Tag: God's Promises

Seasons of Waiting and Seasons of Watching: When Abram looked up into the night, how many stars, how many blessings, did Abram count? Genesis 15:1-6

Genesis 15:1-6 Living Bible

15 Afterwards Jehovah spoke to Abram in a vision, and this is what he told him: “Don’t be fearful, Abram, for I will defend you. And I will give you great blessings.”

2-3 But Abram replied, “O Lord Jehovah, what good are all your blessings when I have no son? For without a son, some other member of my household[a] will inherit all my wealth.”

4 Then Jehovah told him, “No, no one else will be your heir, for you will have a son to inherit everything you own.”

5 Then God brought Abram outside beneath the nighttime sky and told him, “Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that—too many to count!” 6 And Abram believed God; then God considered him righteous on account of his faith.

The 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.

Count your blessings, name them one by one! See what God has done, See what God is doing now, See what God will always do!

On a clear night, away from city lights, you should look up into the night sky. You will see all the stars you might want to see. Even with our sophisticated instruments today we still cannot count them all. But God knows their number.

The beginning of Genesis begins with Adam and a fertile Eve. But in Genesis 15 Sarai was long barren. Abram questioned God about his promise of children.

So God took Abram outside for a look at his promised future. Abram had seen the desert night sky ablaze with stars before. But this night was different. “Your descendants will be as many as the stars,” God promised. “Count them, if you can.”

Then Abram believed. He stopped questioning. Sometimes seeing is believing.

However, the promise did not arrive right away. Twenty-five long years would pass before Abraham cradled his firstborn, and many more years passed before there was a clan who called Abraham their father. Still, Abraham believed God’s promise of descendants as numerous as the stars, are in reality, uncountable.

Throughout history, their disobedience to God would take many promised sons and daughters: in Egypt, throughout the season of Judges, then in Babylonian exile for seventy years. Later in the Rome Empire, and today in the Diaspora.

But the count goes on. Uncountable stars still shine deep into the endless night sky. As countless as the stars in the night sky above, count all the followers of Christ, if you can. You’ll find them in the most unexpected places of the earth.

And God knows exactly what those numbers are.

He knew then when Abram looked into the reaches of the unsearchable depths of the sky. He knows now as 2024 comes to a close and the unknown future of 2025 is waiting for revelation as the hours and days, weeks and months arrive.

Even 100 years from now, when we are passed on into the eternal Glory of God, God will still know exactly how many stars are in the entirety of the night sky.

God patiently awaits the countless coming generations of Abram’s and Sarai’s.

For them to wonder about their believing, as Abram and Sarai believed, in their portion of the long promised, forever countless blessings of God, to bless them.

Seasons of Waiting, Seasons of Watching, for Seasons of Promise

Genesis 15:5-6 Amplified Bible

5 And the Lord brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.” 6 Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord; and He counted (credited) it to him [a]as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man).

If our own faith is to remain steadfast in seasons of prolonged waiting, then we must be confident as Abraham, of these truths:

first, that God has the power to do what He promised to do;

and second, God Himself is sufficient to meet all of our needs, in every season.

Abraham’s faith was tested in the waiting room of life.

For years he lived in a foreign land which was not his own, waiting for his “very own firstborn son” to come into the world as God had promised (Genesis 15:4).

And it was his trust in God’s promises while he waited that God “counted … to him as righteousness.”

Paul, when he writes of Abraham’s faith during this time, says,

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20-21).

In other words, Abraham believed that nothing and no one could stand in the way of God fulfilling His spoken word—even when he could not begin to see how God would keep His promises. His faith wasn’t a blind leap in the dark.

Rather, it was a belief based on God’s character.

Fast-forward to today, and one of the great promises to which we cling is that the Lord Jesus has promised to prepare a place for us and that He will come to take us to Himself (John 14:3).

Therefore, when we, as Abraham did, take Him at His word, we are filled with the hope of heaven.

We can be certain beyond any shadow of any doubt that Jesus is coming back personally, He is coming back visibly, and He is coming back for His own.

These promises to us are as sure as the promise God made to Abraham, for which he waited 25 long years before it was fulfilled.

Furthermore, through Abraham’s experience we see that it is God alone who is sufficient to bring us through seasons of waiting.

In Genesis 17, God appears once more to Abraham in order to strengthen his faith. How?

By revealing who He is: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD  appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty [El-Shaddai]; walk before me’” (17:1).

This Hebrew term, El-Shaddai, can mean “God who is sufficient.” God, in other words, affirmed His promises to Abraham on the strength of His character.

The Christian life is a life of waiting.

And all of God’s “hold-ons” and “not yets” are part and parcel of His purpose.

Every season of waiting and watching is an opportunity for you to take God at His word. And while you wait, you can surely trust Him to meet your every need.

Rest in this: the God in whom you believe is able to do all that He has promised.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 27 Amplified Bible

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
2 
When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
Even in this I am confident.

4 
One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
5 
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.
8 
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”
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 [a]leave me,
O God of my salvation!
10 
Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,
Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].

11 
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies [who lie in wait].
12 
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have come against me;
They breathe out violence.
13 
I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect 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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No Condemnation in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1 Amplified Bible

Escape from Bondage

8 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].

The Word of God for the Children of God.

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

Romans 8 shows how to live by the Spirit and let peace rule in our hearts.

The Holy Spirit within us continually testifies to us that we are children of God.

He gives us assurance with God to convince us that nothing will ever separate us from His love.

This is a passage of 100% hope because we know our future is bright in Christ.

Romans 8:1 New King James Version

Free from Indwelling Sin

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who [a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Why did the Apostle Paul feel the need to write to the followers living in Rome of their need to know and understand they have one ultimate source of hope?

Freedom from Sin

Sin is our mortal enemy.

Our battle against sin is ongoing and constantly wounding us in some way.

No matter how hard we fight against sin, we cannot keep from being hurt.

The wounds just keep coming from every directional point on the compass.

No matter our personal resolve to never surrender, we get tired of the battle.

Our wounds, our guilt, shame, remorse from our weaknesses are debilitating.

These like a diagnosis of heart disease or diagnosis of cancer threaten our will to keep going, keeping us motionless, defeated and unworthy of our calling.

If we are unable to move on, move past our wounds, move past what we have done in life, we will never fully grasp God’s grace, loving kindness towards us.

We feel the mounting urge to surrender to sin, acknowledge our defeat by sin.

Raise the white flag and wave it high and and wave it weakly for all to see that – Sin WINS.

Sin’s love for the battle is too much for us.

Our love for the battle is done – gone.

We have No love of self left to fight with.

Where now is our hope that while our love feels thoroughly depleted, that all love is not thoroughly depleted, indeed, is not, has not been utterly defeated?

God loves us, He sent Jesus to die for you and He has completely forgiven you.

So any condemning feelings you have toward yourself are not from God.

His utmost desire for us is that we become free from indwelling sin and to live and to be ultimately moving ever forward in our life fulfilling His destiny for us.

Not only so, but He wants us to ultimately experience this freedom daily, fully and completely, this Holy Spirit driven ability to stand up on our two feet again.

To walk as Christ walked.

That is why the Apostle Paul penned these words… 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” ( Romans 8:1 ).

What a glorious verse!

Paul has just unequivocally given us the answer posed in Romans 7… Who will rescue us from the left over effects of the sin nature that trips us up in life?

Praise be to God, it happens by Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we live according to the Spirit of God, he gives us the power to escape all the condemnation and guilt that our war like sinful nature throws into our way.

Because of Jesus, there is no condemnation unless we void this amazing gift by condemning ourselves.

Understanding this grace is the key to living free, pursuing the life that the Lord has set you apart for.

This is one of the incredible foundations of Christianity.

We are freed from the effects of guilt and shame because of the blood of Jesus, but sadly many do not know this wonderful truth.

God does not, nor will not condemn us.

We will never face judgment or punishment for our sins because Jesus has paid for each and every one of them upon the cross.

God placed all judgment and all sin upon his Son once for all in order that we would never have to bear it.

By faith in his blood, we are completely forgiven.

He has reconciled us to God the father and brought us incredible peace in the process.

We, as believers should experience this right here and right now and not let guilt or unworthiness hinder us. 

(John 3:16-18, Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 2:13-15, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:18, Hebrews 10:22, I John 2:2, I John 3:5, I John 3:16, I John 3:19-20 )

God provided everything with your redemption to enable you to live a life worthy of your calling.

He wants you to live a victorious life by the Spirit of God.

You are worthy on the basis of the value that Jesus assigns you.

He died for you to bring you into fellowship with the Father, who are we to disagree with such a wonderful gift.

Today, it is my prayer that you will drop whatever burdens you are carrying at the feet of Jesus.

He has already bore them so you should not have to.

Grace sets us free in Jesus from our most destructive bondage, our fear of God’s judgment.

God’s grace and our faith in Jesus liberated us from the law, which convicts and leads to death.

The Holy Spirit sets us free, not just to fulfill what the Law intended but also to deliver us from the penalty of death that the Law required.

In Jesus, by the power of his Spirit, God sets us free to be his children forever!

May you understand this incredible grace to which you were called, sanctified and set apart. Amen!

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

Let us Pray,

Abba Father, thank you for your deliverance. I know you paid a very high price to give it to me. Forgive me for not letting that deliverance make my heart soar with confident joy. Lead me by the power of your Spirit so that I can experience the freedom and joy of your salvation — not just at the end of my days, but in the moments of today. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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

Days are filled with sorrow
Days are filled with sorrow and care
Hearts are lonely and drear
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Troubled soul, the Savior can see
Every heartache and tear
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Calvary, Calvary
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near
Jesus is very near

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: John M. Moore

Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary lyrics © New Spring Publishing Inc.

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A Witness to the Faith. A Testimony, Theology for Our Life. Acts 26:25-29

Acts 26:25-29 Amplified Bible

25 But Paul replied, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent and noble Festus, but [with a sound mind] I am uttering rational words of truth and reason. 26 For [your majesty] the king understands these things, and [therefore] I am also speaking to him with confidence and boldness, since I am convinced that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner [hidden from view, in secret]. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the [writings of the] Prophets [their messages and words]? I know that you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.” 29 And Paul replied, “Whether in a short time or long, I wish to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

The 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.

A Theology, A Witness, A Testimony: Christ-Like Life

A lifetime faithfully lived believing in God, Paul was convinced that both his short-term future and his eternal future were securely in the hands of Jesus.

Because of this lifetime of belief, faith, Paul — a prisoner facing a potential death sentence — could pray for his rich, powerful, and influential captors to become like him, staunch believers, except for his difficult circumstances.

Acts 26:29 Amplified Bible

29 And Paul replied, “Whether in a short time or long, I wish to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

These powerful closing words of verse 29 were Paul’s bold invitation for King Agrippa and the Roman governor, Festus, all of the other Romans present to come to believe and become faithful, faith-filled followers of Jesus Christ.

What else did he have to lose except his very life which was going to happen anyway at any time the Romans decided they had enough of Paul’s mouth.

Paul’s beliefs were forged in the furnace of life.

What had not happen to Paul during His life which did not serve to challenge his self professed beliefs in himself, in his fellow man, in his God and in his Savior?

From witnessing Stephen’s incomparable defense of God and Jesus before he was stoned to death.

Finding his staunch faith in God challenged to the extreme by this man Jesus, he went on to become a hyper zealous much feared persecutor of the followers.

Until his hard experience on the Damascus Road when the Resurrected Jesus appeared directly in his path, stopped him cold and took his sight from him.

Three days blind, Paul found himself completely helpless until his sight was miraculously restored by Ananias – told then what his new life’s mission was.

Along this new way, what had he not experienced but plots against his life, an array of severe beatings, shipwrecks, bitten by poisonous snake, imprisonment on several occasions, betrayals, long journey’s across the globe, # of illnesses.

When his legs were virtually cut out from underneath him, he learned all the more that he had no control over what happened to him – God is in control.

It was during Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Rome that he wrote letters to the Ephesian, Philippian, and Colossian churches and to his friend Philemon.

It was during this season of suffering that God mightily inspired, encouraged him, to write of Savior Jesus, “In him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

When he wrote to the Ephesian followers, he urged them to see that God, who is sovereign over all, has put all things under Savior Jesus’ feet (Ephesians 1:22).

Ephesians 1:20-23 The Message

20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

These truths were not just rhetorical.

These truths were not just theoretical.

Paul heavily relied upon them during the most difficult seasons of his life.

Paul’s experiences doubtless helped him to understand more deeply that he continuously needed all of the gospel not just for salvation but for all of life.

We, too, when confronted by the faults, failings and sinfulness of the world which distract and tempt us daily, absolutely need the maximum gospel daily—the good news that for love alone, Jesus died in the place of sinners, He was raised for our justification, that He sent the Spirit to sanctify us and to fill us.

The gospel creates within us a confident anticipation, confident expectation of the return of Jesus -it causes us to view the world from a heavenly perspective.

Reverend Dr. John Stott, who was unparalleled in his ability to synthesize and succinctly condense vast amounts of material, summarized the impact of Paul’s imprisonment upon his theology in this way:

“Paul’s perspective was adjusted, his horizon extended, his vision clarified and his witness enriched.” 

His chains did not become an occasion for disappointment or regret. Rather, his trials, which kept him in a state of weakness and dependency upon God, altered his perspective and shed light on the horizon.

He was able to stand before a Roman governor, a king, and a queen, and say, What you have you cannot keep. What I have I cannot lose. I wish you could become like me—a sinner saved by grace, an heir to eternal life. I would not like for you to share my chains, but I would just love for you to share my faith in my Savior.

Paul experienced the very truth that he had written to the Romans years earlier:

“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

This was so not only true for Paul but is also true for all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

Are you blinded by life?

Are you challenged by life?

Are you confronted by life?

Are you confused by life?

Are you facing a discouraging trial?

Did life just “blindside” you right across your jaw?

Did life just slug you in your solar plexus?

Ask as many questions about living life as you can dare to contrive.

Take courage!

God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are 100% here.

God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are 100% alive.

You have all you truly need, no matter what, you can’t be separated from them.

Romans 8:31-39 The Message

31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

All the riches and comfort that this world can offer do not compare to what you have in the gospel—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Christian theology is not for an ivory tower but for the prison cell, for the trials.

Let those undeniable truths of the gospel strengthen your soul and shape your life’s perspective as you cling to the hope that Christ has purchased for you.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19:11-14 The Message

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Dear ABBA Father, as your children, may we have a bold faith like Paul’s. Help us when our faith wavers because of our circumstances. May we be strong in our trust, whether times are great or hard. Thank you for giving us reasons to believe and such a glorious hope in our future because of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

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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Growing, Maturing, to Look More Like Jesus – (2 Corinthians 3:15-18)

2 Corinthians 3:15-18Amplified Bible

15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

The 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.

You may be familiar with the passage in Paul’s letter to the Christians in Galatia that compares and contrasts those characteristics of a worldly person and then lists for us the much more desirable characteristics of the fruits of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:19-23 Amplified Bible

19 Now the practices of the [a]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control) , 20 [b]idolatry, [c]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

In Galatians 5:22, the word “fruit” is translated from the Greek word karpos.

According to Mounces Complete Expository Dictionary, karpos refers to the natural product of a living thing.

Primarily used to describe the literal physical product of trees, vines, and crops, karpos is also used metaphorically to refer to the natural product of a spiritual being.

Paul used karpos to help us understand the natural product of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer.

The fruit of the Spirit then is produced by the Spirit, not by the Christian.

Obviously, an individual cannot display the “fruit of the Spirit” unless the Spirit is present in that person’s life.

The Bible tells us that when a person places his or her faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, God provides and guarantees their salvation by placing His Spirit within them (Titus 3:4-7 and Ephesians 1:13-14).

The Holy Spirit takes up residence or “indwells” every person who has a saving relationship with Jesus.

If we are Christian, we have the Holy Spirit living within us (Romans 8:9-11).

Yet, like physical fruit needs time to grow, the fruit of the Spirit will not ripen in our lives overnight.

Like a successful gardener must battle against weeds and disease to enjoy the sweet fruit they desire, we must constantly work to rid our lives of the “weeds” of our sinful natures that want to choke out the work of the Holy Spirit.

The great news is, the Holy Spirit gives us the power we need to reject those sinful desires and yield our wills to what the Spirit wants in our lives.

We can say “no” to sin and accept the “way out” God faithfully provides (1 Corinthians 10:13) by following the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Then, as we yield ourselves, give the Holy Spirit more and more control of our lives, He begins to do in and through us what only He can do.

The Holy Spirit’s endgame – His primary goal – is to shape us and mature us and grow us to look more and more like Jesus with each passing moment of life.

From the moment of salvation until the end of our lives on this earth, the Holy Spirit works to transform our nature, character to reflect Christ’s love of life.

Since God’s goal for all His children is for us to be like Jesus (Romans 8:29), the Holy Spirit constantly works to move us toward repentance to rid our lives of those “acts of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:19-21), display His fruit instead.

Therefore, the presence and outward manifestation of the “fruits of the Spirit” is evidence our character is being transformed, becoming more like Christ’s.

Our renewal depends on the power and wisdom of God in the cross of Christ. But that brings up a deeper question: How many of us actually want to be renewed?

Apparently many Christians ask, “Why should I change?”

I’ll give you the simple answer of our text—because God is continually involved in a change project that is centered in you.

“We … are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

We should change—indeed, we should want to change, because the crucified and risen Lord is changing us.

That changes our view toward change, doesn’t it?

It should not be thought of as a chore, a grind, grim duty, a tedious obligation, an unnecessary expenditure of energy or a too heavy burden we must pick up.

No, change is a privilege, an opportunity, a joy. In a world that thinks we are all locked into an endless chain of cause and effect, this text gives us incredible good news. We are free to change in ways the world cannot begin to imagine.

The root word for “transformed” in our text is the Greek word metamorpho, also used to describe the forced work of change of a caterpillar to a butterfly.

By His grace, by the power of his crucifixion, the evidence of His empty tomb, and glorious resurrection, Jesus is transforming us into his beautiful likeness.

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

Let us Pray,

My Dear Father God, Creator and transformer of my life,

Lord God, I thank you for your Spirit, for the Lord, and for the freedom I have in them. Thank you that I, with unveiled face, can look freely and intently on the glory of the Lord, and be changed into his likeness, from one degree of glory to another. Help me remember that such transformation comes, not by my inherent wisdom or efforts, but only from the Lord who is the Spirit. Make me like Jesus! Help me want to share in his sufferings so that I can also share in his glory and his resurrection life! In the name of my Savior Jesus and because it is his will, I make these requests. Amen.

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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The Power of Our Proper Thinking. Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:4-9 The Message

4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

The 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.

Many of us begin the day with anxious thoughts.

The “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) never seems to reach us in the middle of the night or when we first open our eyes.

Instead, as the morning comes we say to ourselves,

“There is so much to think about. So much is happening. So many things are dancing around in my mind and I never learned how to dance. I’ve got so many challenges.” 

Thoughts such as these so easily produce anxiety and stultify our commitment to prayer.

Apostle Paul helps us to overcome these draining, even crippling feelings by directing our gaze toward those virtues which will truly liberate our thinking.

A mind that is filled with the content described in Philippians 4:8 will have little space for anxiety-producing, peace-disrupting, joy-destroying notions.

What Paul was encouraging his readers to adopt is a distinctly Christian way of thinking.

A Christian mind, he taught, is not a mind that is trained to think only about “Christian topics” but one that has learned to think about everything from a Christian perspective.

Ultimately, we are what we think about.

It is in our minds that our affections are stirred, and it is through our minds that our wills are directed.

It is in the mind that we conceive of and produce every action.

It is therefore imperative that we learn to think about what is right and godly.

The Bible is not concerned with mere mental reflection for its own sake.

The Christian is not called to sit on a high hill and think blessed thoughts in abstraction, removed from the routines of everyday existence.

Rather, Paul provides us with a list that will establish us in our motives, our manners, and our morals.

Each of and every one of us is called to live in the realm of the real, not the phony; the serious, not the frivolous; the right, not the convenient; the clean, not the dirty; the loving, not the discordant; and the helpful, not the critical.

In short, we are called to think like Jesus.

Paul is not simply calling you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, though.

This is not a rallying cry to try your best to perform the list.

Sanctification by self-effort is not God’s agenda.

The multifaceted virtue Paul speaks of is the fruit which grows on the tree of salvation.

This fruit is brought forth by those whose roots are embedded in grace.

So, let your heart be gripped by God’s grace, and train your mind to think on that which is truly praiseworthy.

When those influences converge, your life will be one that brings glory to God.

Practice aiming your thoughts towards the throne room of God to make His grace, this fruit, the first thing you think about when you wake up tomorrow.

Think about good things for personal victory in any situation

It’s easy to dwell on the negative when life is hard, disappointing, or painful.

That’s why it’s so important to follow this passage of instructions; it’s here to help us through the inevitable tough times and appreciate the great moments.

When Satan wants to get to you, he’ll often start with lies and condemnation whispered into your mind until you (maybe not even realizing Satan was doing so) start to believe them and then react with anxieties, despair, sadness, anger, fears or any other thing ultimately seeking to separate us from the love of God.

But with this passage of text, Paul gave a way to combat Satan’s efforts.

We are to feed our minds with blessings from God and the good things we can find in our lives or situations.

We are to think about what is true through the living word of God rather than the lies Satan would hardcore teach us, ram down our throats and have us believe.

We are to steadfastly and diligently dwell on what the word of God teaches us is noble and right and truthful so our words and actions will follow our thoughts.

We are to feed our minds with whatever God reveals and teaches us is pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy—all the things that help us stay centered upon, laser focused on God’s love for us and Christ’s sacrifice for us.

This thoroughly radical way of filling our minds with truth and all good things is an enormous spiritual challenge, especially during these most trying times.

But as we actively practice this, even in the most difficult moments, we can fight painful situations, trials, and all the difficult things we face.

It’s a way to rebuild, rebound, reclaim, restore and live out our lives with love, hope, faith, and gratefulness in the full blessings and love of God our Father.

As Christians, by our baptism we have a been brought into a family relationship with God through our union with Christ – by faith.

But we are also expected to take full responsibility for walking in spirit and truth, living as unto the Lord, fully trusting in the truth of the Word of God, depending on our Heavenly Father, submitting to the Holy Spirit, abiding in Christ, and appropriating all that is ours in Him – by faith.

This can only be done as we diligently practice to focus the eyes of our heart upon our Savior Christ alone and so throughout Scripture, we are directed to pray, seek God’s face and take control of our thoughts and our imaginations.

We are told to take every thought captive to the Lord, to let the mind of Christ dwell in us richly, and not to allow the thoughts of our heart to control us.

Paul puts it this way: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Righteous living depends on right teaching and right thinking, and God has promised to keep in perfect peace the one whose MIND is stayed on Him.

What about Parents Raising the Coming Generations?

Psalm 119:9-16 The Message

9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
    I won’t forget a word of it.

This is very important to teach our children as we raise them, as we model Christ for them as they grow and mature in their thinking: He promised to garrison our heart, our minds, our emotions, our innermost thoughts, as we practice centering our prayers, praises upon Him alone – with thanksgiving!

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19:11-14 The Message

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Heavenly Father, keep me, I pray, from anxious thoughts. Help me to garrison my thought life on all that is commendable and good, and help me to keep the eyes of my heart fixed on Jesus. May I make a conscious choice to dwell on those things that are worthy of praise, knowing that the light of Christ and the darkness of all that is evil, cannot abide together. This I ask in Jesus’ name, Alleluia, Alleluia, AMEN.

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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Envision: The Path Toward Rejoicing. Philippians 4:4

Philippians 4:4 Amplified Bible

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!

The 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.

Worldly happiness is not the same as godly happiness.

Godly happiness is called joy.

In the Bible, the word joy is a celebration term.

Thus, Paul is calling for everyone’s everlasting unrelenting celebration of God.

Except for the inescapable reality of our sinful humanity is such a goal realistic?

Reality teaches that the difference between joy and secular happiness is that the latter depends on what happens; it’s circumstantially driven forward by human responses which we have learned, incorporated into us, by all life’s experiences.

So, if things are going in an upward direction in life, you raise up from your bed in the morning and feel up, but if things are going down, you feel down and sad.

This life cycle ordered by God keeps you and me on an emotional roller coaster.

Biblical joy, by contrast, has to do with stability and celebration on the inside regardless of circumstances on the outside.

We must choose to rejoice in order to experience the joy God promises us.

Remember, our happiness cannot always be turned on like a tap.

Remember too, our joy does not always come at the flip of a switch.

As Christians, we have highs and lows like anyone else.

Sometimes we feel great; other times we feel stuck.

So, in that case, what are we supposed to do we do with a biblical command that tells us to be joyful continually—or, as the text has it, to “rejoice … always”?

Some people conceive of joy as something that, like the tides of the oceans are responding to the moon, joy ebbs and flows according to our circumstances.

If this were so, the path to joy would be to ensure that all of our circumstances contain as many good things as possible and that we rigorously, vigorously cut out and avoid anything, and anyone, that by its occurrence, will bring us down.

But the apostle Paul offers us a different take.

The Christian joy he describes is intended to be steady and stable.

Paul clues us in to the source of this joy here:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

The key is the phrase in between “Rejoice” and “always”—“in the Lord.”

Those three little words make all the difference in the world!

If we let our joy ebb and flow with our circumstances, then we’re inevitably going to find ourselves in trouble.

Hard times always will come, sooner or later.

But, joyful times will always come also, sooner or later – Ecclesiastes 3:1

But if we make it our mission and ministry in life to rejoice in the Lord, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), then our joy is covenanted and anchored in someone unchanging, and so it will be unfading.

Christian joy is a joy which can also coexist with deep sadness.

Our circumstances may bring us diverse degrees and measures of grief, but they need not diminish nor to extinguish our joy if you find it exclusively “in the Lord” alone —in who He is, how He loves us, and what He has promised us.

Today, practice, place your hope in Him and remind yourself of His unchanging nature and you will walk on true path toward rejoicing always, even in hardship.

Today, no matter your circumstances, you can find solace, rest, and, yes, even joy in the glorious truth that God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is with you, beside you, through it all, will one day, set all things aright.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 16 The Message

16 1-2 Keep me safe, O God,
    I’ve run for dear life to you.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!”
    Without you, nothing makes sense.

3 And these God-chosen lives all around—
    what splendid friends they make!

4 Don’t just go shopping for a god.
    Gods are not for sale.
I swear I’ll never treat god-names
    like brand-names.

5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.
    And now I find I’m your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
    And then you made me your heir!

7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination!

11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
    all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
    I’m on the right way.

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

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Our Friendship With the Holy Spirit. Psalm 25:14

As believers, we have been given the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Teacher, Friend, and seal for the promised inheritance of eternal life with God.

His presence, guidance, and wisdom in our lives are our greatest gifts while here on earth. Through him we have access to direct connection with our heavenly Father. Through him we receive spiritual gifts to empower us. And through him we are able to bear the incredible fruit of abundant life.

Open your heart soul and mind to all that the Holy Spirit would give you, would show you, and lead you to and through these most precarious of times, most wayward of seasons.

Psalm 25:14-15 English Standard Version

14 The friendship[a] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

The 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.

Lord God, Help Me! May I Be Your Friend?

Our psalmist is in trouble and danger.

Enemies are threatening.

In effect, the psalmist cries out, “God, help!”

But this is more than a cry for help; this psalm is also a plea for forgiveness.

Repeatedly the psalmist asks God to forget, to forgive, and to be gracious.

In answer to his prayer for help and forgiveness, the writer seeks guidance, the writer seeks the wise and wiser counsel of a true friend and a true confidant.

Looking to the one who knows everything about him, the psalm­ist asks God for steady direction and authentic teaching in order to see the path he should take.

The psalmist ends this prayer with a commitment to follow through on this request—the bodyguards of uprightness and integrity will accompany him, will stand by him through everything, as he receives God’s wise counsel and advice.

Uprightness, the straight­forward knowing of God’s ways and understanding who God wants him to be, will be on one side.

And integrity, following through on God’s guidance and walking the way God directs him to walk, will be on the other side.

Each day choices need to be made, decisions acted on, life lived.

Psalm 25 invites us to live under the gentle tutoring of God, to humbly submit to the holy wisdom that will help us make faithful decisions, to fully rely on the steadfast One whose best forever friendship will guide us to those right choices.

Are we seeking God’s counsel today?

Are we seeking God’s friendship today?

Friendship with the Holy Spirit

In friendship with the Holy Spirit we begin to experience a sense of wholeness and joy unattainable through any other relationship or aspect of life.

Rapid and wonderful transformation results when you discover the wealth of love that comes with continual, real friendship with the living God.

In friendship with God comes peace, security, honesty, healing, and freedom.

As you and I live our lives in step with the Holy Spirit, we experience what Adam and Eve experienced as they walked with God himself in the Garden of Eden.

We discover the vast reservoir of love, affection, and perfect help that’s always available to us in the Holy Spirit.

In the name of God, the Father, please open your heart today to receive a fresh revelation of God’s truest desire for friendship with you through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” 

God longs for friendship with his people.

And through the Holy Spirit we have a continual connection with God available to us.

The Spirit desires to do life with you.

He wants to guide you, speak to you, and love you, He wants to satisfy your longing for relationship and can do so in greater ways than you can imagine.

John 14:16-17 says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” 

By God’s grace we have been filled with God himself.

We have dwelling with us and within us the same Spirit who authored Scripture, who raised Christ from the dead, who empowered the disciples, who did hover over the waters at the creation of all things.

And Scripture says that he longs to help you!

And Scripture says that he longs to help me!

Jesus calls him the “Helper.” 

How incredible is the grace of our God to offer us relationship with the Holy Spirit!

How great is his love that he would send his Son to die that we might have abundant life for all of eternity, including eternal friendship, right now!

Growing in our Friendship With the Holy Spirit

So, how do we grow in friendship with the Holy Spirit?

How do we allow him to satisfy our desire for relationship? 

Psalm 25:14 says, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” 

And Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” 

Friendship with the Holy Spirit starts like any other true friendship.

We must respect, love, and make time for him.

We must learn what he likes and dislikes.

And we must apologize when we do something that hurts him.

The Holy Spirit has feelings like any other person.

But he is also full of grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

Friendship with him comes about by following his leadership, making time to ask him how he feels about things, and following his guidance away from a lifestyle of sin into the righteousness available to you through Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is waiting right now to guide you into friendship with him.

He’s excited about the idea of pouring out his love and affections on you.

He longs to lead you far, far away from the sins that hurt you and grieve him.

And he longs to guide you toward a life of walking with him in relationship.

In the name of the Father God, spend time in prayer being filled with the Holy Spirit afresh, making room to discover the reality of his presence in your life.

In long-term relationships we have with friends, family, and our spouse, at some point – they know all our stories.

Those are the very best relationships.

Those are the ones we lean on the most, right?

They are the ones we learn the most from, right?

When it comes to our relationship with God, He already knows all our stories.

Even the stories that are yet to come.

Yet, He still wants to hear our thoughts, and moreover, He wants to share of Himself with us.

In Psalm 25:14 ESV, it says, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”

You know what, I absolutely love it when the Bible calls God our friend.

Because He authentically and truly is!

The absolute best friend we’ll ever have!

And when it comes to knowing Him, we can never assume we know everything.

Over our lifetime of friendship, there is always more to know and more to learn.

We have that same opportunity of a lifetime to grow and nurture our friendship with God, the Father and God the Son, our Savior Jesus and God the Holy Spirit.

And unlike our other best forever friend relationships, we never have to wonder if He has time.

He always does.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Since Jesus already did that for each of us, the least we can do is invest in the best eternal friendship we can ever have, He so clearly wants to have with us.

Today, as we worship, as we study, pray, praise Jesus for being your friend.

Thank Him ever so muchly and absolutely for His selfless love and ask Him to guide you, teach, help you, to never take your friendship with Him for granted.

Ask Him to speak into your heart often and help you grow as a friend to Jesus.

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

Let us Pray,

Romans 8:26-28 English Standard Version

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[b] for  those who are called according to his purpose.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire for friendship with you.

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” >John 15:15

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour his love out on you. 

Ask him to make the reality of his nearness known to you. Be filled with desire to live your life in relationship with this real, tangible God who loves you.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit what he likes and doesn’t like. 

Open your life and let him speak to you about whatever is causing you trouble.

Ask him how he genuinely feels about relationships, situations, thoughts, and perspectives you have. The Spirit loves to spend time to speak to us and help us.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” >John 14:16-17

Often we separate out what we think God cares about and what just seems to be normal, worldly parts of life.

But God wants to be involved in every part of our lives.

He wants to be there for us in everything we do.

He wants to fill us with grace and joy to do all the things set before us, from taking out the trash to washing dishes to leading thousands of people in prayer.

In God’s name, allow the Holy Spirit to come in, work in every area of your life and discover the wealth of knowledge and love your God has to share with you.

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

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The Cure For Our Troubled Hearts. John 14:1-4

Have you noticed how easy it is to be upset? Maybe something happened to someone you love. Perhaps you’re feeling the stress of school or sports. Before you know it, you’re upset and troubled.

The Bible provides us with a great tip when it comes to stress. It tells us to not let your hearts be troubled. That means you have a choice in every situation whether you’re going to respond in peace or if you’re going to let your heart be troubled.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. – John 14:1 (NLT)

Every day you have the opportunity to choose. You get to choose whether you’re going to really trust God in every area of your life. If you trust God, then you don’t have to let your heart be troubled. You know that no matter how bad things get around you, God will always see you through.

So today, if you’re faced with that “something too big,” please do not allow your heart to be troubled.

Instead, pray to God, look to Jesus. rest in the Holy Spirit, Trust Him to be your peace in the middle of the storm. You will be glad you did.

Today’s Truth: “Peace Be Still” Do not Let Your Heart Be Troubled. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end; God was, is, forever shall remain “still God.”

John 14:1-4 New American Standard Bible

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many [b]rooms; if that were not so, [c]I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”

The 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. Amen.

Followers of Christ are not covenanted by God, are not summoned by God to simply be timid or fair-weather believers.

They are realistic believers committed to truth, people who “think in believing and believe in thinking,” as Saint Augustine of Hippo had once expressed it.

They are therefore like experienced pilots who can fly in bad weather as easily as in good, by night as well as by day, and upside down as well as right side up.

Faith’s rainy days will come and go and dark nights of the soul may threaten to overwhelm, but safe flying is possible for those who have at least two things:

First: a solid grasp of the instruments (God’s revealed truth and promises)

Second, is a canny realism about the power of the storm and stresses of doubt.

On that fateful day, in the confines of that Upper Room, as our Lord looked at these men, He already knew what was going on in their minds and their hearts, how deeply disturbed and upset they were, and what was causing their turmoil.

He already knew the remedy for their anxieties as well.

Perhaps there are too many of us right now who are suffering from the same depths of affliction as these disciples–troubled hearts; fearful hearts; upset, disturbed, and agitated hearts because of the measure of our circumstances.

Our Lord already knew that these men were very afraid of what was coming.

They were afraid of death, afraid that they, with Him, were going to be arrested and then brutally executed, crucified by the Jews or by the Romans.

They knew of the opposition which had developed against them in Jerusalem.

They knew they were in the gravest of danger, and so, consequently, their hearts were deeply troubled and fearful as they had gathered here with Him.

But more than that physical danger to themselves, they were aware of Jesus’ words about leaving them.

This had struck a good measure terror into their hearts.

They were afraid that even though they might survive, they would have to go on living without Him, and that was becoming immeasurably unbearable to them.

They could bear to die with Him; they could not bear to live or die without Him.

So in that Upper Room, in those spaces where they just celebrated the Passover, as He gathers with them,

He says these words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Once when I was experiencing a period of this kind of heart trouble myself, I thought of these words, and then one day as I read and I pondered this text they suddenly came home to my troubled heart with tremendously new significance.

I saw something in that simple phrase “Do not let your hearts be troubled” that I had never seen nor noticed before.

What suddenly impressed me were the first three words: “Do Not Let.”

As if in one moment of absolutely perfect harmony, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, looked directly at my heart and my heart looked back. 

They meant that those disciples, and Christians and non Christians alike, could each do something direct, definitive and decisive about their “heart” problem.

They held in their hands the “Masters” key to their release from heart trouble. 

It was 100% possible for them either to let it 100% happen or 100% not to let it happen.

Our Lord is saying this to all of us.

There is a way out of heart difficulty–this distress and fear concerning both life and death and life–and our Lord goes on to give the only answer to them.

The remedy for heart trouble is contained in the two phrases that follow: 

“Trust in God; Trust also in Me.” 

Trust in God who is still in control, who knows what He is doing, who is capable of exercising infinite wisdom, infinite power, and infinite love. And trust also in me, Jesus said, who is the means by which all of that wisdom and all resources, and and all of the power of God is made available to you and available to me too.

That is the secret.

All their lives, Jesus’ disciples were taught to trust God.

Their childhoods had been filled with great stories of faithfulness. Jesus’ words from John 14 will stretch the disciples’ understanding past the breaking point.

He will equate himself with God.

They will struggle to understand.

Much of what happens will remain an impenetrable mystery to them until Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of his Spirit on Pentecost Day.

For them, and for us, these words take on great meaning: 

“Let not our hearts be troubled.”

“Trust in God, and trust also in me.” 

His point?

It’s like he’s saying,

“Peace Be Still.”

“Trust me! I’m God intimately up close and intimately personal for you!”

Jesus is the great reminder of God’s concern and great informer of our and for understanding of our dilemmas.

He is Emmanuel, God With Us!

He is Emmanuel, God Within Us!

He is God our Guide and God the Guardian of our Hearts – Up Close!

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

Let us Pray,

Righteous and holy God, my Abba Father, Author and Protector of my Faith, I praise you for your love and grace. Thank you for entering our world and drawing close to us in Jesus. Thank you for giving us Jesus so we can know your love and compassion more clearly. Today, let me put my trust in him as I pray in his mighty name. Amen.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you for what you teach us from the Upper Room, thank You for the reassurance of Your Living Words of Truth as we each face the unknown. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. I will come again.” Help us to live and minister on this basis today and to demonstrate the quality of life that He lived.

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. Amen.

A Prayer for Strength to Defend the Faith – Your Daily Prayer. Jude 1:3-4 

Are you facing increased opposition when you share Christ accurately in your workplace, neighborhood, or church? We need to read the Book of Jude which challenges us to “contend for the faith.”

I’m seeing increased name-calling, anger, and resistance when people share Biblical truths (especially when they talk about morality, accurate views of God, discernment, or Christian responsibility).

And a good portion of the resistance comes from professing Christians misusing the “Judge not” argument.

God expects us to warn people of error even if they don’t listen (Ezekiel 33:1-20). He’s “nit-picky” about His Word (Matthew 5:18).

But just like the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah we can be hurt by the insults from the people we’re trying to help (Jeremiah 20:8-9).

So today, I want to give a shout out to those of you who are contending for the faith, teaching Christian responsibility, standing for God’s morals against a growing wave of compromise (Jude 1:3).

Never forget: “Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:10-12).

Jude 3-4 The Message

Fight with All You Have in You

3-4 Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license—which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Into the Ring and Contending For the Faith

The “Prince of Preachers,” Charles Spurgeon, once said,

“Controversy is never a very happy element for the child of God: he would far rather be in communion with his Lord than be engaged in defending the faith, or in attacking error. But the soldier of Christ knows no choice in his Master’s commands. He may feel it to be better for him to lie upon the bed of rest than to stand covered with the sweat and dust of battle; but, as a soldier, he has learned to obey, and the rule of his obedience is not his personal comfort, but his Lord’s absolute command. The servant of God must endeavor to maintain all the truth which his Master has revealed to him, because, as a Christian soldier, this is part of his duty. But while he does so, he accords to others the liberty which he himself enjoys.”

In the epistle of Jude, he exhorts believers to be defenders of the faith, to hold fast to our message as Christians, the glorious gospel.

Jude 3-4 GOD’S WORD Translation

Warnings about False Teachers

3 Dear friends, I had intended to write to you about the salvation we share. But something has come up. It demands that I write to you and encourage you to continue your fight for the Christian faith that was entrusted to God’s holy people once for all time.

4 Some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. Not long ago they were condemned in writing for the following reason: They are people to whom God means nothing. They use God’s kindness [a] as an excuse for sexual freedom and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Engaging in Christian apologetics in today’s culture is desperately needed when defending the faith, even within the Church and especially in America because error abounds.

We must stand for truth and become defenders of the Christian faith that has stood the test of time for thousands of years, even when wolves come in to devour the flock (Matthew 7:15-17 God’s Word Translation).

False Prophets

15 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. 16 You will know them by what they produce.

“People don’t pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do they? 17 In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.

It isn’t about a single person being right; It is about learning how to rightly divide God’s Word, which is perfect because God is perfect.

God’s Word is absolute truth.

If we are God’s children, we will want to grow in that truth, boldly proclaim it, and protect it from error, even if it makes us uncomfortable or even experience pain and rejection at times.

The gospel is offensive.

The Word of God, the Words of God’s Truth will cut deep into hearts and souls and unhesitatingly points out things in us that we don’t want to see, but if we want to be conformed to the image of Christ, we must believe and follow truth.

We should never apologize for our zeal for God’s Word and His glorious gospel because without those precious gifts of hardcore truths from the Lord to us, we would never be able to revel in the benefits of the good news or to share it with others so that their fellowship with their Heavenly Father is finally restored.

As God’s children, we have been molded, transformed by God’s love and mercy.

We can live forgiven and free because of that.

We should long to share that zealous love with others by sharing truth found in the Bible, whether they have never heard the gospel, or they have strayed from its pure message and have begun following false teachers and their false gospel.

We should never feel ashamed to zealously share the hope of our message as believers, turning from our life in sin to turning to Christ alone who offers us new eternal life in Him that was purchased for us by His very own life blood.

In Christ, we are forgiven.

In Christ, we are God’s precious children.

This is the faith that was once and for all time handed down to the saints of old, and we must continue to zealously pass it down to each generation and protect it, zealously defend it from those who would want to badly twist its message.

Do you have a zealous desire to share truth with a loved one, with a neighbor or with a complete stranger who may be caught up in the crass deception of a false gospel or on your many social media platforms to reach others for the gospel?

It is the covenant summons from God upon all His Children, to ask the Holy Spirit to give you .01% boldness and ask Him for a greater desire for His Word.

It is so critically important in these times of violence and unrest, to become a diligent student of God’s Word so that when the opportunity presents itself, you are able to give a response for the hope that you have inside of you (1 Peter 3:15).

1 Peter 3:8-17 GOD’S WORD Translation

Dedicate Your Lives to Jesus

8 Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble. 9 Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.

10 “People who want to live a full life and enjoy good days
must keep their tongues from saying evil things,
and their lips from speaking deceitful things.
11 They must turn away from evil and do good.
They must seek peace and pursue it.
12 The Lord’s eyes are on those who do what he approves.
His ears hear their prayer.
The Lord confronts those who do evil.”

13 Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset. 15 But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God⌟ when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. 16  Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you. 17 After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.

Stand firm, march on in truth, fight the good fight, dear solider of the Lord!

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

Let us Pray,

Heavenly Father, God of the Angel Armies, Commander of the Heavenly Host, I know Your Word warns us that in these Last Days to be careful not to be deceived nor to be deceptive ourselves, to rightly divide Your Word. False teachers, false prophets, and false gospels abound. Please equip me with discernment to be able to spot counterfeit messages that undermine the beauty of the finished work of the cross. I’m asking for strength and boldness to stand firm upon Your Holy written Word and be able to proclaim it and defend it against those who twist it. I am grateful to not only be called Your child but a solider in Your great army. I pray that You would send others in the faith that I can link arms with to be able to fight the good fight and run the race that You have set before me. The days are growing darker, but that just means the light of Your truth and goodness will just shine brighter and brighter. Help me to, inch by inch, to continue to be a carrier of that light wherever I go. In Jesus’ name.

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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“Rather he delights himself in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on His teachings day and night.” Psalm 1

Lonesome Valley

The Carter Family

Everybody’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.
There’s nobody here can walk it for them,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.

My father’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
he’s got to walk it by his self.
There’s nobody here can walk it for him,
he’s got to walk it by his self.

My mother’s got to walk that lonesome valley
she’s got to walk it by her self.
There’s nobody here can walk it for her,
she’s got to walk it by her self.

My brother’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
he’s got to walk it by his self.
There’s nobody here can walk it for him,
he’s got to walk it by his self.

Most sinners got to walk this lonesome valley,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.
There’s nobody here can walk it for them,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.

Everybody’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.
There’s nobody here can walk it for them,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.

Psalm 1 GOD’S WORD Translation

BOOK ONE

(Psalms 1–41)

1 Blessed is the person who does not
follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners,
or join the company of mockers.
2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord
and reflects on his teachings day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside streams—
a tree that produces fruit in season
and whose leaves do not wither.
He succeeds in everything he does.[a]

4 Wicked people are not like that.
Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.
5 That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment
and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.

6 The Lord knows the way of righteous people,
but the way of wicked people will end.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Rather He Delights Himself in the Teachings of the Lord.

Right from the start, I look at that word “Rather” and in my Christian frame of mind, I wonder – in whose other teachings would the Psalmist rather delight?

Verse 1 drops the answers into the exact center of our spiritual consciousness:

1 Blessed is the person who does not
follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners,
or join the company of mockers.

Following the Advice of Wicked People.

Take the Path of Sinners.

Join in the Company of Mockers.

Psalm 1 is called the preamble to the book of Psalms.

That is, it serves as an introduction to the entire book.

What is said in Psalm 1 is relevant to all the rest of the book of Psalms.

Charles Spurgeon viewed it this way:

“The matter of the first Psalm, which may be looked upon, in some respects, as the text upon which the whole of the Psalms make up a divine sermon.”

The psalms begin with these words: “Blessed is the man.” In Psalm 1, God addresses man’s most basic question: How can I be happy (blessed) in this life?

Is this true? Does God really want us to be happy?

Absolutely!

And this happiness is not temporary, but perpetual.

The word translated blessed is plural in the original Hebrew.

That is, it means perpetual blessings. It can be read blessedness’s or happiness’s.

So how can I be happy, truly happy?

Not Following the Advice of Wicked People.

Not Taking the Path of Sinners.

Not Joining in the Company of Mockers.

Very wise and very sage advice when spoken with Authority in any age.

  • Join in with the crowds residing within the bounds of the “evils of this age?”
  • Join in with crowds residing within the boundless salvation of Almighty God?

Choosing the directions for our lives, Psalm 1 is called a wisdom psalm because we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God’s direction of life.

In this psalm the writer sets forth two ways or two directions to choose in life.

One is specifically stated to the right way that leads us to happiness in the Lord, the other is specifically stated to be the wrong way that leads to worldly misery.

The Right Way

Psalm 1:1-3 Amplified Bible

Book One

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.

1 [a]Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers).
2 
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
3 
And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season;
Its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

The wisdom of Psalm 1 captures a fundamental teaching found in both the Old and New Testaments.

In the writings of the Old Testament God teaches His people that one’s choice of one’s life’s mindset will determine both the direction, the outcome of their life.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Amplified Bible

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord promised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Choosing to live one’s life in the 24×7 mindset of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, by obeying His voice and holding closely to Him:

  1. For He IS your life
  2. For He is your GOOD life
  3. He is your ABUNDANT life
  4. He is your FULFILLMENT of life
  5. He is the LENGTH OF OUR DAYS that we may live in the land which the Lord promised (swore, gave an oath to) to give to your fathers and the Patriarchs.

In Matthew’s Narrative of the Gospel,

Jesus’ message to the crowds is to choose the right way in life:

Matthew 7:13-14 Amplified Bible

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.

Choosing the Right Path

First, in Psalm 1:1 we learn that happiness comes by choosing to walk on a righteous path.

This determination is directly connected to other people.

Each line in this verse teaches us to avoid the wrong kinds of interpersonal relationships – our choice of friends make all the difference in our lives.

Notice what this verse says:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.”

Choosing the righteous path includes refusing advice from those who hold godless values and whose moral and ethical choices violate the laws of God.

The second line goes a step further: “nor standeth in the way of sinners.”

It is one thing to listen to wicked counsel.

It is quite another to decisively side and to compromise with that viewpoint.

Instead, the happy person refuses to follow the worldly crowd.

You don’t see him “hanging out” with those who pursue sin as a lifestyle.

Finally, he refuses to sit and associate with those whose conversations mock and curse God: “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

If you and I want to choose to be miserable, we make our best friends those who are scornful, critical and disrespectful.

The three verbs—walk, stand and sit—show the oily, slippery slope of evil.

Evil is not passive.

It is ever descending.

The longer we go slipping and sliding, the worse we get -as a pattern of evil choices causes a downward spiral in our character that leads to destruction.

Hungering for God’s Word

Second, Psalm 1:2 resoundingly declares happiness comes by developing a strong appetite for God’s Word and NOT Satan’s incessant barrage of lies.

We learn to enjoy the Bible by nurturing the disciplined habit of meditation.

Meditation involves a 24/7—“day and night”—focus on the Scripture.

This means individually, in Koinonia fellowship seeking to better understand the Bible’s true meaning, as well as, its correct application to us personally.

The Spirit of God makes the Word of God satisfying to the soul of man.

The Scriptures are “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 119:103) and “more to be desired [desirable] are they than gold” (Psalm 19:10).

In some contexts the word meditate can be translated growl or groan or moan.

It conveys the idea of muttering.

Perhaps you know someone who walks around mumbling to himself.

We tend to view such behavior as socially odd.

But the reality is that all of us talk to ourselves inside our heads all the time.

There is a mental discussion going on continuously.

Some people simply express parts of their dialogue audibly.

This mental conversation is meditation.

God blesses us as we mull over His words day and night (Psalm 1:2).

The reason this way of life makes one so happy is that is fulfills the purpose for which we were created.

God’s first command to man was to “be fruitful” (Genesis 1:28).

Psalm 1 describes the happy man as being “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

Fruit bearing is the result of deep roots’ finding their way, winding their way, to an abundant supply of nourishment from underground streams of water.

God’s Word is an all-sufficient, eternal supply of empowering grace for all of life – even during difficult, seemingly barren times, the Word will sustain life.

A fruitful life is a blessed life.

So David states that God’s way to happiness is being separated from the world, utterly saturated with the Word, and fruitful and successful in doing God’s will.

The Wrong Way

Psalm 1:4-6 Amplified Bible

4 
The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so,
But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away.
5 
Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 
For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked shall perish.

David goes on in verse 4 to contrast the way of the righteous with the way of the ungodly: “the ungodly are not so.”

Charles Spurgeon makes a powerful point when he notes that the Hebrew proposes a double negative: “‘Not so the ungodly, no so.’ Oh! how terrible is it to have a double negative put upon the promises! and yet this is just the condition of the ungodly.”

Ungodliness will never, never prosper!

In the end ungodly people’s lives are deemed as “chaff.”

In other words, they are deemed pointless, worthless, lifeless and useless.

They will be driven away by the wind of God’s judgment.

They will not dwell with the people of God in the congregation of the righteous (Psalm 1:5).

At the end of the passage, the psalmist sets forth two directions

—the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly;

two decisions—to meditate on God’s Word or to listen to ungodly counsel;

and two destinies—the righteous will enjoy God’s presence forever, but the ungodly will perish.

Psalm 1 The Message

1 How well God must like you—
    you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,
    you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,
    you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.

2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.

4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked,
    who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
    unfit company for innocent people.

6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take leads to nowhere.

Lonesome Valley

The Carter Family

Everybody’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.
There’s nobody here can walk it for them,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.

My father’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
he’s got to walk it by his self.
There’s nobody here can walk it for him,
he’s got to walk it by his self.

My mother’s got to walk that lonesome valley
she’s got to walk it by her self.
There’s nobody here can walk it for her,
she’s got to walk it by her self.

My brother’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
he’s got to walk it by his self.
There’s nobody here can walk it for him,
he’s got to walk it by his self.

Most sinners got to walk this lonesome valley,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.
There’s nobody here can walk it for them,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.

Everybody’s got to walk that lonesome valley,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.
There’s nobody here can walk it for them,
they’ve got to walk it by their selves.

Choosing This Day Your Path Unto True Happiness?
About You Discovering Your Path to True Happiness?
About You Walking On Your Path to True Happiness?

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

Let us Pray,

Lord, we ask that you will make us a blessed people who do not walk in the wicked’s counsel, stand in the sinners’s way, or sit in the scoffers’s seat, but who find such delight in your instruction that it is always on our hearts, minds, and lips. 

Make us like a well-watered tree, nurtured to bear fruit and prosperous in all you give us to do.  Keep us from being like those who oppose you.  Their plans have the appearance of wisdom, but will ultimately come to nothing when you come to weigh and measure human works. 

We trust you and know that your judgment is always righteous.  Thank you for showing us your path—the path that leads to life—in your Word and through your Son Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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