Scripture:
Habakkuk 1: 2, 4
How long, O LORD, must I call for help?
But you do not listen! I cry, but you do not come to save.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
And justice is perverted with bribes and trickery. (NLT)
Observation:
With all the problems that the human race is faced with today, I find it rather easy to understand why so many of the world’s people are crying out to God for help. And I believe the reason we cry out to God is because when we finally admit that man is incapable of fixing the problems it becomes quite obvious that it will take the Almighty God to get us out of the mess we have created. What is hard to understand, though, is why our gracious and loving God does not seem to hear our many cries for help! No matter where in the world you live, your physical well being (the very life that God has given you) is threatened with each new day, and there seems to be no end in sight. This is the very reason, my dear friends, that we must take our concerns to the LORD, for His sovereignty allows Him to see and hear all the cries of His people (Psalm 34:15), and it is only through our faith and trust in Him that we will ever find the kind of peace that will help us persevere in this confusing and difficult life journey with joy in our hearts and the hope of better things to come (Romans 5:1-2).
Application:
The LORD God is the Creator. We were created for His purpose and to give Him glory. If we are to remain steadfast in His purpose, we must believe that “God is in control.” Our Father in heaven gives us all that we need to know—all that we can handle in this life. He desires that we come to Him with our concerns and question Him for knowledge and understanding, but what He does not want us to do; is to question His sovereignty.
Remember, my friends, we are all destined to suffer in this life, just as our Lord Jesus suffered, and just as Jesus was raised into eternal life with a new and glorious heavenly body, so will you if you would only believe and trust in Him no matter what this fallen world does! For you will not only find joy in this Truth, but He will also give you great strength and the peace (Psalm 29:11) to wait patiently for His return.
Prayer:
What a blessing it is that you, the LORD Almighty, the Creator of all things, hear our every cry. How thankful I am that you not only hear our cries of helplessness and hopelessness, but you act upon them as well. I know that you will answer our cries of distress in your own perfect timing. And I ask You, LORD, to comfort our souls and transform our doubtful hearts to hearts of trust, and to change our fear into joy by knowing that the victory is ours when we live in You! Amen
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Scripture:
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, and to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (NAS)
Observation:
We have such a gracious God (2 Chronicles 30:9), my dear friends; for He has never held back those things that bring about “right living” which not only pleases Him, but ourselves and others as well. The LORD our God gives us all that we need to live a righteous life in this world so that we can enjoy a holy life with Him forever in the next.
Is it such a difficult formula to understand? Is it so hard to act justly and show kindness to others? Is it possible to accept that there is a Power much greater than our own—a higher, Divine Power who is in control of our lives, and One we must bow down to?
None of these things takes someone of superior intelligence to comprehend, but it is because of our sin and prideful nature that these very things become extremely difficult to believe and act upon. Unfortunately, for those people who have never heard the words of God, the world is in control and it is the world that they submit to. For those who deny the existence of God, it is survival of the fittest that fuels their motivation. And for those who believe in God but refuse His sovereignty, they become their own gods and believe it is their right to control others for their own personal gain.
Application:
Believe this, my friends; that Satan, the ruler of all evil, has much power and control over our world, and has succeeded in deceiving many of its inhabitants into believing that God is dead and His Truth is not really the truth at all (1 John 2:22) . Too many people today believe that they have only one chance at life and, therefore, they must achieve all that they can while they can and sadly, if anyone stands in their way, they discard them and continue on with their quest with little or no remorse at all.
The ways of this world stand against the very fiber of God’s Being (Psalm 145:17), but when the His love fills your heart, you will find that acting justly with lovingkindness is the better way and when you walk humbly in faith, our loving and gracious LORD will honor that and bestow upon you the blessings of an eternal lifetime of peace and joy!
Prayer:
Thank you, LORD God, for Your mercy and grace. It is beyond human words to express the thankfulness that I have because you have not given me what I truly deserve, instead, you have given me all that I do not deserve. What a merciful and gracious God you are, dear LORD, for I can now lay my head down to sleep without the fear of tomorrow when I awaken.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, and to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (NAS)
Observation:
We have such a gracious God (2 Chronicles 30:9), my dear friends; for He has never held back those things that bring about “right living” which not only pleases Him, but ourselves and others as well. The LORD our God gives us all that we need to live a righteous life in this world so that we can enjoy a holy life with Him forever in the next.
Is it such a difficult formula to understand? Is it so hard to act justly and show kindness to others? Is it possible to accept that there is a Power much greater than our own—a higher, Divine Power who is in control of our lives, and One we must bow down to?
None of these things takes someone of superior intelligence to comprehend, but it is because of our sin and prideful nature that these very things become extremely difficult to believe and act upon. Unfortunately, for those people who have never heard the words of God, the world is in control and it is the world that they submit to. For those who deny the existence of God, it is survival of the fittest that fuels their motivation. And for those who believe in God but refuse His sovereignty, they become their own gods and believe it is their right to control others for their own personal gain.
Application:
Believe this, my friends; that Satan, the ruler of all evil, has much power and control over our world, and has succeeded in deceiving many of its inhabitants into believing that God is dead and His Truth is not really the truth at all (1 John 2:22) . Too many people today believe that they have only one chance at life and, therefore, they must achieve all that they can while they can and sadly, if anyone stands in their way, they discard them and continue on with their quest with little or no remorse at all.
The ways of this world stand against the very fiber of God’s Being (Psalm 145:17), but when the His love fills your heart, you will find that acting justly with lovingkindness is the better way and when you walk humbly in faith, our loving and gracious LORD will honor that and bestow upon you the blessings of an eternal lifetime of peace and joy!
Prayer:
Thank you, LORD God, for Your mercy and grace. It is beyond human words to express the thankfulness that I have because you have not given me what I truly deserve, instead, you have given me all that I do not deserve. What a merciful and gracious God you are, dear LORD, for I can now lay my head down to sleep without the fear of tomorrow when I awaken.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Grace of Hope
Scripture:
Joel 2:21, 23
Don’t be afraid, my people! Be glad now and rejoice
because the LORD has done great things.
Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rains He sends
are an expression of His grace. (NLT)
Observation:
I think I can speak for the multitudes of people around the world when I say that it is not hard for the world we live in to discourage and get us down, and that Christian people are certainly not immune to the hardships of living in a fallen world. I believe that when it comes to the perseverance of trials in this hard and difficult life, the most obvious difference between people who are Christians and those who are not is this: the Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit and has the only Hope for a better tomorrow, which is (in this day and time) a reason to truly rejoice. And the reason Christians world wide can rejoice and be glad, my friends, is because they can confidently live each and everyday relying on God’s unending grace; for they have learned that relying on the world’s view for hope is not only disappointing, but has devastating consequences as well.
Application:
When people begin to know and understand the Christian Faith, they start relying on God’s sovereignty (instead of their own abilities) to get them through the difficult choices that must be made, for they know and believe that He does great and amazing things for those who put their trust in Him. We live in a world of uncertainties that threaten us everyday of our lives, but this should not keep you discouraged and fearful, dear friends, because just as the rain God sends to sustains us, so do the everyday miracles of His gracious favor. By trusting and relying on the LORD our God, there is really no need to fear this world (Psalm 27:1) and what it can do to you, because no matter what your circumstances may be, the Lord’s grace will always be more than sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), and nothing can ever separate you from His unconditional, abounding love (Romans 8:38-39).
Prayer:
I thank you Father for Your never ending grace. I am so grateful for all the loving grace and mercy that You have given Your people throughout the ages. It is because of Your grace and mercy that we can live with the kind of peace that gives joy in all our circumstances. Your are an incredible and amazing God and there is none as great as You.
Joel 2:21, 23
Don’t be afraid, my people! Be glad now and rejoice
because the LORD has done great things.
Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rains He sends
are an expression of His grace. (NLT)
Observation:
I think I can speak for the multitudes of people around the world when I say that it is not hard for the world we live in to discourage and get us down, and that Christian people are certainly not immune to the hardships of living in a fallen world. I believe that when it comes to the perseverance of trials in this hard and difficult life, the most obvious difference between people who are Christians and those who are not is this: the Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit and has the only Hope for a better tomorrow, which is (in this day and time) a reason to truly rejoice. And the reason Christians world wide can rejoice and be glad, my friends, is because they can confidently live each and everyday relying on God’s unending grace; for they have learned that relying on the world’s view for hope is not only disappointing, but has devastating consequences as well.
Application:
When people begin to know and understand the Christian Faith, they start relying on God’s sovereignty (instead of their own abilities) to get them through the difficult choices that must be made, for they know and believe that He does great and amazing things for those who put their trust in Him. We live in a world of uncertainties that threaten us everyday of our lives, but this should not keep you discouraged and fearful, dear friends, because just as the rain God sends to sustains us, so do the everyday miracles of His gracious favor. By trusting and relying on the LORD our God, there is really no need to fear this world (Psalm 27:1) and what it can do to you, because no matter what your circumstances may be, the Lord’s grace will always be more than sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), and nothing can ever separate you from His unconditional, abounding love (Romans 8:38-39).
Prayer:
I thank you Father for Your never ending grace. I am so grateful for all the loving grace and mercy that You have given Your people throughout the ages. It is because of Your grace and mercy that we can live with the kind of peace that gives joy in all our circumstances. Your are an incredible and amazing God and there is none as great as You.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A God Unlike Any Other
Prayer:
Isaiah 64:4, 8
For since the world began, no ear has heard,
and no eye has seen a God like You,
who works for those who wait for Him!
And yet, LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and You are the potter.
We are all formed by Your hand. (NLT)
Observation:
We can choose to believe it or not, but the LORD Almighty is the God and Creator of everything that exists. And unlike everything else that He has made, our God specially created us as His children by breathing the Spirit of life into our souls (Genesis 2:7).
Although God chose Abraham to father the nation of Israel to be His people (Genesis 17:5), we are all children of the Sovereign God who takes a personal interest in every person that He forms with His hands. Our God has always been and always will be a relational being. And because He is a Father who does what is best for His children, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to be the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb, so that all believers, both Jewish and Gentile, can share in the inheritance He has promised.
Application:
We have, my friends, a majestic Father in Heaven who has created a universe so big that it will take an eternity to discover it all. We have a God who is unlike any other god, for His Spirit is alive in everyone who calls Him “Abba” and because of His great love for us; He has chosen to share the glory of His inheritance with His children. (Romans 8:15-17).
Prayer:
Thank you, LORD God, for adopting me into Your family so that I can share in the inheritance of Your Son, Christ Jesus. At times I feel so unworthy to be called Your son, but because of Your abundant grace and mercy I can accept Your forgiveness and put my hope in You.
Isaiah 64:4, 8
For since the world began, no ear has heard,
and no eye has seen a God like You,
who works for those who wait for Him!
And yet, LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and You are the potter.
We are all formed by Your hand. (NLT)
Observation:
We can choose to believe it or not, but the LORD Almighty is the God and Creator of everything that exists. And unlike everything else that He has made, our God specially created us as His children by breathing the Spirit of life into our souls (Genesis 2:7).
Although God chose Abraham to father the nation of Israel to be His people (Genesis 17:5), we are all children of the Sovereign God who takes a personal interest in every person that He forms with His hands. Our God has always been and always will be a relational being. And because He is a Father who does what is best for His children, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to be the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb, so that all believers, both Jewish and Gentile, can share in the inheritance He has promised.
Application:
We have, my friends, a majestic Father in Heaven who has created a universe so big that it will take an eternity to discover it all. We have a God who is unlike any other god, for His Spirit is alive in everyone who calls Him “Abba” and because of His great love for us; He has chosen to share the glory of His inheritance with His children. (Romans 8:15-17).
Prayer:
Thank you, LORD God, for adopting me into Your family so that I can share in the inheritance of Your Son, Christ Jesus. At times I feel so unworthy to be called Your son, but because of Your abundant grace and mercy I can accept Your forgiveness and put my hope in You.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Journey Home
Scripture:
Isaiah 57:15
The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this:
“I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite
and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with
repentant hearts.” (NLT)
Observation:
Our God is a faithful God, my friends, One who does everything that He promises His children (Deuteronomy 7:9). And knowing that the God of all creation is always faithful with His children, who closely watches over them, is indeed refreshing, especially in this dark and troubling world that wants to swallow you up. When we humbly admit that our hearts are wicked by nature and that we need God’s forgiveness and grace to change, our gracious and loving God will not only comfort us, but give us both the courage and strength( Psalm 46:1) to fight the battle for our souls. Having a deep desire to change our hearts and minds so that we can life a godly life that brings glory to God in the highest is not an easy task for anyone, especially for those of us who have lived most of our lives apart from God. Changing the way we think and act from a world view to a godly view can be a difficult journey indeed, for the evil that consumes this world is a powerful force to be reckoned with, and one that is very hard to break away from.
Application:
My dear friends, our Mighty Lord promises us victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57), but in order to secure this promise we must rely on Him for the courage and strength, because our own abilities will never sustain us in battle. Let Him, your Redeemer and Refresher, do what only He can do—give you renewed hope when you fail, and the courage to walk humbly in faith knowing that the victory is yours.
Prayer:
Dear LORD, I ask you in the name of Jesus to guide me in the wisdom that will lead me Home. And help strengthen me with the courage to speak Your Truth with those who are lost and wandering aimlessly in the wilderness trying to find their way Home. Refresh all of Your faithful servants, LORD, so that we can withstand the dangers that lurk around every corner trying to lure us away from the path that will lead us Home to You.
Isaiah 57:15
The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this:
“I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite
and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with
repentant hearts.” (NLT)
Observation:
Our God is a faithful God, my friends, One who does everything that He promises His children (Deuteronomy 7:9). And knowing that the God of all creation is always faithful with His children, who closely watches over them, is indeed refreshing, especially in this dark and troubling world that wants to swallow you up. When we humbly admit that our hearts are wicked by nature and that we need God’s forgiveness and grace to change, our gracious and loving God will not only comfort us, but give us both the courage and strength( Psalm 46:1) to fight the battle for our souls. Having a deep desire to change our hearts and minds so that we can life a godly life that brings glory to God in the highest is not an easy task for anyone, especially for those of us who have lived most of our lives apart from God. Changing the way we think and act from a world view to a godly view can be a difficult journey indeed, for the evil that consumes this world is a powerful force to be reckoned with, and one that is very hard to break away from.
Application:
My dear friends, our Mighty Lord promises us victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57), but in order to secure this promise we must rely on Him for the courage and strength, because our own abilities will never sustain us in battle. Let Him, your Redeemer and Refresher, do what only He can do—give you renewed hope when you fail, and the courage to walk humbly in faith knowing that the victory is yours.
Prayer:
Dear LORD, I ask you in the name of Jesus to guide me in the wisdom that will lead me Home. And help strengthen me with the courage to speak Your Truth with those who are lost and wandering aimlessly in the wilderness trying to find their way Home. Refresh all of Your faithful servants, LORD, so that we can withstand the dangers that lurk around every corner trying to lure us away from the path that will lead us Home to You.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Faithful and Gracious Is He
Soap
9/4/10
Scripture
Psalm 145:13, 14
The LORD is faithful in all He says;
He is gracious in all He does.
The LORD helps the fallen
and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.
Observation:
I have heard that the Christian faith is nothing more than a crutch to lean upon (Halleluiah!) or a cop-out when things get tough. What many non-believers do not seem to get is that we humans are extremely weak and fragile when compared to the reality of this fallen world, which is ruled by the seen and unseen forces that hate God and everything He stands for, and that we all need something greater than ourselves ( or anything the world has to offer), when this reality shows its ugly head (2 Peter 1:2-4).
Application:
As God’s created beings, we depend on Him for everything we need to sustain us, both our physical needs as well as our spiritual needs (Acts 17:25). It is only by His grace that we have everything we need (2 Corinthians 12:9) and it is out of His abundant love that He watches over us (including those who want nothing to do with Him or His ways). Much like a human creator does with his creation, our sovereign God, even more so, carefully puts us together with His loving hands wanting only the best for His people by perfecting in us what we were intended to do; and that, my friends, is giving Him glory in all that we do. And we can be assured that when something goes wrong, He is right there doing what He does best—fixing us, the most precious of all His amazing creation, so that we can, one day, share in His Majestic Glory.
Prayer:
Thank you, dear LORD, for the Truth that speaks to our hearts, for the Grace that sustains us in a world that hates us, and for Your Love that saves us. Learning the Truth of who You really are is the only Hope we have in a world that can only promise us death. A world apart from You, the LORD Almighty, would indeed be a world of total senselessness—a world of utter chaos.
9/4/10
Scripture
Psalm 145:13, 14
The LORD is faithful in all He says;
He is gracious in all He does.
The LORD helps the fallen
and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.
Observation:
I have heard that the Christian faith is nothing more than a crutch to lean upon (Halleluiah!) or a cop-out when things get tough. What many non-believers do not seem to get is that we humans are extremely weak and fragile when compared to the reality of this fallen world, which is ruled by the seen and unseen forces that hate God and everything He stands for, and that we all need something greater than ourselves ( or anything the world has to offer), when this reality shows its ugly head (2 Peter 1:2-4).
Application:
As God’s created beings, we depend on Him for everything we need to sustain us, both our physical needs as well as our spiritual needs (Acts 17:25). It is only by His grace that we have everything we need (2 Corinthians 12:9) and it is out of His abundant love that He watches over us (including those who want nothing to do with Him or His ways). Much like a human creator does with his creation, our sovereign God, even more so, carefully puts us together with His loving hands wanting only the best for His people by perfecting in us what we were intended to do; and that, my friends, is giving Him glory in all that we do. And we can be assured that when something goes wrong, He is right there doing what He does best—fixing us, the most precious of all His amazing creation, so that we can, one day, share in His Majestic Glory.
Prayer:
Thank you, dear LORD, for the Truth that speaks to our hearts, for the Grace that sustains us in a world that hates us, and for Your Love that saves us. Learning the Truth of who You really are is the only Hope we have in a world that can only promise us death. A world apart from You, the LORD Almighty, would indeed be a world of total senselessness—a world of utter chaos.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Seek Him While He Is Near
Scripture:
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while you can find Him.
Call on Him while He is near.
Let the people turn from their wicked deeds.
Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong!
Let them turn to the LORD that He may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (NLT)
Observation:
With all the uncertainties we face in this life and with all the untruths that are thrown at us, there is One Truth that stands apart from all others; that the LORD will not always be near and available for us (Romans 13:12), for once our earthly bodies die, so does our ability to find a Savior who will snatch us out of the grips of Satan and put us in the everlasting, loving arms of God. Because the dominion of the Devil is such a driving force in our world, it becomes extremely hard for people to discern what is true and what is not (Ephesians 6:12). And since we all have within us a sinful nature that is prone to side with what is wrong, we start thinking that wrong is right. The Devil is the best at what he does, and that is… deceiving God’s people.
Application:
Do you know for certain that you will be alive tomorrow? Have you made a conscience effort to find the whole Truth? If not, there is no better time than now, for tomorrow may never come your way. The Lord our God wants no one to suffer His final wrath upon a world gone bad, so He gives us the time to make a choice, but the time my friends, will one day and without notice, run out ( Luke 12:40) and with it... the opportunity of an eternal lifetime of happiness!
Prayer:
Thank you dear Lord, for opening my eyes to Your Truth, and I ask You in the name of Jesus to give me both the power and the courage to stand strong in the faith You have so graciously given me, so that I, too, can spread the Good News of the salvation You offer all people of this fallen world, which groans for Your return.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while you can find Him.
Call on Him while He is near.
Let the people turn from their wicked deeds.
Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong!
Let them turn to the LORD that He may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (NLT)
Observation:
With all the uncertainties we face in this life and with all the untruths that are thrown at us, there is One Truth that stands apart from all others; that the LORD will not always be near and available for us (Romans 13:12), for once our earthly bodies die, so does our ability to find a Savior who will snatch us out of the grips of Satan and put us in the everlasting, loving arms of God. Because the dominion of the Devil is such a driving force in our world, it becomes extremely hard for people to discern what is true and what is not (Ephesians 6:12). And since we all have within us a sinful nature that is prone to side with what is wrong, we start thinking that wrong is right. The Devil is the best at what he does, and that is… deceiving God’s people.
Application:
Do you know for certain that you will be alive tomorrow? Have you made a conscience effort to find the whole Truth? If not, there is no better time than now, for tomorrow may never come your way. The Lord our God wants no one to suffer His final wrath upon a world gone bad, so He gives us the time to make a choice, but the time my friends, will one day and without notice, run out ( Luke 12:40) and with it... the opportunity of an eternal lifetime of happiness!
Prayer:
Thank you dear Lord, for opening my eyes to Your Truth, and I ask You in the name of Jesus to give me both the power and the courage to stand strong in the faith You have so graciously given me, so that I, too, can spread the Good News of the salvation You offer all people of this fallen world, which groans for Your return.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
He Knows Me, Yet Loves Me
Soap August 29, 2010
Scripture:
Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
Observation:
Our sovereign LORD is as much a personal God to us as He is perfect. He is not a God who stands apart from His creation, but a loving and merciful God who only wants the best for His people (Isaiah 62:5). I find it amazing that with all of the Lord’s wisdom and power and greatness that He even takes the time to know each one of us personally and puts into place those things that we need and are best for our salvation (Hebrews 4:16). We are all unique beings with our own personal cross we must bear—one that is made to fit our strength, and one that we can manage with the help of our LORD, who knows first hand what its like to carry the weight of a cross so heavily burdened with all the sins of the world that only He, our Mighty LORD and Savior, could bear and live through it. How wonderful it is to have a God who knows us fully and yet, loves us so dearly with a love so great that He allowed mere men to humiliate Him, the Creator, and be nailed to a wooden cross to die.
Application:
I spent a good deal of my life despising some of those hidden things about myself that I could not share with anyone, not even with the One who created me. To be honest, I thought that these areas of my life where hidden so deep that even God Himself had no idea what they were. And with each day the guilt and shame I had to carry kept getting heavier and heavier until eventually they took their toll and I collapsed under the weight. But while I was laying in the muck of my life, buried in the burdens that were suffocating me and oblivious to the grace of God, the LORD reached down at the last moment to pull me up and slowly, one by one, began to remove those burdens that had wearied me to the brink of death. My dear friends, we were not meant to carry our burdens alone, for when we do, they always become too great for us to bear. I cannot explain what a relief I find in knowing that our God is someone I can trust with my deepest and darkest moments; someone who not only has the power, but is always willing to remove any and all of those burdens that tend to weigh me down and threaten my life.
We have a loving God, my friends, who loves us in spite of all our deep dark secrets and He is a God who will never change (Malachi 3:6).
Prayer:
O Lord God, how humbling it is for me to know how great your love for me is when I realize that you have loved me even when I did not love you—even when all that I did and thought brought you sadness. At times it is so hard to understand your love for me because I am so unworthy, but even in my unworthiness, I am thankful for your love and understanding. Your love and unchangeableness, dear LORD, is a blessed mystery that I can, with confidence, put all of my hope in.
Zakery Daniel
Scripture:
Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
Observation:
Our sovereign LORD is as much a personal God to us as He is perfect. He is not a God who stands apart from His creation, but a loving and merciful God who only wants the best for His people (Isaiah 62:5). I find it amazing that with all of the Lord’s wisdom and power and greatness that He even takes the time to know each one of us personally and puts into place those things that we need and are best for our salvation (Hebrews 4:16). We are all unique beings with our own personal cross we must bear—one that is made to fit our strength, and one that we can manage with the help of our LORD, who knows first hand what its like to carry the weight of a cross so heavily burdened with all the sins of the world that only He, our Mighty LORD and Savior, could bear and live through it. How wonderful it is to have a God who knows us fully and yet, loves us so dearly with a love so great that He allowed mere men to humiliate Him, the Creator, and be nailed to a wooden cross to die.
Application:
I spent a good deal of my life despising some of those hidden things about myself that I could not share with anyone, not even with the One who created me. To be honest, I thought that these areas of my life where hidden so deep that even God Himself had no idea what they were. And with each day the guilt and shame I had to carry kept getting heavier and heavier until eventually they took their toll and I collapsed under the weight. But while I was laying in the muck of my life, buried in the burdens that were suffocating me and oblivious to the grace of God, the LORD reached down at the last moment to pull me up and slowly, one by one, began to remove those burdens that had wearied me to the brink of death. My dear friends, we were not meant to carry our burdens alone, for when we do, they always become too great for us to bear. I cannot explain what a relief I find in knowing that our God is someone I can trust with my deepest and darkest moments; someone who not only has the power, but is always willing to remove any and all of those burdens that tend to weigh me down and threaten my life.
We have a loving God, my friends, who loves us in spite of all our deep dark secrets and He is a God who will never change (Malachi 3:6).
Prayer:
O Lord God, how humbling it is for me to know how great your love for me is when I realize that you have loved me even when I did not love you—even when all that I did and thought brought you sadness. At times it is so hard to understand your love for me because I am so unworthy, but even in my unworthiness, I am thankful for your love and understanding. Your love and unchangeableness, dear LORD, is a blessed mystery that I can, with confidence, put all of my hope in.
Zakery Daniel
Listen To Me
Soap August 28, 2010
Scripture:
Isaiah 46:3-4
Listen to Me, all you who are left in Israel.
I created you and have cared for you since before you were born.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (NLT)
Observation:
These words spoken by the only true Living God were not only for His people Israel to hear at the time, but they are also meant to be heard by all people throughout the ages—both those who put their hope and trust in the Lord God, their Creator, and also for all those who have been deceived into putting their hope and trust in the many man made gods of this world.
As God’s created people we must come to the realization that we were created by God (Genesis 1:27) and for God (Colossians 1:16). We must humbly except that we are powerless against the forces that rule this world and when we separate ourselves from God we are guaranteeing our failure no matter how successful we become in the eyes of the world. We were created above all else to proclaim the Glory of God. Our sole purpose is to live for God in ways that bring Him glory and the only way we can accomplish this purpose is by opening our hearts and minds to the Truth and live accordingly. And when we live for God, He will draw us close and protect us (James 4:7, 8). And as a recipient of God’s promises I can proclaim that apart from the Living God our lives are free game for the world’s gods to conquer and destroy.
Application:
I lived 55 years believing and trusting in the world’s ways and it left me feeling empty and hopeless and a sorry excuse for a human being. My life was filled with darkness and I sinned against God and others to escape the pain of hopelessness and defeat. But when I redirected my focus and put my hope and trust in the One who created me, He gave me the confidence to face the world as it is knowing that this life, with all its trials and tribulations, is controlled by its Maker and as long as I trusted in God’s sovereignty and purpose I could not go wrong. And now that my hair is gray and I’m getting closer to the end of this life, I have peace and joy in my heart no matter how this fallen world tries its best to discourage me into believing that there is not a God who loves and cares for His creation, especially His people.
Prayer:
How I thank You, LORD God, for all that You are and for all that You continue to do, so that Your people can put their confidence in the only One who can save us from the grips of Satan. You are our Hope and Joy—the Truth that brings us life everlasting. What an awesome God You are!
Zakery Daniel
Scripture:
Isaiah 46:3-4
Listen to Me, all you who are left in Israel.
I created you and have cared for you since before you were born.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (NLT)
Observation:
These words spoken by the only true Living God were not only for His people Israel to hear at the time, but they are also meant to be heard by all people throughout the ages—both those who put their hope and trust in the Lord God, their Creator, and also for all those who have been deceived into putting their hope and trust in the many man made gods of this world.
As God’s created people we must come to the realization that we were created by God (Genesis 1:27) and for God (Colossians 1:16). We must humbly except that we are powerless against the forces that rule this world and when we separate ourselves from God we are guaranteeing our failure no matter how successful we become in the eyes of the world. We were created above all else to proclaim the Glory of God. Our sole purpose is to live for God in ways that bring Him glory and the only way we can accomplish this purpose is by opening our hearts and minds to the Truth and live accordingly. And when we live for God, He will draw us close and protect us (James 4:7, 8). And as a recipient of God’s promises I can proclaim that apart from the Living God our lives are free game for the world’s gods to conquer and destroy.
Application:
I lived 55 years believing and trusting in the world’s ways and it left me feeling empty and hopeless and a sorry excuse for a human being. My life was filled with darkness and I sinned against God and others to escape the pain of hopelessness and defeat. But when I redirected my focus and put my hope and trust in the One who created me, He gave me the confidence to face the world as it is knowing that this life, with all its trials and tribulations, is controlled by its Maker and as long as I trusted in God’s sovereignty and purpose I could not go wrong. And now that my hair is gray and I’m getting closer to the end of this life, I have peace and joy in my heart no matter how this fallen world tries its best to discourage me into believing that there is not a God who loves and cares for His creation, especially His people.
Prayer:
How I thank You, LORD God, for all that You are and for all that You continue to do, so that Your people can put their confidence in the only One who can save us from the grips of Satan. You are our Hope and Joy—the Truth that brings us life everlasting. What an awesome God You are!
Zakery Daniel
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