Friday, August 8, 2025

"Troubled Heart"

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."  John 14:1

How do we not let our hearts be troubled (anxious, distressed, disquieted, agitated) when we live in a wicked world?  When we are perplexed on every side?  When society is acting in a Godless manner?  When evil men are getting more powerful?  When temptations are pressing upon us?  When the cares of this life are trying to choke out God's word in is?  When besetting sins are binding us?  When the enemy is attacking us?  When we are being persecuted for our faith?  When bad reports are all around us?  How do we do it?  How is it possible not to be troubled in our heart?

The answer:  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)  When we keep our mind (also means heart) stayed on Him/the Lord, which doesn't mean that we are just to constantly think about the Lord and nothing else, but the word means to have our mind firmly leaning up Him.  When our hearts/minds are firmly leaning/trusting upon Him, He will keep us in not just peace but perfect peace.  Perfect peace means to have completeness, soundness, quietness and contentment.  When our hearts/minds are at rest, content, whole and well, they are not troubled.

So how do we keep our minds on the Lord?  "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1)  When you are tempted to be troubled in your heart, renew your mind.  Renew it in God's Word.  Combat those thoughts that would make you anxious with His Word.  Capture those thoughts that make you afraid with His Word.  Counteract them with His Word.  His Word brings life, health, peace, joy, contentment, etc.  As you are transforming your mind with God's Word, you are at the same time keeping it stayed on Him because He is the Word. (John 1:1)

Have a great day.  Don't let your heart be troubled.  Keep it on God.    

Thursday, August 7, 2025

"Working Out A Good Plan"

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

Yesterday I asked the Lord to give me a word to read.  The verse above is what He gave me.  He encouraged me through it and wants you to be encouraged as well.  I know this is a very familiar verse but one we need to hold on to in the daily trials of life. 

The verse doesn't say that all things are good, but that God knows how to work them together for good.  The point is that no matter what you see happening in the world around you, what you hear the enemy say, or how defeated and overwhelmed you feel, remember that God is at work working all things together for the good.  Remember that He has a good plan in mind-- for you and the time in which we are living.  He will bring His plan to pass... even when it looks like things are as bad as they can get, even when it looks like evil is winning, even when it looks like the bad is triumphing.

There were some bad things that happened to Joseph.  He was hated by his brothers.  He was sold by them into slavery.  He was taken from his home into a foreign land.  He was tempted then falsely accused by Potiphar's wife.  He was beaten, thrown into prison and suffered in chains.  Yet, all the while, God had a good plan for Joseph's life.  He knew how to make all these bad things work together for good.  You know the story.  Joseph became the second most powerful man in the world.

God knows how to take your suffering, your pain, your sorrow, your persecutions, your difficulties, the accusations of the enemy, the fear that is trying to come upon you and put it in His hands, press it down, shake it together and bring forth something good.  God had a good plan to redeem mankind.  He sent His Son Jesus to die.  Jesus suffered, was beaten, mocked, ridiculed, falsely accused and crucified.  When Jesus died, the devil thought he had won.  The demons shouted in victory.  The disciples lost hope.  The world looked dark.  But God took the bad and worked it into His good plan and Jesus was victorious even though it looked like defeat!

Have a great day.  Regardless of what you see, hear or feel, God is working it all together to bring forth His good plan. 

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

"Whose Plan?"

"Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,  Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him."  Luke 8:38,39

When Jesus arrived in the land of Garada, He cast out the demons that had tormented a particular young man.  Because Jesus had commanded the demons to go into a herd of swine, the people were not happy and wanted Jesus to leave.  Before He left, the young man whom He had cast the demons out of desired to go with Him.  But instead of letting him go Jesus told him to return to his own house and show and tell others what great things God had done for him. 

When we come to the Lord, we are so grateful for what He has done for us that we desire to follow Him, serve Him and be used by Him.  Like this young man, we often have our own idea of what "serving Jesus" should look like.  To this man it looked like leaving his home and going with Jesus.  Some of us have the same idea.  Some believe it means that they should be a preacher or a pastor of a church.  Others believe it means they should be a missionary.  And in some cases, it just might truly be either of these.  But God's plan for you may be that instead of starting some ministry or becoming a preacher that you show the grace and power of God on your 9-5 job.  It may mean that you are to be a Christian businessman, or a housewife, or a factory worker, a doctor, a lawyer, a politician, a schoolteacher, etc. 

Jesus sent this man back to his own house and told him to show God's great works there.  As a result, the next time Jesus went to Gardara, they didn't reject Him.  They gladly received Him and welcomed Him.  "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him." (verse 40)  Why?  All because this man chose God's plan for his life and not his own desire.  He chose to serve the Lord the way He wanted him to instead of how he wanted to or what he thought he should do.

Are you following God's plan for your life?  Are you letting Him place you where He wants you to be?  Are you serving Him in a capacity that you desire or want because you think that is the thing you should be doing?  Do you really have His plan and His way at heart?  If you will sincerely seek Him for His plan, it may mean that some of you will have to change course.  It will mean that you have to lay some ministries aside and get refocused.  It will mean that you will have to transition into another field.  But when we are following His plan instead of our own desire, the end result will bring Him much, much glory!

Have a great day.  Are you following God's plan for your life or your own desire? 

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

"Danger Of A Double Mind"

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."  James 4:8

"Purify your hearts, you double minded".  What does it mean to be double minded?  The Book of James says that a "double minded" man is unstable in all his ways.  So being double minded means that you are unstable.  What does being double minded look like?  How do we know if we are being "double minded"?  That is a very good question especially in light of the fact that there are so many double minded people walking around on earth-- in the world and in the church.

Double minded according to the dictionary means:  wavering; undecided.  In short, it means you can't make up your mind.  You believe more than one thing is true.  You believe that something is right while at the same time you believe it is wrong.  No wonder the Bible said this kind of person is unstable in all their ways.  They flounder back and forth between two opinions. 

This is happening in our world today.  There are those who call themselves Christians, yet they call clean what God has called unclean.  They condone, accept, embrace and defend the very things that God says are an abomination.  They believe the Bible, but they don't believe all of it is true.  They believe that they are a Christian, but that Jesus isn't the only way.  You can't believe both ways!  That is being double minded. 

Being double minded is a dangerous place to be.  It makes you easy prey for the enemy to destroy your soul.  It robs you of peace.  It gives you nothing more than shifting sand to build your life upon-- and we all know that sand is not a proper foundation, any house built upon it will fall.  

One day God sent the prophet Elijah to confront the Israelites about this very thing.  They were being double minded.  They were "halting" between two opinions.  They were "jumping back and forth" in their belief that God was God and Baal was god.  In the bad times, they looked to God and served Him.  In the good times, they looked to the false god Baal and served him.  God drew a line and said it was enough.  He told them to choose Him or Baal, but you can't have both. 

I believe God is drawing a line today and saying the same thing to us.  If He is God serve Him.  If He isn't then don't serve Him.  You can't have both.  You can't have Him and these other false beliefs.  He also calls it being "lukewarm".  You can't be hot and cold at the same time.  The warning and judgment for those who are is that He will literally "vomit" you out of His mouth.  Lukewarm, double minded, it is all the same.  You can't have it both ways.  Make up your mind and be single minded, serving God alone and believing His whole word.

Have a great day.  If you are being double minded, you are in a dangerous place.    

For further reading:
James 1:8
Matthew 7:24-27
1 Kings 18:21
Revelation 3:16 

Monday, August 4, 2025

"Change Your Prayer"

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:9,10

Jesus taught us to pray-- "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done".  He did not teach us to pray selfish, self-centered prayers that are consumed with getting our lusts and desires met.  He did teach us to pray a "modest" prayer for our needs, for healing, for deliverance, etc. but not for our wants.

I believe this is one of the reasons we are seeing so much "evil" running rampant in our society.  The church changed her prayer focus.  For many years, including a whole generation of Christians, we have prayed "prosperity prayers".  Our prayers have been centered around "blessing me".  They have been centered around my "wants".  Our prayers have been focused on the receiving of material things.  We have prayed for bigger houses, more money, new cars, luxuries, riches, etc. 

Our prayer focus must change.  It must be taken off of "self" and placed on "the Kingdom".  When was the last time you prayed for those in authority?  When was the last time you prayed for the removal of unjust judges?  When was the last time you prayed for your bosses' salvation?  For your lost family members?  When was the last time you prayed for your enemies?  When was the last time you grabbed ahold of the "horns of the altar" and prayed for your nation?  When was the last time you prayed for the Lord to convict and change self-serving pastors?  When was the last time you prayed that the abortion doctors would get saved and stop killing innocent babies?  When was the last time you prayed for your brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and imprisoned for the gospel in other countries?  Do you ever pray for your neighbor?  Do you pray for revival in the land?     

The prayers we pray for ourselves should look more like this:  Change me, Lord.  Transform me until others see Jesus in me.  Enlighten the eyes of my understanding so that I might see the hope of Your calling.  Help me to discern both good and evil.  Help me to take up my cross and follow You.  Help me to decrease so that You might increase.  Help me to be a living sacrifice and humble myself before Your mighty hand.  Make me an instrument to show forth Your righteousness.  Help me to possess my body in honor unto you.  Make me holy.  Give me my needs today and what is sufficient for me. 

If we don't change our prayer focus voluntarily, we will be focused to change it by conditions that continue to deteriorate around us.  And the deteriorating conditions around us are a result of a changed prayer focus-- from the Kingdom to self.

Have a great day.  What kind of prayers do you pray?  Self-centered or Kingdom centered?