Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
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
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.
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.
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
― George Orwell
Isaiah 5:18-24 The Message
18-19 Doom to you who use lies to sell evil, who haul sin to market by the truckload, Who say, “What’s God waiting for? Let him get a move on so we can see it. Whatever The Holy of Israel has cooked up, we’d like to check it out.”
20 Doom to you who call evil good and good evil, Who put darkness in place of light and light in place of darkness, Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21-23 Doom to you who think you’re so smart, who hold such a high opinion of yourselves! All you’re good at is drinking—champion boozers who collect trophies from drinking bouts And then line your pockets with bribes from the guilty while you violate the rights of the innocent.
24 But they won’t get by with it. As fire eats stubble and dry grass goes up in smoke, Their souls will atrophy, their achievements crumble into dust, Because they said no to the revelation of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Would have nothing to do with The Holy of Israel.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
The Wizard of Oz has remained popular for years.
It has always been one of my “go to” favorite movies.
Just “follow the yellow brick road and be good, you will always get home.”
People of all ages have also learned much valued moral lessons from each of the characters Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they traveled down the long and winding concourse of the fabled ‘yellow brick road.’
Of course, weaved right into the plot line the great enemy to be overcome is the Wicked Witch of the West and her dark kingdom with everything to be feared.
Evil is clearly depicted as being highly dangerous and then is overcome by good.
A recent Broadway musical, however, turns the high moral sense of the original story upside down on its head.
In this rewriting of the story, the wicked witch is presented as a sympathetic character.
Born with green skin, she feels like an outsider.
Major characters, plot lines, roles, and other details are altered so that the wicked witch is really just a misunderstood person, evil is misunderstood.
The audience might come away with the idea the evil is good and good is evil.
From today’s biblical text, during the ministry of the prophet Isaiah, a reversal of moral values took place in Israel.
Some actually lifted up the evils of stealing, murder, idolatry, adultery as good.
In response Isaiah gave a stern warning:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil!” (Isaiah 5:20).
In our relativistic world, studying, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word can ensure our discernment between good and evil.
If we know the truth, the truth will free us, we can discern what’s false.
Isaiah 5:20 Amplified Bible
20 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
One of the tell-tale signs of being at the very end of the Church age is people gradually moving away from the ethical things of God and embracing wildly distorted ideas regarding morality, what are the very basics of right vs. wrong.
Biblically, such a society can no longer successfully function, navigate through the vast diversities of challenges brought out by technological advancements, economic cycles, social cultural and political upheavals and vast global crises.
We are all seeing the truth of this Word from Isaiah unfold before our eyes in what has become a clash between a secular worldview and a Biblical worldview.
Today’s secular worldview is developed through highly divisive, “hot button” cultural preferences and social norms that are promoted through progressive educational institutions, social media of all sorts, and even so called “science.”
And since these factors shift from generation to generation, and one political, politically correct or else!” body their “expression of truth” is always changing.
Jeremiah 23:28-29 Amplified Bible
28 The prophet who has a dream may tell his dream; but he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat [for nourishment]?” says the Lord. 29 “Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]?” says the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks the [most stubborn] rock [in pieces]?
Hebrews 4:12-13 Amplified Bible
12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is ever concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.
This is the exact opposite of a Biblical worldview which is based on the never changing, immutable, divinely-breathed, divinely-inspired Word of God!
Like its author, the Way and the Truth and the Life of the ever living Word of God never changes, but is and remains the same yesterday, today and forever!
This raging, even openly violent conflict between two worldviews, secular vs. biblical, has never been more evident than it has been recently.
Secular society now grapples with a host of aggressively divisive issues.
However, people who are raised and educated to make moral decisions based on these temporary feelings and peer pressures are easily deceived and led astray.
As a result, we, the Body of Christ, God’s Church in the World, have entered into a time when Christianity is regarded by many as inferior and narrow-minded.
In truth, criticism of Christianity has often been justified.
John 8:1-11 Amplified Bible
The Adulterous Woman
8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came back into the temple [court], and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began teaching them. 3 Now the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the center of the court, 4 and they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women [to death]. So what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?” 6 They said this to test Him, hoping that they would have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and began writing on the ground with His finger. 7 However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, “He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then He stooped down again and started writing on the ground. 9 They listened [to His reply], and they began to go out one by one, starting with the oldest ones, until He was left alone, with the woman [standing there before Him] in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She answered, “No one, Lord!” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]
Representatives of Christ can and do use the Word of God as a battering weapon to attack and shame people, keeping them bound in shame and condemnation, rather than, like Jesus, subtly using it to transform, help set them free from sin.
We must always keep ourselves steadfast and vigilant, to guard our hearts so to prevent becoming haters, shamer’s of those vulnerable people whom God loves.
Even if they hold a distorted secular worldview, let’s remember the following admonition from Paul:
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Amplified Bible
Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. 2 But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
Nonbelieving people judge how they feel about the Scripture and the Savior based on the way in which we, the saints of God, behave.
Therefore even in the face of the very harshest criticism, we have a far higher accountability, responsibility, as God’s separated and anointed handlers of the Word of God and carriers of His Spirit to demonstrate Christ for the betterment and salvation of the lost, not as a hammer to further enslave deceived people.
So handle with care and concern, rather than condemnation or carelessness.
Let God and the Word of God alone do work of conviction and transformation.
Isaiah 55:8-11 Amplified Bible
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear 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 void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Time-Tested, True Ways to Stay Faithful
During times of social and cultural upheaval, it’s especially good to remember the foundations of our faith.
God has not left us to fend for ourselves on the shifting sand of moral relativity, but provided time tested, true keys to enable us to overcome every challenge.
These time tested biblical keys are not new, but are things every believer should be reminded and disciplined to practice regularly, in order to mature spiritually and maintain a solid biblical worldview.
We may be in the world, but we are not of it!
Here are five quick keys to help you stay faithful in a world that has lost its way.
1. Start Your Day in Prayer
Mark 1:35-38 Amplified Bible
35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” 38 He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].”
Prayer anchors your soul to God even while living in a society that is drifting far from Him.
It opens our hearts to receive His peace, hope and reassurance, and sweeps clean the debris of sin that we’ve picked up in our daily lives.
In short,
prayer helps us to hold onto our faith when everything around us is nuts.
2. Study the Bible Daily
Psalm 119:9-16 Amplified Bible
Beth.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. 10 With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. 11 Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You. 12 Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts]. 16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
After we’ve established a disciplined practice of daily prayer, successful rhythm of daily devotions, we need to go further, to do more than simply read the Bible.
We need to study it and make it a part of our thinking and our speech.
We need to check our “political correctness at the door” to decide that knowing the truth of the Word of God is more important than knowing the daily news.
We must realize the Word of God is where we find our guide to right and wrong (not political correctness), our guide to life, purpose (not New Age affirmations), our guide to health, wholeness (not man’s suppositions), to be lights of the Lord.
It is imperative that the Word of God be implanted deeply in us, so it can be our guiding light which leads us all down every path and in every decision we make.
3. Repent of Sin Quickly
James 1:14-17 Amplified Bible
14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). 15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.16 Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow [a]cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
Translation: sin has “babies,” and those babies grow up and take on a destructive life of their own.
Sin is not something to sugar coat or to not play hardcore with.
It will always take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you are willing to pay.
It also desensitizes you to what is right and wrong, and makes you vulnerable to the seducing spirits at work in the world.
Sin is sneaky.
Its goal is to trip you, trap you, and take you out.
If you ignore it or try to hide it, you’ll lose every time.
So be proactive! Confess it to God, receive His forgiveness, and forsake it.
Proverbs 28:13 Amplified Bible
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and [a]turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.
Jesus was faithful on the cross to pay the price for our sin 2,000 years ago, and He remains faithful to forgive us of our sin today and we still need forgiveness ourselves, and since we receive it from God, we must also pass it on to others.
4. Get Spiritually Dressed
Ephesians 6:10-12 Amplified Bible
The Armor of God
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.
Wiles of the devil are simply mind games or delusions.
Sometimes it’s difficult to remember in the moment, but people are not our problem – principalities and seducing spirits are.
Stop hating on people and start praying for them instead.
Suit up in your spiritual armor and take a stand against the real enemy.
Get covered with the armor of God from head to toe!
The belt of truth – the truth that comes from the Word of God, not society or politics.
The breastplate of righteousness – knowing we are right with God, not because of our goodness, but because of God’s grace
The gospel of peace – knowing we are at peace with God, and have an eternal home in the heavens not built with the hands of man. Knowing we can walk in a quiet rest that passes all understanding
The shield of faith – an absolute assurance that God’s word is true and will come to pass in our lives
The helmet of salvation – we have soundness of mind because of a secure faith in the principles of the Word of God and so great a salvation bought for us by our Savior
The sword of the Spirit – an unwavering revelation of God’s word that empowers us to respond to every attack of the enemy and causes him to flee
And of course, our battle position is in prayer – always.
It’s not just what we do when we don’t know what to do, it is what we must do at all times, for this is how we fight our battles in a world that has lost its way.
5. Go to Church!
Hebrews 10:23-25 Amplified Bible
23 Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; 24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, 25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.
Sometimes we forget, but we really need to be in God’s house, where we are fed the Word of God in fellowship with others of like faith.
It’s where our errant theology and politics gets challenged and changed to line up with the God’s truth.
It’s where we experience the power and healing of worshipping in God’s presence.
It’s where iron sharpens iron, and we experience the love of the brethren.
Thank God for church online when gathering together is truly impossible.
And at all other times, we must not forsake this valuable key to remaining steadfast, strong and immovable in the faith.
Finally, it’s important to remember that much of the chaos today has been blamed on politics, power plays, social injustice, etc.
But the truth is the world’s gone crazy wild because of sin.
And the devastation caused by sin cannot be controlled by any president, agenda, or master plan.
No matter how hard we try, we just can’t hope to even minimally control sin.
It’s why more than absolutely anything or anyone else, we absolutely need our Lord, Savior, King Christ Jesus, weaving, working in a world that’s lost its way.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God of all truth, sometimes I not sure if I’m actually hearing your voice, or if it’s just my own thoughts or even another spirit. Sharpen my spiritual hearing, Lord, so I can recognize your words when you are speaking to me. Help me know it’s really you, with no doubt or second-guessing. When I’m asking for your guidance in important decisions, give me your peace that surpasses understanding with your answer. Help me remember, to preach, to teach, that your words to us will never go against your written word in the Bible. Give me a clear mind and push out all my confusion. Amen.
6 So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see. 8 So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Our only goal is to always please the Lord, whether we are living here in this body or there with him. 10 We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Everyone will get what they should. They will be paid for whatever they did—good or bad—when they lived in this earthly body.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
“Life is a Journey, Not a Destination”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”
While each one of us on a journey in life, that journey does lead to a destination – either eternal life in heaven, or eternal torment in hell.
But our devotional text from 2 Corinthians 5:7, focuses on the journey.
Paul wrote to the young, heavily divided and struggling Corinthian church and said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Whether we are a believer in God, or we do not believe in God, or we are right now struggling to believe or to continue to believe, every individual must now choose which path their journey will take – the path of life or the path of sight.
Walking by faith, living by believing in what will happen as opposed to seeing what will happen is like our leaving our homes, taking journey with a blindfold on, “walking in some direction” and trusting God to get you He’s leading you.
But if you leave your home, look at and pick your own direction, you walk by sight where you want to go, then you see the path and each step along the way.
You see what is before you – you see the potential obstacles, the potential risks and the potholes and the pitfalls – you see them and then automatically avoid.
But, how does all that change if you cannot see where you are going?
If you cannot assess the quality of the terrain and the environment you travel?
You can’t see the raised portions of the side walks which present a trip hazard?
You cannot see the puddles of water sure to get your socks, shoes and feet wet?
Where are the curbs you need to stop at to avoid walking into oncoming traffic?
Walking by what we can see is easy and such listed obstacles and threats to our physical health and spiritual wellbeing are otherwise so very easily avoidable.
Paul understood well this analogy on the Damascus Road when he went from walking by faith and fury after the new followers to sudden blindness courtesy of the risen Jesus when Paul encountered, experienced the very brightest light.
Suddenly and without explanation and with no time for defense of self, he was blinded by the incomparable light of the risen Jesus.
Now he could no longer rely on his vast knowledge of himself, his own survival skills to live and visually walk his own path and road from one town to another.
In an instant he was full of all the self confidence in the world, then reduced to that anxious and fearful someone who needed help with literally everything.
From immediate instant confidence into an immediate, instant helplessness.
He had no idea when or if ever he would regain his sight.
He had to figure out what all that change meant to the rest of his life.
And standing there on that Damascus Road, the risen Jesus left him with no instructions, no road maps, no guide books, no walking sticks, no nothing!
His companions took him to someone’s home and there Saul sat – in Prayer and in Fasting until some response was to come from somewhere, somehow.
The operative thing we each need to see is the choice of responses Saul had available to him and how he how fast and how instinctively he chose prayer.
We read nowhere in the Word of God Saul went into wild, flailing, hysterics.
His first instinctive response was to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting.
How about our own most instinctive, most immediate response to any crisis?
Praying and Leaning into God’s Equipping
2 Corinthians 5:7 Easy-to-Read Version
7 We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see.
It is always disheartening to feel as though I have reached a significant point in my journey only to ask, “Now what, Lord?”
God has put a desire in my heart to write for Him which I cannot calm.
I wrestle and fight, clawing for any direction or insight or wisdom not my own.
God tells me to listen, watch, do the next thing, and wait.
He reminds me not to worry about the future, but to wait on Him.
Obediently, I try my best to research, learn, write, pursue, listen, follow …and wait.
I choose to trust Who is leading me, even when it feels like I am always walking with blinders on, I have no walking stick to use and I can’t see and cannot know and cannot watch the results of my efforts unfold before me and my own eyes.
God gave me the desire to write and keep right on writing, but it is up to me to raise up every morning to pray and to fast and to study, to put all the work in.
A work He promised to equip me for!
Isaiah 55:8-11 Easy-to-Read Version
People Cannot Understand God
8 The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
10 “Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return until they have watered the ground. Then the ground causes the plants to sprout and grow, and they produce seeds for the farmer and food for people to eat. 11 In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do.
The road and the devotionals can be can be long and precarious, and often we don’t know the destination … what God is going to do with them, but God does.
He will equip us when we don’t feel capable or worthy of His calling on our lives.
Our calling is to do the work He has assigned us, wait for Him to clear the way.
I am learning to take each day as it comes, trusting Him to lead and guide my steps and my writings.
I try to plant my boots and my roots in securely into His ways and His truth.
I am too often overwhelmed with all the roads I could veer off onto, but He quietly reassures me with each effort that He alone will guide me through.
I feel dwarfed among thousands of Christian theologians, commentators and writers, but He gently tells me He’ll help my voice reach who it is intended for.
It may not be the masses; it may only be intended for one.
It may be for someone tomorrow; it may be for someone years down the road.
Philippians 2:12-13 Easy-to-Read Version
Be the People God Wants You to Be
12 My dear friends, you always obeyed what you were taught. Just as you obeyed when I was with you, it is even more important for you to obey now that I am not there. So you must continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation. Do this with fear and respect for God. 13 Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.
God did not call me nor anyone and everyone else into something big only to leave us hanging and struggling on the side of some ditch to figure our life out.
He is not reliant on our human ability to pick the right road.
He works within us.
It is our calling to fully rely on God instead of ourselves.
It is our calling to fully relay on our Savior Jesus instead of ourselves.
It is our calling to fully rely on God, the Holy Spirit instead of ourselves.
Even when the road ahead of us is full of seen and unseen fog, seen and unseen potholes, pitfalls, stumbling blocks we can keep our both eyes fully on Jesus.
Psalm 121 The Message
121 1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you— Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.
Even if we cannot nor ever see the words of the Psalmist before our eyes;
We can 100% trust Him with each day, task, and notion to do things for Him.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Lord, You have placed a desire and calling on my life. I have heard Your voice and know the direction You want me to go. However, I am overcome by discouragement. I can’t see the road ahead and need Your strength to keep moving forward. I need Your sight, Lord, and Your leading. Forgive me, Lord, for taking hold of things that do not belong to me. Forgive me for striving in my power to try and manifest things that were never intended for me. Help me to see clearly what You have for me. I surrender my calling to You and place it securely in Your ever more wise, ever more capable hands. Reveal and inspire me with Your Holy Spirit. I trust You to equip me for all You want me to say and to do. You did not call me to do Your will because of my ability but because of my willingness. Take my worry and strife and turn it into glory-filled work. Give me discernment when I start to go down the wrong path.
I rebuke the enemy and the distractions that he is placing in my path. I pray for strength against laziness or complacency. I come against the lies that enslave me, telling me I am not good enough, I don’t have what it takes, or that I will never get to where I want to go. I stand firmly on the truth and promise that You are with and will never leave me. I surrendered all my heart’s desires and ask You to lead every moment of every day. Thank You, Jesus, for Your everlasting love, and the many treasures of life You have stored up for me in the heavens I have never, ever seen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 