"In Trying Times"

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 

Life has a way at times of becoming more than we can bear. It is not always, "happy, happy, joy, joy". Sometimes it is more than you can bear. The Apostle Paul was experiencing one of those times when he cried out to God to remove the "thorn in his flesh". David faced those times as well. He was a man "without a country". The Philistines had sent him away and would not let him stay with them. When he got home to Ziklag, the enemy had captured his family. His heart was not only broken and overwhelmed at his loss but his own men who had faithfully followed him talked about stoning him. 

 

In each of these men's lives, and in the lives of countless others in the Bible, not only do we read about the continued afflictions, trials and testing that they endured, we also read about how they made it through them. We discover that their answer is our answer as well. Their answer was found in the Lord. They called out to Him. They didn't run from Him, but they ran to Him. They didn't get angry at Him, they didn't accuse Him, they didn't turn from serving Him. They knew their help was in Him. They knew they could trust Him regardless of the situation. They knew He was with them and had never and would never leave them. They sought Him for their strength and their answer. In both cases He answered them, He imparted His strength and grace to them, and He fought their battles with them and for them. 

 

When we face difficulties, no matter how often they come, our answer and ability to make it through them comes from our confidence in the Lord. It comes from remembering that He is with us, He is upholding us, He is watching over us, He is not to blame, He loves us and His presence will stay with us sustaining us at every moment.

 

Have a great day. We are often bombarded by difficulties and trials, but we never face them alone. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 34:19

2 Corinthians 11:21-30; 1:4; 12:9

1 Samuel 30

Matthew 11:28-30

"Survival Mode"

"And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days." 1 Samuel 17:16

Every day for forty days, morning and evening each day, Goliath the giant came out before the Israelite army and made his threats. Can you imagine facing this scene day in and day out? I can because it seems as though this is the same thing the devil is doing to the saints today. He is trying to weary us and wear us out with his continual taunts and threats.  It seems as though his attacks have increased and intensified, but it stands to reason because the return of the Lord is drawing near, and he knows his time is short. 

Morning and evening without letting up, Goliath would make his accusations, his intimidations, his condemnations, his threats and cause the army to be confused, fearful and discouraged. We Christians are supposed to be an army of believers, but we are doing the same thing that the Israelite army did. We are listening to the words of the enemy and letting it cause us to stop advancing forward but instead hide in retreat.

The Bible says that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. That means that the army of heaven (Christians) is advancing, not standing still. For too long we have been in "survival mode" (just barely making it, just trying to maintain what we have and not lose anything else.) We have to "change gears" and get into battle mode. Is there not a cause?

Though Goliath looked and sounded intimidating, he was brought down and destroyed by a young shepherd boy with a sling shot and a stone. The enemy may seem fierce, he may talk a big talk, he might look bigger and more powerful than you, but he's been brought down, and his works have been destroyed by Jesus. That means that all he is is idle and meaningless threats. So why are we listening to him? Why are we being fearful and intimidated? Why are we in hiding? Why aren't we advancing and going forth? Jesus defeated the enemy and then gave us power and authority over anything he would use to try to defeat us or stop us with from bringing God's kingdom to the earth. 

Have a great day. Our enemy has been defeated, so get out of survival mode and start advancing to reach this world for Jesus.

For further reading: 1 Samuel 17:29, 40-51; Revelation 12:12; 1 John 3:8; Luke 10:19; 2 Timothy 2:4

"Where's Thanksgiving?"

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan." Luke 17:15,16

For over a month everywhere you looked was Halloween.  It was literally everywhere! November first, as soon as it was over, now Christmas is going up everywhere. I want to know... what happened to Thanksgiving? We seemed to have completely skipped it. 

Marketers have programed us to focus on holidays like Halloween and Christmas because that is the time when they can make more sales and in turn make more money. The more they "play these up" and put merchandise out there to entice us to buy, the more we will. 

While we are programmed toward these, we are being deprogrammed away from Thanksgiving-- like I said, this holiday has been skipped. It's not an oversight. It is intentional. This isn't just about holidays, it goes deeper. It is devised by the enemy of our soul. If we can neglect and move pass Thanksgiving without even giving it a thought, then it will flow into our spiritual life as well. Which is the goal of the enemy... stop us from being thankful to God. 

Sadly, many have lost a heart of thanksgiving. We pray and beg God to do things for us, but when He does, like the nine lepers, we never return to say, "Thank You". We see a lack of thankfulness in the world and in the church. We Christians, of all people, should be the most thankful. After all, our sins have been forgiven, we have been restored into fellowship with God, we have eternal life, and our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And all because God loved us and sent His Son Jesus to die for us. 

So, ask yourself... am I a thankful person? Do I give God thanks for answered prayers, for daily blessings, for His love for me? Or do you neglect and forget to thank Him?

Have a great day. We should be thankful to God everyday of our lives. After all, we have so much to be thankful for. 

For further reading:

1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 50:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15

"Eroding Words"

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." Proverbs 18:21a

There is power in our words. They have the power to encourage or discourage. They have the power to produce fear or faith. They can build up or tear down; comfort or distress; bring peace or confusion; wound or heal. They can bless or they can curse.

How much thought do you give to the words you speak? What kind of words are they? Our words have the power to produce either death or life. When we constantly speak negative, fearful words they produce an "erosion" of the thing, or person, they are aimed at. Gradually they bring destruction until they have done a lot of damage. 

How can we make sure that our words don't bring "death" and that they produce "life" instead? By speaking the Word of God. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63b) God's word always produces faith, comfort, peace and life. When we speak them, we don't have to worry that we are speaking wrong things. While negative words cause an "erosion", speaking God's word reinforces and adds strength instead. 

Have a great day. When we speak God's Word, we are speaking life. 

For further reading:

Romans 10:8

James 3:10

Proverbs 31:26

"Speak The Powerful Name"

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10,11

Most mornings I wake up with a song repeating over and over in my heart and thoughts. This morning the song is, "I Speak the Name of Jesus Over You".  Then in just a couple of moments the song switched to another song, "There Is Power In the Name of Jesus". 

There is power in the Name of Jesus. He has been given a Name that is above every name. If it has a name-- His Name is more powerful than it is. His Name brings victory over it. His Name is more powerful than the name of sickness, disease, fear, anxiety, bitterness, hate, confusion, mental illness, depression, etc., and so on. 

At His name every knee shall bow. If it has a name-- it has to bow at the Name of Jesus. All the things that we have already named, and more, has to bow before Him. He has authority over them. He is Superior to them. He is Supreme over them. 

We should never take the Power that is in the Name of Jesus lightly, or for granted. Are you going through some situation? Do you need victory in it? Do you need deliverance? Do you need guidance? Do you need wisdom? Do you need power over it? Then start speaking the Name of Jesus over it! At His Name demons flee. At His Name raging seas cease and are at peace. At His Name the mouths of lions-- accusations, intimidations, fear-- are shut. At His Name the destructive power of the fire is quenched. At His Name sickness is healed, the hand of death is stayed, miracles happen, darkness become light, fear becomes faith, and the impossible becomes possible!

Have a great day. Speak the Name of Jesus, because there is power above all powers in His Name!!