walk alongside God in community because throughout the Word, God calls us to value all of our brethren, live in full accord and bear each other’s burdens.

Rather, this message was intended to teach the people of Israel the danger of trusting, idolizing, worshiping the Asherah poles statues, false temple gods.

Certainly, it can apply to us today, as we can easily make our relationships with worldly sources of our trust our initial hie for refuge in place of God in Christ.

When you encounter trials and troubles, who do you run to first for protection and comfort? Do you first consult God or man? Is your first response, first act of defense, referring to scripture, praying to God or venting to a friend or a crowd?


“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.

cursed – to receive what is harmful[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]

Another human cannot sustain you as God can.

We are all just as flawed and weak as each other.

Therefore, placing a relationship above God, the ultimate and eternal source of strength, means forsaking the benefits of a relationship with the Almighty, All-powerful and All-knowing always available heavenly Father.

It also means opening ourselves up to more harm than good.

The one who makes man their primary source:

  • Will not grow much in their stature (remains as a shrub/bush)
  • Will not have vision of good and prosperous things (will not see prosperity)
  • Will not have a source of refreshing (dwell in parched places)
  • Will curate a life of dryness/barrenness (a salt land)

Your family, friends, business partners, collogues may seriously disappoint you and possibly betray you with their words.

They may not validate or challenge you in the times when you need it most.

They may not always do a great job of reassuring and encouraging you in the face of difficulty.

On the other side, you will develop a life of people pleasing and valuing the word of man more than that of God.

It will not bring you God’s intended growth for your life, simply because no matter how close you are, your fellow men will never know you as well as God.

He knows your innermost thoughts and outermost expressions. He knows your past, present and future self! It is through the intimacy of His knowledge for us that he can provide us with just exactly what we need to flourish and to thrive.

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit."

blessed – to receive what is beneficial[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]

When God is the source of our trust and strength, we can be sustained by the One who is stronger than us, greater than us, wiser than us, more reliable than us, kinder than us, more trustworthy, … much better than us, in every sense.

Instead of depending in one who is just as flawed as you are, you depend on the one who is perfect and blameless!

Our shortcomings and weaknesses does not phase Him. He even promises us that His strength is perfected in our weakness. It means that he works best in the areas where we are at our worst.

Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT):

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

The one who makes God their source:

  • Will grow in their stature to great heights (like a tree)
  • Will dwell where there is a source of refreshing (planted by the waters)
  • Will grow deeper in their walk with God, be more firm and less shaken (spread its roots)
  • Will not allow fear to change your character, countenance or appearance in seasons of difficulty (leaves will be green even when the heat comes)
  • Will not allow anxiety to change your sense of purpose or service in seasons of difficulty (will not cease from yielding fruit)

This is because when God is your source, you always run to him regardless of the circumstance.

You will continue to pray, worship, read his Word and do what you must to remain in His presence.

Psalm 125:1-2 (NLT):

“Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord will surrounds his people, both now and forever.”

It is in his presence, that he challenges us to grow in obedience and surrender, encourages us to refresh our souls and affirms us in our identity in Him that we may stand and know we are safely sheltered, protected and be rooted deeply.

The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

121 I will raise my eyes to the mountains;
From where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your [a]protector;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not [b]beat down on you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will [c]protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will [d]guard your going out and your coming in
From this time and forever.

When God is your source, seasons of heat and drought will come, but how you show up in the world, plant your roots in Ministry and what more you choose to contribute to the world to advance, grow, His kingdom will continue to endure.

In essence, when we make God our source, we are sustained regardless of the circumstance and we can yield more success in our spiritual and physical lives!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

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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They are like young trees replanted in Eden, putting down its roots near the rivers—Praying to Connect with God in the Forest Glades and Quiet Rivers. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:7-8 Christian Standard Bible

7 The person who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.

8 He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit.

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.

There’s something about walking in the woods that quiets the noise of this fallen world.

As soon as you step onto a forest trail, the busy pace of your life starts to slow down.

The sounds of traffic fade away, and so does the pressure of your stressful schedule and responsibilities.

Trees tower over you, leaves crunch beneath your shoes, and sunlight filters through the tree branches to scatter across the forest floor.

All of that can raise your perspective beyond your to-do list and inspire you to pay attention to your surroundings.

In the woods, it becomes much easier to notice God’s presence with you than when you’re inside chaos, because creation naturally points to the Creator. 

When you look at the trees around you, you can see that they aren’t running around anxiously or trying to rush to grow.

They simply live the way God designed them to live – with confident trust that their Creator will provide what they need.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says that the person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted beside water, sending its roots toward the stream.

When the heat comes, that tree doesn’t fear.

Its leaves remain green, even in seasons of drought, it continues to bear fruit. 

In the woods, some trees have grown for generations.

Over the years, they’ve faced storms, high winds, seasons of dryness, harsh winters, and intense summer heat.

Yet they remain standing, strongly rooted in the same place where they began.

Trees’ strength comes from their roots. Beneath the soil, an unseen network of roots stretches outward and downward, quietly, steadily drawing its water and nutrients from the earth.

Those roots work constantly, even though no one passing by ever notices them.

That hidden connection is what allows the tree to survive even in the harshest conditions.

Trust in God works in much the same way.

Most of the time, trust grows quietly beneath the surface of your life.

It develops in the everyday moments when you turn your thoughts toward God instead of letting worry take over.

It deepens more when you bring your concerns to God in prayer instead of trying to carry them alone.

It strengthens each time you remind yourself that God’s wisdom, knowledge of His Creation, reaches far beyond what you can know or see.

Just like roots slowly pushing through the soil, implicit trust develops over time through steady habits. Walking in the woods can help you remember that truth.

Every tree you pass is a living picture of what it looks like to stay connected to a source of life.

Those trees don’t control the weather.

They can’t stop the wind or make it rain.

Their stability comes from just remaining steadily rooted beside the water that sustains them.

God invites you to live with that same kind of connection.

Trusting God allows your life to become steady in that same way. You’ll still sometimes face challenging circumstances, but you’ll be able to overcome those challenges because you’ll be rooted in a strong relationship with God.

Whenever you need inspiration, take a long walk in the woods.

Notice the quiet dignity, majesty and strength of the trees around you, and how their branches stretch toward the sky with confidence.

Picture the tree roots beneath the soil, spreading outward in search of water.

God is inviting you to live with that kind of trust.

While you walk, connect with God in prayer, and he’ll meet you where you are.

God serves as our personal guide with every step we take through life, and we can trust him to meet all our needs – as he does for all the trees all around us. 

TRUST……

HOPE …..

These are precious priceless commodities…and not very plentiful, or common, in our day, are they?

There are just too many things we can’t or refuse to trust in or depend on!

But did you notice what they do for the one who TRUSTS in the LORD?…and for the one who’s HOPE is the LORD? 

That one is abundantly blessed…happy!!

He is like a tree whose roots reach all the way down to a continual source of life-giving and refreshing water.. always fully satisfied and nurtured by the GOODNESS of GOD!!

Can you imagine anything better in the heat or droughts that come our way–than to have infinitely more than maximum access to the real Source of Life!!

GOD offers that to you and me!!

We just need to reach for Him–as a tree sends it thirsty roots in search of life-giving water….

Really HOPING…..

Truly TRUSTING the LORD….


In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ……

Psalm 104

God the Creator

1 My soul, bless the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2 He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe,
spreading out the sky like a canopy,
3 laying the beams of his palace
on the waters above,
making the clouds his chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind,
4 and making the winds his messengers,[a]
flames of fire his servants.

5 He established the earth on its foundations;
it will never be shaken.
6 You covered it with the deep
as if it were a garment;
the water stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke the water fled;
at the sound of your thunder they hurried away—
8 mountains rose and valleys sank[b]—
to the place you established for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
they will never cover the earth again.

10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
11 They supply water for every wild beast;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky live beside the springs;
they make their voices heard among the foliage.
13 He waters the mountains from his palace;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.

14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock
and provides crops for man to cultivate,
producing food from the earth,
15 wine that makes human hearts glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains human hearts.

16 The trees of the Lord flourish,[c]
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
storks make their homes in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.

19 He made the moon to mark the[d] festivals;[e]
the sun knows when to set.
20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the forest animals stir.
21 The young lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises; they go back
and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
and to his labor until evening.

24 How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.[f]
25 Here is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships move about,
and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.

27 All of them wait for you
to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your breath,[g]
they are created,
and you renew the surface of the ground.

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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Imprisoned at the Intersection of our Expectations And Disappointments. Matthew 11:1-6

Matthew 11:1-6 New American Standard Bible
John’s Questions

11 When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and [b]preach in their cities.

2 Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is [e]any person who does not [f] take offense at Me.”

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.

John was disillusioned when he questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah.

Studying this incident will assist us to avoid becoming disillusioned in Christ.

Who among us will ever dare to be honest enough to admit that more times than they can count, they have felt imprisoned at the ironclad intersection of their expectations and disappointments?

Matthew 11:1-6 sits at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You had your life mapped out, but somehow things didn’t turn out as you had planned.

Then you saw your doctor for your annual routine physical examination.

You thought everything was going swimmingly, but then there came that dark and rainy moment when your doctor told you you needed an urgent surgery if you were to survive until next month. Tests found several masses in your lungs.

Your life was transformed by the new reality and your dreams died that day. The surgery would mean long weeks of being in bed and weeks of therapy after the surgery. It meant pain—intense, constant pain whether you had the surgery or not. You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought your marriage would last forever, only to see your spouse walk out.

Your marriage crumbled, and you were left to pick up the pieces.

Now, you work multiple jobs at an income that is never quite enough, and you struggle to raise your children without any tangible help of your husband.

You have cried enough tears to fill an ocean and you wonder if your children will ever fully recover from the devastation they have just suddenly experienced.

Still, you realize that you’re the only person left standing between your children and self-destruction.

You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought you were set to enjoy your golden years but changing markets have all of a sudden forced you to scramble in order to survive.

Retirement!

Ha!

You’re working more now than ever.

You had hoped to take life easy, but now you’re working just to make ends meet.

You set aside what you thought would be needed, but somehow it hasn’t proven to be enough.

Those who sit at their dinner table to consume what they have thought to be sufficient now have to survive on a budget which is proving to be inadequate.

You didn’t expect to be forced to care for ageing parents, but someone has to sacrifice so your aging mother or father can have the medical care they need.

Modern medicine is a two-edged sword, extending our lives but imposing new necessities on our children.

Thus, you are saddled with the responsibility of caring for your parents at the time when you know you should be planning or preparing for your own future.

You stand imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

If we could only know what God has planned for us, we could perhaps be courageous. We can’t know what God will be doing, and so we feel that we must grapple with a dark unknown rather than walking with confidence through our chaotic situation. We are too “Christian” to admit that we sometimes struggle with doubt, but in our heart, we experience so very often times when we ask, “Is this really what life is all about?”

At such times, we are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You’ve been praying, and no answer comes.

You cannot help but wonder whether God hears you when you pray?

Does God care about your struggles?

Because the response of the Holy One seems non-existent, you find yourself questioning God; even find yourself asking, “Did Jesus really die for my sins?

If I am forgiven, why am I having such a hard time?

Why is there so much confusion in my life, if God is in control?”

Confusion seems to grow constantly, and you can’t help but wonder why God seems to ignore you.

It is almost as though He is unaware of who you are or what you are going through.

You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

Questions come flooding into our minds: Why is there so much hurt in the world if God is good?

He could make things right if He wanted to do so.

He has the power.

Why doesn’t He do something?

The question sticks in our throat, but we are too tight lipped, stiff necked, embarrassed to let it pass beyond our lips.

Admit it!

Confess it!

We find ourselves to be imprisoned at our intersections of Expectations and Disappointments

We don’t want people to know that we have been locked up in the dungeon of doubt.

Has it all been worth it?

Has my sacrifice, my struggle, my sorrow made any difference?

Does Jesus care .001% that I am seemingly unable to move beyond my present condition of living in this rut that defines my life at the present?

You are imprisoned at the center in a jail of Expectation and Disappointment.

The message this day is for Christians, for followers of the Christ who have experienced disappointment or for those who will soon enter into despair.

13 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,
With grief in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

The Psalmist’s message is also intended to offer an authentic expression of hope for the afflicted soul, when everything seems hopeless, hope in Christ.

5 But I have trusted in Your faithfulness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has looked after me. (Psalm 13:5-6)

The message is intended to be a source of encouragement for the people of God when imprisoned at the center of a dangerously rutted intersection called “my Expectations and my Disappointments.” Praying for any Help in this trouble.

Faith, the Scripture tells us, is active and relational.

It reaches beyond the visible, tangible world into the reality of God’s promises.

Religion, on the other hand, often remains visible—it is what you do, not whom you trust.

Illustration: Imagine two people standing on opposite sides of a wide creek of unknown depths. Religion may give you a map, a rope, and rules about how to cross it. Faith is taking the step because you trust the one who builds the bridge.

Dr. John Piper wrote, “Faith is not mere belief; it is a life surrendered to the will of God because we trust Him completely.”

Here, Piper reminds us true faith is personal surrender, not checklists of duties. Religion without faith can mark boxes but does nothing to transform the heart.

1: Faith is Relational, Religion is Ritual

Consider Micah 6:6-8 (NLT):

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should I offer my firstborn for my rebellion, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you: Only to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

The prophet Micah addresses Israel, who had become experts at religious ritual—sacrifices, festivals, offerings—yet their hearts far were distant from God.

The Hebrew word used here for “walk” here, ‘halak,’ implies a daily lifestyle of focusing on ongoing relationships, obedience, not merely ritual performances.

Faith focuses on relationship: “walk humbly with your God.”

Religion focuses on ritual: “burnt offerings, rivers of olive oil.”

Modern believers often fall into “religious checklists”: attending church, volunteering, giving, but lacking deep, trusting relationship with Jesus.

Faith invites us into an intimacy with God—through prayer, Scripture, study, obedience—not simply participation in activities.

2: Faith Impacts the Heart, Religion Controls Behavior

Let’s turn to Romans 10:9-10 (NLT):

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God — and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

Paul writes to the Roman church, a mixture of Jews and Gentiles steeped in both cultural and religious practices. The Greek word for “believe” here is ‘pisteuo‘, which conveys personal trust and commitment, not just intellectual assent.

Religion might prescribe outward actions—attendance, fasting, charity—but faith reaches the heart.

Faith is internal trust in Christ, resulting in external obedience. Paul clearly emphasizes a holistic transformation: belief leads to confession, confession leads to salvation, and salvation changes life.

In today’s world, it is easy to confuse being “religious” with being “right with God.”

One might pray, tithe, volunteer—but without heart-level trust in Jesus, these acts are empty.

True faith begins in the heart, flows outward, produces a life that honors God.

 “Religion is what you do; faith is what God does in you.”

This is profound. Religion without faith produces mere action; faith without religion produces authentic devotion that transforms communities and lives.

3: Faith Produces Freedom, Religion Can Produce Bondage

Consider Galatians 5:1 (NLT):

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Paul addresses believers who were tempted to return to legalistic observances—rituals, laws, and human traditions.

The Greek word for “slavery” here is ‘douleia‘, implying bondage, not simply obligation. Religion without faith often enslaves; faith liberates.

Religion can become burdensome with too many “hair-splitting” rules; faith produces joyful obedience.

Faith rests in Christ’s work; religion rests on human effort.

In the 21st century, believers are pressured by social expectations: “If you’re spiritual, do this, say that, attend here.”

True discipleship, born of faith, is freedom.

You are no longer bound by fear of judgment but empowered by the love of Christ.

A friend once described his faith journey like this:

“I spent years following religious rules, always anxious I’d fail God. When I finally trusted Jesus, I realised obedience was no longer a chain—it was wings.”

Charles Stanley said, “True faith never imprisons; it always liberates because it rests in the grace of God, not the efforts of man.”

Faith liberates.

Religion can constrict.

Understanding this is critical for authentic discipleship.

In the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Praying …

The Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.

107 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
3 And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the [a]south.

10 There were those who lived in darkness and in [i]the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and [j]chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And rejected the plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and [k]the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [l]wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.

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 God’s Voice Calls for far more than vain and empty performances? The path of obedience? God desires our entire hearts. 1 Samuel 15:22-23

1 Samuel 15:22-23 Christian Standard Bible

22 Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.

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.

God gave instructions to attack the Amalekites because they had ruthlessly attacked his people coming out of slavery from Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).

Setting up an ambush, Saul attacked Amalek with great speed and force.

Saul’s army gobbled up territory without much pushback.

They destroyed the Amalekites and took their King Agag alive.

Saul looked at the Amalekites’ good livestock and decided to keep them alive too. What could be wrong with that? Saul simply believed he could make better decisions based on his knowledge of war than on God’s knowledge of obedience.

When Samuel came, he was shocked to see two things: alive animals and an alive King Agag.

And because of this, God had said he was greatly disappointed with Saul.

Israel’s first king had chosen his world over God’s world. The Amalekites were not the only ones who dishonored God as he worked to lead his people.

Saul too had worked against God and tried to take advantage for his own gain.

God gave King Saul a clear command—to destroy the Amalekites completely.

Saul won the battle, but chose to spare their king and keep the best animals.

When confronted, he insisted he had obeyed the Lord.

But the bleating of sheep told another story.

Saul justified his disobedience by claiming he saved the animals for sacrifice.

Samuel’s response still echoes through the centuries: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God wasn’t impressed with Saul’s offering; He wanted Saul’s heart.

Obedience is not about our checking religious boxes—it’s about surrendering our entire hearts, our souls, our wills.

It’s about our saying, “Yes, Lord,” even when it’s rock hard, inconvenient, or uncomfortable.

The people of Israel suffered while Saul was their leader.

Saul did not obey God’s commands.

Saul also set up a monument to honor himself for his victory in a war, raising himself above God.

When Samuel asked Saul, “Why did you not obey the Lord?”

Saul lied, saying that everything he did was for God. Of course, Samuel already knew what Saul had done, and this was an opportunity for Saul to ­repent.

But Saul’s answer was ridiculous.

He tried to cover up his greed with religious excuses.

Saul claimed that he had saved out the best sheep and cattle in order to sacrifice them to God.

But that was a lie.

He also shifted blame to others, saying it was the soldiers who had saved out the best sheep and cattle.

So Samuel said, “Enough!” Samuel cried out to the Lord.

And he told Saul that because he had rejected the word of the Lord, God had now rejected him as king over Israel.

How about us today?

Do we live our lives as we please?

Do we lift ourselves up and ignore God’s words?

Do we make up religious excuses when we have done wrong?

Do we blame, criminalize, condemn, imprison, scapegoat, ruinate the lives of others for failing to acknowledge, confess, what is our own act of wrong­doing?

When Obedience Costs You Something Irreplaceable …

Hebrews 11:8 tells us that “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out…not knowing where he was going.”

If we do these things, we need to repent and appeal to God for his mercy and grace. We do not want to face the sting of suffering of being rejected by God.

Abraham’s obedience was costly—it required trust.

He left everything familiar, and later, when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, obedience demanded he implicitly trust God, sacrifice his own first born son.

The journey up Mount Moriah wasn’t just about the test—it was about trust.

Abraham could say to Isaac that, “God Himself will provide,” because obedience had taught him God’s faithfulness.

Walking with God means we’ll face similar tests.

Maybe he’s asking you to forgive the unforgivable, to give, and to step into something uncertain, the enemy whispering, “If God loves you, why this trial?”

But every test of obedience is meant to strengthen your faith, not to crush it.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

When Blessing Follows Surrender and obedience ….

In Luke 5, Peter and his crew had fished all night with nothing to show for it.

Then Jesus told him, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

It made no sense—but Peter obeyed.

The result?

So many fish that the nets began to break.

That’s what happens when obedience meets faith and trust.

The blessing was waiting beyond the “nevertheless.”

Peter’s reluctant obedience became the moment of divine overflow—and a turning point in his calling.

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” — Isaiah 1:19

Obedience doesn’t always lead to material blessing, but it will always lead us to spiritual fruit.

Proverbs 3:6-12 Christian Standard Bible

6 in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will be healing for your body[b]
and strengthening for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
10 then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe his discipline;
12 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

God honors the heart that places trust in Him first and acts on faith!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Psalm 119:25-40 Complete Jewish Bible

ד (Dalet)

25 I lie prostrate in the dust;
revive me, in keeping with your word.
26 I told you of my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your laws.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wonders.
28 I am melting away from anxiety and grief;
renew my strength, in keeping with your word.
29 Keep deceitful ways far from me,
and favor me with your Torah.
30 I choose the way of trust;
I set your rulings [before me].
31 I cling to your instruction;
Adonai, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will run the way of your mitzvot,
for you have broadened my understanding.

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.

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