“The World vs. God”

Scripture:

Psalm 119:15-16
I will study Your Commandments and reflect on Your Ways.
I will delight in Your Principles and not forget Your Word. (NLT)

Observation:

In order for people to intelligently follow any kind of precepts, whether they are worldly or godly in nature, one must first take the time to study and contemplate them fully before they can successfully be applied to ones life. And secondly, these studied precepts must also be something that one enjoys.

Application:

With that said; if we truly want to learn God’s way of living in this most difficult world we must first turn to the Author of Life Himself; reading and studying His Word daily, rejoicing in what it says, and then humbly ask God what it means and how we should apply it to our lives (James 1:5). There are many worldly precepts that we can choose from, but it is only through the precepts of God’s powerful Word that we can truly know what it means to live (Hebrews 4:12). When we ask the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, into our lives and accept His sacrificial atonement for our sinful existence, our lives are no longer our own. God paid the heftiest price possible to free us from our sin and death, and we owe Him dearly—we owe Him our lives completely—not just certain parts, but all parts. Putting your life into the care and control of God does not take the fun out of living (which is what the secular world would have you believe) rather, it puts fun into its proper prospective. Surrendering to God actually brings far more enjoyment into our lives than anything this world has to offer. For our new godly nature will no longer crave the temporary, instant gratifying things that our sinful nature craves, instead, our desire to please God will patiently bring us an everlasting gratification that continues to bring joy into our lives (Romans 8:6-8). We will be able to discern the lasting joy type of fun that God designed for us from the temporal joy type of fun that this fallen world embraces. God’s precepts always lead to abundant, everlasting joy and life while the world’s misguided precepts create chaos, disappointment, and eternal darkness and death. The wise will choose God’s precepts and rejoice; the foolish will not. Instead, they will hang on to the world’s temporal pleasing precepts and rejoice in them while they can.

Prayer:

I would hate to think of what this cruel and evil world would be like without You, Lord God. We would have no righteousness, nor would there be any hope for justice. It is only because of Your mercy and grace that You gave us the key to living a righteous and just life. This dark world rejects righteousness and judges unfairly for many. But You are the True and Final Judge and no unforgiven wrongs shall go unpunished, for Your justice reigns.

Amen

“The Joy of Christmas”

Scripture:

Luke 1:78-79
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the Light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace. (NLT)

Observation:

Our gracious and merciful God has given the world’s people something, that since the beginning of time, we have not been able to find, and that, my dear friends, is a way out of the darkness that surrounds every living soul of this fallen world. The merciful Gift of God’s Light from Heaven was born into this darkened world the Savior (Luke 2:11). Christ Jesus came to us from Heaven, born with an eternal human body so that all peoples would have the same opportunity to escape the evil darkness that this sin-filled world chooses to embrace.

Application:

Through His physical life and ministry, and through His physical death and resurrection, Jesus lit the path of redemption for all to see, especially those who desperately cry out for God’s saving grace. Walking in the Light of God’s path not only cleanses us from all our iniquity and unrighteousness, but it also leads us through the Gateway of Heaven where we will live, both physically and spiritually, forever in the eternal Light of God’s Glory. This Wonderful Gift of redemption and salvation is the greatest gift one could ever ask for or humbly receive (2 Corinthians 9:15) . This gift is not only totally irrational by our human standards, but it is also a gift that is graciously offered to everyone, especially those who deem themselves unworthy or too undeserving. Jesus came to save the world from the curse of sin that plummeted God’s creation into this darkness. Jesus came to save each individual person (from the least to the greatest) from the self-destructive habits of our inherent sinful natures, which if continued to go on unchecked and unforgiven, would have lead us even deeper into the darkness that is inescapable . Jesus came to bring Light into the darkness. Jesus came to bring Hope to the hopeless. Jesus came to bring Joy to the world —the true and lasting Joy which the world had lost. The life and death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ gives us more than a reason to rejoice and be glad—it gives us victory over death. Jesus is the Light of God’s most Radiant Son; the Light that completely eradicates all darkness and that which separates us from our Holy God.

Prayer:

Thank You dear Lord, for the Light that saved our world from the self-destruction of sin. Thank You for coming into this dark world and for giving us Hope. You are an awesome God who deserves all of our praise and glory.

Amen

“A Heart of Truth”

Scripture:

1 John 3:19-20
It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth,
so we will be confident when we stand before the Lord,
even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our
hearts, and He knows everything. (NLT)

Observation:

In order for us to grasp the real meaning of life we must first seek the real truth. The most brilliant minds of the secular world would have us believe there is no absolute truth, especially when it comes to the way we live out our lives, for they try to convince us that truth is really all about finding what feels good or what seems right for the individual person, no matter what that may be. Fortunately for us, this worldly truth that sounds pleasing and good to our deceitful hearts is also not an absolute, but the lie of all lies from Satan, the father of false truth.

Application:

If it is absolute truth you seek, my friend, it does exist and there is no better place to begin your search than in the written words of God, spoken by the Author of Life Himself, the LORD Almighty. I believe one of the first truths that we must grasp from the mouth of God is the fact that there are many absolutes in this life; that is, absolute consequences for all our actions—both the seemingly insignificant as well as the larger significant ones—actions that God will hold all peoples accountable for—some readily in this life, but all in the next life to come. Like it or not, this is how God created this life to be lived. If no one was ever held accountable for their actions in this world, all of our lives lived would not be user friendly on this earth. There would be no order; only chaos. It would be survival of the fittest, with no limits of restraint. It would be winner takes all and no ones life would be safe. Most of our actions would be dictated by the law of kill or be killed. It is only because of our loving and gracious God that we have any just laws and order in this world (Deuteronomy 32:4). It is only because of God’s goodness passed on to us that there is anything good or righteous in this world (James 1:17). All the love and compassion and mercy found in this world only comes from God and the people of His Church, and when people live and love like Jesus, who is the Christ our Lord, their eternal destiny is sealed with the Promise that any life lived in Christ is secured in Heaven (Psalm 84:11). Actions of God’s goodness in faith = Salvation for many!

Prayer:

Please continue to expose the Truth of Your Word that all peoples of this world so desperately need. Help me, Lord, keep my focus on You and where Your Light is leading me, for without Your Light this life would be lived in vain and darkness.

Amen

“Cleansed in Truth”

Scripture:

1 John 1:8-9
If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves
and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him,
He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (NLT)

Observation:

There is absolutely no one that has ever breathed the air of this life, who has not disobeyed the living God, Jehovah, other than the Lord Jesus Himself. It is simply our fallen human nature that causes us to go against the ways of God and His will for our lives. We have the tendency to go above the One who created us in order to carve out an existence of our own making, disregarding the holiness and sovereignty of the LORD our God. So many of us get so consumed with self pride that we cannot admit our inherent weaknesses to follow our own misguided and rebellious nature to disobey the Law of God (1 John 3:4), which in time, further separates us from the goodness of God and we become discouraged, confused, hopeless, guilt ridden, and filled with shame—unable to enjoy or appreciate or even be aware of the many gifts of God. And the only way we can overcome our rebellious addiction to sin is by first admitting our need for a Savior—Someone who will forgive us of all our wrongs, no matter how small or how large they may be—Someone who can give us a brand new start (Colossians 3:9, 10).

Application:

I cannot begin to explain the freedom and peace it brings me to have finally unloaded all the misguide and sinful things I did and felt that not only saddened the One who gave me life, but brought a lot of pain and wrong into the lives of my family and others. The only way that anyone can begin a new life in God is by putting to death the old life of sin and nailing it to the Cross of Christ. You must, with uninhabited honesty, bring all your sins (especially those deep and dark secrets that you want to remain hidden) to the throne of God’s grace (Hebrews 4:16), where He will forgive you completely and remember your sin no more. Then for the rest of your mortal life you will have the Advocate, Christ Jesus our Lord, pleading your case before the LORD God where you will one day stand forgiven and holy before Him, thus escaping the just and final judgment that all unrepentant sinners will have to face.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for Your gracious forgiveness. Thank You for showing me the Truth about You and Your Law and what I needed to do in order to find Your peace in this unfair and unjust life. Thank You for showing me how I should live this life. Thank You for Your advocacy.

“Nail & Cross”

Scripture:

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. (NLT)

Observation:

The decision to surrender your sin-filled, rebellious nature into God’s transforming hands can be a slow and painful process for many. For some this decision is made out of pure desperation; a last stand to make sense of this seemingly futile life that beats us up and ends in death. For others, it can be a near death experience that strikes the fear into their hearts that maybe—just maybe, there are consequences for the way we live this life. But whatever the cause may be for this decision, it is a life changer, for sure.

Application:

Giving up the things of this world which feed our compulsive nature is something that we cannot achieve on our own. We need Someone greater than ourselves; One that we can fully trust to help us overcome the powerful grip of Satan and the life-journey to hell that is imminent for all those who remain trapped in and enslaved by their sinful nature. The power of sin not only controls us with its appetites, but it is a part of who we are—it is simply our inherent fallen human nature (Romans 5:12). Nailing my sinful nature to the cross of Christ was the one of the first steps I needed to take on my new life-journey of recovery and restoration; an all important step that gave me the confidence and trust I needed to plow forward in the heart wrenching battle to overcome the sin that came so naturally easy and was so hard to fight. It takes courage and discipline to stand against the dark powers of this world (2 Chronicles 32:7, 8). It takes both commitment and sacrifice to learn the Truth and to gain our strength (Psalm 37:5). It takes knowing the only Living God—knowing who He is and all He does—knowing who He promises to be and what He promise to do. For without God and His sovereign power living and working in our lives, we are all destined to fail the battles for our hearts and souls. Without God’s wisdom you will live both foolishly and dangerously. Without God’s Light you will walk and live in a darkness that will eventually consume you. But when you nail your sinful life to the cross of Christ, you will immediately begin to experience the peace of God that comes from being set free from your bondage to sin and death. God did not create us to die, my friends, He created us to live! And live you will, when you humbly surrender to the Lord and nail your sinful self to the Cross of Life.

Prayer:

Thank You for the Cross, dear Lord, thank You for Your life. For You accomplished what we cannot. What a gift You brought to this lost and hopeless world that was doomed to fail. Thank You for the life we can now live in You—protected and saved—triumphant and joy-filled.

Amen

“In His Grace”

Scripture:

Galatians 2:21
I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless.
For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die. (NLT)

Observation:

It is only because of God’s abundant mercy and gracious favor that anyone of this fallen world has
both the means and the opportunity to stand forgiven and righteous before the Holy God of all creation (2 Chronicles 30:9), because it is humanly impossible for sinful man to co-exist, either spiritually or physically, with the holiness of God (Psalm 24:3, 4). The Lord gave us His written Law two-fold; so that we might know how to live a long and healthy life that would be both pleasing to Him and rewarding for us, and to show us how desperately we all need God’s mercy and grace—to show us how sinful we are and how impossible it is for any human being to live without sinning against our Holy God.

Application:

The standards of our Holy God are far too high for anyone to achieve on their own accord. And it is because of His high standard and the sin condition that we all have inherited from the first man, Adam, that the Almighty God sent His Son into the world. It is through our Lord, Jesus Christ, that mankind was able to meet God face to face and the Lord our God was able to experience, first hand, this hard and difficult life for Himself. Although Jesus was born without a sinful nature, He still lived with the same temptations as all of us do, and because He was able to live a sinless life, Jesus became the perfect, once and for all time, sacrificial Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world and paying the full price that set us free from the power of sin and the fear of death that this life holds us in bondage to. Christ paid for our sins and our souls with His blood and His life. He now covers the forgiven sins of all believers with His perfect righteousness. By hanging on a cross Jesus saved us with His life. By rising from the grave into Heaven, Jesus defeated death and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father pleading our case and forgiving our sins. And even though we continue to fall short of God’s Glorious Standard we have the power of God to help us overcome our sin addiction, and His forgiveness when we fail. Treasure this gift of God’s grace and hold tightly to the hope it brings. And let no day pass you by, my friends, without verbally expressing your sincere thanksgiving and praise to the God who accomplished what you could not and saved your life.

Prayer:

What peace it brings knowing that we have a loving God who is filled with compassion for His people; a faithful God who is both living in and with His people. Without You, dear Lord, where would we find any hope? Where could we go for comfort? Who could ease our pain and give us peace? Only You, Lord God…only You.

Amen

“Thanksgiving”

Scripture:

Psalm 98:1
Sing a new song to the LORD,
for He has done wonderful deeds,
He has won a mighty victory
by His power and holiness. (NLT)

Observation:

Our LORD has given His creation the greatest gift possible, His One and Only Son; our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Not only did our Lord take the punishment that was due all of mankind, but He paid the full ransom once and for all—the price; His life.

Application:

We can all find reason to be thankful no matter what our circumstances may be, if we truly stop focusing on all that we don’t have; or worse, what we, ourselves, have done for us. Without the Lord our Creator, nothing would exist. Without the Lord our Sustainer, all that He created would cease to exist. Without the Lord our Organizer, there would be no order. Without the Lord our Provider, we would have nothing to sustain our life. Without the Lord our Comforter, we would live in continual fear. Without the Lord our Savior, we would be slaves to our evil nature; forever chained in bondage to sin. Without the Lord our Redeemer, we would die a sinners death and be sentenced to life in hell. Without the Lord, my friends, we would have no life, no reason, no joy, no hope, no justice, and no future. Without Jesus living in our world thanksgiving would be hard to give and difficult to find, if not impossible. So take the time, my friends, and give thanks to the LORD for the good things that you have, because without the Lord our God there would be no good things and this life would be a nightmare at best for everyone who was unfortunate enough to live, because there would be absolutely nothing worth living for—and most certainly, nothing worth dying for!

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for showing us who You are and who we were created to be. Thank You for all Your amazing mercy and grace and patience for us. With You, we have Hope—alone, we have nothing. In You, we find life, for the sting of death You defeated for us. How blessed we are to have a God as awesome as You.

Amen

“The Key”

Scripture:

Psalm 119:7
When I learn Your righteous laws,
I will thank You by living as I should! (NLT)

Observation:

It is highly unlikely that a small child could figure out how to please their father unless they knew what would please him. This same analogy holds true for God’s children. We must first learn who the Father is and what we, His children, must do in order to please Him.

Application:

When we learn how to obey and follow His Way our lives will bring much delight to our Father in Heaven, and when God is delighted, He blesses our lives in return (Proverbs 8:32, 35). It is by learning and understanding God’s Truth that we gain the right knowledge, and that knowledge is what motivates us to obey and practice what we learn. And we accomplish this by the way we live our lives. But we must first have the desire to learn the Word of God and His will for our lives, because He will not force these things upon anyone. We must seek daily the knowledge of God (Jeremiah 29:13); for by seeking and learning what He demands of us, we might remember; by remembering, we might believe; by believing, we might take delight; by delighting, we might admire; by admiring, we might take heed; by taking heed, we might practice, and by practicing, we might continue on in the ways of God to find life at its best. And as we journey through this life, learning God’s statutes, we acquire the correct knowledge to make the right choices that not only please God, but will bring about a life that is worth living—a life that is worth passing on to our children, our family, our friends, and all those with whom we share this life with. You will never experience the peace of God and the fullness of life until you know what path to follow and what rules to keep. Without the proper knowledge from God our Creator, our life-journey’s become nightmares that have no end. There are many ways in which we can offer God our thanksgiving for all He has done, but I believe there is no better way of thanksgiving than offering God your life lived in thankful obedience to Him (Acts 17:28).

Prayer:

Thank You, O LORD, for the key that has opened the door to the knowledge of Your Wisdom. Now all I ask is that you guide me through this life-journey, helping me stay on the path that leads to life. Help me to have the courage to live by it and share it with this wayward world.

Amen

“All Things Good”

Scripture:

Proverbs 13:14
The advice of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;
those who accept it avoid the snares of death. (NLT)

Observation:

All true wisdom comes from the God of the Bible. Every word found in the Scriptures is a God breathed word (2 Timothy 3:16). Although the actual words written were formed by human hands, they were all inspired and directed by the Lord God Himself. Our Lord and Creator, Jesus Christ, the Word of God has been our connection to God and the heavenly realms since the beginning of mankind over 6,000 years ago (John 1:1-4). The wisdom that pours out from the pages of God’s Word are designed for a purpose—to give all peoples the truth about life and death—to give us hope and understanding—so we would be able to live a life that is honorable and rewarding and worth living.

Application:

I believe that one of the most important truths’ we discover in reading the many Word’s of God is the fact that all things good come from above, and all things bad come from the depths of hell. All things that come down from heaven are God directed and good for us, while all things from this fallen world are Satan directed and dangerous for us. The wisdom from Heaven is pure and holy and leads to life (Matthew 4:4). The wisdom from Hell is pure evil and deadly, directing the wisdom of man which is foolishness disguised as truth. Manmade wisdom is flawed and false and only leads to confusion and eventually eternal separation from all things good. Don’t be fooled with the world’s wisdom on life and death, my friends, because it is pure Satanism and has dire consequences that are costly. Instead, discover the Absolute Truth that can only be found in the authority, clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of Scripture—God’s infallible Word—words that bring us life.

Prayer:

Thank You Lord, for sharing Your words of truth and for helping me understand the way to everlasting life. Without Your Truth we would all be deceived into believing the lies of this fallen world and its ruler, Satan that would eventually lead us to our death and destruction. What an awesome God You are, dear Lord, awesome indeed!

Amen

“To Persevere”

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:23-25
Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to out-bursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near. (NLT)

Observation:

In these final days of so much deception and unspeakable evil that our sin-filled and wayward world is facing, let us never withhold from anyone that saving Light which our Lord and God, Jesus Christ has so graciously shinned into our own once darkened lives (Psalm 27:1). Now, more than ever before, is the time to both warn and encourage all peoples with the truth about this fast-tracked, end-time prophecy that is being played out before our very eyes.

Application:

The time has come for the Church to truly gather as one and share the only Hope we have in Christ—Hope that not only brings the peace of God into our lives, but the strength to persevere the onslaught of trouble that will continue to plague this world until the Lord comes again to defeat all those who stand against Him; putting an end to the injustice that has ruled far too long. People are not strong enough to stand alone against the powers of hell, but when we unite together with Christ, as one righteous body, we then have the greater power. Just as we need God’s sovereign grace to continue to exist physically, so too, is our need for the Holy Spirit’s truth and strength so we can escape the coming judgment that will befall mankind’s sinful rebellion and all those held in its grasp. Our loving and gracious God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked and rebellious, but desires that all peoples would repent of their sinfulness against Him and learn how to live lives that would not only bring honor to themselves, but also bring glory to the Living God who created us (Ezekiel 33:11). Christ Jesus has commissioned His Church to proclaim and show the Way to the lost and hopeless so they, too, can know and experience the Truth of God and receive the Lord’s special favor (Hebrews 12:15) that is poured out on all those who believe and trust in the Son of God; the only One that has the power to save and restore the decadence of this dying world. There are many false gods who are competing for your soul and every one of them are followers of Satan, the father of deceit and all evilness. It is so very critical, dear brothers and sisters, for God’s chosen people to encourage and lift each other up so we can continue to spread the “Good News” throughout the world; that God is always in control and always searching for ways to reach those who are lost and without hope. He is the One and only God who has the power to yank us free from the deadly grasp of the Enemy’s clutches and set our feet on solid Holy Ground where we can remain safe and secure in His Presence until that Great Day of the Lord is upon us!

Prayer:

All the honor and glory belongs to You, O Lord, for it is only by Your holy grace and sovereign mercy that we can escape the Coming Night of Your Final Wrath against all enemies of God. Thank You Jesus, for the deadly sacrifice you experienced for mankind’s salvation.

Amen

“Lesser than Greater”

Scripture:

John 3:30-31
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth,
and my understanding is limited to the things of earth, but He has come from heaven. (NLT)

Observation:

In order to understand the things of God we must first get over ourselves and put life into the proper perspective, most importantly, when it comes to whom the Creator is and who we the created are. The creator is always greater than that which he has created; much like the potter’s creative power over his creation (Isaiah 64:8). This simple analogy developed by our great Designer holds absolutely true, especially when it comes to describing the relationship between God and people and our life-journey on this earth (Isaiah 45:18).

Application:

Until we put our Creator, the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, above ourselves and make it a priority to know and understand how this life was designed to work, we will continue to pursue our own greatness which leaves little or no room at all for the One with whom all things were created by and for. If we are to experience the fullness and richness of life we must first understand the how and why of our existence and then believe it, for it is only by believing our greater God’s love for His creation and the mercy and grace He has for His people that anyone borne of this world has the opportunity to rise above our fallen human status to live blameless and godly lives in the eyes of the living and Holy God of all creation. When you stop focusing only on yourself and what this created world can do for you and humbly nail to the cross of Christ your past rebellion and ignorance of the creator—createe relationship, He will completely forgive you and begin to bless you with true understanding about this difficult life and the heavenly eternal life that is yet to come for everyone who believes. Our God is greater and bigger and more powerful than the entire created universe (Psalm 147:5). And even though we are incredibly small and seemingly insignificant in the vastness of God’s immense universe, He has chosen us, His redeemed people, to share in the greatness of His Eternal Kingdom. It is not a bad thing, my friend, to consider yourself less than, for when you do you will be able to rise above the deceiving greatness of this fallen world and meet our amazing God the Creator face to Face; just as He designed for you to do.

Prayer:

Please help me, O Lord, to put into the proper perspective, your awesome power to save Your people. For when I truly understand my place in Your creation, only then I can live my life as it was designed to live—a life that brings glory to Your Name.

Amen

“Be at Peace”

Scripture:

2 Peter 3:13-14
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised;
A world where everyone is right with God. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting
for these things to happen, make every effort to live a pure and blameless life.
And be at peace with God. (NLT)

Observation:

There can be little doubt that storm clouds are gathering over this world, signaling the Coming of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ (James 5:8). The new millennium we are living in today will be a short one indeed, for each day we discover more and more proof of God’s prophecy being fulfilled throughout the world, which cannot survive another 988 years of mankind’s ruling.

Application:

Just through human reasoning alone will confirm the reality of this truth. The human race has excelled more quickly in scientific knowledge over the past 100 years than it has since man was created by God, and is now trying to surpass and even trump the sovereignty and providence of God’s plan for His creation. And with the population of the world growing more rapidly than it ever has, man will never succeed in solving the massive problem of feeding and housing everyone; that is, short of genocide. Which, by the way, the Godless people of America have managed the erase an entire generation through the killing of millions of innocent unborn children. So many people are living in denial and fear of the inevitable and are hoping there will be some kind of miraculous intervention by a human savior that will solve our dilemma so life on this dying planet will get fixed and everyone can be happy. Others deny the existence of God and eternal life and don’t really care about anyone or anything but themselves, choosing to live as they please until they die, thinking they will sleep forever in a dreamless state while their body decays in the ground. And then sadly, we have those who believe in a god but have manufactured a god of their own liking who will make living in this hard and difficult life right for everyone, regardless of how they live or what they do. The truth is, my friends, time is running out for mankind and all his gods, for the LORD our God and Savior will not allow the total decadence of His creation to annihilate itself without interceding. Jesus will intercede, my friends, and soon (Revelation 22:7), to set up His Holy and Righteous Kingdom so He can reign throughout the last millennium of this earth. And at the end of this final age, every warning and promise from God will be fulfilled. Knowing and believing in this truth will either cause you to be at peace with God and His perfect sovereign plan, or hopefully cause you enough healthy fear that you will repent and change (Titus2:12, 13), or unfortunately you will blow it off as utter foolishness and hope it’s not true.

Prayer:

Thank You for the Truth, dear God, for without it we would never experience Your peace in this hard and difficult world we live in, for without Your peace, dear Lord we would have no joy in living.

Amen

“Paid in Full”

Scripture:

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from
the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.
And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver.
He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ,
the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (NLT)

Observation:

We can never know the full extent of the ransom that our Lord paid to save the life of our eternal souls, because He is not only God, but the One who became the very ransom that was paid.

Application:

For those of us who believe and accept that Jesus was the final sacrificial Lamb of God who received the full penalty for every sin committed (past, present, and future), our lives are no longer our own to do whatever we want with them (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The debt we owe the Lord is so far above our understanding that even if we wanted to repay Him in full it would be humanly impossible for us to do (Psalm 49:8-9). But once you begin to look deep into the whole matter of God’s redemptive plan for His creation and then contemplate the true meaning of it all you will truly desire (with all your heart) to give him back the very life that He paid so dearly to save. And once you sincerely make that decision, He will slowly begin to transform you so your new life lived will bring honor and glory to the deity of God, and in due time He will honor and glorify you in return. It is important to understand that God did not have to save anyone or for any particular reason. He saved you because He wanted to give you hope. He saved you so that you would have a really good reason to live in this difficult and demanding life that in the end would be well worth all the hardship and struggles we had to go through. Bottom line; He saved you because He loves you. He saved you because He is God and that is what He does (Titus 3:7). What a merciful and loving God we have, my dear friends, and what an awesome blessing it is to know that even though we always fall short of God’s glorious standard this side of heaven, we have a Redeemer, Christ Jesus, who has taken upon Himself the terrible wrath we all deserve so that we can escape the decadence that sin brings to those who try to stand on their own merit. We owe the God of creation all that we are and can be, and so very much more!

Prayer:

Thank You, O God, for the price You paid for my salvation. Having accepted Your forgiveness I can now live with Your peace in my heart knowing that You have made it possible for me to stand in Your Presence, free from guilt and shame of my past, knowing that this world can do nothing to ever separate You from me again.

Amen

“One Way Only”

Scripture:

Psalm 44:5-8
Only by Your Power can we push back our enemies;
Only by Your Name can we trample our foes.
I do not trust my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me.
It is You who humbles those who hate us.
O God, we give glory to You all day long and constantly praise Your Name. (NLT)

Observation:

The most dangerous battle that we are faced with in America today is the battle for our hearts and minds and most critically, the intense battle for the life of our souls. It is physically and mentally impossible to escape the rise in ungodly living and the immorality that has befallen our nation which continues to attack the moral fiber of God’s sovereign holiness and His will for our lives. The satanic power of the media and government are teaching our children to rebel against God and His call for righteous living so they can live as they please by downplaying our sinful nature to get what we can and do whatever feels good. This same satanic force is also compromising the Christian faith of adult believers to conform with the new age ideology, which is transforming the absolute, inerrant Truth of God’s Word in order to justify our sin filled actions that fit in with the many gods of this fallen world who preach social justice and fairness over God’s justice and righteousness. The only way we can successfully combat this onslaught of Satanism is by casting ourselves upon the omnipotence and mercy of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, asking Him to reveal the Truth through His Word and stay connected with His true Church—those who are being lead by the Holy Spirit.

Application:

There are many voices we can listen to that sound good and seem well intended, but are voices that will mislead you in the wrong direction to spread their false gospel to the many confused and lost people who are groping in the darkness of this deceitful world, looking for anything or anyone that will ease their pain and give them hope. Our Hope and Victory over this world and death is available for everyone to find and receive. But do not be fooled by the sly words of God’s enemies, my dear friends, for there is only One Way; Jesus the Christ (John 14:6). One Truth; God’s Word, the Holy Bible (John 17:17). And One Life; in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2). Therefore, we must be well grounded in God’s Word, closely connected with the Holy Spirit, and trustfully believe in Jesus as Savior—all the while praising and thanking God for who He is and what He has so graciously given all His people—our undeserved and unearned salvation!

Prayer:

O God, pour out Your Spirit to help us discern Your Truth from that of the world’s which is both misleading and false. Help us remain alert and on our guard for the enemies attack on You and all that You stand for. We need Your awesome Power, for the battle is tough and will rage on until You return and make things right.
Amen

“Power in the Spirit”

Scripture:

Romans 8:6-7
If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death.
But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.
It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. (NLT)

Observation:

The only way that anyone, who walks on the face of this earth and breathes its air, can refrain from following their sinful nature is through the awesome Power of God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16). For the uncanny evil nature to sin (that is a part of who we are) has the power to lead us away from the only One who is able to save us from certain death and punishment that all unrepentant sinners deserve and receive. It is understandable and undeniable that we had no choice in the matter of our birth and the sin nature attached to our lives, but from the moment we begin to think for ourselves—reasoning with life experiences—we are faced with many choices and critical decisions to make.

Application:

The Lord God not only created into every living person the sense of right and wrong, but He has also given us the freedom to make those choices (good or bad) that will determine how well we live this life that will ultimately lead us to our eternal destiny. It matters not what family we are born into, or how good we consider ourselves to be; we are all borne to sin (Ephesians 2:3), and will die a sinner’s death without the Lord’s intervention and power. The human flesh is weak and is easily persuaded to follow the sinful nature that seeks self-gratifying pleasures even though we know the consequences can be deadly. The curse that sin holds over the entire creation is indeed, a mighty invisible force to be reckoned with—one that is much too powerful for any human being to stand against on their own without the sovereign power of our Creator, the Author of Life. We should never take for granted the love that the Lord our God has for us sinners (a love we will never comprehend this side of heaven), for He has so graciously offered everyone His Holy and all powerful Spirit, which takes up residence in our hearts when we make that life-changing decision to give God control over our lives and ask Him to help us successfully fight the sin that holds us captive. When we truly belong to God our lives are no longer our own. For the Lord paid the ultimate price for all our rebellion and sin. We all owe Him dearly, my friends, we owe Him our very lives—lives that were too precious for Him to lose!

Prayer:

O LORD, thank You for loving us as You do. Even though we don’t fully understand the full extent of Your love, You can be sure that many of us will give You our lives in return. Thank You for sending us the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and give us what we need in order to persevere the persecution that is closing in on Your people. With You, there is peace no matter what!

Amen

“Faithful and True”

Scripture:

Romans 1:17
This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight.
This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say,
“It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (NLT)

Observation:

Our saving faith begins when we truly believe that God exists; that He has always existed and that He always will exist (Revelation 1:8); that our eternal God is sovereign over the entire universe which He spoke into existence; that He is a living God who deeply cares about the people He so carefully created (2 Corinthians 6:16) in His image (Genesis 1:27).

Application:

It takes faith to believe that it is God who holds the balance of our lives in His hands. It takes faith to believe that the universe and all that is in it would cease to exit without God’s incredible power and grace holding it all together so that we, His people, can breathe and live to see another day. We are people who take far too many things for granted; people who foolishly put our faith in things that will one day cease to exist. Because of our sin nature we are a stubborn people, filled with self-pride, and are easily tempted into putting our trust in a world that is not only dying, but a world that invents manmade philosophy that trumps God’s sovereign plan as foolishness. Because Satan is the god of this world we are easily deceived into believing and therefore putting our faith in the many worldly things that seem really good, but deliver only false hope and separation from God. And separation from God is a very deadly place to be. The only sure hope we have, dear friends, is having faith in the eternal Living God, Jehovah, who graciously provided the Way, the Truth, and the Life—our Savior, Christ Jesus. Having faith in anything or anyone but the eternal God Jehovah is not only foolish and unwise but it breaks the heart of God, for He desires all people He creates to be His people so He can be our God. It is a wise decision to put your faith and trust in the only living God, who is perfectly holy and forever faithful to His Word even when you are not.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear God, for the choice of everlasting life with You. Thank You for the Way, the Truth, and the Life, for without it we would all be doomed to an eternity of death and darkness. Please help all believers everywhere, who remain faithful in their trust in You to bring them Home safely.

Amen

“High and Lifted Up”

Scripture:

Psalm 25:1, 2
To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul,
O my God, I trust in You. (NKJ)

Observation:

Whether we are face down, pleading our case before the LORD, or our hands and eyes are lifted high into the heavens, praising and glorifying God’s awesomeness, it is our soul that truly cries out for fellowship with God. For there is no One, or anything in all existence, that can satisfy the longings of our souls (Psalm 107:9), but the One who was and is and always will be; the LORD our God.

Application:

The LORD is our omnipresent Father who provides everything we need; our omnipotent Savior who has saved us from our own destructive behavior; and our omniscient Spirit who guides us in truth all the way to Heaven. He is our Creator, our Provider, and our faithful Redeemer
(1 Corinthians 9:6). If it were not for the outpouring of His gracious favor, we would either cease to exist, or wished we didn’t. If it were not for His loving mercy we would be left to our own demise, which would fail us miserably against the prince of the power of the air. We have, in our God Jehovah, everything we could possibly dream of and much, much more. And when we pray to the One who has given us the breath of life and the hope of Heaven, let your soul be lifted high into His mighty arms, for it is there in His Holy Presence that you will find the peace and comfort that exceeds all understanding. It is when you lift up your soul as high as you can that you leave all your troubles and fears behind to meet the God that gave it all for you. Your Father in Heaven will meet you wherever you are, my dear friends, but the higher you lift your soul, the closer you come to the One who created you in His image, to be served by His majestic angels (Hebrews 1:14).

Prayer:

O LORD, how my soul longs for that day when You return to take us Home. Because of Your incredible mercy and grace we can once again, call you Father. Thank You for rescuing us from ourselves and certain doom. You are an awesome God, and I praise You above all else for who You are and all that You have done.

Amen

“Light Message”

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:14, 16
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid.
Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
No matter what happens always be thankful,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (NLT)

Observation:

As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is His great commission that we spread the message of God’s Light (which has been so graciously shined upon our lives) with those who live in darkness (Matthew 28:18-20). This life-saving Truth that we carry in our hearts is for everyone to hear and heed, for without it there can be no peace or joy for anyone living in this dying world that is groaning for truth, for healing, and most desperately, for some blessed hope with which people can base their lives on.

Application:

Sadly, many lost souls of the world are depending on their governments or other people to give them their basic needs or dreams, rather than depending on their Creator and Provider. Many people, as I did, discover just how hopeless this life becomes without God’s direction and provision, because when we trust and rely on the world’s array of empty promises we will inevitably find ourselves dissatisfied or discouraged, bitter or resentful, and angry at the God who loves them even when they disbelieve in His existence. This is why, as believers in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior—the ones who carry His Message of Hope—we must not hide in the Truth that saves while we look forward to that great and awesome Day when Jesus comes for the Church, His Bride. For when this day suddenly arrives, we know that all hell will break lose and many lost and hopeless souls will loose their lives violently and forever (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8)—including many that we know and love. Even though we are limited in our individual abilities to touch the masses, God is not, for God is Light (1 John 1:5). Even though His Church in the western world is luke warm at the moment, I believe there is revival in the air. We are God’s chosen people and we are all a functioning part of His Church body, called to work together in unison to shed some much needed light in this dark and damned world. There are so many lost and struggling to survive souls who are longing for Hope and finding none. Let us shine for the hopeless so they, too, can avoid that terrible day when God’s final and just wrath will be poured out from Heaven upon this earth and all those who live by it.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help understand the importance of spreading Your Good News to those who live in darkness and to those who are deceived that they are living in Your Light. Please give me both the wisdom and the strength to do Your will, for the very life of Your people are at stake.

Amen

“Never Ending”

Scripture:

Colossians 3:3, 5, 17
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.
And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (NLT)

Observation:

Our merciful God graciously came into this darkened, sin-filled world as a man of flesh
(1 Timothy 3:16) so that He could justly satisfy His anger against man’s rebellion and bring atonement to His creation (Romans 5:11). The only just way God could accomplish this reconciliation between Himself and mankind was by taking on flesh and blood, thus, becoming the Perfect and Pure, Final Sacrificial Lamb of God, and by doing so, He broke the power of sin and death so that we could stand blameless and not guilty before Him, receiving His eternal forgiveness.

Application:

God planned for our salvation before the Beginning of creation (Ephesians 1:4), not only to proclaim His Glory, but to also give us hope in spite of our inherent sinful nature, which desires to disobey and rebel. Our loving and Sovereign God stepped out of the Glory of Heaven to do what only He could do, so that we would be able to stand holy and righteous before Him—the Holy and Righteous God. God wants all of His people to be able to live in His Presence for Eternity, just as He did when created Adam and Eve. But God must be God; He can be no one else; He is perfectly holy and just and it is impossible for Him to be otherwise. Therefore, the Almighty God Himself cannot be in the presence of sin, much like darkness and light cannot exist at one time. It is because of God’s unchangeableness and His great love for us, that any sin-filled person who has sincerely accepted the merciful covering of Christ Jesus, has the Promise of complete forgiveness; to live forever Face to face with Jehovah, the God of Glory. There is no greater offer, nor is there a better promise in existence, my dear friends, with which we can truly rejoice over, and stake the very life of our eternal soul on. This gracious Promise of God, standing on its own, is reason alone to humbly bow ourselves before the only true and living God, glorifying His Mighty Name in thanksgiving and honoring Him by living in His Light so that we may be that beckon of light for anyone that is hopelessly lost in this dark and unforgiving world—that one person who is desperate for hope and searching for the One true meaning and purpose of this difficult life, so they, too, can escape the terrible consequences that living in darkness brings and live in the Light that gives Life a glorious new beginning—One that will never end!

Prayer:

Please help me remain close to You, O LORD, so my life will show the world there is hope for anyone who will humble themselves before You and let you be God. For You, my God, are the only hope we have if we are to experience life to the fullest—the Hope that never changes, nor ever ends.

Amen

“Lips for God”

Scripture:

Colossians 1:13-14
For He has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom
of darkness, and He has brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.
God has purchased our freedom with His blood and has forgiven all our sins. (NLT)

Observation:

No one who has sincerely accepted God’s gift of salvation should ever let this incredible, life saving truth be silenced from their lips (Psalm 30:11-12). Without the goodness of Jehovah from above and without His abundant mercy and grace towards us, where would we find the peace and joy that comes with knowing the promises of God (2 Peter 1:4) and what lies ahead for us after our earthly bodies are spent?

Application:

Those who are without the Wisdom of God directing their life-journey usually live in great fear of the unknown—not knowing what lies beyond this short life. Unfortunately, there are many confused and prideful people that put their hope in denying the reality of hell and desperately believing the lie that if an all loving God and a perfect Heaven do exist, then everyone, no matter how they have lived this life, are heaven bound. There are also many lost people who hope this life is all there is and therefore, they will consciously escape the consequences of their actions. This is why, as believers in Christ, we must hold steadfast to our faith that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do, because without a firm grip on this Truth, we will shift back and forth, unsteady and unsure, causing our weakness of faith to look foolish in the eyes of others, giving Satan an advantage that he will surely use to deceive the weak and misinformed who are searching for some answers and hope. Staying grounded in God’s Word, by walking in His Presence, and by living and loving like Jesus is the key to God’s will, my dear friends, which will not only bless us (and those we touch) richly in this life, but also in the everlasting life to come! Never forget God’s Abundant Mercy and be ever so thankful for His Amazing Grace. Let Him know how you feel, then let the world know (Psalm 47:1)

Prayer:

Help me, O LORD, to never forget or take for granted the wonderful things you have done for us, Your people. Even when we doubt You and Your existence, You continually pour out Your mercy and grace in the hope of bringing everyone into Your Holy Presence. Thank You for being You.

Amen

“Simply True”

Scripture:

Proverbs 1:32-33
For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil. (NKJ)

Observation:

In the first chapter of The Book of Proverbs, King Solomon, the son of David, gives us a clear picture of where we should look for sound and reliable wisdom which brings true purpose and meaning to this difficult life and why it is so critical for every person to have the ability to discern the foolishness of manmade, worldly wisdom (which leads to death and destruction) from the only true Wisdom that brings life to the fullest (1 Kings 4:29-30). God’s wisdom is both concise and made simple for everyone to understand.

Application:

When people live their lives guided by the wisdom of God they experience the kind of satisfaction and joy that is unknown to those who pursue the ways of the world, because God’s people know where the Lord is leading them (Psalm 73:24). By heeding the words of God’s wisdom we are able to learn life’s truths and teach our children what is right and just and fair so they, too, can learn how to live a life that brings honor and glory to God, and in return, God will surely honor and glorify them as well. When people simply reject God’s Way and live only to satisfy their own selfish needs and feelings the end result is anything but glorious and honorable, for the wisdom of this fallen world only leads to death and destruction for all those who heed its call of sinful living. When wise people walk alongside of God, listening and meditating and following His wisdom for life, they walk this life-journey in peace knowing they are safely walking in God’s presence; having no fear in knowing that God will never withhold His sovereign power to fight the evil that threatens them and consumes the foolish people of a world gone astray—a world which groans daily for its redemption and restoration from Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Prayer:

Thank You, O God, for Your Wisdom in the Truth of Your Word, for without it we would be lost and without hope. The wickedness of this evil and perverse world is always ready to devour anyone that turns his back on You. You are our Protector from evil and with You at our side there is no reason to fear those things which can destroy our souls.

Amen

“Gracious Mercy”

Scripture:

Psalm 6:1-2
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. (NKJ)

Observation:

It is never an easy task to break the old habits of sinfulness, for it is simply our nature to oppose God (Romans 8:7). Nor is it easy to admit our weakness to resist the nature to sin by our own power alone. I find that the closer I am drawn to the Lord, the more I learn about my own inherent weakness to restrain from sin and how easy it is to fall prey to its temptations without much thought or struggle. And when I, once again, mindlessly fall short of God’s standard, I am made even more aware of my weaknesses and how desperate I am for God’s mercy and grace.

Application:

It is obvious that without God’s gracious mercy I would justly receive the condemnation I deserve. What a blessing it is that we can seek God’s forgiveness and gain yet, another chance to do it right. It is never easy living a righteous life in this ungodly world that demands our conformity to its ways. We cannot escape the temptations to find pleasure in the things that God despises, for it surrounds us from every side, beating on the door of our frail human weakness; relentless to gain entrance and get a foothold on our lives. If we are to win the battles for our minds and souls, we need God’s Power and Wisdom, for without them, we are no match for the powers of darkness that rule this world. No matter how good or godly we aspire to be, we will always sin and deserve God’s rebuke; not so much for condemnation, but for conviction and sanctification (Jeremiah 10:24) to keep us from being crushed and defeated. When we humble ourselves before God, sincerely seeking His incredible transforming Power, God’s amazing grace will always be sufficient for all our needs. When your heart is right with God, my friends, He gives abundantly the mercy and grace you do not deserve and cannot earn (Titus 3:4-6), for Jehovah our God is both a loving and faithful God… even when you are not.

Prayer:

How thankful I am, dear LORD, for the mercy and grace You so freely give. Because without You in any life, there is absolutely no hope for true joy; for the the salvation you offer us is something that we can never earn or deserve.

Amen

“Wisdom for Life”

Scripture:

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night. (NKJ)

Observation:

There is no doubt that God blesses those who are faithful to Him. There is also no doubt that those who follow the sinfulness of this wicked world will, one day, regret their choices (Proverbs 28:20). When our life-journey is under God’s gracious direction—when we follow His commands—our lives are, indeed, filled with blessings that bring joy.

Application:

While walking in obedience to the only true and Holy God, we learn to avoid the crafty and sin-filled devices of this wicked world, which if unabated, will trap us in the abyss of darkness that it so boldly embraces. God’s Word teaches us and His Holy Spirit empowers us to not only be gracious with those who have chosen to follow the world’s ungodly ways, but to also be a witness to God’s goodness and healing touch, rather than conforming to the ways of the world in order to be accepted among them. Even though we, too, are sinners by nature and continue to sin, we have been set apart from the wicked by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). And by the power of His Spirit we are able to discern the company we keep so that we can remain justified by God’s grace and continue growing in our sanctification to live and love like Jesus (2 Peter 1:3). God’s people find no rest, nor pleasure in the company of the atheist and his scornful mocking of God and Christianity, of Heaven and Hell, and of sin and eternity, because God’s people have learned a much better philosophy that brings life to the fullest. Take heed, my friends, for the seat in which the scoffer sits is dangerously close to the gate that leads into eternal Hell. You must stay clear and flee from its grasp, because this seat of evil, that seems comfortable enough, will eventually swallow up those who wallow in it. Our gracious and loving God knows the way of the righteous even though it is often engulfed in fog and darkness. He knows that we all live under the cloud of storms and affliction, but still—He knows the hearts of those who truly love Him and seek to follow His Way. Embrace your Savior, dear ones, and He will surely embrace you in return, blessing greatly your life-journey with Him. This… is His never ending and never changing Promise!

Prayer:

Please empower me, O LORD, to listen only to your voice, for You are the Shepherd who knows us each by name. Help me embrace Your Truth as the way of life so you can bless my life-journey in ways that bring everlasting joy.

Amen

“In God We Hope”

Scripture:

Psalm 146:5
Happy are those who have the God of Israel for their helper,
whose hope is in the LORD their God. (NLT)

Observation:

Putting your hope in anyone else but the LORD—the Almighty Sovereign God, is not only foolish, but is very dangerous as well. For when we put our hope in other human beings who could die at any moment, what we get most is a false sense of security that will inevitably lead us to disappointment and discouragement, which eventually weakens our spirits and leaves us prey to the Enemy of our souls; the Devil. And likewise, whenever we put our hope in this fallen world, we are again putting our hope in something dying; a world that is not only reliably unstable, but whose god is Satan himself; the destroyer of all that is good. Your best hope, my friends, is your only Hope—the God who always was and always will be (Revelation 1:8); the only true and living God (Daniel 6:26).

Application:

When we put our hope in the living God of all creation, we are able to find rest from the heavy burdens of living in this dying world—allowing us to find a peace that brings true and lasting joy to our lives. Our loving and compassionate God has graciously given us His prophetic Word so that we would know what lies ahead in the future, for both a warning and an encouragement. When you have God as your Helper, your Provider, and your Redeemer, how can you not be happy (Psalm 144:15)? And when you are truly happy in the LORD, how can you not share this phenomenal news of our Great Helper with those who either rely on the false hope of a dying world, or have absolutely no hope at all? When you have the One who defeated sin and death as your only God, His Hope will give you a peace so unlike the world’s peace. For when you have the peace of God, my friends, you can walk fearlessly, day by day, towards a glorious future with the Lord your God (John 14:27). He has great plans indeed, for all those who call on Him for help and hope.

Prayer:

You, O God, are indeed our Great Helper; not only in our times of desperate need, but also in our times of plenty. Thank You for loving us enough to care and provide our every need. You are an awesome God, dear Lord, and there is none as great as You!

Amen

“The Face of God”

Scripture:

Psalm 143:7
Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like
those who go down into the pit. (NKJ)

Observation:

For all Christian people who live their life knowing and believing that they truly belong to God, there will always be those times when we need to humbly and prayerfully cry out for God’s help. There will always be times in this life when our circumstances are beyond our control to fix—when we feel as if our life is ebbing away; where each moment is critical and it feels like we may soon succumb. And when we come to the end of ourselves our spirits will soon follow suit and become distraught. It is during these moments that our fellowship with God is not only of the utmost importance for our very survival, but the personal relationship it creates with our Creator becomes very precious indeed. For we know that God’s withdrawal from our life not only brings much despair to our hearts and souls, but it also zaps our strength for living.

Application:

We know when God is absent in our lives that His absence enables our enemy’s to gain entrance with little or no restraint what so ever. Therefore, it is wise for God’s people to remain in His presence so that He can defend us and reveal the way of His will, for when we have God’s countenance, we live! If He turns His back on us, we will surely die! When God’s favor looks upon anyone’s life, they will, undoubtedly, be blessed! But if He refuses to shine His Face upon our lives, then we labor in vain! My dear friends; your prayerful plea to God should be the faith in which you live by. Although God may not always give you what you ask for when you ask for it, you can be sure that when you remain faithful, always looking to Him for your rescue, our awesome God (who never fails) will hold you steady (Psalm 18:18) and comfort you until that time when His will for your life is accomplished (Psalm 145:13). For God’s people can always be sure that His mercy has wings when misery is extreme (Psalm 18:10) !

Prayer

Thank You, My dear sweet Lord, for shinning Your Face upon my life and for directing my path to peace. Even though there will be times of doubt and discouragement, I know that I can count on you to pull me through and set my feet firmly back on the right path to peace and everlasting life.

Amen

“God and You”

Scripture:

Psalm 139:1
O LORD, You have examined my heart
And know everything about me. (NLT)

Observation:

The Almighty God, Jehovah, is not only an all knowing God, but He is also ever present in our lives; it is simply His nature (Jeremiah 23:23-24). The LORD knows each and every living being personally and completely, just as if He probed into the deepest depth of who we are (Hebrews 4:13). He knows exactly the kind of persons we are; He knows both our nature and our character to the fullest.

Application:

Never doubt God’s divine knowledge, which is extremely thorough and searching, for He could not be otherwise and be God. Although God’s omniscience and omnipresence and omnipotence puts Him so far above us, He still remains an up-close and personal God, which means He perfectly watches over His creation and is deeply involved in the most minute area’s of our existence. When we come to understand and believe these incredible attributes about our Creator, it only makes sense that we have a personal relationship with Him, rather than trying to alienate ourselves from His Presence and live as if He is not there. When we finally admit and understand that it is impossible to hide anything from the LORD, is it not quite frivolous that we even try? When we know that God is always present and always watching, it becomes quite essential to confide in Him, because He understands us completely. And you need not feel embarrassed about sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings with Him, because He already knows the things that are good about us and the things that are not so good. We need not be afraid of how God may feel or react towards us (as we do with other people), because His love and compassion is holy and complete and He never changes (Malachi 3:6). Our gracious and merciful Lord not only knows, but will tell you exactly what is needed in order to live a righteous life that will bring you joy and peace. He also knows and will tell you about the things you need to stay away from, for they are not only deadly, but will bring much sorrow and hopelessness to your life. Our God is always with you, my friend, to be your everything for all eternity. He is a complete Provider and your personal Life Giver; the only One who will never, ever let you down.

Prayer:

How thankful we should be that You are God. For without You we would be nothing at all. Without Your protection we would surely die a horrible death. Without Your everlasting mercy and grace, we would be at the beck and call of Satan; doing his dirty work against You. Thank You, dear Lord, for who You are and all that You do for Your people. You are truly an awesome God!

Amen

“Choice Wisdom”

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:19, 20
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey Him and commit yourself to Him, for He is your life. (NLT)

Observation:

Although this message from God (spoken through Moses) is directed to His people Israel, it is also, I believe, a message for everyone, including those who believe in the One and only true God; the sovereign One who created everything that exists. The choice that stands before God’s created people of today involves our God in the flesh, Christ Jesus. We must choose either Jesus or the world as our pathway for life; a choice that is not easily made for many of us.

Application:

Just like the people of Israel, our sinful natures tend to point us first to the world for both our needs and to fulfill our desires; until that is, the day when we discover that the world only leaves us empty and desperate for something better—something that it can never give us—Hope and Peace! As far as I can tell, our gracious and mighty God desires nothing more than to give all His children the gift of eternal life (1 Timothy 2:3-4). For just as God desired to give His people Israel the land of milk and honey, so too, does God want all His created people to enjoy our true Home in Heaven with Him. And just as Jehovah choose Abram to father the nation of Israel to be His chosen people (Genesis 12:1-2, Deuteronomy 14:2), Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, has come on our behalf and made it possible, through His sacrificial death on the cross, for many peoples of all nations to become God’s chosen people as well (Ephesians 2:12-13).

Prayer:

Thank You, O LORD, for the grace and mercy you have shown me by bringing me into Your holy and eternal family. Help me to never forget that it is by Your grace only that I have been saved from Your final and eternal wrath. How blessed we are to have a God has gracious and merciful as You.

Amen

“Eyes That See”

Scripture:

Psalm 123:1
Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens. (NKJ)

Observation:

As finite human beings we naturally look beyond ourselves for something or someone we can look up to—something or someone that can give us hope while living in these uncertain times that are undoubtedly getting more difficult by the day. Those of us who have been blessed with spiritual eyes should be utterly grateful to the Lord (Colossians 2:7), because there are billions of spiritually blind people in this world that cannot see our God (Ephesians 4:17, 18). There are so many lost souls in this darkened world who, because of ignorance or pride, are more inclined to look downward at the hopelessness of it all, or inward for some hidden inner strength to survive, or anywhere else they can rather than looking to the LORD our God; the only One who knows the Way out of the darkness that consumes our world.

Application:

You may not see God the Savior at first glance (much like I and many others have done), but with persistent gazing into the heavenly realms, searching for that one piece of hope that can make sense of it all and bring you comfort and peace, God will allow your spiritual eyes to begin to focus more clearly so that you can see the Creator of the universe, our God and Savior, Christ Jesus —the only One who is able to rescue you from the hopelessness we all face without God in our lives. Our God is very real, my friends, and He resides in one place, and that place is in Heaven. How blessed we are that our God is always Home with His door opened wide. The One that is never out on a journey, but always close at hand. He is forever there where you can find Him, always looking your way and longing for your glance—

Prayer, my dear friends, is but the burden of a sigh,
And the upward glance of a searchful eye.
The shedding of a desperate tear,
When no one else but our loving God is near.

He is your Sovereign Keeper, the One who never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121: 3, 5); the forever Watchful One, who has eyes that see all and a heart for you.

Prayer:

O Lord, please help me remain steadfast in my faith no matter what my circumstances may be. Develop in my character the wisdom to know when to look upward and when to look inward in order to do Your will. And I pray that I will never take for granted what You have so graciously given for me, because I deserve so much less.

Amen

“Simple but True”

Scripture:

Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple. (NKJ)

Observation:

As soon as God’s words find their way into the soul the light of His Truth begins to shine through the darkness of any troubled heart, bringing both hope and understanding. It is often out of deep desperation that many a lost soul opens the Bible in search of something that will comfort their soul and give them hope, but if the person does not allow these enlightening words to seep deep into their soul, its light will dimly flicker and they will surely lose their way, only to remain in the darkness that holds them captive (v. 105).

Application:

When we allow the true words of God to penetrate the hardness of our hearts (that living in this difficult world brings) it will open up our minds to its life-saving instructions, which are clear and easily understood, for in God’s providence and grace He will shine His eternal Light upon its pages for you to absorb (2 Peter 1:19). One cannot merely see or hear the words of God and experience the transforming power it brings, for unless they shine brightly in both the heart and the soul, these words will remain foreign and impossible to understand. Mankind has proven over and over again, throughout the ages, that when we are disconnected from our Creator, we are oblivious to His words of truth, leaving ourselves unprotected and in the hands of Satan and this dark and evil world he reigns in, causing much chaos and destruction in its wake. Without God’s Word and the Holy Spirit dwelling in your heart this life becomes a very lonely and hopeless place, and the longer you live the more proof you have that God is faithful and longs for your salvation. See it, touch it, read it, and feel the power of its Truth, my friends, for the Light that it shines will surely, as the dawns coming light, subdue any darkness in your life, so that you will be able to see the Way that leads to Life (1 John 1: 1-2).

Prayer:

Thank You O LORD, for the Light of Life that gives us the hope we need to face this dying world and the lies it hangs on to. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for the Word that comforts our souls and brings us peace. There is none as mighty and upright as You, O Lord our God. For only through You do we find salvation for our soul.

Amen

“Joy in Obeying”

Scripture:

Psalm 119:7-8
When I learn Your righteous laws,
I will thank You by living as I should.
I will obey Your principles.
Please don’t give up on me. (NLT)

Observation:

For most people, especially those who have lived the majority of their lives obeying only the laws of the land, it is much more difficult to follow the simple laws of our Creator than it is to comply with the multitudes of complex manmade laws in which the average person cannot even understand. It is not because God’s laws are more numerous and difficult to understand, but it is because we are all born with a rebellious nature that loves to sin (Romans 8:7) even though it causes us much guilt and shame.

Application:

One of the best used lies of the Enemy is that living God’s way takes the fun out of life; that we cannot enjoy this life when we are bogged down with righteous rules that we cannot bend. How far from the truth this is, my friends. For what I have discovered in my new life-journey with Christ is that by living under God’s powerful protection and knowledge is when a person finds the true meaning of their existence and with this simple truth, by itself, is what gives us the desire to obey God’s Law, which in return, brings us life and everlasting joy. The Lord has created many earthly things that bring us joy, but we, in our fallen state, take the very things God gave us to enjoy and make them our very reason for living. And so many people, in spite of the possible consequences, will end up doing almost anything to get them, often ignoring what is good and what is not. The first command that our God has given us is to love Him above all else. This is not an easy task when you live apart from Him. But when He teaches you about Himself and how you should live our life, it becomes your first nature to love Him and live your life in ways that bring Him honor and glory. For God’s Word will teach us the best way of living, the honorable way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying. When we truly know the Lord, loving and praising Him becomes our highest goal and the reason we live. It is humanly impossible for us to live a sin free life while we occupy these weak and fallen bodies and it is for this reason that we must depend on the mercy and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. For when He forgives our sins they are completely washed away and forever forgotten by Jehovah, the LORD God Almighty (Jeremiah 31:34). The Lord knows first hand how weak we are, and as long as we have the breath of life in these mortal bodies He will never give up trying to draw His children closer to Himself in order to protect their precious lives from destruction. Knowing His Grace, dear friends, will keep you on the straight and narrow with a smile that shines and a heart filled with joy.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for the opportunity to know You so that I and all of those who believe in You can one day stand in Your Presence. Thank You for showing us the path that leads to life.

Amen

“Rescued by Grace”

Scripture:

Galatians 1:3-5
May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. (NLT)

Observation:

Every breath we take should be breathed in thanksgiving, because without the grace of God, which was poured out in His blood, there would be absolutely no hope nor joy for any human being, because without Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross every living soul would face an eternity of darkness, forever separated from God’s Light; the only Light that gives us life (John 8:12).

Application:

The free will of mankind was given because the LORD did not want puppets for children—people that He could control into obedience and love. God graciously gave everyone the ability to freely choose either to live in obedience that would honor Him or to live in disobedience that would eventually bring them into destruction (Genesis 2:15-17). And like God’s created angels who had this same free will, we, too, make the fatal error of disobedience, thinking we can please our sinful nature and get away with it. But unlike the fallen angels, our gracious God has given every man, woman, and child the opportunity for redemption; for God so loved His created children that He provided the Way that we could regain our righteous standing before Him. But again, He gives us the freedom to make that choice—to choose His forgiveness and salvation or remain the way we are and suffer the dire consequences of eternal darkness. This life or death choice is one we must all make; God will not make it for us. There is no time to waste, dear friend, for your life could end at any moment and this decision must be made before it ends. This life is the only chance anyone has to make this eternal decision, and although most will choose the path of the world that leads into darkness, the LORD our God will keep His promise and honor His Word to those who choose to trust in His grace for their salvation. It is never too late while you breathe the breath of life to choose the eternal gift of God’s grace—the grace that saves—the grace that brings us peace (Ephesians 2:8).

Prayer:

My dear Lord, how can we thank You enough for the gift of our salvation that none of us deserves. What joy it can bring to any troubled heart just knowing that there is hope—that there is a future that ends good. Help us spread this Good News to those who are hopeless and lost, for without Your mercy and grace and the gift of salvation, the future without You as Lord is bleak, indeed.

Amen

“Days in Wisdom”

Scripture:

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom. (NKJ)

Observation:

As finite human beings living in a fallen world with an easily sinful nature we are more inclined to put our energies into finding ways that we can selfishly enjoy this life while we can rather than dwelling on the reality of our days end and the possibilities thereafter. Because of our limited ability to look beyond this life we need God to teach us the true value of the short time He has given us here on this earth (Psalm 103:15-16). We need the Lord’s infinite wisdom to teach us the truth about who He is and who we are, because it is only by understanding God’s purpose in creation that we can joyfully number our days and gladly look forward to the rewards of salvation, which He has so graciously provided.

Application:

If your heart truly desires godly wisdom from the Creator, then ask Him; believing He will answer you with everything you need to know (James 1:5-6). God calls His people to reflect deeply on the brevity of time, for by doing so we are more apt to pay closer attention to the eternal consequences of life, rather than seeking only the temporal desires, which if gone unchecked, will walk us straight into the eternal pits of Hell. It can be a very humbling experience to look into the grave that will one day hold your body, because the earthly things our bodies lust for tend to lose there grip in the presence of mortality. So be of wise mind, my dear friend, and ask the Spirit of God to fill your living heart, which will one day cease its beating, with the wisdom of eternity. Every moment of this very short life should be wisely spent discerning the eternal from the temporal, for we know not the number of days we have left. There is not enough time to justify misuse or idleness, nor is it wise to procrastinate thinking there is always tomorrow. Living with the wisdom that God has so graciously offered you is much more satisfying and rewarding than the foolishness that comes from the deceitful heart of man, who knows (in his own mind) that he is wise (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Prayer:

Reveal and teach us, O LORD, Your true wisdom, for by knowing Your Truth we are assured the kind of peace that will bring comfort to our troubled lives. Help us be wise of heart so that we can discern what is good and what is not. Help us look beyond the grave so that we can know what lies ahead in eternity. Teach us to not only fear Your Mighty Name, but to also stand in awe of Your Holy and Sovereign Providence, for you are our God; full of lovingkindness and mercy and grace. There is no other living God; none as wonderful as You LORD. You hold each and every life in the palm of Your hand and the Savior of our souls.

Amen

“Justice Reigns”

Scripture:

Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation
of Your throne.
Mercy and truth go before Your face. (NKJ)

Observation:

As God’s created people it only makes sense that we would belong to Him. And for all of those who believe in this, we are able rejoice in the fact that He is not only a righteous and just Lord, but He is also filled with mercy and truth as well. Since the Lord our God is both Holy and Sovereign we can trust in His divine governorship, for He is far too holy to have any unrighteousness in Him and far too wise to make any mistakes (Deuteronomy 32:4). What better reason is there for believers to be filled with the kind of peace that brings comfort and joy to our grieving souls, whatever the appearance of His providence may be? The Lord foreshadows the message of who He is and how He deals with us—His guilty and sinful people.

Application:

The LORD makes His perfect attributes known through His Son, Jesus Christ, and it is in Christ Jesus that all repentant guilty sinners can stand blameless in the presence of the Almighty, Holy, and Righteous LORD. There are those unfortunate souls who believe there is no place as hell, nor any punishment from God for the disobedience and evil done in this life. But Scripture tells a different story, my friends. The Word tells us in truth; that there will be terrible consequences in Hell for the unrepentant sinner and glorious rewards in Heaven for those who seek forgiveness and repentance (Jeremiah 23:5). Everyone borne of this world is sinful in nature and no person can ever work hard enough or be good enough to stand blameless before God. And so it can be said; that on our own accord we all deserve God’s final wrath. But because we have been created by a righteous and just and mercy filled God who chose to share His Truth with us, only those who refuse His Truth and His righteous redemptive plan will justly end up were they belong.

Prayer:

How great You are, O God; how merciful and just You are. Even though we deserve Your condemnation, You have shown Your mercy and truth by shinning Your Face upon those who repent of their sins and put their trust in You. What greater God is there; One who is both righteous and just? Your goodness, O God, is beyond all our knowledge and Your blessings are out of this world.

Amen

“A Saving Face”

Scripture:

Psalm 80:3
Restore us, O God;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved! (NKJ)

Observation:

Only our Shepherd is able to heal the brokenness and restore our sin filled lifestyles in ways that will make us both acceptable and blameless before the LORD our God. All is well when we are well, for the most important area in His restoration is to our character, not our circumstances, for when the Lord restores the person; their circumstances will surely follow suit.

Application:

This divine restoration and conversion can only come from One Source, my friends, and this powerful Source is our Creator Savior, Christ Jesus. And it is during His restoration that His face will shine favorably upon you, blessing your life in ways you could never have imagined without Him. The Lord’s favor is what brings all people to salvation (Psalm 30:5) no matter how fierce the Enemy fights for your soul, or how far you have fallen from God’s plan for your life. God’s shinning face ensures both victory and liberty from the snares the world sets for you. Satan wants to trap you in your sin so you will believe that God will never forgive you. Do not be fooled by this soul killer. He has been and always will be a murdering liar (John 8: 44) and in order for us to defeat Satan’s sin and death we must rely on the Truth that sets us free. Aside from the Holy Spirit Himself, God’s Word is the most powerful and life changing tool we have if we are to learn how and why we need God’s favor shinning upon us. God’s Word is like nothing else in this troubled world and has the incredible wisdom and power to transform any life (Hebrew 4:12) no matter who you are or what you have done or what you may believe in. When you have the face of Jesus shinning His favor upon your life it will be one life-saving experience you will never regret.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for Your Word and the Truth it proclaims, for without You and Your Word this world and its people would have no Hope. You give us Hope when we need it the most, and You give us joy in our times of grief. Thank You for the restoration You offer us, and the redemption plan that shines in the Glory of who You are.

Amen