Month: June 2020

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me…?” Psalms‬ ‭94:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. There are many of God’s people across our land that are asking these questions. They feel outnumbered. They feel that good decent people are becoming a minority. And it seems so few are willing to stand against the tide of evil and lawlessness that is sweeping across our country. But for God’s children we have the assurance, that there is One Who will stand up for us! We have a Mighty God, an Omnipotent Father, Who is standing up for His own! And when He stands for us, there is no weapon formed against us that will prosper. There is no device nor strategy of satan that can touch us when our God is standing for us! May we, with courage in our hearts, stand with Him. May we stand with those weary souls that need someone who cares.

“But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us…” Luke‬ ‭24:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. On this occasion, as Jesus walked with the two men on Emmaus road, they reached their destination, and as much as He desired to enter in with them, He waited for an invitation. He would not force His way in. He waited for them to receive Him. And it was then, as verse 31 says, “their eyes were opened and they knew Him”! How many times in our lives as we walk through difficult times, does Jesus come alongside us, and wait for us to receive Him? He waits for us to invite Him in to this rough place we are in. And it is only as we welcome Him in, that our spiritual eyes are opened to see Who He is! That He is the Answer! And He is here with me all along!

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. In this day when our society is so filled with hatred, anger and strife, we as God’s children should be set apart from all of those evil attitudes. We are to be the city set on a hill, where the light of Christ shines! That means: While others are unkind, we are to be kind. When they are cruel, we are to be tenderhearted. And where the world is unforgiving, we are to forgive, even as God forgives us. But also, this time is revealing what is in the hearts of people. Times of crisis and stress always reveals the person as they are, not what they pretend to be. So while many religious people are being exposed for who they are, let us recognize, that now is the time that the light of Christ in us can shine!

“…Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” II Kings‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. In this time of transition in our nation, many believers are fearful that the ‘conservatives’ are becoming the minority. Others live in situations where they are surrounded by sinful people and feel alone. We worry because we look only on a human level. But we need to remember these words of the prophet Elisha, and know that the hosts of Heaven are always with God’s children! Elisha prayed for his fearful servant that God would open his eyes to see the spiritual dimension that is more real than anything in this physical world. As his eyes were open he saw that God’s Heavenly hosts were far greater than any earthly enemy. Open our eyes Lord.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. Be at peace. Be of good cheer. Be encouraged. How could Jesus say these things to us who are living in this messed up world? This world so full of sin and heartache? Because He has already overcome the world! Because there is nothing or no one who can stand against Him! When our days are weary and we face difficulties, let us remember that Jesus is with us, and He has already overcome! That is how we can be more than conquerors through Him that loves us.

“And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.”                       II Chronicles‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  One of the natural results of seeking God with our whole heart and desire is, that we find our greatest joy, our delight in the things of God! And when we do that, we will want all idols removed from our lives. All of those ‘other gods’ which try to take our attention away from our one True God must go.There are many ‘high places’ in the hearts of people that they don’t recognize as idols, and yet that is what they are! Anything that comes between our heart and God can be an idol to us. And God will never take second place to an idol. It must go or He will. May we have such joy in God that we never allow any idols.

“…for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought Him with their whole desire; and He was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬  This is something that few people in our generation seem to understand and practice. God must be sought after with all of our heart. He wants us to desire Him more than anyone or anything. For a person that seeks Him in this way, there is nothing He will not do to meet their needs. And just as He did with Old Testament Israel, He will do with us. He will be found dwelling with us and we will have rest in our souls. May God help us, to put away half-hearted seeking and living, and seek God with our whole desire.

“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. One of the greatest miseries of sin is that it causes people to live selfishly. Sinners become wrapped up in themselves, with little thought of others or the God Who created them. Our existence becomes all about us. But when we begin to live for Jesus our lives change! We now live for Him! We live to please Him, and to accomplish His will and purposes. Our motive is no longer what we can get out of life, or what others can do for us. But now it is, what can we do for Christ, and how can we be a blessing and help to those around us. When we are looking beyond ourselves and desiring to be a blessing to God and those around us, then we will discover the life of joy and fulfillment.

““He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me.” II Sam.‬ ‭22:17-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. There are times in our lives when we face strong opposition and spiritual enemies that we cannot overcome, in our strength or wisdom. But what a blessing to know that our Father in Heaven will send all the help we need! History proves that God will move Heaven and earth to help His children! When the enemy comes in like a flood, our God will lift us above the waters. When we can find no help around us, He will send Divine reinforcements to secure us! Even when they are too strong for us, they are no match for our Great God. What a mighty God we serve!

““I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”” II Cor.‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. One of the miracles of true salvation is that it brings us into a relationship with God where we become His children and He becomes our Father. And what a blessing it is to be a child of God! To know that in a failing world we have a perfect and unfailing Father. What a comfort in this troubled world to know the One Who cares for us more than any other is our All-wise and Almighty Father. On this day that we celebrate fathers, let us praise and thank our Heavenly Father that He loves us so much that He would make us His very own children!