Month: September 2020

“…By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.” Psalms‬ ‭17:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. The Psalmist had discovered that the only way to stay on the right path was as he gave heed to the Word of God. When we try to go our own way, we are always slipping spiritually. Ultimately, our own ways become the path of destruction for us. It’s not only the ways of open sin and ungodliness that we need to be careful of. Much of the time it is simply our own selfish ways. We have a battle to keep our own will and our ways continually submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But when we surrender to Christ, His Word becomes the guiding influence of our lives. His Word is what keeps us from the wrong paths. And only His Word can hold up our steps in the right path. Only God’s Word can keep us encouraged and strengthened for the troubles we face. By God’s grace, let us keep ourselves always open to the influence of His Word. Let us put our confidence in the Word of the Lord and endeavor to walk in the path of holiness.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms‬ ‭139:23-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬. This prayer is one that many believers are hesitant to pray. But it’s important to notice, these words come after verse 17, where the psalmist was rejoicing in God’s precious thoughts towards him. In that verse he had come to understand more of God’s heart towards him. If we wrongly imagine that God is hard and cruel, always looking for faults in us, then we will not be able to pray this prayer with sincerity. But if we know His thoughts towards us are good, and He looks at us with the loving eyes of a perfect Father, then we welcome Him to search us. If we know He is searching us to discover anything that could hinder our relationship with Him, then we ask Him to search us. May we believe, that God searches us because He is pleased to know the hearts of His children. He tries us, because His purpose is always to draw us closer to Him so we can be led in the right way.

“How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!…” Psalms‬ ‭139:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬. One of the main reasons that people distrust God is that they do not know Him. They don’t know His heart towards them. They don’t understand His thoughts about them. But the more we get into God’s Word and open our hearts to it, the more we are blessed to discover what wonderful thoughts our Heavenly Father has towards us! To know, that even when His anger is against our sin, it is because He loves us and desires our eternal good. He knows that sin is destructive and so He continually warns us about it. And He provides everything we need to be delivered from it. If we could truly know His thoughts of good towards us we would be set free of so much of the worry and anxiety that plagues our lives. He is a perfect Father and all of His thoughts towards His children are precious! So let us get into His Word and walk in daily relationship with our Father. That is how we will learn more of His thoughts towards us.

“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans‬ ‭8:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬. There are many ‘things’ we go through in this life in which we do not feel like conquerors. But what we need to understand is that God does not measure victory like we do in this world. We tend to think that victory is standing on the mountain top after we’ve finally conquered it. We would like a victory where everything is under our feet and there is no more struggle. But to our Father in Heaven, the real victory is His love working in our hearts and lives that keeps us climbing the mountain even in those difficult times. And being a spiritual conqueror is never about our strength or determination. Rather it is about our willingness to yield our lives to Christ, and let His love in us conquer every foe that comes against us. So in all these ‘things’ we face, let us win the victory of steadfast love.

“And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” 1 Kings‬ ‭19:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬. In this passage the prophet Elijah is at the lowest point in his life. Weary, discouraged and running for his life, he had finally fallen asleep. Yet even there, God sends His angel, sends Heavenly provision for His servant, and prepares him for what lies ahead. There are times in our lives when we become weary in well doing. Things don’t seem to make sense and the road ahead is unclear. But let us be sure, our Lord sees the path before us! And He encourages us to rise up and partake of what our soul needs so desperately. In these times, we need the manna of God’s Word more than ever! We need to open our hearts to partake of this spiritual nourishment that our Father provides. In the Word, we see Jesus, Who is the Bread of Life. Through the Word, we receive strength for all that lies ahead. Perhaps today, the way before you seems dark and uncertain? Let us be sure, that our Father sees the path before us and He is preparing us. Let us rise and partake of what God has given to us in His Word.

“…We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” Psalms‬ ‭66:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. It is a very important thing to realize that this life, and especially Christian life, is a time of testing and preparation. There are those who imagine that life is always supposed to be easy and comfortable. They are mistaken, as Jesus said, because they do not know the scriptures. But knowing we will face trials, knowing that God is using these things to refine our lives and draw us closer to Him, helps us to understand them better and see God’s purpose in it. In this verse the key is, that we did not perish in the trials, we were not overcome by the adversity, but God brought us through! And not only does He bring us through, but He brings us to a place of abundance! A place of greater fulfillment. A place where our lives can fulfill His purposes in a greater way. So let us hold on to Jesus and He will bring us through.

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path…” Psalms‬ ‭142:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬. The psalmist David wrote this about a time when he was being treated unfairly and ruthlessly hunted by king Saul. All the bright hopes he once had, seemed to be gone at this moment. He was feeling trapped, literally hiding in a cave, uncertain of what to do next. Emotionally he was at one of his lowest points, overwhelmed in spirit. And yet from that low place, he remembers to cry out to God! He is reminded that even when the way before him seems so hopeless and uncertain, yet His God knew and would reveal the path he should take. May we learn from David’s example. May we cry out to God for the help only He can give, and be confident that our Heavenly Father knows every detail of our circumstances, and He will make a way of escape for us!

“and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. Are we allowing the Word of God to become fruitful in our lives? Jesus warns us here in this parable that many things can hinder and even choke the working of God’s Word in our lives. His purpose is that it is received in good ground. That means ground that has been broken up, cleared and well prepared. So this tells us that we have a responsibility to prepare our hearts, day by day, to receive the pure Word of God. We must make sure that those things which would hinder, like fleshy desires, worldly cares, and undue concerns about physical and material things, do not stunt the development of the ‘good seed’ of God’s Word which has been entrusted to us. A humble heart that trusts God is the best soil.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭NKJV. For anyone who is aware of what is going on our world, you know we are in a time of shaking. For many countries, the very pillars of society and culture are shaking. For every individual life, that is not firmly established on the Rock of Jesus Christ, they will be shaken. But the good news for God’s true children is, we are a part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken! We are anchored on the One sure Foundation! And because of that, we can have all the grace we need to serve God and be true to Him, even in the midst of this shaking world. What a great blessing this is! We can know that what is shaking the world, doesn’t have to shake us! To know that even if earthly kingdoms fall, we are part of the unshakable, unmovable, eternal Kingdom of our God. So whatever comes our way, let’s be true to Him.