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01/02/12
FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:12 "The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon the land, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.""

Just as God gave a promise to His people that He would care for the land that He had given them, to watch over it and to water it with rain from heaven, He makes promises to us concerning our lives. This wonderful God that we serve promises to finish the things that He starts in our lives. This is the nature of His character, for He is the "Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Revelation 22:13 also tells us that He is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." He commits Himself to be there from the start to the finish. Paul told us that he, himself, was confident of this very thing, that He who had begun a good work in us would perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Right up to the time that Jesus returns, we can be sure that God will never give up on us. Instead, He will continue working on us and developing perfection in us (Philippians 1:6).

This is quite contrary to our habits. As the old year ends and a new one begins, we make our New Year's resolutions. We are bound and determined to make changes in our lives and we are very excited about the new turn that we are going to take. We plan to discipline ourselves in various ways such as exercise, diet, devotionals, or spending more time with the family. But soon into the new year, our plans start falling apart. We can't seem to get it together or to finish what we so adamantly started. What is our answer?

I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast your cares upon Jesus for He cares for you." Just as God cared for His people and their land in the past, He also cares for you. He wants you to succeed in your every effort that is noble in His eyes. He wants you to prosper and be in good health. He knows that exercise, diet, and relationships are important. The Lord truly cares for every aspect of your personal life and He wants to help you keep your resolutions. Psalms 37:5 says, "Commit your ways unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." As you think about those things that you want to change in the New Year, commit them to God and ask Him to help you. Release the struggle and allow Him to take the care of it upon Himself, for He really does care for you. As you lean upon Him, He will impart His strength and virtue into your life. You will not only be able to begin, but you will also be able to finish those things that you committed to do from the very beginning of the year to the end of the year. +++

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01/03/12
NO DEAD ENDS

Scripture: II Corinthians 2:12 "When I came ... a door was opened unto me of the Lord."

God never leads His children down roads that come to a dead end or which have no future. Likewise, He doesn't give us all of the details or blueprints of our life's plan either. He leads us step by step lest we put our trust in the plan instead of in Him. He stands around the bend of the road and whispers softly to us. We have to exercise great faith to make the turn when we can't see any tangible evidence of Him and all that we have to trust in is the whisper of His still small voice. Yet, it is as we come to the end of the road and the end of ourselves that God opens a new path before us. Isaiah 42:16 says, "I will lead the blind by a way that they knew not: I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."

God doesn't open doors in advance. His way of doing things is similar to the automatic doors in the market places. You can stand outside the perimeter of the door's sensor all day and the door will not open. You can watch others come and go as the door opens for them, but the door will never open for you until you get close enough to place your foot on the mat. When the door senses you are there and that you are serious about going in, it will open. Likewise, when God knows that you are serious about going through the door of faith, He will open it for you.

Throughout the scriptures, we see God opening the doors for men as He led them through various situations. For instance, Moses met many seemingly dead-end places, but God was never without a plan. God opened the Red Sea, provided manna, and brought forth water from a rock in order to rescue and provide for Moses and the Israelites. And in Joshua's case, it was only when the soles of the priests' feet stepped into the water that the river Jordan rolled back. God demanded faith on their part before He worked on their behalf. Isaiah 43:19 tells us that "God will do a new thing, something you knew nothing about. He will even make a way in the wilderness." If your mind is telling you that you are facing a dead end, remember that God is still able to open the door. He is not limited. Continue in faith and He will bring light into your darkness, make the crooked way straight, and open the door before you. +++

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01/04/12
BE STILL

Scripture: Psalms 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalms forty-six is a psalm of trust and thanksgiving to God who is our refuge and our strength. This psalm declares again and again that God's presence is always there to help us in times of trouble. It doesn't matter if the Earth is destroyed, the waters are troubled, or the mountains shake and are thrown into the sea, God will still be with us. In the midst of all the turmoil that surrounds us, God speaks to us and says, "Be still." In other words He says, "Cease from your actions. Stop trying to fix the problems that are too big for you to handle. I am with you no matter what." Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper."

Remember when you were a child with a splinter in your foot? No action could be taken to remove it until you stopped kicking and screaming. Your mother knew that you were in pain but she would just wait until you settled down before trying to fix your problem. When you put your faith and trust in her, she was able to gently remove the splinter and resolve your problem. Usually the procedure was quick and not so painful as you had imagined. So it is with God's work in our life. In His sight, your greatest problem is no bigger than a small splinter. While you are running around in a panic, God is sitting on His throne waiting for you to settle down and quietly trust in Him. He is well able to remedy every situation. Your strength is to sit still (Isaiah 30:7).

Emergencies always cause anxieties that make us think that immediate action is necessary. But God says, "Even though everything in your life appears to be like the mountains falling into the sea and the earth disappearing, don't panic." When you encounter overwhelming situations and adversities, step aside from everything and quietly look at God. Take notice that He is still in control. Focus your attention on Him and know that "He is God." There is something about knowing that brings strength to your spirit. God is waiting to speak, but His voice demands that your soul be silent. Let the silence inside of you reach out to Him for help. His still small voice will remove all doubt and fear. Just "be still, come to know that His presence is with you, and know that He is God." +++

Scripture: Micah 7:8 "When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me."

This scripture speaks hope to our heart when we are in distress or in darkness. It deals with the times when we can't help ourselves and it deals with the situations that we can't do anything about. There are times in our lives when we make mistakes and fall. It may be in our finances, relationships, bad decisions, or other areas. We simply make an error in judgment and create massive problems for ourselves. We then find ourselves suffering the consequences of that error. Yet, like a physical fall, we can remedy the situation. We must turn to God, get His wisdom, and follow His directions. It may be a struggle, but we can get back up. If our fall has caused great injury in our lives, it may require a season of healing, but if we are determined, we can make it through the difficult situation and rise above it.

There are other times in our lives when we have no control over the circumstances and no resources to help ourselves. We are in a place of spiritual darkness and can't find our way out. It seems as though the enemy took a brush of black paint and covered the canvas of our heart. Inwardly we can't locate ourselves and outwardly we can't find direction. We sit in darkness and are unable to see any light. Depression, oppression, and discouragement make their presence known because we have no answers and feel hopeless to help ourselves. In this place of darkness, we come to understand that we cannot create light and we realize that we must turn to the Lord, for He is the source of light. We must depend upon Him for deliverance, and allow Him to do the entire work.

It doesn't matter which place you find yourself in today. You may have taken a hard fall or may be sitting in darkness. You may have gone through a season of loss and be dealing with a spirit of hopelessness. Wherever you are, you must be determined to find your way out. The Lord is your answer and He is your hope. God is merciful and full of grace. He will give you the strength to rise above the difficulty and He will shine His light in your darkness. You will be amazed at His deliverance, for nothing is too hard for Him. All you have to do is to call upon Him, for He cares for you. There is no burden that He will not bear for you regardless of how it came about in your life. Decide today to take Micah's words for yourself and boldly declare, "When I fall, I shall arise and when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me." +++

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01/06/12
WHY PRAY?

Scripture: I Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers."

There are many things in life that I do not understand, but I am not going to do without these things just because my understanding is limited. I could not tell you how the engine and all of the parts of an automobile work together, but I still plan to use my vehicle to get me to the places that I need to go. I can't explain the seasons and how the soil, water, and sunlight can make things grow, but I will continue to plant seeds and expect my flowers to bloom. I don't understand computers, televisions, and radios, but I will use them anyway. And don't expect me to sit around in the dark just because I don't understand electricity. It's just not going to happen. I am going to use every tool that is available to me to enrich my physical life.

My thoughts about God and His words are the same. I can't explain God to you and tell you how prayer and obedience to God's words work. There is no reasonable explanation how Moses could stretch out his hand across the Red Sea and cause the waters to divide and the sea to become dry land (Exodus 14:21). Neither can I tell you how Joshua could march around the walls of Jericho for seven days and then give a shout that would make the walls come tumbling down (Joshua 6:20). Their victories came because of their obedience to God. There are many things about Jesus and the things that He did that are unbelievable. He healed the sick, caused the lame to walk, opened blinded eyes, raised the dead, walked on the water, calmed the seas with His word, and fed thousands of people with a meager supply of bread and fish. I can't explain any of these things to you, but I believe that they really happened and are true.

So it is with communication with God. I can't explain how we can live here on Earth and talk to God in Heaven any more than I can explain to you how I can live in Texas and talk on the telephone to someone on the other side of the world. Both are beyond my own comprehension. Indeed, there are people who can explain the phone system and the other natural tools that we use, but no one can explain prayer, for it is supernatural. It is spiritual and simply can not be explained in natural terms. All we know is that when we talk to God, He has promised to hear us and answer our prayers. Don't get me wrong; God is not some sort of cosmic bellhop that we can order around. Neither does He grant our every petition in hopes of receiving a financial tip by our tithes or offerings to the church.

So why should we pray? James 4:2-3 tells us, "You have not because you haven't asked for it ... You receive not when you ask amiss." Let us take these words to heart, and even though we may not understand how prayer works, let us talk to God and present our petitions to Him because we believe what the Apostle Peter said, God listens and His ears are open to our prayers. +++

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Scripture: Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

This scripture makes it very plain where to put your trust when you are facing financial needs and difficulties. It simply says:

You have a very gracious and loving God who has made a very special promise to supply everything that you need. Some interpret this to mean that He will bestow great wealth and every desire, but God is a loving Father and He knows what is best. He doesn't measure wealth in dollars and cents. True wealth doesn't consist of having many possessions, but in having few wants. When we learn to trust Him, we find ourselves content in all things and this contentment brings great rewards.

God supplies according to His riches in glory. He doesn't meet your needs according to your limited supply, your puny paycheck, your meager savings account, or your sparse assets. He meets them according to His limitless supply. He reaches into His riches in glory and supplies you with the blessings that Jesus has purchased for you. Can you imagine what your needs look like when you put them next to God's riches in glory? It's like pouring a cup of water into an ocean. There is no comparison. Proverbs 10:22 tells us that the blessings of the Lord make us rich and add no sorrow. Wealth can't give a lasting happiness, but happiness can bring true wealth to your soul and spirit.

Every need that you face gives you an opportunity to receive. Every difficult and impossible situation that challenges you opens the way for God to do something miraculous in your life. God has shown over and over throughout the scripture that He will supply needs, whether it be providing manna for forty years to four million Israelites in the wilderness, changing water into wine, feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, or taking care of a small sparrow. Nothing is too small for God to consider or too large for Him to handle. He is well able to meet all of your needs, so look to Him as your source. Don't look at your limited supply or get discouraged about what you are unable to do. God will meet your needs according to His supply of riches in glory. +++

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01/10/12
I AM WITH YOU

Where is God in the midst of crises and confusion? The answer to that question is that He is with us. Where can we find Him when the storms of life are raging? He's right there in the same boat that we are in. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We can trust Him to stay close by our side and lead us through the troublesome times, down the hard paths, and through the valleys that harbor the shadows of death and despair. He will never abandon us in the midst of our situation, but will always honor His promises and be accountable to His eternal word.

God is with us as our hope in a hopeless situation. He is our courage in conflict and our fortress and protection in battle. He is our peace in the midst of the raging storm. In His presence, our anxiety yields to His Spirit of peace and our restlessness gives way to His gift of patience. God turns our grief and mourning into comfort and becomes our wisdom as we cease leaning upon our own understanding. He is the love inside of us that flows out to the unlovely and the joy within our spirit that renews our strength. He is the light within us that shines in a darkened world, and His Spirit that works within us causes us to be the hope of His glory.

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01/11/12
THE LORD WILL PERFECT

Scripture: Psalms 138:8 "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me."

Even though David was walking in the midst of trouble, he spoke to the Lord and declared, "You will revive me. You will stretch forth Your mighty hand against my enemies." He trusted God to do something about his situation that he, himself, was not able to do. He didn't rely upon His own strength and ability to fix the problem, but relied on the mighty hand of the Lord to fight his battles. He knew that his God was going to help him and that his God would not quit right in the middle of the situation and leave him hanging. He said, "The Lord will perfect His plans and purposes. The Lord will complete His work."

Like David, many times we find ourselves walking in the midst of trouble, and many things come our way to cause us anxiety and frustration. How wonderful it would be to be able to come to a point of total trust, like David, and know that God is going to complete and make perfect all of the things that are pressing in on us. This place of trust is a place where we stop asking God, "Why?" or "When?" We would cease from fighting our own battles and would just give them to God. We would place our life totally in control of the Holy Spirit and trust God to do something supernatural for us. Our emotions would no longer be in control and thus would not be able to hinder God's work. We would disallow offense of any kind to defuse His plan.

Yet, how often do we really react in this manner? This place of trust seems almost impossible. For when conflict occurs, we usually try to prove ourselves right, explain our motives, defend our actions, and get the last word in. The harder we work at the situation, the more frustrated we get and the more fragmented the relationship becomes. We fail to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. We forget that God is still in control and that He is our defense. He will never forsake us, for we are the work of His hands. The Lord is full of mercy and loving kindness and never ceases to be interested in our concerns. We are blessed when we come to this realization and reach the place of absolute surrender, knowing that God is working everything in the universe together for our good. We can be sure that when He brings it all together, it will be perfected by His mighty power. +++

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01/12/12
THE BURDEN OF THE LORD

Jeremiah was called the "weeping prophet" because he was very sensitive and sympathetic by nature. Yet, this meek man was chosen by God to deliver a strong message of judgment against sin. Those who heard his continual message of judgment could not handle his sobering words, so in mockery they posed the question, "What is the burden or heavy word from the Lord today?" Jeremiah was a man who received the burden from the Lord because he spent time with the Lord.

Burdens only come with familiarity and information. You can never understand someone's burden without being in their presence, listening to their words, and coming to know their needs. You will have no burden for the people whom you’ve never met or whose needs you’ve never heard of. Recently, we've come to share the burden of our nation and to empathize with many people who have suffered losses in the war and other tragedies. As we've been made aware of their losses, our hearts have ached and our spirits have become heavy because of the tremendous burdens upon them. We have witnessed the endless hours and energy of those who have put their own lives in extreme jeopardy for us. They have shed their blood, experienced some area of personal sacrifice, and some have even given their lives.

This is also how it works in God's kingdom. When we go to God in prayer, we take our burdens to Him. We unload all of our problems as the scriptures teach us to do because we know that God cares for us. Yet too often, we do not make this a sharing relationship. In the midst of our petitions and requests for our own needs, we fail to sit silently in God's presence until He makes His desires known to us. Seldom, if ever, do we stop and ask God to share His burdens with us. Our main interest is ourselves, and many times we are far too busy with our own agendas to get a clear vision of God's burden.

If those about us were to ask us the same question that was asked of Jeremiah, "What is the burden of the Lord today," we would have no answers. For God's burden is revealed only as we receive information, and He only shares that information with those who spend time in His presence. True revelation of God's desires will be imparted only as we linger with Him and listen intently to His words. The closer we get to the Lord, the more He will share His heart and the more He will trust us with His concerns. As God shares with us, we will begin to discern His will and the heart of His Spirit. When we receive knowledge of Him and begin to know Him in His fullness we will then understand His burden. When we begin to understand the burden of the Lord, it will demand sacrifice on our part and force us to be selfless and to take action to fulfill His will. +++

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01/13/12
TWO-EDGED SWORD

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

God's inspired Word is quick, powerful, and sharp. These qualities cause it to be able to pierce our hearts and lay open the innermost recesses of our soul. God's Word works within our innermost being in an effort to get us to listen and obey. It makes a clean cut and separates our soul's lust from our spiritual desires just like a surgeon's scalpel separates the joints from the bone marrow. His Word discerns and judges our thoughts and intentions because it communes with our hearts. His Word is "quick" meaning that every word that He speaks out of His mouth actually has life or is a living organism. When God breathed the Word out of His mouth, it became spirit and when we read it, hear it, or speak it, that anointing generates the same life within us.

God's Word is powerful. The entrance of His Word brings light and understanding even to the simple (Psalms 119:30). It opens our spiritual eyes and lets us see ourselves as we measure ourselves against the purity of the holy and eternal. It also causes faith to come (Romans 10:17). When we hear the Word of God, it pierces our heart and cuts away the doubt, destroys unbelief, and then creates faith within us. With God's faith filled words in our hearts, we are able to do the powerful works that Jesus sent us to do. He said that we would be able to speak to the mountains to be removed and cast into the sea. We could also bring healing to the sick and deliverance to those in bondage. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). That is a powerful statement!

God's Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. A two-edged sword is sharp on both sides and is designed to be doubly effective. God's Word is effective as the written Word and also as it is spoken out of our mouths. The Apostle Paul called the Word of God the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17. It is the only offensive weapon that Paul listed when he said, "Put on the whole armor of God" and stand against the devil. God's Word is powerful and eternal. It never returns to Him void but always accomplishes His intentions. When we speak God's words in faith we become the voice of God in the earth and the devil hears and trembles. God's Word is the devil's worst nightmare, for the devil has no defense or immunity against this quick and powerful two-edged sword. Our victories will be obtained as we allow God's Word to penetrate our hearts and as we use His Word to combat the strategies of the devil. +++

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01/16/12
HIS OWN WORDS

Scripture: John 4:39 & 42 "Many of the Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman's testimony" ... "And many more believe because of His own word."

Jesus had spoken to the woman at the well and revealed the hidden secrets of her heart. When she realized that Jesus was the Messiah, she went back to the city and testified to the men that she had met the Christ. Some believed because of her words, yet many more believed when they heard Jesus for themselves. There is something confirming about hearing a conversation first hand because when you are in the presence of the one speaking, you can look into their eyes, which mirrors the truth of their soul. You can watch their facial expressions and determine if they are joyful, sad, bitter, angry, or experiencing some other emotion. You can note their body language and experience the atmosphere that surrounds the words being spoken, which will enable you to discern the spirit of the matter. Even the silence of the moment will speak volumes if you listen intently.

It is quite different when we hear a conversation second hand, for it often genders questions. We may ask, "Was it supposed to be a joke or were they serious when they said that?" "Tell me their exact words again." "Do you think that they really meant that?" "What was the tone of their voice?" It is much easier to judge the facts and intents of any conversation when we hear it with our own ears from the original source. Information gleaned from someone, who heard someone, who had also heard someone, often leads to error. Remember the game that we use to play called "gossip"? Several people lined up and repeated a simple one-line sentence into the ear of the person next to them. As the sentence was passed down the chain, the words gradually changed and by the time the sentence reached the end of the line it was totally distorted. There was a breakdown in communication because people often do not speak or hear accurately. Many times we hear what we want to hear and remember it the way we want to remember it. We take license in our conversations to interpret the words to our advantage.

The woman at the well had a unique and tremendous experience. Jesus spoke directly to her and about herself. He left no stone unturned. Like this woman, we too must allow the Lord to look into the hidden chambers of our heart and expose all of our secrets, regardless of how shameful they may be. It is edifying to hear the testimonies of others but we too should be eager to experience Jesus as a person, look into His eyes, and hear His words with our own ears. Every believer should seek this kind of relationship with the Lord. This is not impossible, for Jesus told us that if we would draw near to Him, He would draw near to us. As we listen to His voice, we will begin to believe and trust in Him because we have personally heard Him speaking His own words. +++

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01/17/12
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S

Scripture: II Chronicles 20:15 "Thus says the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed ... for the battle is not yours, but God's."

Have you ever made these statements to God?

1) God, would you look at what is happening to me?
2) I'm not strong enough to do anything about my situation.
3) Even if I were strong enough, God, I don't know what to do.

These words were part of Jehoshaphat's prayer to God in II Chronicles 20:10-12 when the enemy came against him. When fear gripped his heart, he set himself to seek the Lord. As he prayed to God, he said, "The enemy came to cast us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit."

How many times do you find yourself in the same situation where it seems the devil is trying to take away the very thing that God gave to you? He does his very best to get you out of the will of God and to disinherit you from God's promises for your life. You recognize it as an attack from the enemy, but everything seems to be totally out of your hands. Your battle may be in the area of your health, finances, or relationships, but like Jehoshaphat, you have no might to fight this battle. What do you do? The answer comes in Jehoshaphat's example to us. He said to the Lord, "We have no might to stand against this great multitude. Neither do we know what to do. BUT, OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU." His answer was to keep his eyes on God. As the people of Judah stood before God, the Spirit of the Lord came to answer their prayer. The answer was, "Don't be afraid or dismayed, the battle is not yours, but God's."

I was once in a very difficult situation and felt that I needed to take some action and do something. Anything would have been better than just waiting for God to move. In my desperation, I talked with my son, and he told me to recall the last thing that God spoke to me about the situation. He said, "If God hasn't said anything else about it, then just remain still and wait until He gives further instructions." These few words imparted a wealth of wisdom into my soul that I have never forgotten. The army never goes into battle until the commander speaks, no matter how ready or anxious the soldiers may be. You must remember that God is your commander and chief. Wait upon Him. If you'll keep your eyes on Him in the midst of the battle, He will lead and direct you. Don't worry if you don't have the might to fight because the battle belongs to the Lord! +++

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01/18/12
SECRET PLACE

Scripture: Psalms 91:1-2 "He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust."

Scripture: Matthew 14:30 "But when Peter saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me."

The disciples were crossing the lake when their ship was tossed about by contrary winds. While they were in this dilemma, Jesus came walking towards them on the water. At first the disciples were troubled and afraid. They thought that they were seeing the images of ghosts and spirits. But then Jesus identified Himself and told them not to fear. When Peter realized that he was seeing Jesus walk on the water, he rose up in faith and said, "Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You." And Jesus said, "Come." However, the faith that worked for Peter and caused him to have the courage to step out of the boat and walk on the water soon faded in the light of the situation. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the winds and the waves, his faith failed and he began to sink. In fear, he cried to the Lord for help and Jesus immediately stretched forth His hand, caught Peter, and walked him back to the boat.

This story shows us how easy it is to start out in faith and then have our faith fail along the way. It is a snapshot of us walking on the water and then sinking in that same water. The circumstances have not changed. It is the same water, same winds, and same waves that we started out in. The only thing that has changed is the way we view them. When we started out in faith, our eyes were upon Jesus. We saw Him and were convinced of what He could and would help us do. We weren't looking at the waves and the contrary winds. Our vision was fresh because our eyes were focused upon Jesus, and it was easy to obey because the words that He spoke to us were clear in our spirit.

Many times, however, when we start our journey towards God's promise, we encounter difficulties. We find that staying in faith is not always easy and that walking on the water can be a real challenge. It just takes a few winds of adversity to discourage us, and some strong waves to cause us to fear. The devil does all that he can to divert our attention so that he can eliminate our faith. His goal is to kill, steal, and destroy. The difficulties and distractions that he brings usually cause us to take our eyes off Jesus and His word. When we begin to focus on the immediate adversities, we begin to experience failure. Notice that Peter did not sink. He only began to sink. When He cried out to the Lord, the Lord saved him.

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01/20/12
FACING GIANTS

Scripture: Numbers 14:24 "But My servant, Caleb, because he has another spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land into which he went; and his descendants shall possess it."

Numbers 13:22 tells of three physical giants that the children of Israel would have to face before they could possess the land that God had promised them. Their names were Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai. Yet, these giants were not the real problems of the Israelites. The main issue was in the thoughts of their own minds and the unbelief in their own hearts. When they focused on these inner giants rather than the promises of God, they allowed themselves to become discouraged and saw themselves as grasshoppers in relation to the size of the actual giants that were in the land.

Just as the Israelites faced giants, there will be giants that you must overcome to be able to do the will of God and fulfill His purposes. Caleb overcame because "he had another spirit within him and followed God fully." Likewise, it is the Spirit of God that will enable you to rise up and defeat the giants that come against you. Caleb made three statements of faith that enabled him to overcome the inner and physical giants of his life.

First, Caleb said, "Let us go up at once." He rejected the temptation to procrastinate. He made a mental decision to do something right then. The Bible says faith is NOW. If it is not now faith, it is not faith at all. If it is future, it is hope. Stop and think of plans that you have made that were never fulfilled because you did not start them "at once." Procrastination is a giant in your life that will steal God's promise for your future.

Second, Caleb said, "Let us possess it." He was ready to take physical action in order to possess the land that God had promised. He knew that he had a responsibility in receiving the promise. You must also rise up and fight the battle that is between you and the promise that God has given you. You must possess it. Faith requires action, for faith without works is dead.

Finally Caleb said, "We are well able to overcome it." He had faith in God's word and trusted who God was. He believed that they could do what God had told them to do. God had told them to be of good courage and take the land. Caleb's faith was in the same God who had delivered them from Egypt by many signs and miracles. He felt certain that God was able to perform His word and fulfill His promise. To possess your promise, you must be of good courage and show this same kind of faith and trust in God.

God hears your words! Caleb made these three statements of faith in the ears of God and the people.  In this same story in Numbers 14:28 God says, "As truly as I live, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you."  Words have power! Except for Joshua and Caleb, all of Israel who were over the age of twenty died in the wilderness because of their unbelief and faithless words.  Joshua and Caleb were spared and were able to enter the Promised Land because they had another spirit.  They possessed faith and spoke words into God's ear that caused Him to respond to them. Do you want to achieve what God has promised? If so, determine today that you will make these same statements of faith that Caleb made to go forward, possess, and overcome so that you can receive God's promise for your life. +++

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01/23/12
CONSIDER THE LILIES

Scripture: Matthew 6:28 "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin."

God doesn't condemn us for making necessary preparations for the future, but He does tell us not to be overly concerned, worried, or unsettled in our minds. In verse twenty-five, Jesus says, "Take no thought about tomorrow." Taking a thought means choosing to receive doubt into your mind that causes you to be anxious and fretful. Jesus said, "Consider the lilies of the field and learn how they grow." They have three things going for them:
They have a FATHER that knows what they need - (vs. 32).
They have FAITH - (Vs. 30).
They have hope for the FUTURE - they trust God to take care of tomorrow - (Vs. 34).

Again, Jesus said, "God's lilies do not toil or spin." Toil means to work hard until you are fatigued, labor until you are weary, or reduce your strength through pain and trouble. Verse twenty-seven in the Message Bible reads, "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?" You can't make yourself grow one inch regardless of how much thought you give to the matter. Your growth is in God's hands. So it is with your future provisions. Worrying about your finances will not bring them in. You must depend upon God to meet your needs.

Notice the word says, "God clothes the lilies." It's impossible for humans to clothe the lilies and give them beauty. The most beautiful silk flowers that man can make cannot compare to the majesty of the lilies that God clothes. Neither do the lilies themselves work at becoming beautiful. They simply draw their strength from the soil, sun, air, and rain. God alone gives them life and creates their beauty. You can toil and fret about the future until you are weary and without strength, but that is not God's will for you. In this same story, in the gospel of Luke 12:29, Jesus said, "Don't be doubtful - tossed up and down between hope and fear" (Amplified). God's will is that you stop fretting about material things and begin to "seek His kingdom first." Then, as you seek His kingdom, all the things that you have need of will be added to you (Verse 31). You are to put God first, and let everything else take second place as you search for Him. Don't worry over your future, but consider the lilies of the field. If your Father cares enough to take care of them, He will certainly take care of you. +++

Scripture: Exodus 6:9 "Moses spoke to the Israelites; but they would not listen to him because of their broken spirit and cruel bondage."

God made many promises to the Israelites and when they cried out to Him, He remembered the covenant that He had established with them through Abraham. When God saw the pain of His people, His heart turned towards them and He sent Moses to deliver them from the heavy burdens and bondage of the Egyptians. God's plan was to bring them into the land that He had promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their inheritance was to be a land of joy, freedom, and plenty. However, they couldn't receive this word because their spirits had been broken by the cruel bondage, which had been placed upon them by the Egyptians whom they had served for four hundred years.

Memories can become definite strongholds of bondage. Consider the elephant at the circus. When the elephant is young and has little strength, the workers chain one of its legs to a rod in the ground. By doing so, they condition the elephant's mind to believe that it is unable to break away from the chain. All of its life, the elephant pulls mighty burdens and does great work in setting up the circus. It has enormous strength, yet when it is restrained by its master's chain, it loses that strength. Because of the past, the elephant doesn't recognize its own ability to break loose from the small chain that holds it in bondage. It remembers that in the past it could not break free so it is held captive by the imaginations of its own mind.

Today, you may have some sort of Egyptian in your life. Disappointments and painful experiences of the past may have made it difficult for you to believe for a better future. All that you can envision is failure because your spirit is bound by these insignificant memories. Feelings of rejection may conflict with your hopes of acceptance and the chains of a broken spirit may be causing your future to look hopelessly bleak. You may feel helpless, as your heart seems incapable of taking hold of any of God's promises. Your faith is lacking and near void because you are held to the memories of a cruel past. Maybe it's a father you never knew, a mother who passed away, a child who was taken from you, a failed marriage, or a situation of abuse.

Whatever your cruel bondage, Jesus is anointed to set you free. He came to this earth so that you might have life and have it more abundantly. He hears your cries and remembers His covenant with you. He wants to break the chains of the past that hold you and tear down the walls that surround you. While the chains may be strong in your mind, in reality they are weak compared to the Spirit of God that resides within you. You must recognize the weakness of these chains and trust God to set you free. Through the power of His Blood, His Name, and His Word, the chains that have held you in cruel bondage can be broken and you can be free. +++

Scripture: I Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) " ... We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."

So many times we fall into the trap that the Apostle Paul is speaking of in this scripture. Instead of just abiding and flowing in the ministry that God put in our hearts, we find ourselves following after other influences. Because of the uncertain voices that speak to us, we become unsure of our own personal mandate from God and the abilities that He has placed within us to accomplish His call. If we are not discerning and wise, we end up trying to please men rather than God.

Some tell us that our vision is too small, while others say that we have set our aim too high. Some say that we need to handle our affairs this way and others disagree. The opinions of others can become confusing and intimidating. They may even destroy our decision, which was originally based upon God's direction for our lives. Charles Swindoll makes a profound statement in his book "The Grace Awakening." He says, "Those who seek to please God only are invincible from within. Not only that, but when we stop striving to please people, we are also unintimidated from without." Seeking to please God sets us free in both areas, from the judgment of others and our own self-condemnation. When we are truly making an effort to please God, no voice can penetrate His grace that is upon our lives. When our heart is right before God, it is not condemned even in the midst of failure and gives no heed to the accusing voices that surround it.

Life is a process and a journey through time where lasting memories are created. Like any other journey, the highway of life that we travel climbs the hills and passes through the valleys. Sometimes it takes us to the top of the mountains where there is much joy and at other times it circles and overlooks deep dark canyons where fear prevails. This journey takes us across the rivers, near the oceans, and through the desert places. Each mile we travel is different and unpredictable. There are sudden detours that take us down unfamiliar paths and challenging circumstances all along the way that we must face. Often, we are unable to clearly read the signs and temptations that try to lure us into exiting from God's highway of holiness.

Throughout this journey, we must remember that God is in control and that He is "establishing our goings." David said, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalms 37:23). And Proverbs 16:9 tells us that a man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. We choose our route, but our lives remain in the hands of a sovereign God. When we make Him the Lord of our life and seek to do His will, we put Him in the driver's seat. That means He has the authority to take us down the good roads and sometimes down the roads that seem bad. But we must trust God's divine wisdom and direction for we know that all things will work together for good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

We have chosen God's highway of holiness, but many of us are driving "clunkers." We have no joy, no peace, and no rest. His burden has become heavy and we are road weary and uncomfortable. We haven't learned that joy is the journey, not our destination. The joy of the Lord must be our companion if we are to continue in strength and complete our course. Joy is a choice that we make and comes into being when we totally surrender everything to God. When the psalmist was in the midst of adversity he declared, "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). Regardless of his circumstances, he made a conscious decision to be joyful. As you travel today's journey, choose joy as your companion. The road before you will be brighter and your load will be lighter. +++

Scripture: Luke 8:25 "What manner of Man is this! For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him."

The disciples were crossing the lake at Jesus' command when they encountered a fierce storm. In the midst of this situation, they cried out to the Lord and He spoke peace to the storm. Even though the disciples were expecting Jesus to deliver them, they were still overwhelmed by the miracle that He performed. For with a few words, He calmed the winds and the waters. The question then entered their minds, "What manner of Man is this?" What kind of man can be asleep one minute and then have dominion over the elements of nature the next minute? What kind of man can speak to the winds or command the waters and bring them into subjection to His will? What kind of man has authority over the storms of life? Upon seeing this powerful display, the disciples recognized that they were in the presence of someone who was filled with the supernatural power of God and they worshiped Him.

The storms in our lives are frightening, but like the storms in the lives of the disciples, our personal spiritual storms also create spiritual growth. It is in the storms of life that our prayers become more intense, for we realize that the Lord is our only help. It is in the midst of the storms that our faith is tried and tested as we are taken beyond our previous level of faith. We may grow tired and weary as we struggle against the winds of adversity and the waves of uncertainty, but in the end, the struggle of the storm will be the thing that strengthens us. In the storms of life, we discover that Jesus is never far from our dilemma and is always ready to come to our rescue. We learn that He is with us in the boat and that He is all that we need. We come to know that He understands all of the issues that we are dealing with, even our fears and lack of faith. In the storms we experience His mighty power as His words bring peace to our greatest challenge.

You may have found yourself floundering around on the sea of life because you have not allowed Jesus to be the captain of your soul. It may seem to you that the Lord is asleep on the boat while you are struggling against your own personal storm. Like the disciples, you may be asking Jesus, "Do You care that I am about to perish?" Jesus knows just how much you can bear. When you are at the end of your faith, He will come and strengthen you. When you are being sifted like wheat, He will pray for you.

The Lord of your life is never far from your dilemma. His words of "Peace be still" will work today. He is able to bring hope into every hopeless situation and peace into every storm. He can speak one word of healing and drive out all of the sickness in your body. He can command that life dispel the spirit of death. He can cause you to prosper by dismissing poverty from your life. Everything in life and death must submit to God's will and obey His words. Jesus has your answer, but you must call out to Him. Your voice of prayer will invoke the Lord's voice of power and authority and He will come to your rescue. He will calm your greatest storms and cause every wave of adversity to cease in your life. That is the manner of this man named Jesus. +++

01/30/12
PRAISE PREPARES THE WAY

Scripture: Psalms 50:23 (NIV) "He who sacrifices praise honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Praise is a mighty force. It is not only an expression of our faith but also a spiritual weapon that can be used against the enemy of our soul. When we praise God in the midst of our adversity, we are declaring our trust in Him. Our praise demonstrates our total confidence in God's ability and wisdom. It also confirms our submission to His will. When we give praises to God, we are also informing the devil that we believe in God and know that He is still in control regardless of the outcome of our situation. Like Job, our praise declares, "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him." Everything in our life doesn't have to be perfect for us to praise God. Many times we have to offer up a sacrifice of praise and give thanks to God regardless of our circumstances, for praise is the force that will open the windows of Heaven and allow God to work in our lives. The psalmist said that when we honor God with praise and thanksgiving, we are preparing the way for Him to show us salvation. Like the Israelites, God will not intervene and bring deliverance in our situation until we quit murmuring, enter into His rest, and give Him praise.

Throughout the scriptures many deliverances occurred when praises were being exhibited. When Paul and Silas sang and praised God at the midnight hour, the prison doors were opened, and they were set free. When Jehoshaphat's army praised God on the battlefield, God sent ambushments against the enemy and the enemy destroyed themselves (II Chronicles 20:22). In Matthew 15:25, a woman worshipped and praised Jesus and her daughter was delivered of demons. Also, there was a ruler who worshipped Jesus and his daughter was raised from the dead. Praise prepared the way for God to bring deliverance in these situations.

We were created in God's imagine and His nature is within us. We understand how hard it is to deny our own children's request when they are expressing their love and adoration for us. So it is with our Heavenly Father's thoughts towards us. Praise speaks volumes to the heart of God and draws His attention to us and our situation. Our praise is a declaration of our faith and when He sees our worship and hears our praise, He reacts. The Word of God says that we always reap what we sow. When we are in lack and sow praise regardless of our need, we are telling God that we believe in His provision and He allows us to reap His bountiful supply. When we sow praise while our lives are in turmoil, peace begins to prevail because we are focusing upon God instead of the confusion. When we sow praise in the midst of adversity, the forces of Hell must give way to deliverance.

You may be facing extreme circumstances and it may truly be a sacrifice for you to give praise and thanksgiving in your current situation. Yet deliverance is available and the choice is yours. Are you going to use your voice of praise to prepare the way for your salvation? +++

Daniel was taken captive as a youth and brought to Babylon. He spent the rest of his life there as a governmental official and as a prophet of God. Daniel may not have wanted to be in captivity in a strange land, but he did not allow his emotions and own desires to dictate his behavior. Instead, he walked in integrity and wisdom and allowed God to work in his life in a mighty way. God honored Daniel and revealed His secrets to him and even gave him the solutions to the king's problems.

There was a spirit of excellence in Daniel and throughout all of his days he remained faithful and uncompromising before God. He purposed that he would not defile himself with the king's food and when a decree went out that no one was to petition any God except the king, Daniel continued to pray and commune with God. Daniel never tried to hide in secret or pray silently. Instead, three times a day, he knelt and made his prayers to God. He prayed before an open window where everyone could see even though he knew that this act would cause him much trouble. Because of Daniel's commitment to prayer, he was put into a den with the lions, but God delivered him.

Daniel knew that prayer was an essential ingredient of life for it is there that answers come and secrets are revealed. We need to be more like Daniel in our prayer life. But sadly, many times our lives are too full and too busy. We can't find the time to pray, much less pray three times a day. The result is that we complicate our lives and frustrate our emotions by not allowing God the time to reveal His solutions to us.

You may be hurting right now and in a valley of confusion concerning the many questions that you have in your mind. Your life may be spinning out of control as you face desperate situations. Yet, be encouraged for there is one thing that you can know for sure and that is that the same God that Daniel served is with you. It doesn't matter if you need direction, confirmation about a decision, financial help, or the answer to any other mystery. God has the answer. The Lord wants you to seek Him out. He wants to listen to you and hear all about your problem. Then, He wants you to listen to what He has to say about your situation, for Isaiah 11:9 says that the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and counsel are upon the Lord. God is a God that reveals secrets and He wants to reveal His answers and solutions to you but you must be ready and listen as He whispers. +++