"Strength For Heaviness"

"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word." Psalm 119:28

The word heaviness is translated- heaviness, grief, sorrow. There are many things that can cause grief, sorrow and heaviness. The loss of a loved one; shattered dreams; hope deferred; betrayal by someone you trusted; rejection by a friend; broken promises; the weight of responsibilities; burdens of caring for others; addictions; the loss of a job; failing health; a bad report and the list goes on. They come from many different sources, in many different ways and usually without warning. Our day can start off with joy but end in sorrow. None of us are exempt- rich or poor, black or white, young or old. The situations of life that bring grief, heaviness and sorrow are not a respecter of persons- they come to us all.

If I stopped here this morning, this word would bring sorrow to our hearts because it would leave us without any hope in those times. But the good news is- there is hope. There is hope and help for us in those times. There is a way for us to be strengthened during times of heaviness and sorrow. That strength and help doesn't come through worldly means. It doesn't come through the government. It doesn't come through our employer, through the welfare system, through the doctor, through the banker or the lawyer. The help and strength that we need to make it through those times, and even be victorious in them, comes through God's word.

God's word is the only true, unfailing source of strength to make it through the times that try men's souls. We find encouragement, grace, help, health, direction, comfort and joy within its pages. We find God's promises to be with us, to direct us through, to guide us, to not forsake us and to meet our need when we walk through the places that bring heaviness, sorrow and grief. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23:4)

Is your soul in sorrow this morning? Are you under a burden of heaviness? Are you suffering grief over a loss? The strength that you need to make it through can be found in God's word-- it is your strength. Hold to it tightly.

Have a great day. When heaviness, grief or sorrow hit your life, God's word will give you strength.

For further reading:
Psalm 23
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 119:81; 116

"Which Way? - Part 2"

"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Revelation 15:3

In the story of Alice In Wonderland, Alice has an encounter with "The Queen". She soon discovered, as she is trying to find her "way" back home, that she has "no way" because "all ways are The Queen's Way". And if you are familiar with the story you discovered that The Queen loved enforcing her authority, she was always right (even when she was wrong), she was hot-tempered, easily angered and she had a favorite saying, "Off with their head". She had no kindness or compassion. She was always "out for blood". She rejoiced in and enjoyed pronouncing judgment upon anyone who did not agree with her completely. She had "a way" all right-- her way was one of judgment without any mercy.

I brought this up because yesterday in our devotional, we talked about following and yielding to God's way. What is God's way? It certainly is not like "The Queen's Way". Don't misunderstand, He is a God of judgment. One day all mankind will stand before Him and He will be The Judge. But He is a God who loves mercy more than He loves judgment. He loves to show mercy to those who come to Him. He loves to bestow His grace upon us. He delights in loving us. He proved this through His Son Jesus when He sent Him to earth to pay the penalty for our sins.

The Queen's way (as is most people's way) is to delight in judgment without mercy-- we want people to get what they deserve. That is our way of doing things. But God's way is to show loving-kindness and tender mercies to those who don't deserve it and to those who are truly guilty. If that is you, God is not screaming for your head this morning. He is not eager to judge you. He does not want you destroyed. He does not delight in punishing you. On the contrary He desires to love you, forgive you, show you mercy, wrap you in His love and withhold judgment. And His provision to do so came through His Son Jesus. He has been patiently waiting for you, will you come to Him today.

Have a great day. God's way is the way of mercy, grace and love.

For further reading:
John 3:16,17
Ezekiel 33:11
Romans 5:8
Nehemiah 9:31
Psalm 103:8

"Which Way?"

"I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes." Psalm 119:26

There are two ways: my/our way or God's way. The two are not the same. Our way leads to destruction. It is the way of darkness and confusion. Our way leads us down a path of grief and sorrow. It is not the way of life. Our way may seem like the right way, but at the end we discover death. This is why we are told not to lean to our own understanding but in all our ways to acknowledge the Lord and He will direct our way. God's ways lead to health, peace, prosperity, abundant life and eternal life. It is the way of light and rest.

When we use the word "way", we are talking about two things. The first means the path or direction you are going. For example, you can either be going the wrong or right way- in the right or wrong direction. You can either be on the way that is straight and narrow and leads to life or on the broad and wide way that leads to destruction. The second meaning deals with the method you are using. You can either be doing things your way or God's way.

Jonah is a prime example of both. He took the way (path) to Joppa instead of going the direction to Nineveh like the Lord had commanded him. And he wanted to do things his way (method), which was not go to Nineveh- he thought it would be better if judgment fell on them. He is also a perfect example of the result of doing things our own way and going in our own direction.

This morning, whose way are you on? Are you walking on God's path- the path of freedom, joy, obedience, grace? Or are you walking on your own path- the path of heartache, confusion, disobedience, fear? Also, whose way are you living by- yours or God's? Are you doing things His way or your own way? Are you leaning to your own understanding or following His guidance and word? The choice of which direction (way) you are going to go and which way (plan) you are going to follow is up to you. If you want life, you will choose God's way to walk on and His way of doing things. If you want misery and death, then choose to keep going your own direction and doing things your own way.

Have a great day. Whose way you are going to follow? Your way or God's way?

For further reading:
Proverbs 16:25: 3:5,6; 14:12
Matthew 7:13,14

"Yes, You Can"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

The words "I can't" should not be in the Christian vocabulary. True enough there is nothing we "can" do without the Lord. Even Jesus said that He could do nothing on His own without the Father. On our own we are not strong enough, wise enough or capable enough to do anything. But the key to doing "all things" is "through Christ".

When our lives are in Christ, we can do all things-- there is nothing we can't do. Why? Because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Because His love is shed throughout our hearts. Because His strengthen is perfected in our weakness. Because He makes a way even when there seems to be no way. Because His grace is sufficient. Because He fights our battles for us. Because He goes before us making crooked ways straight. Moses thought he couldn't do what God called him to do- which was to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let God's people go. Why? His excuse was because he stuttered. Wrong, yes, he could because God would send him someone to speak as his voice- Aaron.

We can't give God any good reason why we "can't" do what He has called us to do. If we say the sea stands in the way-- He can part the sea. If we say we aren't strong even-- He will give us strength. If we say we don't have the resources-- He can put money in the fish's mouth. If we say we don't have enough-- He can multiply the loaves and fish. If we say we aren't educated enough-- He can send a child to lead us.

The reason I said earlier that "the words 'I can't' should not be in the Christian vocabulary" is because first- it is not true. And secondly- God knows how to remove "can't" out of the equation and make it possible for you to do it. He can put the "I can" in it.

Have a great day. We can never truthfully say "I can't" because with God we always can.

For further reading:
John 5:30; 9:33; 15:5
2 Timothy 4:17
Psalm 138:8
Romans 8:11; 5:5

"Drink Your Milk"

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2

We often use this verse to encourage new converts to read and study God's word/the Bible. And so we should. When a person comes to Christ and receives salvation, it is called the "new birth", or they are "born again". They have experienced a spiritual new birth inside. So just like a baby has to have milk to grow physically, a new baby in Christ has to have milk to grow spiritually-- that milk is the word of God.

This verse is not just addressing newborn babes in Christ, it is written for all of us who are saved through faith in Jesus- no matter how long we have been saved. My physical body never stops growing- it is growing from the cradle to the grave. (Sometimes it feels like it's just growing old- but it is still growing nevertheless.) In the same way that my physical body never quits growing, my spirit never stops growing either. There will never be a time when we will be too old to grow spiritually. We never will "arrive" and know all there is to know while we are living here in this world. So we need to drink the milk and eat the meat of God's word. It is not just reserved for "babies".

The verse really is an admonition for us to keep thirsty for God's word- never stop craving it. When a baby gets hungry for its milk, it is no small matter. They let you know by crying. They will cry long and loud until you give them their bottle. Nothing will satisfy them until they get it. This is how we should be about God's word. We should crave it more than anything. We should not be satisfied until we get it. Does this describe you? Do you hunger and thirst for God's word? Do you feel like you can't live if you don't get to read it each day? Is it something you feel you can live with or without? Do you go for days at a time without reading the Bible? Does it sit in your vehicle from one Sunday to the next? Or lie on the counter where you put it after church until it is time to go to church again?

The milk of God's word is not restricted to new babes only. It is for all of us. We have to drink it every day. We have to take in its nutrients everyday if we are going to grow and develop spiritually.

Have a great day. Are you taking in the milk of God's word every day?

For further reading:
John 3:3,7
1 Peter 1:23