Jan23

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A Word In Due Season
January 2023

01/02/23

NEW YEAR’S BLESSING

Scripture: Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you .... "

There are people in many nations who receive A Word In Due Season each day. I thank all of you for your personal responses and for trusting us with your prayer request. I wish that I could offer each of you a gift during this season when people exchange gifts with their friends, but that is nearly impossible. So, I am coming to you as always with a Word In Due Season. As we begin a New Year, I am speaking a blessing over your personal life that is found in God's Word. Since I do not have each of your names, I ask you to put your personal name in this blessing each time it says "You." I also encourage you to print this blessing and then put it in several places as a reminder that a blessing has been and will be spoken over you throughout the year. You can put a copy of this blessing in your wallet, on your desk or your mirror, or use it as bookmark in your Bible. But wherever you choose to place it, please make sure to speak these words aloud several times a day.

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26

When you speak these Words, which are God’s Words, you are speaking God's blessing over your life and God declared that His Word would never return unto Him void. He said that His Words would accomplish what He sent them forth to do. God's Word is powerful, and His voice is creative. When God spoke in the past, the light appeared and His creations came into existence. Everything happened as a result of His spoken Word. Now the angels hearken to the voice of His Word (Psalms 103:20). They are diligent to listen and when they hear God's Word being spoken, they make haste to fulfill it. You have a part in the angel's assignment and a responsibility for your own destiny. You activate the Word of God by your declaration of it. The Lord loves you and He honors His Word, so speak it continually and His blessings will come upon you and you will find peace. +++

1/3/23
NEVER EARLY - NEVER LATE

Scripture: Psalms 31:15 "My times are in Your hand."

King David trusted and relied upon the Lord, for he had seen God come through for him many times in his life. He knew very well what it meant to put all of his confidence in God and allow Him to guide His footsteps. There were times when God allowed David to kill a bear or a lion and to fight the giant. There were times that God spoke to David to go into battle and to chase down his enemy and recover his family and goods that the enemy had taken. But there were also other times that God told David not to fight but to just stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. On all of these occasions, David was confident that his life was in God's hands and also in God's timing whether he was engaged in battle or allowing God to fight the battle for him.

How assuring it is when we discover that our times are in God's hands. I was in a big hurry as I drove down the street one day and I could see that the traffic light ahead was red. I anxiously sighed a big sigh and wished for the light to turn green before I got there, which it did, bu because the traffic was proceeding very slowly, enough time expired for the light to turn back to red before I reached it. As I began to fret again about the light, I thought, "Why am I worrying about the light when I am not even there yet?" I did not need the light to be green until it was my turn to go through the intersection. I came to the conclusion that I should just be patient and proceed forward in joy. Like David, I needed to put my times into God's hands and trust that the light would be green when it was time for me to go through.

We are like this many times in life's situations. When God begins to stir our spirit in preparation for change in our life, we become anxious. We want to know that the road ahead is clear of obstacles and we want to see the green light. Yet often the light may change to red on the pathway to our future. The door to our destiny may be closed for a moment while God prepares our heart and keeps us until His perfect timing is ready. His delay causes us to fret, but in reality, we are not even near the intersection of our dreams. We have a long way to go, for God is still maturing us and equipping us for the task ahead. We want to take immediate action, but God does not want us running the shoulder of the road so that we can pass all of the cars that are ahead of us. Hastiness will only create a bad situation.

God wants us to trust Him and to understand that He is never early and He is never late. The Lords always right on time and you can be sure that your times are in His hands. Be encouraged. God will open the door to your destiny in His timing and turn the light green at the appropriate time. +++

1/4/23
ACTIONS ARE LOUDER THAN WORDS

Scripture: Matthew 21:31 "Which of the two did the will of the Father?"

There is a story about three frogs who were sitting on a log over a pond, discussing whether or not to jump into the pond. Finally one frog said, "I've decided to jump." According to this statement, how many frogs were left sitting on the log? The answer is three! Even though the one frog made the decision and verbal commitment to jump, he never followed through with any action. He continued to sit on the log with the other two frogs, never accomplishing his goal.

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells a similar story about a man who had two sons. He asked the first son to work in his vineyard, who refused by saying, "I will not." Later, that son repented and went to the vineyard and worked for his father. Likewise, the father asked the second son to work in his vineyard. The second son answered and said, "I will go, sir," but he never followed through with his commitment. Jesus then questioned the disciples about which son had done the will of the father. The answer is obvious. The son who acted upon the request of the father is the one who actually did his father's will, not the one who just verbally agreed with it.

It is not what you say you are going to do – it is what you actually do that counts with God. The decision to act gets you only half way there. God is interested in the final results. James 2:17 tells us that if faith does not have corresponding works and acts of obedience to back it up, it is destitute of power and dead. Anyone can make a verbal commitment to do God's will, but that statement is dead without actual performance.

In John 6:38 Jesus said," I came down from Heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." Even though Jesus prayed in agony three times and asked the Father to allow the cup of suffering to pass from Him, He still submitted Himself to God's will. He said, "Never the less, Thy will be done." He made a decision and a verbal commitment to respond to God's will and then followed through with actions. He could have called ten thousand angels to come to His rescue at any time. Instead, Jesus followed His Father's will to the end by giving His own life on the cross, thus completing God's redemptive plan. Jesus' actions spoke louder than His words. Think about His commitment and sacrifice and then ask yourself if your own actions are as loud as your words. +++

1/5/23
BREAKING FREE FROM BONDAGE

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 could not receive this word because their spirits had been broken by the cruel bondage 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 does not 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. Jesus 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 the Lord 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. +++

1/6/23
BEFORE THE DAY

Scripture: Mark 1:35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, Jesus went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there He prayed."

Giving God the first part of the day is like giving the tithe of your income. In both situations in some miraculous way, God takes what you give to Him, then He blesses it and returns it to you. What you have left in terms of money or minutes is supernaturally stretched and multiplied by His mighty power. God rebukes the devourer for your sake and your abundance cannot be explained.

Jesus, Himself, arose a great while before the day began and went to a solitary place to pray. He showed us that being alone with God and giving Him the first portion of the day was important. If the Son of God felt that it was important to seek the Father before He started His day, shouldn't we? There is a secret in this special time of communion, for it is in the quiet hours of the early morning that we gain strength for our entire day. We start our physical day with nourishment and should do no less in nurturing our spirit.

King David was a man after God's own heart. And like Jesus, David also knew the secret of having communion with God before the day began. In Psalms 143:8, He spoke very clear words to God. David said,

“Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning,
for in You do I trust.
Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk,
for I lift up my soul to You."

In these few lines David made a very definite request. He wanted to hear about God's unfailing love for him every morning and he wanted God to show him where to walk that day.

These words could also become a daily prayer for you before you start your day. Find a solitary place as Jesus did and spend a few moments with the Lord. As you wait on God, He will renew your strength. You will mount up with wings as the eagles and you will find yourself running without growing weary. In the quietness of His presence, He will fill you with His Spirit and give you clear directions for the day. +++

1/9/23
BE OF GOOD CHEER

Scripture: John 16:33 "In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Sometimes we think that because we are Christians we should live in a bubble of protection and be able to live a life of ease. But Jesus says, "This is not so." He said there would always be tribulations and difficulties in this world. A lady once asked a minister to pray that she would have no problems and that the devil would not be able to attack her in any way. The minister then began to pray for her, asking God to take her to Heaven immediately. The lady stopped him and said, "I don't want to die, I just want to be free of problems." The minister then explained that the only way to be totally free from tribulations would to be to enter the gates of Heaven, for it is only there that all of our trials are ended and our tears are wiped away.

Even though we are destined to experience difficulties in this world, Jesus told us to be cheerful and to understand that He is in control. He has overcome all of the forces of evil. It is a finished work. He speaks these encouraging words to us in advance to prepare us and give us strength so that we may be able to maintain our inner peace. When conflicts come, we can be assured that Jesus has a plan and we can rest in the fact that all things are going to work out for our good.

Acts 14:22 tells us that just a few days after the Apostle Paul had been stoned and left for dead, he exhorted the people to continue in faith, saying that we must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God. Paul's encouraging words to endure tribulations were not empty words spoken by a man who had not experienced difficulty. If I had been stoned and left for dead, I would probably tell you to run and hide when you were faced with the same adversity. Yet, Paul told us to "glory in tribulations" because by the time they are finished we will have gained several qualities (Romans 5:3-5). Those new gained qualities are that tribulations will work patience. Patience will work experience or prove our character. Experience will develop hope, and hope will cause the love of God to be shed abroad in our hearts. The Message Bible says it another way. When the tribulation is finished, "We're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary -- we can't round up enough containers to hold everything that God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" So when tribulations come, and they will, be cheerful knowing that Jesus has overcome. +++

1/10/23
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 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 problem. The main issue with the Israelites were the thoughts in 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. They begin to see 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. +++

1/11/23
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."

Psalms 91 gives us many promises of protection and deliverance. It tells us not to fear because God will deliver us from the snares, pestilence, and plagues of this life. It also speaks of the authority that we have to tread upon the evil that comes against our lives. This Psalm sounds like a great insurance policy listing all of the benefits. Yet, just as any insurance company requires you to sign on the dotted line and pay your premium before you are eligible to receive the benefits, so it is with the benefits of this Psalm. All of the promises stated depend upon whether or not you do the things listed in the first two verses. First, you must dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and second, you must put your trust in God who is your refuge and fortress.

What is the secret place? Psalms 31:19-20 says that those that fear and trust the Lord will be hidden in the "secret of His presence." The secret place of the Most High is simply His presence. When you are in someone's presence, you are in their shadow and close enough for them to handle any situation that comes against you. God wants to keep you just as close to Him as you would keep your own children in the public or places of danger. You make sure they are next to you or in your shadow so that you can protect them from every danger. Your children's safety is your main interest and God's concern for you is the same.

Dwelling in a place means that you spend most of your time there. It is a place where you keep your things and store your treasures. When you dwell in God's presence, you spend time with Him, consuming His Word, and communing with Him. As you dwell in His presence, you begin to complete the terms of this Psalm and you show God that He is your treasure. You begin to nourish yourself with the concepts of who God really is. As you come to know and recognize Him as the self-existent and eternal Jehovah, He becomes your refuge, your fortress, and your hope in all danger. As you begin to set your love upon Him and place your total confidence and trust in Him, verse 14-16 declares that He will complete the terms of His contract. He will be with you in trouble and He will deliver you. He will honor you and satisfy you with long life. He will show you His salvation. These are tremendous benefits. You are God's child and He loves you, so trust Him and take time to find the secret of His presence. +++

1/12/23
THE BURDEN OF THE LORD

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:33 "What is the burden of the Lord?"

The Prophet 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. Jeremiah was a man who received the burden from the Lord because he spent time with the Lord. 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?"

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 have never met or whose needs you have never heard of. Recently, we have come to share the burdens and to empathize with many people who have suffered losses in war and other tragedies. As we have been made aware of their losses, our hearts have ached and our spirits have become heavy because of their tremendous burdens. We have witnessed the endless hours and energy of those who have put their own lives in extreme jeopardy to protect 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 in 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. +++

1/13/23
SHIELD OF FAITH

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16 "Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked."

God provides us with great spiritual armor that enables us to stand against all the strategies of the devil. This armor is not just to be displayed on a shelf, but is to be used continually in our battle against the principalities and powers of wickedness. We are to keep this armor on in the good times as well as the bad times, so that we are not taken off guard when evil attempts to surprise us. Every piece of the armor is vital, but when Paul listed them, he said, "Above all, take the shield of faith." Above all the other pieces of armor, we are to take the shield of faith because it is held in the forefront and helps protect the other pieces of armor. It also protects any area that the armor itself might not cover.

This word "shield" in the Greek in this particular situation is interpreted as "door or gate" or "entrance, which opens and closes." Our faith or shield of faith has the ability to open or close the door to the forces of evil. Doubt, fear, and unbelief will always challenge us and we can either allow these fiery darts to afflict our spirits and soul or we can stand against them in faith. We can stand behind our shield of faith in integrity or open the door and allow the enemy to penetrate and destroy our principles. We can hold to our faith in truth and refuse to discuss the "ifs" and "cans" of God's will and His ability or we can let our shield down and be drawn into a damming conversation with the devil who is the father of all lies. When we lift up our shield of faith and determine to stand concerning the things that we believe, the water of God's Word will quench the fiery darts that come against us.

In I Kings 22:29-37 there is a story about King Ahab who was in battle against the King of Syria. Verse thirty-four says that King Ahab was killed because a certain man drew a bow at venture, without taking specific aim, and the arrow hit in the area where the king's armor was divided. This was just a small unprotected place in his armor, yet it yielded death to the king. King Ahab probably never thought too much about this insignificant place, but had his shield been lifted up, it would have protected this open area in his armor and saved him from destruction.
Like this story, the enemy of our soul goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. All he needs is one small vulnerable place in our spiritual armor that will allow him to cause havoc in our lives. When he finds it, he aims a fiery dart. The results of his efforts are up to us, for the damage of his attack will depend upon whether or not our shield of faith is between us and him. So above all, let us lift up the shield of faith. +++

1/16/23

POSSESSING GOD'S PROMISE

Scripture: Numbers 13:30 "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it: for we are well able to overcome it."

God told Moses and the Israelites that He would lead them out of Egypt into a good land. He also told them that they would have to make an effort to receive this promise. They would have to face the giants, drive out the inhabitants, and possess the land. Caleb was one of the twelve men who was sent to search out this land of promise. He and Joshua came back full of faith and with a good report, while the other ten men voiced an evil report. Although Joshua and Caleb wanted to go up immediately and possess the land, they were held back by the unbelief of the majority.

The ten men who had returned with an evil report were distracted by the giants in the land. When they saw the giants, they began to see themselves as grasshoppers, and knew that they were viewed in the same manner by the giants. These distractions led to deception and caused them to lose faith. They began to murmur against Moses and Aaron and eventually blamed God for their serious circumstances. They accused God of leading them into the wilderness so that they could be killed. Because they focused on the distractions and allowed themselves to be deceived, they became discouraged and said, " We wish we had died in Egypt or even in this wilderness" (Numbers 14:2). They became totally disillusioned and no longer wanted God's plan or the Promised Land. They wanted to return to Egypt and the bondage that they had left behind (Numbers 14:4).

This is one of the devil's strategies as he leads us down a trail to the place of defeat. He uses distractions to take us into deception. In deception, we have no clear understanding about God or His will. We have no discernment about the problem or the solution. We become totally confused mentally and spiritually disoriented. The devil then begins to discourage us until he brings us to the place of disillusionment. He works his plan, one step at a time, to keep us from possessing the promises of God. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." So keep in mind the devil’s weapons of destruction, which are distractions, deception, lack of discernment, disorientation, discouragement, and disillusionment.

Our hope to possess God’s best for our lives is to follow Caleb's example. When God gives a promise to us, we must make the decision to possess that promise and refuse to focus on the problems or the giants. Whatever the challenge, we must not fear but seek to secure the promise at once, for the Lord will help us to possess and make us more than conquerors. +++

1/17/23
LIFE, BREATH, AND ALL THINGS

Scripture: Acts 17:25 "He gives to all life, and breath, and all things."

Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. This does not mean that He will make every one of us rich in earthly goods or cause us all to be famous. It also does not mean that we will all experience excellent health or exceed in wisdom. Instead, it means that our individual lives have the potential to be fulfilling and that we all have the same opportunity for the joy of the Lord to overflow in our souls. Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us that God sets before us life and death and then instructs us to choose life. Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. So we must understand that even our words create and destroy life and that the outcome of our lives depend upon our own attitudes and the choices that we make.

Our life, our breath, and everything that we have came from God, for He created the world and everything that is in it. Every breath that we take is because He breathes life into us. Every drop of blood that our hearts pumps is because He causes the pressures within the heart and arteries to make it happen. Every step that we take is because He gives us mobility. Everything that our hands are able to grasp is because of the strength that God imparts. Every thought that we think is because He has provided us with a brain and a logical mind. Everything that we see is because of the eyes that He has furnished. Every sound that we are able to hear is because He has given us ears and opened our hearing. Every ounce of life that we have and enjoy is because of Him. Our very lives are held in the hands of the Almighty God.

God knows all about us. We may be able to hide our thoughts and feelings from the closest people around us but God made us and He knows when we are up and when we are down. He is ever watching and sees us as we are coming in and going out. Nothing is hidden from His view. God uncovers the secrets that are deeply hidden within our hearts so that He can heal us. He communicates with us not just through the things of life but as a friend to a friend. He calls us each by name and deals with us individually, spirit to spirit. He give us life, breath, and all things. Let us never neglect to love and commune with this One who has created us, for in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). +++

1/18/23
HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER

Scripture: Psalms 136:1 "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever."

Twenty-five verses follow this first one, each ending with the same refrain, "His mercy endures forever." The psalmist was making a very strong point that God's mercy, love, and kindness never end. He speaks of the God of all gods, who by His own wisdom made the heavens and the earth. God then created the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. Yet, this same God who has done such great wonders and mighty works still extends His mercy and compassion to mankind. The psalmist said, "God remembers us in our low estate" (verse 23).

This psalm makes mention of the mighty deliverance of Israel from Pharaoh and the bondage of Egypt. Verse twenty-four declares that we also have been redeemed from our enemies because of God's great mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Great is Thy faithfulness ... God's compassion never fails and His mercies are new every morning." This means, each and every morning, our gracious God has a new batch of mercies prepared that He is ready to extend to us because He knows that we will need them to make it through the day. This scripture continues to say that it is only because of the Lord's mercies and unfailing compassion that we are not consumed.

There will be days that we feel that we have utterly failed the test. Our speech has not ministered grace to the hearer and our own transgressions have exceeded those who have transgressed against us, but we must remember that God's mercy still endures forever. His mercy does not stop with our failure, and He is not waiting there to consume us with His wrath. God has already extended His mercy to us. All that we must do is receive it and give Him thanks. So let us repeat the refrain, "God's mercy endures forever," twenty-six times, like the psalmist did and allow the reality of these words to minister to us. As we cope with the challenges of our day, we will discover that we really do have a good and faithful God whose mercies endure forever. +++

1/19/23
DO ALL YOU CAN

Scripture: Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Our Christian character is not developed by just exercising moral or legal correctness, but also comes as the Holy Spirit works within us to minister to those around us. Each day provides us with ample opportunities to do good. We just have to watch for them. There are hurting people everywhere who need a good word spoken to them or a helping hand stretched in their direction. They need an ear to listen to their heart beat or a shoulder to cry upon. They need someone who can envision their dream and dream with them. There are also those who have grown weary in well doing and need someone to encourage them to continue their good works. Many just need a friend to pray for them or an ally who will stand with them against the enemy who is attacking their soul.

There is an interesting story concerning World War II about soldiers who were being held captive by their enemy. The enemy forced the soldiers to make weapons that were to be dropped on the captive soldier's own men and allies. The captive soldier faced death themselves if they did not comply with the orders of their enemy, so they faithfully appeared to work as instructed. However, when the bombs were dropped from the warplanes, all of them turned out to be duds and none of them exploded. When the bombs were investigated, they were found to contain notes inside that said, "Doing everything that we can, with all that we have, for as long as we can." The prisoners of war were held captive and could not fight against the enemy themselves, but they wanted their comrades and allies to know that they were still working with them and making the most out of every opportunity.

In essence, this is all that God wants or expects from us. He is all knowing and never asks us to do the impossible or to give what we do not have. He simply asks, "Do everything that you can, with all that you have, and for as long as you can." His requests may require faith and sacrifice, but He will see us through every situation and reward all of our efforts. Nothing will go unnoticed by the Father as we do good to all men and especially those of the household faith. +++

1/20/23
PURIFIED BY FIRE

Scripture: Proverbs 17:3 "The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts."

Just as silver and gold are purified by fire, so the Lord purifies the hearts of men by fiery trials. Do you ever face seemingly unusual and strange situations? For no reason at all everyone seems to be coming against you, or perhaps you find yourself facing financial problems or unusual attacks in your health. The Apostle Peter said, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is come to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (I Peter 4:12). These things are not strange. God is taking you through these trials to try your heart and develop your character. So be encouraged, knowing that even in adverse circumstances, God is still in control. The reason God is allowing these fires and tests is because He believes that you are well able to pass them. As you go through these tests, you can be assured that God is sitting on His throne and watching over you constantly. Malachi 3:3 says, "God sits as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify ... and purge them as gold and silver." The Lord is the refiner, and He knows what the final result should be.

Purifying and purging gold or silver is a long tedious process that turns an unusable ore into precious metal. The ore is heated until all the impurities and dross rise to the top. The refiner then removes these impurities, and once the impurities are taken away, the ore is heated again. As this process is repeated again and again, the refiner sits by the fire watching. He is careful never to leave the ore to itself while it is on the fire. He keeps the fire at the right temperature for the impurities to separate from the gold and silver and never allows the fire to become so hot that it ruins the metal. He sits there constantly maintaining the temperature, watching the melt down, and removing the dross. Time after time, the fire is heated to greater degrees, and the impurities are removed until the refiner is able to get the results that he is attempting to achieve. He is waiting until he can see his own reflection in the liquid metal. When this occurs, the refining process is complete. The gold or silver is pure, its strength is greater, and it is fit for use.

The same is true with your life. Psalms 66:10 says, "God has proved us and tried us as silver is tried." God allows seemingly strange fiery trails to come your way for the purpose of purifying your heart so that His reflection is revealed in you right in the midst of the fire and test. When this is accomplished and the Lord can see Himself in you, He then deems you to be a pure and stronger vessel that is fit for the Master's use. +++

1/23/23
HELP WHEN THINGS LOOK HOPELESS

Scripture: Psalms 146:5 "Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help; whose hope is in the Lord his God."

Joy comes when we learn to depend upon God in every situation. Have you ever been to the point that you viewed the situation with a sense of helplessness and hopelessness? Your individual strength was too weak and your material resources were too scarce to solve the problem that loomed before you. I have faced many of these situations. I can truly say that when I put things in God's hands and saw Him solve the problem, I was truly amazed and happy because of the help that He gave me.

For example, my son and I were raking the yard one day when I noticed the heavy layer of leaves and pine needles that were caught on the eves of the windows on the second story of my home. I knew that they had been there for the whole season and that if they were not removed soon they could possibly start a leak in the roof. I did not have a ladder long enough for us to be able to clear the roof and could not afford the expense of a professional. So, right there in my yard, I prayed that God would show me what to do or send someone to help me. To my surprise, a few minutes later, a man walked into my cul-de-sac looking for trees that he could trim. I told him that I did not have any trees that needed cutting, but that my roof needed to be cleared. He said he would do it for twenty dollars, which was within my budget and significantly below the market price. Yet, neither of us had a ladder long enough to reach the roof. However, God always has provisions for His plans. When He answers a prayer, He answers it right! He never sends an answer that He is not able to equip or that will not work. What the Lord authors, He finishes.

The man looked at the house and asked if I had a small ladder. He used my six-foot ladder to get on the roof of the utility room, which was the lowest point of the house. He then raised the ladder up and put it on the roof of the utility room. He climbed the ladder that he had placed on the utility roof and made his way all the way to the top of the house. He cleaned the roof, came down, and was gone. God answered my very simple prayer and finished His work in less than thirty minutes from the time I prayed. I was totally amazed at what an awesome God we serve!

We often limit God because we simply do not ask for His help. Other times, we allow fear to hinder and steal our blessing. All the while the man was climbing to the roof, the enemy was speaking into my ear concerning the unsafe conditions of the whole situation. Yet, God had sent me a professional man who does this type of work every day. He apparently knew what he was doing and knew how to do it. God also knew what He, Himself, was doing and He knew how to answer my prayer. This experience left me with joy, not because the job was done or because I saved money, but because I saw God meet my need in a special way. God was my personal helper when I needed Him and has become my hope for future needs. I can agree with David's words, "Happy is the one who has God for His help." +++

1/24/23
DECEPTION IN THE WILDERNESS

Scripture: Numbers 13:33 "... And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

God led His people out of Egypt with great signs and wonders but when the journey became long and things became difficult, they allowed a spirit of deception to defeat them and lead them astray from their destiny and God's best for their lives. They were deceived about their provisions and murmured about not having flesh to eat even though God was faithfully raining down fresh bread from Heaven every day to satisfy their hunger. When they complained about the lack of water, God supplied it from a rock, but they were still deceived about God's presence with them. They said, "Is the Lord among us or not?" They even thought that God had lured them into the wilderness to kill them. They were in deception about who they really were and what God really wanted to do for them.

They limited the Holy One of Israel because they were caught up in deception in their own minds. They did not see themselves as God saw them or believe that He could do what He promised to do. They had no faith that He was able to bring them into the Promised Land. When they finally saw the fruit of the land, they believed another evil report. Deception told them that they could not penetrate the walled cities and possess the inheritance that God had given them because there were giants in the land. They were so deceived that they began to see their own selves as grasshoppers in the sight of these giants. Deception spoke again to their hearts and caused them to want to return to Egypt and to the bondage from which they had been delivered.

You may be experiencing a wilderness in your present walk with the Lord, but God does not want you to be deceived. He wants you to see yourself as you really are and to know that you can have all the things that He promised you. He does not want you to view yourself as a grasshopper in the midst of your giant enemies. You were created in God's image, and He wants you to see yourself in that light.

One of Satan's greatest fears is that you will see yourself as God sees you. God sees you forgiven and washed in the blood of Jesus. He sees you healed by the stripes of Jesus. He sees you prospering as your soul prospers. He sees you delivered and set free because Jesus paid the price on the cross of Calvary. Do not allow deception to steal your inheritance. God's promises belong to you, and they are yours to possess. +++

1/25/23
IDOLS OF THE HEART

Scripture: Matthew 19:21-22 "Jesus said, ... sell what you have and give to the poor ... But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions."

A rich man desired to become a follower of Jesus. He thought himself to be a viable candidate because he had kept all the commandments of God his entire life. Yet, Jesus told the rich man that he lacked one thing and instructed him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. The rich man's truest desires were exposed when he was unable to give up his riches in exchange for God's Kingdom. His wealth and material possessions had become the god of his life and ruled his heart. His refusal to surrender his riches prevented him from completing God's will and receiving God’s true treasure and his decision left him sorrowful in heart.

When we think of idols, we usually think of images of heathen worship. Yet as Jesus showed us in this story, there are other things that can rule our hearts. Idols are easy to form. Professional security, children, relationships, fame, fortune, and even ministry can become idols in our lives. God is not against His people having these things, but He does not want those things to dictate our lives. He wants to be the King of our life and to rule all the kingdoms of our heart.

God's ways are never like our ways. Throughout scripture, we see the principle of eternal exchange. Jesus emptied Himself and became a servant so that He could become Lord. He refused the kingdoms that Satan offered Him in order to gain the Kingdom of God. Likewise, we must give up something to receive what God has for us. We must forsake all to follow Him. If we want to be great, we must humble ourselves and become the least in His Kingdom. We must lose our life so that we may find it. It is the same principle as burying seeds in the ground to obtain a harvest in the field. We must love our enemies in order to accomplish our revenge. We must give what we have so we can receive what we need. All our selfish motives and desires must be dethroned before God can truly accomplish His purposes in our lives. We can never receive the eternal blessings God has intended for us until we let go of the fleeting treasures that hold our hearts. We will have no sorrow when we surrender the idols of our heart because we will gain the treasure of the Kingdom of God, which is a far greater rate of exchange. +++

1/26/23
HOW LONG?

Scripture: Psalms 13:1 "How long will You forget me, O Lord? forever?."

King David must have been in extreme misery and difficulty when he wrote this psalm. In the first two verses he questioned the Lord four times saying, "How long?" He said, "How long will you forget me?" "How long will you turn your back and hide your face from me?” "How long must I bear pain and sorrow in my soul?" "How long will the enemy be exalted over me?"

We can imagine how David must have felt because we have faced some discouraging seasons ourselves and asked, "How long?" When we go through a stressful place or endure some other unpleasant procedure, the first thing that we ask is, "How long is this going to take?" It seems that it is a whole lot easier to endure a situation if we know there is an end in sight. Yet, many times our ordeal may take much longer than anticipated because our own struggles cause delays.

David was waiting for God to deliver him from the oppression of his enemy, but it seemed that the Lord had turned His face from David and had forgotten all about him. This situation must have gone on for some length of time because David declared that he had sorrow in his heart daily and felt that he was near death as his enemies triumphed over him. As David worried over his situation and the oppression of the enemy, he suddenly stopped questioning God. Right in the midst of his dilemma, he began to pray for God's deliverance. When he began to pray, his mindset changed and he ended this psalm in victory. Notice that David was still in the same place physically, but his faith had moved to a different level spiritually as he declared his trust in God's mercy, salvation, and bountiful love and care.

Have you ever been to the point where it seems that you just could not take much more? You wanted to know how much longer the journey was going to take. You felt that you could hold out to the end if you only knew when the trial was going to be finished. When would your health be restored? When would you find another job? How long are you going to be in debt? When will you meet that special someone? Like a child on a journey with their parents, you questioned God, "Are we almost there?"

We must understand that God really has not turned His back or hid his face from us or our circumstances. He is there working out the problem, but He is also waiting for us to change our approach to the situation. It is one thing for us to murmur and complain about our circumstances. It is another thing for us to place those things that disturb us into God's hands. God cannot work for us because we will not let go of the things that concern us and rely upon Him to perfect them. When we ask God, "How long," He probably wants to answer, "As long as you cause it to be." So, if we want God to complete His work, we must give all of our struggles to Him. Then rest in His timing. +++

1/27/23
SO MUCH MORE

Scripture: John 21:25 (NLT) "Jesus also did many others things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written."

We have libraries, bookstores, and homes that are filled with books on various subjects. Can you imagine that if all of these books only contained information about Jesus that there would still be much more to say about Him? The Apostle John said that the world could not even contain all the books that could be written about Jesus. His life as the Son of God and as the Son of man is just too enormous to record. His works are too glorious to be totally contained even in a multitude of books. This is the reason there were many things left unsaid by the Disciples and followers of Jesus. There were even signs and wonders that Jesus did in the presence of His Disciples that were not recorded in the scriptures (John 20:30).

The scriptures speak prophetically about Jesus before He came to Earth, and they also record the events of His life after He came. They tell us about the healings and miracles that Jesus preformed. They also speak of His acts of love and kindness, His words of judgment and peace, His journey to the cross, His glorious resurrection and miraculous ascension into Heaven. The scriptures even speak of Jesus returning to Earth someday. These mighty accounts of His life impart information and inspire our faith, yet His life was still so full that all of the things that He did, spoke, and felt were not recorded.

Jesus lived on the Earth thirty-three years and His ministry lasted three and one-half years, yet, we only have access to a small portion of His life and His Godly wisdom. There is no way to record all of His knowledge and understanding or to explain how the gifts of the Holy Spirit worked in His life. Neither are there enough words to explain the measure of the love that was in His heart, which caused Him to give His life willing on the cross of Calvary, for the love of Christ passes all knowledge and understanding (Ephesians 3:19). How many books would it take to explain the holy grief that Jesus felt for those who rejected Him or how many volumes would it take to describe His emotional agony and physical pain on the cross? Who really knows all of the changes that He made in the hearts of the men, women, and children who witnessed His life? Words are just too few and too inadequate to convey His righteousness, mercy, and grace.

The truth is that no life can be wrapped up in written words or pages in a book, for a personality has to be experienced. I could write many books about my children and grandchildren, but my words could never explain to you their individual characteristics. I could write a million words and never convey my depth of love for them. I could write a book today and tell you all that I know about them, but it would be out of date tomorrow because their lives change daily. The only way you could ever possibly know and understand who they are would be by spending personal time with them.

With all of this in mind, I encourage you to not only read all that can about Jesus in the scriptures but to also spend time with Him. Get to know Him personally. Meditate on His Words and the words that were spoken about Him and give attention to Him in worship and communion. Yearn to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. As you do, you will gain immeasurable knowledge about who Jesus is as a person and you will agree with the Apostle John that Jesus is too wonderful to be contained even in a multitude of books. +++

1/30/23
CONSECRATION AND BLESSINGS TODAY

Scripture: Exodus 32:29 "Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord ... that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day."

Moses gave a word to Gods' people to let them know that if they wanted to receive God's blessing, they needed to consecrate themselves to God. One of the definitions of this word 'consecrate' in the Hebrew, as it is used in this verse, meant "to be fenced in." That is, we must always stay within the confines of God’s precepts. Just as in the case with Moses and the people of God, God's love and blessings do flow out to us with mercy and grace. Yet we mature in God, we learn that He expects things from us. He desires a life that is freely consecrated to Him. When we are babes in Christ, we may get away with a few things, but we soon learn that, "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). With maturity comes responsibility, which means that we must fence ourselves into the demands of God's Word if we want His blessings to rest upon us.

Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today." Each day has its own challenges. Just about the time that we think we have arrived spiritually, we find ourselves facing something new and come to realize that we have just begun our journey towards holiness. Walking with God and remaining in His precepts is a daily walk and it is only accomplished one step at a time. Each and every day we are to consecrate ourselves by putting a fence around our thoughts, imaginations, emotions, and deeds. We then have to guard the borders of our heart from the snares of evil. Our sacred purpose must be to render ourselves to God's service and give Him dominion over every space in our lives. We must dedicate every chamber of our heart to the Lord and declare it to be holy ground. God must have an open hand in our lives and everything must come under His rule. Our measuring rod must be governed with the question, "Will the Holy Spirit enjoy participating in this particular activity or will it bring Him shame?" That simple question will divide the light from the darkness and make God's will clear in our heart and mind.

It is only as we come to this place of total commitment and surrender and then follow through with our actions that we will experience the true blessings of God. Receiving His blessings does not mean that we will become rich and famous or have all the material things we desire. Yet, it does mean that our souls will be satisfied with the goodness of God and that His favor will rest upon us in an unusual way. Moses said, "Consecrate yourself today ... so that you can receive God's blessings today." This Word with a promise is ours. We must begin by giving ourselves to God, consecrating all that we are and all that we hope to be to Him. Then, we must ask God to help us build a fence around that commitment that will keep us within its borders and protect us from the outside hindrances. As we consecrate ourselves today, we should get ready to experience His blessings today. +++

1/31/23
MIRACLES OF LIFE

Scripture: Mark 6:52 "For they considered not the miracles of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."

The Disciples witnessed Jesus walk on the water. This was just after they had watched Him miraculously multiply five loaves and two fish into enough food to feed five thousand men, plus the women and children. However, verse fifty-one says that when He came walking to them on the water, they were amazed beyond measure. They had seen Jesus do so many miracles up to this point and yet they were amazed and wondered when they saw Him walk on the water. It seemed that it was too much for them to comprehend. There is no mention that the Disciples were ever amazed or wondered when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish even though they gave out the food as it was multiplied and gathered up the abundant leftovers. They never questioned how the food was multiplied and it seemed that their hearts had become hardened to this miracle of provision, for they did not even consider it when Jesus approached them on the water.

Albert Einstein said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." When we think about it, life itself is a wonderful miracle that we cannot comprehend with our finite mind. Our whole being has been created in God's image and the scriptures declare that our physical bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made. The world around us is a miracle and everything in it functions in a miraculous way. We have electricity, transportation, and communication systems among other things. Yet too often, we take all of these things for granted and disregard God's amazing miracles that are at our fingertips and that we enjoy every day of our lives.

One of the greatest wonders to me is the fact that we have twenty-six simple letters in an English alphabet that allows us to communicate through writing. Where would we be without books and literature or the ability to communicate with written words? Life would be dull indeed. Also, we have nine numbers and a zero that allows us to count further than our minds can even comprehend. These are very simple but amazing things that should provoke a thankful spirit within us.

Most of us can recall things that happened in our past that we counted as miracles, and we can remember how excited we were when the incident occurred. Perhaps we found some money or provisions came in unexpectedly to pay a debt. Our bodies may have experienced a supernatural healing or a relationship may have been restored that we thought was lost forever. Maybe God had intervened in our lives and caused us to escape a terrible accident. Too often we allow time to pass without considering those things that once were so precious in our thoughts. We must allow our hearts to go back to these awesome experiences and recall the special things that God has done in our lives. As we do, we will find that our faith will be renewed for the things of the present and our hope strengthened for the future. Let us consider all that God does in our lives and determine to live as though everything is a miracle. +++

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