"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
We are always wanting the blessings and benefits of the Lord but when they are made available to us we often overlook them because they don't come in the way we want them to. They usually come with conditions. Like in our verse above.
What wonderful benefits- renewed strength, mounting up, running and not being weary, walking and not fainting. I don't know about you, but these sound like wonderful blessings to me. Daily I need my strength to be renewed. I need to be able to mount up and sore above the circumstances of life in general. How wonderful to be able to run and not get weary, and to walk and not faint. Who wouldn't want these blessings. Yet they do come at a price. The price? Waiting on the Lord.
There is an old saying, "We want our cake and eat it too". Usually, we want the cake, we want to eat it, we want the whole thing, we want to enjoy it, but we don't want to have to wait for it to bake, we don't want to take the time to mix the ingredients together, we don't want to do what is necessary in order to have the cake. This is how we are with the blessings of the Lord. In this case, not willing to wait upon the Lord.
If you want the blessings you must do/meet the conditions. There are no short cuts. Renewed strength comes from waiting on the Lord. The ability to run and walk and not grow faint or weary comes from waiting on the Lord. If you aren't receiving the benefits you desire, and they have been promised to you in God's word, then you may need to look at yourself and see if you are doing your part- the conditions.
Have a great day. Wonderful blessings have been promised to us, but so have the conditions to receiving those blessings.
For further reading:
1 Peter 2:3-8
Isaiah 1:19
Galatians 6:7-9
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
"The Keeper"
"The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand." Psalm 121:5
The Lord is many things to us- our Savior, our Redeemer, our Deliverer, our Healer, etc.- and He is also our Keeper. He is the One who watches over us, who protects us, who guards us and who preserves us--- our Keeper. He keeps watch over us as a shepherd watches over his sheep, as a gardener his garden, as a watchman over a city and as a man watches over his home.
He is the keeper who keeps us from falling. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 1:24)
He is the keeper of what I commit to Him- my life, my family, whatever and anything. "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Timothy 1:12)
He is the keeper of my physical well being. "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken." (Psalm 34:20)
He is the keeper of Israel. "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:4)
He is the covenant keeper. "And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments." (Nehemiah 1:5)
He is a promise keeper. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
He is my Keeper who never takes His eyes off of me- He never stops watching over or stops keeping me. "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber." (Psalm 121:3)
Have a great day. The Lord is your Keeper- keeping you in all your ways and in every area that affects you.
The Lord is many things to us- our Savior, our Redeemer, our Deliverer, our Healer, etc.- and He is also our Keeper. He is the One who watches over us, who protects us, who guards us and who preserves us--- our Keeper. He keeps watch over us as a shepherd watches over his sheep, as a gardener his garden, as a watchman over a city and as a man watches over his home.
He is the keeper who keeps us from falling. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 1:24)
He is the keeper of what I commit to Him- my life, my family, whatever and anything. "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Timothy 1:12)
He is the keeper of my physical well being. "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken." (Psalm 34:20)
He is the keeper of Israel. "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:4)
He is the covenant keeper. "And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments." (Nehemiah 1:5)
He is a promise keeper. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
He is my Keeper who never takes His eyes off of me- He never stops watching over or stops keeping me. "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber." (Psalm 121:3)
Have a great day. The Lord is your Keeper- keeping you in all your ways and in every area that affects you.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
"The Right Garment"
"And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless." Matthew 22:12
When I get dressed to go somewhere, I pick out what I want to wear. "I" pick it out. I choose what I want to wear to wherever it is I am going. If I want to wear a dress, tennis shoes, long sleeves or pants then that's what I wear.
One day there is going to be a wedding and the guests will not have the option of picking and choosing what they want to wear to attend. As a matter of fact, they won't be allowed in if they don't have on the garment that has been chosen by the King who is giving it. There will be only one garment that is acceptable. You will have to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ- no other garment will do. You won't be able to show up in your garments of good works and deeds, or your garments of religion, or the garments of intellect, or the garments of self-righteousness.
Our righteousness (any thing we do to try to be good enough) is described as "filthy rags". Who would wear "rags" to a wedding feast? Yet many on that day are going to try to get into the wedding feast wearing such.
When I plan on going somewhere, I don't wait until I get there to then decide what to wear, I choose it ahead of time and I show up at the event with it already on. The King (the Lord God) has already chosen for us the proper attire and it has already been provided ahead of time. (It was provided through Calvary.) Do you already have that garment for when the time comes? You can't go out then and get it- like the foolish virgins who thought they could go get more oil after the wedding had already started. It must be received ahead of time.
We have received an invitation to this wedding, we just don't know what time it is scheduled, so make sure you already have this garment that was provided for you so that you will be properly attired when the time comes.
Have a great day. You can't wear the garment of your own choosing to the wedding feast of the King of kings, you can only wear what He chooses.
For further reading:
Philippians 3:9
Revelation 19:8
Matthew 25:1-12
Isaiah 64:6
Matthew 22:8-12
When I get dressed to go somewhere, I pick out what I want to wear. "I" pick it out. I choose what I want to wear to wherever it is I am going. If I want to wear a dress, tennis shoes, long sleeves or pants then that's what I wear.
One day there is going to be a wedding and the guests will not have the option of picking and choosing what they want to wear to attend. As a matter of fact, they won't be allowed in if they don't have on the garment that has been chosen by the King who is giving it. There will be only one garment that is acceptable. You will have to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ- no other garment will do. You won't be able to show up in your garments of good works and deeds, or your garments of religion, or the garments of intellect, or the garments of self-righteousness.
Our righteousness (any thing we do to try to be good enough) is described as "filthy rags". Who would wear "rags" to a wedding feast? Yet many on that day are going to try to get into the wedding feast wearing such.
When I plan on going somewhere, I don't wait until I get there to then decide what to wear, I choose it ahead of time and I show up at the event with it already on. The King (the Lord God) has already chosen for us the proper attire and it has already been provided ahead of time. (It was provided through Calvary.) Do you already have that garment for when the time comes? You can't go out then and get it- like the foolish virgins who thought they could go get more oil after the wedding had already started. It must be received ahead of time.
We have received an invitation to this wedding, we just don't know what time it is scheduled, so make sure you already have this garment that was provided for you so that you will be properly attired when the time comes.
Have a great day. You can't wear the garment of your own choosing to the wedding feast of the King of kings, you can only wear what He chooses.
For further reading:
Philippians 3:9
Revelation 19:8
Matthew 25:1-12
Isaiah 64:6
Matthew 22:8-12
Monday, November 30, 2009
"Black Friday"
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
A friend was sharing with me about her "Black Friday" experience. (Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving when the stores have big sales in order to bring in lots of buyers. The sales usually start around 4:00 am and last until around noon.)
I quit going to the Black Friday sales years ago because the crowds are so large, you have to park blocks away from the stores, you have to stand in long lines and you have to get up very early in order to get there before the sale items are gone. My friend was telling me that this is exactly what she went through. She said she got up at 2:30 a.m. that morning to go and shopped until 7:00 p.m. that evening.
As I was listening to her, my mind immediately wondered, "Would we be willing to go through all this for Jesus?" When was the last time we woke up so early just to spend time with Him? When was the last time we went through any sort of inconvenience to get into His presence? Isn't it amazing that we will make room for and make sacrifices for the things we really want to do, but when it comes to Him it is more than we are willing to do. Most aren't willing to make even the slightest effort to study their Bible, pray or commune with Him. (What is wrong with this picture?)
Which describes you? One who makes room, makes sacrifices, goes the second mile, puts forth the effort and gets out of your comfort zone for Jesus or for everything else but Him? If you are one who will do it for the latter and not for Jesus, then there is something terribly out of order in your life and it needs to be corrected.
Have a great day. Is Jesus on your list of priorities? Is He on your list of things that you are willing to make adjustments and sacrifices for? Is He at the top of that list?
For Further Reading:
Psalm 96:4
Isaiah 29:13
Psalm 73:28
Amos 5:4
A friend was sharing with me about her "Black Friday" experience. (Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving when the stores have big sales in order to bring in lots of buyers. The sales usually start around 4:00 am and last until around noon.)
I quit going to the Black Friday sales years ago because the crowds are so large, you have to park blocks away from the stores, you have to stand in long lines and you have to get up very early in order to get there before the sale items are gone. My friend was telling me that this is exactly what she went through. She said she got up at 2:30 a.m. that morning to go and shopped until 7:00 p.m. that evening.
As I was listening to her, my mind immediately wondered, "Would we be willing to go through all this for Jesus?" When was the last time we woke up so early just to spend time with Him? When was the last time we went through any sort of inconvenience to get into His presence? Isn't it amazing that we will make room for and make sacrifices for the things we really want to do, but when it comes to Him it is more than we are willing to do. Most aren't willing to make even the slightest effort to study their Bible, pray or commune with Him. (What is wrong with this picture?)
Which describes you? One who makes room, makes sacrifices, goes the second mile, puts forth the effort and gets out of your comfort zone for Jesus or for everything else but Him? If you are one who will do it for the latter and not for Jesus, then there is something terribly out of order in your life and it needs to be corrected.
Have a great day. Is Jesus on your list of priorities? Is He on your list of things that you are willing to make adjustments and sacrifices for? Is He at the top of that list?
For Further Reading:
Psalm 96:4
Isaiah 29:13
Psalm 73:28
Amos 5:4
Monday, November 23, 2009
"Enter When You Desire"
"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4
While this verse is specific in the fact that it tells us "how" to enter into the gates and courts of the Lord (His presence), it isn't specific as to "when" to do this. The reason is because the choice is up to us. Jesus broke down the middle wall of separation that kept us out of the presence of God. The veil was rent in two. Nothing stands in the way any longer. We have been granted access to freely come through the door (Jesus) which is never closed to us.
This means that we can enter into His presence whenever we desire. We can come to Him whether it's morning, noon, night, Sunday or any other day of the week. We have been given access to come to Him as often as we like- once an hour, twice a day, once a week, once a month, etc. We have also been given access to come into His presence during good times, bad times, trying times, peaceful times, abundant times, lean times- it makes no difference.
How often and when do you enter into His presence? Are you taking advantage of the privilege that has been granted to you by the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ? It cost Him everything to be able to open up the way of access for you and keep it open. So don't take it for granted.
Have a great day. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise, any time you'd like!!
For further reading:
Ephesians 2:14, 18
Hebrews 4:16
Matthew 27:50,51
Psalm 95:2
Psalm 100
While this verse is specific in the fact that it tells us "how" to enter into the gates and courts of the Lord (His presence), it isn't specific as to "when" to do this. The reason is because the choice is up to us. Jesus broke down the middle wall of separation that kept us out of the presence of God. The veil was rent in two. Nothing stands in the way any longer. We have been granted access to freely come through the door (Jesus) which is never closed to us.
This means that we can enter into His presence whenever we desire. We can come to Him whether it's morning, noon, night, Sunday or any other day of the week. We have been given access to come to Him as often as we like- once an hour, twice a day, once a week, once a month, etc. We have also been given access to come into His presence during good times, bad times, trying times, peaceful times, abundant times, lean times- it makes no difference.
How often and when do you enter into His presence? Are you taking advantage of the privilege that has been granted to you by the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ? It cost Him everything to be able to open up the way of access for you and keep it open. So don't take it for granted.
Have a great day. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise, any time you'd like!!
For further reading:
Ephesians 2:14, 18
Hebrews 4:16
Matthew 27:50,51
Psalm 95:2
Psalm 100
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