Psalm 17: 14-15
Men of the world, whose portion is in this life, ... they are satisfied with children, and leave their abundance to their babes. As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.
The people who live only for this life may accumulate things, which they leave to their children, and that's all they can do.
Those who delight in the Lord and believe that He has done exactly as He said He would do in them, for them, and on them, making them His own family; they will one day bear the same likeness as Jesus' Resurrection body, and glow like the Sun. They will be able to look at God and not be blinded by His brilliance. That is the day we will wake up in His glory.
O my Father, I know that I will be satisfied when I awake, resurrected, bearing Your likeness; for I will see You face-to-face, and behold Your glory and Your beauty! I will never be separated from You, for I will dwell with You forever, serving You. And You will display me, along with the rest of Your Bride, as Your trophy of Grace.
You are taking this weak, broken vessel and re-forming me into Your vessel of honor, suitable for the King's table.
O Father, thank You so much for choosing me! Please continue Your work in me, molding my character into the very image of Your Son, my Lord Jesus!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Monday, July 24, 2017
Believing, You Shall Receive
Matthew 21: 22
And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
God has created this Universe and put His order into it. He has made this Earth and put it in its place among the other planets and suns, in the perfect place to sustain life. And He has made us of this Earth and put us here so we can live and have everything we need. And God decided to give Mankind the prerogatives of free will, to choose. And He has built into this system of life the principle of faith.
We choose to believe so much in living every day: that the sun will come up, that our job is still there waiting for us to show up, and that we will get a check on payday; that our spouse is faithful to us, or we suspect otherwise; that our children will or will not make right choices in their lives; we even have faith to believe that the chair we sat down in will hold our weight without collapsing.
We trust other drivers to stay in their lanes as we stay in our lane, and to signal when they will change lanes. We trust that people will stop at their red light as we proceed with our green light.
We trust that the food we order at the restaurant will nourish our bodies without poisoning us. We trust other people to be as honest with us as we are with them. Our faith, belief and trust guide our every decision every day, in all that we do.
God has built this principle of Faith into our lives in order that we would put our faith in Him--to trust Him to be faithful to us, to believe that He will do exactly what He has said He will do. Because He has.
And He has told us that if we delight in Him that He will put His desires for us into our hearts (Psalm 37:4), and then when we ask Him for what He wants for us, He delights to give it to us!
We delight in Him and He delights in us, a happy circle, a joyful upward spiral.
This is the life He wants for us, trusting in God to have sent His Son Jesus to take our place in death so that we can be forgiven and cleansed and be His children, so He can lavish His love on us. And answer all our prayers, even those unspoken, because He hears our thoughts.
So, dear reader, delight yourself in our Lord, believe what He has said to us, and live that life of faith that lets you ask what you will, believing, and receive all the blessings our Father delights in showering on us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
God has created this Universe and put His order into it. He has made this Earth and put it in its place among the other planets and suns, in the perfect place to sustain life. And He has made us of this Earth and put us here so we can live and have everything we need. And God decided to give Mankind the prerogatives of free will, to choose. And He has built into this system of life the principle of faith.
We choose to believe so much in living every day: that the sun will come up, that our job is still there waiting for us to show up, and that we will get a check on payday; that our spouse is faithful to us, or we suspect otherwise; that our children will or will not make right choices in their lives; we even have faith to believe that the chair we sat down in will hold our weight without collapsing.
We trust other drivers to stay in their lanes as we stay in our lane, and to signal when they will change lanes. We trust that people will stop at their red light as we proceed with our green light.
We trust that the food we order at the restaurant will nourish our bodies without poisoning us. We trust other people to be as honest with us as we are with them. Our faith, belief and trust guide our every decision every day, in all that we do.
God has built this principle of Faith into our lives in order that we would put our faith in Him--to trust Him to be faithful to us, to believe that He will do exactly what He has said He will do. Because He has.
And He has told us that if we delight in Him that He will put His desires for us into our hearts (Psalm 37:4), and then when we ask Him for what He wants for us, He delights to give it to us!
We delight in Him and He delights in us, a happy circle, a joyful upward spiral.
This is the life He wants for us, trusting in God to have sent His Son Jesus to take our place in death so that we can be forgiven and cleansed and be His children, so He can lavish His love on us. And answer all our prayers, even those unspoken, because He hears our thoughts.
So, dear reader, delight yourself in our Lord, believe what He has said to us, and live that life of faith that lets you ask what you will, believing, and receive all the blessings our Father delights in showering on us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, July 23, 2017
To Ponder Or To Pour Out
Proverbs 15: 28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out wicked things.
I know that every time I just blurt out something to someone, it's been the wrong thing to say at the time. Even when the words themselves were true, they were spoken in the wrong way at the wrong time, which makes them wrong. If only I had paused to think about what to say, then I could have avoided the humiliation of apologizing, and the sticky mess of making things right between us again.
I need rather to be able to listen to what the other person is saying, to hear the passion of their heart, instead of just letting them go on while I'm formulating my answer. Even when they say something that triggers a reaction in me, especially then I need to pause and listen to what else they say. Then I will be able to let Christ speak to them through me, while I express His compassion and tenderness to them.
O my Father, I pray that You would put Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth whenever I am in conversation with those who don't know You yet, so that I may be Christ to them. For I may be the only Jesus they have encountered in their life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out wicked things.
I know that every time I just blurt out something to someone, it's been the wrong thing to say at the time. Even when the words themselves were true, they were spoken in the wrong way at the wrong time, which makes them wrong. If only I had paused to think about what to say, then I could have avoided the humiliation of apologizing, and the sticky mess of making things right between us again.
I need rather to be able to listen to what the other person is saying, to hear the passion of their heart, instead of just letting them go on while I'm formulating my answer. Even when they say something that triggers a reaction in me, especially then I need to pause and listen to what else they say. Then I will be able to let Christ speak to them through me, while I express His compassion and tenderness to them.
O my Father, I pray that You would put Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth whenever I am in conversation with those who don't know You yet, so that I may be Christ to them. For I may be the only Jesus they have encountered in their life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 22, 2017
God's Unseen Provision
Habakkuk 3: 17-19
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
All this world's goods are as nothing compared to what our God is preparing for us! And even when we have none of this world's provisions, still our Lord will not neglect to meet our every need.
Knowing this, trusting God as our Provider even when we don't see any provisions, will enable us to rejoice in the Lord and give us the strength to go on.
It has been said that, "When all you have is God, you find that God is all you need." May our Father teach us this truth, as we know Him better each day. And knowing Him better, we will love Him even more. And our faith will be strengthened and deepened to really believe He is Who He says He is, and that He does exactly what He did for others before us, and will also do for us, too.
He has always kept to the letter every promise He has ever made, and will never change; He will always be God over us all, and will never love us any less than He does right now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
All this world's goods are as nothing compared to what our God is preparing for us! And even when we have none of this world's provisions, still our Lord will not neglect to meet our every need.
Knowing this, trusting God as our Provider even when we don't see any provisions, will enable us to rejoice in the Lord and give us the strength to go on.
It has been said that, "When all you have is God, you find that God is all you need." May our Father teach us this truth, as we know Him better each day. And knowing Him better, we will love Him even more. And our faith will be strengthened and deepened to really believe He is Who He says He is, and that He does exactly what He did for others before us, and will also do for us, too.
He has always kept to the letter every promise He has ever made, and will never change; He will always be God over us all, and will never love us any less than He does right now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 21, 2017
Faith To Believe
Matthew 15: 26-28
And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
I'm amazed that Jesus seems to be calling this woman a dog! I think He was testing her. And she passed the test, humbling herself before Him, admitting her unworthiness to receive the "bread" intended for the children, yet still asked for the mere "crumbs that fell from the table," as the family pet would.
And Jesus commended her for her faith! And her humbleness allowed her to trust the Lord to do for her what she knew she could not do for herself--heal her daughter.
O my Father, please strengthen my faith to really believe that You will do what I know I can't. Help me to begin to do those things I cannot accomplish, believing that You will do them through me. Keep me close to Yourself, that I will hear Your still, small voice behind me, saying, "This is the path, walk here," not wandering to the left or to the right.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
I'm amazed that Jesus seems to be calling this woman a dog! I think He was testing her. And she passed the test, humbling herself before Him, admitting her unworthiness to receive the "bread" intended for the children, yet still asked for the mere "crumbs that fell from the table," as the family pet would.
And Jesus commended her for her faith! And her humbleness allowed her to trust the Lord to do for her what she knew she could not do for herself--heal her daughter.
O my Father, please strengthen my faith to really believe that You will do what I know I can't. Help me to begin to do those things I cannot accomplish, believing that You will do them through me. Keep me close to Yourself, that I will hear Your still, small voice behind me, saying, "This is the path, walk here," not wandering to the left or to the right.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Nailed To The Cross
Galatians 5: 24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His Cross and crucified them there.
I actually wrote "My Retirement" on a card and physically nailed it to a life-size wooden cross, thinking about the funds I realized I had been hoarding at the time. But I didn't write, "My Retirement Funds," and God took me at my word, and has now taken to Himself this retirement portion of my life.
I am amazed that the Almighty God would want my puny, insignificant life and make it an integral and important part of His great, grand Plan of the Ages. And He also thinks that your life is also that significant.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your enormous love for me! For Your knowledge of me, and Your tender care for me.
Please remind me of whatever else I have "nailed to the Cross" so I will recognize when You are working in those areas, too, and not resist You. All I am belongs to You, and is under Your total control. Lead me and direct me, take my hand to guide me surely and confidently in Your path, Your ways; not stumbling or wandering off to the right or to the left.
And You will receive all the glory, Lord, for everything You are doing in my life, in my family, in my country and in my world.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His Cross and crucified them there.
I actually wrote "My Retirement" on a card and physically nailed it to a life-size wooden cross, thinking about the funds I realized I had been hoarding at the time. But I didn't write, "My Retirement Funds," and God took me at my word, and has now taken to Himself this retirement portion of my life.
I am amazed that the Almighty God would want my puny, insignificant life and make it an integral and important part of His great, grand Plan of the Ages. And He also thinks that your life is also that significant.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your enormous love for me! For Your knowledge of me, and Your tender care for me.
Please remind me of whatever else I have "nailed to the Cross" so I will recognize when You are working in those areas, too, and not resist You. All I am belongs to You, and is under Your total control. Lead me and direct me, take my hand to guide me surely and confidently in Your path, Your ways; not stumbling or wandering off to the right or to the left.
And You will receive all the glory, Lord, for everything You are doing in my life, in my family, in my country and in my world.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The Manufacturer's Instructions
Matthew 7: 21b
... The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven.
We need to know God.
We need to know His Word and His ways.
But just knowing is not enough.
What makes the difference is when we obey God. When we know to do good, but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). And when we go on our own understanding of what we think would be the best thing to do, we go astray (Proverbs 3:5); because His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
He has told us in His Word everything we need to know to live in this world, and to live with Him forever (II Timothy 3:16-17). But we need to listen to what He says, and obey all the laws by which our World operates, just like we will follow the Owner's Manual that came with our new car.
So, "The decisive issue is whether they obey." If you don't obey your car's Owner's Manual, and put gas in a diesel engine, it won't operate properly. And when we don't take into account God's instructions, then our lives won't operate well, either.
And if we don't see ourselves as our Maker sees us, we would be deceiving ourselves (I Corinthians 3:18). So we need to see our need, and God's provision for us in pouring out His wrath on His own Son, Who not only covers, but washes away all of our sinfulness. All the wrath we deserve, Jesus took in our place on the Cross as the Lamb of God.
And when each of us lets Jesus take our place in that death as our personal sacrifice (Leviticus 1), then God places us into His own Kingdom, and replaces our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) with the purity of His own Righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
And He places His own Holy Spirit into our spirit, making our dead spirit alive, as His deposit on the Redemption Jesus bought for us (II Corinthians 1:22).
So if you, dear reader, have never considered yourself as deserving that death, then I suggest you ask God to gift you with the faith to believe what He says; and He will impress on you how much He loves you to do that.
He's coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
... The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven.
We need to know God.
We need to know His Word and His ways.
But just knowing is not enough.
What makes the difference is when we obey God. When we know to do good, but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). And when we go on our own understanding of what we think would be the best thing to do, we go astray (Proverbs 3:5); because His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
He has told us in His Word everything we need to know to live in this world, and to live with Him forever (II Timothy 3:16-17). But we need to listen to what He says, and obey all the laws by which our World operates, just like we will follow the Owner's Manual that came with our new car.
So, "The decisive issue is whether they obey." If you don't obey your car's Owner's Manual, and put gas in a diesel engine, it won't operate properly. And when we don't take into account God's instructions, then our lives won't operate well, either.
And if we don't see ourselves as our Maker sees us, we would be deceiving ourselves (I Corinthians 3:18). So we need to see our need, and God's provision for us in pouring out His wrath on His own Son, Who not only covers, but washes away all of our sinfulness. All the wrath we deserve, Jesus took in our place on the Cross as the Lamb of God.
And when each of us lets Jesus take our place in that death as our personal sacrifice (Leviticus 1), then God places us into His own Kingdom, and replaces our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) with the purity of His own Righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
And He places His own Holy Spirit into our spirit, making our dead spirit alive, as His deposit on the Redemption Jesus bought for us (II Corinthians 1:22).
So if you, dear reader, have never considered yourself as deserving that death, then I suggest you ask God to gift you with the faith to believe what He says; and He will impress on you how much He loves you to do that.
He's coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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