There are those who only do the bare minimum, and those who go the extra mile to get things done. We remember those who came through for us, at a time we didn’t know who to turn to. Think of a time when you were facing an insurmountable burden and you felt helpless. Then your needs were met beyond your imagination; words can’t express how it happened. God moves Heaven and Earth to answer when we call. He does exceedingly above what we ask.
“God makes a surfeit of our meager supply.”
14 For this reason I bow my knees to The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His Glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the Love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the Fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3).
God gives according to the Riches of His Glory, not according to our deficit. He gives according to His abundance in His Glory. He strengthens with His Might, by His Spirit working in us. He doesn’t strengthen us with our greatest might—human strength. Christ dwells in us, and by surrendering to Him, we have access to His Strength. By faith we have the Fullness of God dwelling in us—Christ Jesus and His Love. He loves us beyond our comprehension. He makes us one with Him so that we are never going it alone. He tends to us according to His Power in us, exceedingly and abundantly above what we ask or can imagine.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in The House of The Lord forever (Psalm 23).
We are furnished from the riches of His Glory. He knows every affair of our lives, because we are welded together with Him. He knows our anxieties and our weakness, because He is in us. We must ask and pray in confidence, to receive according to His Power that is already at work in us. This is not Power that is far up somewhere, it is Christ in us. We can steel ourselves against our fears and adversities, because we are sustained by His Glorious Riches. Christ’s Love for us is the Fullness of God poured into us, without measure, so that our cup runs over.
“Faith is believing that the little we have is valuable.”
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest (2 Kings 4).”
This widow had just lost her husband, who owed a creditor a large sum that she couldn’t pay. She came to Elisha, who was her late husband’s master. He asked her what she had of value at her home, and she told him she only had her last jar of oil. Elisha told her to borrow many jars and fill them with the only oil she had. She did what Elisha told her, and when she ran out of jars, the oil stayed. She was able to sell it and pay off the creditor, and had leftover oil to sustain her and her sons.
Trust God with what is in your hand, for your present needs. Those who are closefisted are unwilling to let God use what they have. They would rather squirrel away what they need, instead of using it. The widow obeyed what the man of God asked her to do, by using the only oil she had. Take the little you have and put it in God’s Hands. God will supply your needs, and leave a surplus. His Love doesn’t run dry. He exceeds expectations, because He will not give His Glory to another. He wants the memory of His Greatness etched in our minds—as inimitable. God makes a surfeit of our meager supply. He is the only One Who gives exceedingly, because He gives from His Riches.
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up (Matthew 16)?”
6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand (Mark 8).
The Lord Jesus took the seven loaves and gave thanks. Four thousand people were fed from seven loaves and a few small fish. They ate to their heart’s content, until there were seven large baskets of leftovers. How often do we give thanks for the little we have? though it may not seem enough? Is little better than nothing? Of course it is. If we can be grateful for the little, we can be thankful for larger things. Faith is believing that the little we have is valuable. But we must be thankful for it to want to use it. We have to be grateful for small mercies. Be careful not to despise what can be used to benefit you or someone else. Don’t deny to give the little you have at the present, because you don’t believe it has any worth to someone else. Giving thanks changes our perspective and our attitude. Grow your faith with the little things. Faith is what’s needed when there’s hardly enough, otherwise it would be ‘luck’. Ask and give thanks, then start to carry out the task with what you have. After Christ gave thanks, He broke the bread and dished it out. Take the next step, by doing the next thing; just as you would if you had all that you needed.
“God gives according to the Riches of His Glory, not according to our deficit.”
5 Yet The Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. 6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am The Lord your God.” 7 When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them (Deuteronomy 29).
There are times when God takes us out of our comfort, and we find ourselves in uncharted territory. We feel like a fish out of water with little control of our circumstances. We are forced to live in uncertainty, one day a time. When we are in this state, we must learn to depend on God. We must also learn to adapt to our circumstances. When the comforts we were accustomed to are no longer within reach, we have to learn to be content. The children of Israel could no longer eat bread and drink wine in the wilderness. They had to live on the basic victuals. They only had the clothing they had left Egypt with. Yet, God made certain that they were sustained for forty years in the wilderness.
What is your wilderness? It might feel like you are stuck in a rut, and there’s no breakthrough in sight. God changes seasons just as He changes our circumstances. We must spend our time in the wilderness depending entirely on Him. This is a place of learning and trusting. Until we learn to lean on Him in the wilderness, we will not be able to cling to Him in the place of prosperity. In the wilderness we are trained to humble ourselves, listen to Him, obey and wait on Him. So that when we come to the other side, we will never look to our skills, but His Power. We will be well positioned to take on anything that comes against us. We know our God better in the place of scarcity than anywhere else. If He is not God in our wilderness, then we wouldn’t need Him in a land flowing with milk and honey. He must prove Himself, and how better than when we can’t fend for ourselves. He goes before us to overcome all odds. The children of Israel knew that God was in their midst, because of what they saw Him do, in the forty years of the wilderness. They were unfazed in the face of adversity.
“By faith, we have the Fullness of God dwelling in us—Christ Jesus and His Love.”
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, The Lord appeared to him and said, “I Am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make My Covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for Me, this is My Covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish My Covenant as an everlasting Covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and The God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God (Genesis 17).”
One man’s faith in God became a blessing to many generations after him. When Abram heard God tell him He would give him posterity in large numbers, he prostrated before God and worshipped. Without any evidence of God’s promise physically or naturally in Abram, at a hundred years old, he still believed. God commanded Abraham to walk before Him faithfully and in submission. Abram’s name became Abraham. When coming from a place of uncertainty to a place of promise, look the part. Start by worshipping, then forge ahead into the new beginning, with a new attitude, and a pep in your step. God told Abraham that his descendants would be kings, and would inherit the promised land. Canaan, a foreign land, would become Abraham’s possession.
What may seem like a pipe dream becomes a reality when God positions us at its doorstep. God needs something in return; our faithfulness and commitment to Him. Today, be established in an Everlasting Covenant with Almighty God, for you and your children. He extends His Blessings through us when we are faithful—full of faith. He will keep the legacy of our faith in Him alive, long after we are gone, by extending His Mercies and Covenant to our children.
12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days (Job 42).
Job was put through the wringer with the loss of his sons, daughters and all of his wealth, in one day. Satan had asked permission to test Job; to prove if Job’s loyalty to God was merely because He was blessed. God allowed Satan to afflict Job, but He was not to touch Job ( Job 1). In all this Job did not curse God. In the end God blessed Job with seven sons and three daughters and blessed his latter more than the former.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the Will of God (1 Peter 1).
There’s a possibility that the adversity we are facing may be a test of our faith and commitment to God. God will allow pain, suffering and sorrow, but He will protect us in the midst of it. Life is never fair here on earth. While in the doldrums, we have to be resolute to not give Satan what he wants—drifting away from God because we are offended. God gives and takes away, as Job well put it. We are not entitled to anything, but for God’s Goodness we can draw a breath. When we have overcome by trusting God, He will honor our humility for surrendering to His Will. Job’s life was restored to Him in great measure. He lived to see four generations of his children, with the most beautiful daughters in the land, and had much wealth. No matter what happens, keep God first and don’t waver on His Faithfulness.
We are not poor, but rich in Christ. The manifold Goodness and Power of God abounds in us through The Love of God and Our Lord Jesus. We are strengthened by His Might and our needs are supplied according to His Glorious Riches. We should not fear adversity or scarcity. We have an abundant life in Christ Jesus. He brings us out of the wilderness so that we can enter into the place of rest, by faith and submission to Him. We are never in a permanent state of afflictions, because God Who creates yearly seasons, has new beginnings for each of us. We give thanks with the little we have, by giving it to Him. We live in the divine nature that is in union with Christ. Though we live in this world we are not constrained by our circumstances. Our cup (our being) overflows with joy, peace, love, patience, faith and hope in the confidence we have in Him. Our God is exceeding in Power, Love and Goodness.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue; 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1).
23 “As for The Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is Excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. 24 Therefore men fear Him;He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.” (Job 37).”
Power is essential to get things done and to overcome any opposing force. When someone is powerful, they are fearless and indomitable in the face of challenges. Those in power should not abuse it, to take advantage of those who can’t defend themselves. Power should be used to help the oppressed, deliver those who are in need, and subjugate evil.
“He is the strength of those who trust Him.”
6 Blessed be The Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise Him. 8 The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed. 9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever (Psalm 28)
When in trouble, we call on the one who can help and do so expediently. God hears us wherever we may be, and at the drop of a hat. His Power is not limited to the natural order of things. He can move against time and space to come to our aid. He is the strength of those who trust Him.
He will not compete with our self-sufficiency; so we must lean entirely on Him. We can have peace knowing that He is our present help and strength. Don’t ask of God and then doubt Him. He saves all who call upon Him. Call and trust that He is reliable, dependable and capable. He will uphold us with His Mighty Arm, so that we are preserved from impending harm. As we wait on Him to deliver us, we can rejoice in His Greatness that will not fail us. He is the One Who hears and answers when we call. He sends help in many different ways.
5 “Behold, God is Mighty, but despises no one; He is Mighty in the strength of understanding. 6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the oppressed. 7 He does not withdraw His Eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, for He has seated them forever, and they are exalted (Job 36).”
There are those who get power from a position or wealth, and it begins to go to their head. They might become condescending to others who have less than they do. But God in His Greatness, doesn’t despise anyone who is frail, or is down-and-out. His Might comes from His Understanding and Wisdom, and Power to deliver those who can’t deliver themselves from those who are more powerful. God’s Power brings justice to the oppressed. The wicked who oppress those who are weak and helpless will not live a full life—God has shortened their days on earth. Power should be used to fight for the weak and poor, and to eradicate wickedness and injustice. God positions the righteous in proximity to kings or those in authority. He will give the righteous a place to exercise righteousness, by giving them access to the king’s ears and affairs. When an authority seeks counsel from a righteous one, they will execute justice and righteousness. By God’s Power the righteous are well situated to be a great influence.
23 But these people have a defiant and rebellious heart; they have revolted and departed. 24 They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear The Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” 25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you (Jeremiah 5).
Sin is rebellion that discounts God’s Instructions, and disregards Who He is. Those who are defiant to God don’t fear Him. They don’t think about Him or believe that He is capable of reacting to their disobedience. They see the work of God’s Hands and still deny His existence. There’s a sense of reverence shown to those in power; the boss, law enforcement, parents or judge; yet often God doesn’t get the honor and fear He deserves. He appoints the seasons and days, the boundaries around the seas, the wind and the Sun are under His Command. He blesses those who fear Him—who seek to please Him. Sin withholds God’s Favor from us. The Most High God desires to bless us, by using His Power to orchestrate everything around us for our good.
“Freedom is the power to resist any form of oppression.”
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10).
We must try to overcome temptation and every thought that would lead us to sin against God. We are susceptible to lose our foothold, if we allow our thoughts to get out of control. The more we discipline ourselves to live righteously, the more courage we have to overcome temptations. Our mind needs to be trained to battle in the spirit. Our thoughts feed our fleshly desires, so they must be subdued. We have to fight in God’s Might, because we are often too weak to resist our own desires. The power to overcome is accessed through obedience to Christ. The Spirit of Christ will convict us and instruct us to do what is right. So we must reject any voice that tunes Him out. We are no longer slaves to our whims, but are free to fight every thought that defies God. Freedom is the power to resist any form of oppression. We are victorious in Christ, to bring all thoughts in subjection to Him.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His Presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in The Lord (1 Corinthians 1).”
“By God’s Power the righteous are well situated to be a great influence.”
The greatest power is the one that brings about a spiritual transformation. Physical strength and stamina can be brought to its knees by disease or despondency. The Power of sanctification is available to anyone who seeks it; God knows those who yearn for it. It’s seldom the highly educated, the brawny, or the wealthy who seek it, because they are self-dependent. God has called, out of this world, those who are wanting by the world’s standards, to receive what no one can offer them—The Power of Salvation, through redemption and sanctification. Those who are called are wiser, mightier, and wealthier, spiritually. They may seem like a nonentity to the world, but they have been endowed with the greatest riches and power from above. The wise of this world have rejected the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation in Christ Jesus, to their shame. They are described as benighted, weak and destitute, by God’s Standards. No flesh will glory by fleshly (worldly) achievements before God. Glory is only found in Christ Jesus—abiding in Christ; one with Him, sanctified, righteous, and redeemed from the powers of darkness.
17 The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling; what are the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints; 19 and what is the exceeding Greatness of His Power toward us who believe, according to the working of His Mighty Power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places; 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1).
God imparts to those He has called the spirit of knowledge and wisdom, to be acquainted with Him. To those He favors, He gives access to Himself, so that they may know the riches of their inheritance in Christ. What is the hope of your calling in Christ? It is the exceeding Greatness of God’s Power working in those who believe. The same Power that brought our Lord Jesus back to life is ours for the asking. He gives us Power according to His Might. When do we need power? Each day God’s Power is working on our behalf. We must ask in prayer for God to keep us, sustain us and preserve by His Mighty Power. We have great hope each day we wake up; to know and see for ourselves, how much Power is working for us. In times of distress, we can call at any moment and receive according to God’s Riches in Glory.
“The greatest power is the one that brings about a spiritual transformation.”
4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. 5 We will rejoice in Your Salvation, and in The Name of our God we will set up our banners! May The Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that The Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His Right Hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember The Name of The Lord our God (Psalm 20).
Where is your place of strength and confidence? May it be in The Name of The Lord. As you face each day, exalt His Name—this is the Power which you represent. When you call on God, may He delight in you to give you the desire of your heart. May He save with His Right Hand, and become Your Salvation. He is your full portion to satisfy you with joy and sustain you with His Power. Rejoice therefore, in His Salvation. While some trust in man-made weaponry, in their physical strength or their possessions, you, remember your Creator. Hold up the banner of His Name in prayer, and see the deliverance of The Lord.
We serve a Mighty God. He gives according to the riches of His Glory, and will not suffer His righteous ones to lack. Stick with God and you will not be put to shame. Obey by restraining the fleshly lusts that war against your mind and spirit. Christ has won us the victory, by His Power over death, we are made new in Him. We are no longer who we used to be. We are going from strength to strength in The Mighty Power of God, day after day. He delivers the oppressed and fights for them. Though He is Majestic in Power, He will not use it to destroy those who humble themselves before Him.
God will honor those who fear Him, by aligning them with movers and shakers, to execute righteousness and justice. We exalt the banner of His Name as our defense and salvation. Though we may have little to our name, He has called us out of this world by His Greatness. He has chosen His people to show off His Might through them. We will therefore not trust in frothy wealth, physical strength or human weapons. As long as we are in Christ, we are kept in His Power.
“Each day God’s Power is working on our behalf.”
5 I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me. 6 Would He contend with me in His Great Power? No! But He would take note of me. 7 There the upright could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge (Job 23).
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am The Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says The Lord (Jeremiah 9).
Our actions and words are first a thought, before acted upon. We have so many thoughts that swirl in our minds, most of them we shrug off. There are times we act before we think, then we regret the outcome. We may have to evaluate our thoughts before we act upon them. Our words and actions will always have an impact on others, and will also reflect our character. It’s imperative to use our better judgement—wisdom, before we speak and act. Wisdom comes from those who are well-versed in knowledge and personal experience. God’s Wisdom is supreme and dependable. His Wisdom can guide our thinking, attitudes, character and our relationships. By conforming our thinking to His Character, we learn how to make the best decisions. By obedience to Him, in our words and actions, we can live a more fulfilling life.
“We are what we think of others.”
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God Whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also (1 John 4).
At every turn, there are people, and we have to interact with them one way or another; verbally or nonverbally. The best way to do so, is to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. We should respect others and treat them with the dignity they deserve. As emotional beings, we must consider how we react to or approach those who we cross paths with. If we love someone we will not say or do what will undoubtedly offend or hurt them. If we love God we will not displease Him either, by disobedience and rebellion. We can’t claim to love someone we don’t listen to or continuously disrespect. If we love God we must keep His Commandments. One such great Commandment is that we should love others as ourselves.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19).
If we claim to love God, Whom we have not seen, we should be willing to love those we see. Our perception of others tells us how we feel about them. Sometimes our thoughts make us think we are more superior to others—self-righteous or smarter. Eventually, our thoughts will express themselves. Our thoughts will exude in our attitude and approach to others as bias, criticism, envy or resentment. Evaluate your thoughts about others and ensure they are not offensive to God, first. If your thoughts about others seem unacceptable before God, quash them. Tune out spiteful and disparaging thoughts towards others that are based on hearsay or assumptions. Our hidden thoughts are within earshot of God. Halt any thoughts that denigrate others. God will always have their best interest on His Mind.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the Presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2).
When we are offended by what others say or do to us, we often become infuriated and resentful. It’s human to be angry and frustrated. Though we should not let these emotions fester to the point of hurting others. There’s a time for everything under the sun, and we can’t remain stuck in a cycle of flashbacks that continuously churn bitterness and venom. The decision to forgive will cross our minds, just as often as the reminder of the incident. We should keep in mind that Christ’s is ever present with us and is in us. Either we forgive in His Presence, or we let Satan get the best of us. Satan acts on our self-will—what we are already thinking to do. He uses our emotions to his advantage. He would prefer that we become less like Christ, by doing what we please at the moment. When we choose to forgive, we do so before Christ and the offender; and the same applies, when we hold on to a grudge. We can play right into Satan’s hand, or we can manifest Christ’s Character that has already been imparted to us.
“Our hidden thoughts are within earshot of God.”
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your Wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63).
Take stock of the day before you turn in. What did God reveal about Himself and about you today? Where did you falter, and what could you have done better? He carries us through each second, of every minute. Think of God’s Love that guided you to the finish line. God is our help from the start, to the end of the day. Better to go to bed with thanksgiving than misgivings. Remember God on your bed; how He guided your path, and kept you under His Wings. Recount the many ways God’s Goodness sustained you. Rejoice in joyful utterance at the end of the day; as you fade away to deep sleep. Put aside all worry and anxious thoughts before you sleep. It will not matter who pushed your buttons, and rubbed you the wrong way. Sleep in peace, and with thanksgiving on your mind.
28 And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of The Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding (Job 28).’ ”
If we know God is watching and listening, then we would mind our Ps and Qs. The fear of God is the foundation of wisdom. Just as we are careful to slow down when we approach a police car, we must be cautious in our awareness of God’s Presence. The fear of God elicits a foreboding thought of being castigated for disobedience. Why do people feel ill at ease, or even offended by the notion of fearing God? Children become afraid of their parents, when they are about to break rules. If they were once disciplined for insolence and disobedience, they will remember not to cross that line again. So it is with God; the fear of God should steer us away from sin. Restraining ourselves from what would likely be against God’s Ways, reveals that we understand what is required of us. We must repent when we see the error of our ways. Commandments are meant to protect us, just as rules protect children, and laws protect a society from running amok.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left (Proverbs 4).
Make a determination to advance and not regress, in doing better each day. Keep a rein on any inner thoughts that defile your character. Establish yourself in righteous living, and don’t let your guard down. Don’t let the temptation of dissipated living cloud your better judgement. God gives us instruction and wisdom by His Word in Scripture; so that we can live the fulfilling life He intended for us. He is the Giver of Life, Who’s Wisdom is still as time-tested as it was in years past. He knows more about life, as He is The Author of it. Think about how to please Him—this is the fear of God. Don’t succumb to works of darkness; turn away from the paths that lead to sin—this is understanding.
“Our actions and words are first a thought, before acted upon.”
I said, “I will guard my ways. Lest I sin with my tongue, I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me (Psalm 39).”
If you are anything like me, I have trouble restraining myself from telling others precisely how I feel. I have a strong-willed personality and I love to shoot straight from the shoulder. But if I don’t want to look or sound anything like the other person, then I have to decide who I want to be. We have to think about what our words and actions say about us. We can’t blame others for our response. Yes, we are to defend ourselves, if we are threatened. Our adversaries will always want to see if we are capable of holding our own, while under attack. They would like to find something to use against us, especially if we are Christians. Again, we are Christ’s representatives in the world. What we say or do will test our character in The Lord. Guard against impulse, by considering how to respond to opposition, or others who may be difficult to deal with. Our tongue is the most difficult to tame. But we can choose whether we act on our fleshly lusts of rage, anger and vitriol or we let The Spirit of Christ take control of our being.
“The fear of God is the foundation of wisdom.”
There’s much to consider daily about how we act or speak. God is watching and listening and so are others, who are affected by our choices. We should treat others with respect and courtesy. We are what we think of others; biased, hateful, respectful, caring or loving. Our thoughts affect our attitude towards others. They are an open book to God. We should silence anything that is not in line with His Character. We renew our mind by what we put in it. If we add to our thinking God’s Wisdom, we will fear Him enough to please Him. We should not forget to do an introspection and be forward-looking in becoming better, day by day. At the end of the day, we can still lay our heads down with thanksgiving, and put aside anxious thoughts. We are a work in progress; we become less like the world and more like Christ. We should not let Satan take advantage of our emotions. We are to consider what is the acceptable Will of God, and act upon it. A good life is one that has been well lived, and well-thought-out.
“We renew our mind by what we put in it.”
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (Romans 12).
11 Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the earth; 12 both young men and maidens, old men and children, 13 let them praise The Name of The Lord, for His Name alone is exalted. His Glory is above the earth and heaven (Psalm 148).
How we express love and honor for a loved one will differ from others. We love our children more than we love our nieces and nephews; we honor our spouses much differently than our friends or siblings. There are those we love and those we adore. When it comes to our adoration for someone, there’s no question they hold a special place in our lives—our love is unwavering. Regardless of what we go through, we are bound by an unbroken union and steadfast love.
“Adore The One Who Loves you more than anyone else.”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and The Lord has taken away. Blessed be The Name of The Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong (Job 1).
Job was a man who was upright and righteous in his time. He would offer God sacrifices for each of his seven sons after they caroused; peradventure they may have cursed God in their revelry. Satan approached God with a request—challenge Job’s faithfulness to God. He posited that Job was faithful to God, because he was blessed and protected. So God allowed Satan to take away what was dear to Job, but to not lay a hand on him. In one day, Job lost his wealth and children. Yet, he still worshiped God.
God deserves our highest adoration. He gives us our loved ones, forgives us, loves us, and blesses our lives with many good things. This level of adoration we see in Job didn’t come from all the good things God did for him. No. It came from the knowledge of Who God is. Adoration isn’t based on what God does, but Who He is. So whether He gives or takes, it doesn’t change Who God is—He is Love. We don’t adore others because of what they give us, but who they are. We love and respect those who are caring, loving and dependable. But unlike others, God doesn’t make mistakes, or fail us. At best, He is always the same, our Loving Father.
Job understood that apart from God’s Goodness, he was destitute: He didn’t own anything, not even his children; they all belonged to God. God gives and takes away, because it is all His to give as He pleases. So as Job, we are to worship in loss, pain, and sorrow. We should adore God and bless His Name, because He gave, in the first place. He is fully acquainted with every aspect of our lives, because He is the Giver of life, and everything pertaining to it.
In all circumstances, do not sin by complaining. Let God know how hurt and disappointed you are by the trials you face; but do so in reverence and worship. He is the only refuge that will not fail you. So why not worship with the confidence we have in Him? What expectation do you have of God in trying times? He is Loving, Merciful and Faithful. Adore The One Who Loves you more than anyone. He can’t help but be Who He is, and that is why we adore Him. God will not go against His Character. For Job and us, when adversity comes, our loyalty will be tested. Is it God we love more? or people and stuff? Anyone who feels pressed to choose has not fully been convinced of Who God is.
“Adoration isn’t based on what God does, but Who He is.”
10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His Way and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the Commandment of His Lips; I have treasured the Words of His Mouth, more than my necessary food. 13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His Soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him (Job 23).”
Though at times Job felt like he should have never been born to see his fate, disquieted by his suffering, he chose to refocus his attention to a positive outcome. Job’s friends were of little to no comfort. They accused him of bringing misfortune on himself, because they believed he had sinned against God. Job was at a low ebb and had no one; not even his wife offered him solace. He meditated on the perfection of God—His Wisdom and Perfect Will. Job zeroed in on what God was going to do in his life, knowing that God would perform what He desired. Would a Loving God desire to harm us, when we are in the doldrums?
God will refine us in the furnace of affliction. He will remove the dross—the attributes that defile us, if and only if we hang on every Word He instructs us to do. His Words are more valuable than the short-lived pleasures that slightly comfort and then fizzle out. We esteem the words of those we adore as valuable. With our ears perked up, we should tune out all the negative thoughts of our heart and relish every Word God speaks to us. Whatever He has appointed for us, in the place of adversity, He will perform it according to His desire for us. But we must see what we can become in the Hands of our Creator—refined like gold.
21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient times? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, The Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A Just God and A Savior; There is none besides Me. 22 “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I Am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The Word has gone out of My Mouth in righteousness, and shall not return; that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath (Isaiah 45).“
“We esteem the words of those we adore as valuable.”
Bring your case before the Lord because He is Just. Wear your heart on your sleeves, and don’t hold back on how you truly feel. He will listen and will answer in righteousness. He will not answer in anger. He will save those who look to Him for deliverance; He is The Savior. Adore on your knees, before the only True God. Train your tongue to declare your reverence and awe for God, in the good and bad times. Though we may not understand our circumstances, He does. He knows the end from the beginning, and He is unmatched in Power and Wisdom.
Now is a good time as any to adore The Lord. If we can’t adore Him in the trials and afflictions, we will be hard-pressed to do so when things are peachy. When we worship Him in uncertain times, we profess our devotion to Him. He is worthy of the highest praise, because He will not fail us. He gives and takes away; He does what He desires for us according to His Love and Purpose.
Those who adore in pain and afflictions, are those who love God at all times. No matter what happens, we can still trust that His Character will not betray us. God is unmatched in perfection. Rest assured that in every place we set our feet; in every situation we find ourselves, He is Good and worth our adoration. We can choose to adore Him, or cast aspersions on His motives. Loyalty is put to the test in unsettling times—a wilderness place, if you will. Who we listen to during those moments will influence our thinking and attitude. We can choose to be bitter, bewail our inadequacies, or we can cling to God, and be receptive to what He can do. If we adore Him, we will submit to Him, and keep ourselves from the temptation to disobey and sin. Don’t give the Enemy an opportunity to use your trials to create a rift between you and God.
“Now is a good time as any to adore The Lord.”
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His Hand. Today, if you will hear His Voice: 8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work (Psalm 95).“
18 “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull. Restore me, and I will return, for You are The Lord my God. 19 Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth (Jeremiah 31).’
When trying to patch things up with someone we have had a heated disagreement with, we should endeavor to put the past behind us. If we want to move on, we will start by forgiving any past offenses. We take the bold step of fessing up to our own mistakes, by seeking forgiveness. When both parties desire to salvage a relationship, they should only look to the past to address issues and aspire to do better. The hardest part of reconciliation is letting go of the past. We should try to change our negative attributes, to those which will foster a good relationship. God offers us a new beginning with a better relationship with Him.
“Reconciliation engenders a different approach that sustains a relationship.”
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5).
If God was in Christ reconciling us to Himself, He was the one taking the initiative to restore a broken relationship. He is willing to wipe the slate clean, so that we have an unbroken fellowship. Only love can fight to keep a relationship from falling apart. Even after hurt and sorrow, love is willing to see a future of restoration and peace. We were not innocent of our sins. Christ paid the debt we couldn’t pay. God instead, offered up His Son to take our sins upon Himself. We exchange our sinful nature for Christ’s Life and we become a new creation—forgiven and justified. It doesn’t matter how dreadful our past sins were; in Christ the old is gone, and we are made new by His Life in us.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53).
Be reconciled to God and start a new relationship, as one who is in The Son. No one can have a relationship with God, The Father, until they are a child of God. He is an Everlasting Father to The Son, and only in Christ do we become His children. Now all things in our lives become avenues for God, so that our new life is pleasing to God. Our interactions, routines and desires are channels to love God and others.
Reconciliation engenders a different approach that sustains a relationship. The first and difficult step to take is to stop reminding others of their offenses. We should not be dredging up our own past mistakes. We should accept others’ willingness to fess up and apologize. God will not rebuff a humble and contrite longing for change, and reconciliation. Others can not be convinced of A God of Grace, when we are unwilling to show them clemency.
“Only love can fight to keep a relationship from falling apart.”
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His Mercy toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so The Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust(Psalm 103).
God has already forgiven us in Christ, but He wants us to repent. If He has already forgiven, then why would He need us to repent? Repentance is an acknowledgement that we have sinned; we have been rebellious, and are willing to make a clean breast of things, because we love Him. We repent because we want to be reconciled by love and grace. It doesn’t just fall on God to draw us to Himself, as if He owes it to us; it is up to us to want the same relationship He wants—an unbroken relationship, established by an everlasting Covenant. Reconciliation can only be achieved when two agree. If a marriage is on the brink of collapse, yet a husband and wife each desire to mend fences, it will not fail. If they both admit culpability, with a dogged-determination to do better, they will undoubtedly support each other.
Christ will give us the support we need as long as we are earnest to remain one with Him. He understands that we are frail, and bound to keep failing. He is compassionate and merciful to those who love and fear Him. He is An Authority Greater than the government, boss or parent; yet, while He commands respect and honor, He still abounds in Love. He is Holy and Just to repay us according to our deeds. He is not like people who hold on to a grudge, and continue in bitterness. We often want others to get the full brunt of justice for what they do against us. Not so with God; He is abounding in Mercy and prefers leniency for those who repent.
“The hardest part of reconciliation is letting go of the past.”
8 The Lord is Merciful and Gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in Mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103).
You see, mercy and grace give others what they don’t deserve, when they have wronged us. Grace takes away the painful guilt that separates loved ones. Guilt can keep others from reaching out, because they fear the response of the one they have offended. As God remembers our frame—we are weak and imperfect, we should remember to not put too high an expectation of others. They need mercy just as much as we do. Easier said than done, right? God is our avenger; He deals with those who harm us, better than we can. If they want to patch things up, we should put aside any malice or bitterness to revenge, by forgiving them. God doesn’t deal with us according to what we deserve, so we should not take a higher position than His, by withholding mercy.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously; 24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own Body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2).
We were called to follow after the example that Christ set for us: We should not live our lives willfully in sin. Sin puts a rift between us and God. He is not the one who does us wrong, we are the ones who disobey. We should uphold the truth and be willing to suffer to defend it. By submitting ourselves to the overseer of our souls, we should not return evil for evil when others offend us, but we should let God judge them. Finally, we need to be reconciled to God when we sin or wrong others, so that we live righteously before God and our fellow mankind.
Our Lord and God is Merciful; He wants us to return and be made whole in a relationship of love and grace. We must repent and see the error of our ways. If we love Him, we will do whatever is necessary to maintain our union and fellowship with Him. He forgives and forgets the past. He wants to teach us about Himself and His Righteousness, so that we grow in the knowledge of Him and become compatible. Our relationship with God will affect our relationship with others, especially in the area of reconciliation. He has made us one in His Son, Our Lord Jesus, so that we are new in His Likeness. He is our Redeemer, Who calls us to return and be reconciled to Him. Nothing good comes out of guilt; but alienation, sorrow and fear of judgement. He is our hope to an abundant life and one that is lived in peace with Him.
“Grace takes away the painful guilt that separates loved ones.”
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says The Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am Merciful,’ says The Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against The Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ says The Lord. 14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says The Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 And I will give you shepherds according to My Heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3).
When you set your sights on a goal, get the guidance you need and take the necessary steps toward accomplishing it. Have a plan, use the resources you have at your disposal, and get started, before the sands run out. If you linger and ponder long too long, other issues will come up, and you may start to second-guess yourself. Don’t let procrastination keep you in stagnation. Pray for God’s Wisdom to guide your every step, and put your trust in God; your abilities are no match for His. Acknowledge your limitations, do what is in your capacity to accomplish, as you trust God to handle what you can’t control.
“Nothing can hinder us, unless we allow it.”
55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.” 56 And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since The Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.” 57 So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.” 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go (Genesis 24).”
Abraham’s servant went to his master’s country to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. Abraham had assured him that God would send an angel ahead of him to prosper him, so that his servant would return with the woman who would be betrothed to Isaac. Abraham’s servant had sought God to make a way; he asked for a sign to confirm which woman he would bring back to Isaac. Everything worked like clockwork. This is where the passage picks up. Abraham’s servant was convinced that God had shown him favor and he was not going to wait for human confirmation. He worshiped God through every open door and trusted Him at every turn. He was not going to allow Laban, Rebekah’s brother, nor her mother to get the final say.
When God has prospered your way, pull out all the stops to complete what you have begun. He is The One who causes you to advance, so He should not be undermined by naysayers. In the face of opposition, put one foot in front of the other and don’t waver. Rebekah’s brother and mother decided to ask her if she was willing to go with Abraham’s servant. She was unequivocal about her decision to go. Why? Because God had already prepared her for Isaac. God has a way of persuading people and moving them in His direction. Nothing can hinder us, unless we allow it. Like Abraham’s servant we must keep in lockstep with God.
“He worshiped God through every open door and trusted Him at every turn.”
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them (Acts 18).
If we are in God’s Will, doing His Work, we are in good company. He is always with those He has called for His Purpose. He will not forsake us. We should not fear people’s response to us, or their criticism. The Lord commands us, as He did Paul, to stick it out with boldness. He has gone before us and worked out all the details; even enlisted others who He has on standby, to assist us in a pinch. Speak and do what The Lord has ordained you to do. He will manifest Himself through and through, so that no one can stand against Him. Keep a stiff upper lip against opposition, and don’t flee out of fear. Hold firm in God’s Strength, and complete what He began through you.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26).”
Sometimes we have to put the needs of others ahead of ours, as a motivation to go forward, to do something we don’t want to. If it is God’s Will for us, we should put aside our feelings. It is impossible to do God’s Will on our terms. As The Son of God, Christ had to succumb to what His Father had called Him to do—endure The Father’s Judgement, on behalf of the world—an excruciating death on The Cross. Christ was saddled with all the sin of the world; without the human strength to carry it, yet He offered up Himself in obedience, to do God’s Will.
Mercy and Love gave Him the strength to bear all the pain, suffering and sorrow. He had no one to comfort or support Him. His disciples were fast asleep when they should have been praying for Him—when He needed them most. There are burdens that we may carry for others that no one is willing to carry with us. Our loved ones may start off well, with empathy and then they may move on to meet their own needs. We might get exhausted, but we should not give in and quit on those who need us. If we bear them up alone, we must do it in the strength that God gives us. Just as Christ suffered for us, sinners, we should try to give hope to the broken; show mercy, and be patient with those who sap joy and energy out of us. The Holy Spirit must overcome our flesh—our desires and emotions, to keep us from losing ground. We can only do what is right by doing God’s Will. How we feel is often at odds with what God would have us do. Don’t let your feelings override your spirit’s willingness to obey God.
“Don’t let procrastination keep you in stagnation.”
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of The Lord, Who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for The Lord is with you (2 Chronicles 20).”
King Jehosaphat and the people of Judah and Jerusalem heard that the people of Moab and Ammon were saber rattling, to displace them out of their land. God speaking through a prophet gave them clear instructions to go forward and face their enemies. The people of Moab and Ammon would not be fighting against the people of Judah, but against their God, Who had settled them in the land.
You are not where you are by coincidence, as long as you are the child of The Most High God. No one can take what God has rightfully given you, just as He gave the children of Israel the land of Canaan. You must position yourself in prayer and put your confidence in the Commander of Heaven’s Mighty Armies. Stand still in your confidence in God, Who is in the front line. Your enemies have to go through Him first before they can get to you. With optimism and gusto, go out against those who come against you, because the battle is no longer yours but The Lord’s. He is with you and you will not need to fight. Go in the Presence of God, and let Him assure those who oppose you that He is your God and you are His. Don’t be dismayed about what others want to take from you, when God has already given it to you. Go forward with praise and faith in God’s Strength.
“Don’t let your feelings override your spirit’s willingness to obey God.”
Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as The Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran (Genesis 12).
God commanded Abram to leave the place He knew, grew up and was settled in, at seventy-five years of age; to go to a place he had never seen or been before. Are you willing to leave where you are familiar with, to go where God calls you? Abram left his father’s house and set out to the land God would show him, without questioning God. God made Abram a promise; that He would bless him and make him great, while prospering him along the way.
Go and see what God has for you. Don’t be afraid to take risks. If God has a plan for you, it will not be to your detriment. You may have to leave what you are familiar with, to go where you have not been before. Take a leap of faith and surrender your fears to God. It doesn’t matter how old you are; new beginnings have no age limit. Seek and depend on God to orchestrate the next chapter of your life.
14 For as many as are led by The Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received The Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8).
“And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” We have a portion of Abram’s blessings, since we are part of all the families of the earth. This is exciting news! We are blessed through the seed of Abram, The Lord Jesus Christ, Who hailed from the tribe of Judah, and a descendant of Abraham. We are blessed sons and daughters of God, who live through The Son of God. So, leave the world of comforts and its familiarity, and enter into the promise of Eternal Life in Christ Jesus. Forsake your old ways and go to the place where God will show you. The Name, Jesus, is The Greatest Name by which every child of God is called, in the Kingdom of God. Forget your past sin, failures and lifestyle, and be led by The Spirit of God into the place of Eternal Blessings.
There’s a reward for effort, diligence and the commitment to finish well. It may take time to see the fruit of our labor, but one day we will reap the benefits. God has always promised to fight for us as long as we keep advancing in obedience. He is our God and Father, and in Christ Jesus, we have all the promises and blessings to keep us in His Providence. We must put aside our feelings, fears and worldly desires, to gain what God has attained for us. We will suffer for our calling to serve Him, as we care for others along the way. We will also be greeted with opposition.
The Spirit of Christ will bear us up; He is our strength and victory. We must keep going forward, by doing His Will on earth as it is heaven, being willing to leave comfortable and familiar places, and go to where He has called us, into His Kingdom. Life on earth is a wilderness of uncertainties, battles, struggles and hardships, coupled with God’s Presence along the way. We will not need to fight with human abilities, God is giving us the territories that His enemies have occupied. We have Eternal Life in Christ Jesus; we are well endowed to get to the place of Eternal Blessings.
“Speak and do what The Lord has ordained you to do.”
“Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’ 3 Therefore understand today that The Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as The Lord has said to you.
4 “Do not think in your heart, after The Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness The Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that The Lord is driving them out from before you (Deuteronomy 9)”.
Recent Comments