"Wisdom's Traveling Companions"

"Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."  Proverbs 3:17

Who is the "her" in this verse?  It is a personification referring to wisdom. (verse 13) Wisdom puts you on a path, or road.  On that road you have two traveling "companions".  They are "pleasantness and peace".  How would you like to "travel" though this life in pleasantness (which is also defined as favor) and peace?  It is possible-- it comes through wisdom.

There are two wisdoms though.  One that is worldly and one that comes from above.  The one that is worldly is the wisdom of the world that focuses on self.  What does self want and how do I go about getting it?  This wisdom is only wise in its own eyes.  It says that you have to assert yourself, run over others, be arrogant and demanding, fight for your rights in order to get ahead and get what you deserve.  The Bible calls this wisdom- sensual and devilish.

The other wisdom comes from above.  It comes from God.  It is His wisdom imparted to mankind.  It also gives the best and perfect course of action.  It is the same wisdom that created the world in the beginning.  It is the same wisdom that provided the perfect plan of salvation to redeem mankind from their sins. This wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  It gives life.

How would you rather travel through life?  Wise or foolish?  Knowing what to do or always being in a state of confusion?  Would you rather have hatefulness and offensive as your traveling companions?  Or pleasantness and peace?  If you need wisdom, just ask God.  He gives it freely and generously to all who ask.

Have a great day.  Do you lack wisdom?  If not, where does your wisdom come from?

For further reading:
James 3:15-18; 1:5

"Breakthrough Or Transformation?"

"Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters."  Psalm 114:8

We talk about needing a "breakthrough".  We need a breakthrough from some financial burden, or from a besetting sin, or from some other thing that has us in bondage and is holding us back from our full potential or where we want to be.  While breakthroughs get us out of ruts, out of unpleasant situations, take us from one state to another, it is not breakthroughs that we need as much as we need "transformation". 

A breakthrough will move us from one location, from one mindset, or from one obstacle to another, but that "move" is often only temporary.  In the verse above there wasn't a "breakthrough" in the rock or flint.  There wasn't a pinhole or a crack in either that brought forth water.  The rock was turned into standing water.  The flint was turned into a fountain of water.  There wasn't just a release or access made from which the water could flow.  They were both transformed into water.

When we come to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and He enters our lives, it isn't about having breakthroughs- although there are times when we do- it is about transformation.  He wants to transform our lives.  He wants to make them into something else.  He wants to turn them into another "form".  "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature."  That isn't just a breakthrough, that is a complete transformation.  That is a worm turning into a butterfly.  That worm doesn't exist any longer, it is now transformed into a butterfly. 

Transformation into a new creature happens at salvation, but that isn't the end.  That is the beginning of a life of continual transformation-- transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, taken from glory to glory, becoming more and more transformed to look like Jesus.  The whole chapter above is about the fear of the Lord.  The fear of the Lord is about reverencing Him, honoring Him, recognizing who He is, obeying His commands, following Him, decreasing that He might increase, yielding yourself to Him and His will, and surrendering self.  The fear of the Lord is what brings about transformation.

We all need breakthroughs at times.  Breakthrough may come and they may not.  But what we need more than anything is transformation.  Transformation will keep you steady, uphold you and keep you from falling even if the breakthrough doesn't come.

Have a great day.  We need transformation more than we need breakthroughs.  Transformation comes through the fear of the Lord.

For further reading:
Psalm 114
2 Corinthians 5:17   

 

"Take His Help"

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."  Hebrews 13:6

It seems like several of the recent devotionals have pertained to the subject of the Lord being our Helper and wanting to give us His help in all areas of our lives.  As I noticed this, I felt impressed that it is because there are some of you who are in a situation where you desperately need His help, but you will not ask Him for it.  Why?

Why won't you let Him help you?  Why do you keep insisting on doing it yourself-- or trying to do it yourself?  You can't!  He is there waiting for you to let Him help you.  You keep praying for an answer but keep ignoring the one He sends you.  The problem is not too small for the Lord.  It is not too big for Him either.  You don't have the wisdom, the foresight or the full comprehension of the situation to be able to "come to your own aide". 

I am giving you what the Lord has given me to tell you.  Stop kicking against the pricks, like Saul, and let Him show you the truth.  Stop thinking it is such a small thing to bother the Lord with.  They thought that about the city of Ai and got whipped when they tried to go against it.  Stop looking at the size of the situation and thinking that this "giant" is too large, even for God.  Stop looking at the mountain and start looking to the Lord. 

All the time you have spent worrying, fearing, being anxious and frustrated over the situation has done you no good.  It would have been better spent seeking the Lord and asking for His help.  He is your answer.  He is there.  He is waiting on you.  He is your helper in everything.  He wants to help you.

Have a great day.  Stop refusing the Lord's help by trying to do it on your own.  He is your Helper. 

"Thine Husband"

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."  Isaiah 54:5

Recently, I was reminded of a dream that I had years ago and wanted to share it with you. 

I was outside looking at an amazing phenomenon that was happening with the moon.  A guy that was a classmate of mine in school was there and some other man that I didn't know.  The man that I didn't know had an unpleasant attitude and was being somewhat threatening.  I didn't want to be around him.  I thought the classmate would say something, but he didn't.  The man left.  In a few minutes I went inside, so did the classmate.  When I got inside there was that man.  He grabbed me by the hair and pulled out a sharp instrument.  I was aware that the classmate was in the room and another person.  Neither said or did anything.  Then the man took the sharp instrument and cut the back of my shirt open.  I said to myself that it was time to call on my husband to help me and take care of him.  The other person in the room was my husband.  When I called for his help, he immediately came to my aide.  He began to manhandle that man.  He didn't beat him up, but when he was finished with him, the man was totally humbled, humiliated, defeated and taken care of.  I begin to say then that there are people in the world like this man, there are people in the world like my classmate, and then there's my husband.  I know I can count on him.  I know he always has my back.  Then I woke up.

I have a wonderful, loving husband who takes good care of me and I know that he always has my back.  He is always there for me and will not let anyone hurt me if he can help it.  (In real life, the moment that guy grabbed my hair, my husband would not have waited to help me.  He would have been all over him then.)  Not every woman has that.  Some have spouses who are abusive.  Some have spouses who are cheaters.  Some are widows, or single, without a spouse.  The dream I had was not really about me and my husband.  It was a spiritual dream from the Lord to encourage us that we have "a Husband"-- the Lord.  He is always there.  Just like my husband was there in my dream, though silent.  But when I called to him for his help, he stepped forward and took care of that guy. 

The Lord, your husband, (yes, men, this includes you) is always there.  He doesn't leave us.  Often He waits for us to call out to Him for His help.  He waits for us to turn the situation over to Him- like I did in the dream.  When we do, He takes care of what is coming against us.  And He takes care of it well and completely.  This man's attitude was totally different from what it was before he had an encounter with my husband.  He was no longer a threat.

Are you facing some enemy today?  Are you under attack?  Are the forces of darkness threatening you?  Is the enemy trying to bully you?  Are you looking to someone (like the classmate) to rescue you and help you?  Are you waiting for the Lord to come into your situation, but He hasn't?  Call on Him.  He is right there waiting for you to bring Him into the situation.  When you do, He will take care of it.

Have a great day.  The Lord is your Husband, who is your Defender.

For further reading:
Revelation 21:2
2 Samuel 22:4

"God's Unending Help"

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 124:8

In one of our last devotionals we talked about God's help that is available to us.  In the verse we used we discussed the fact that the help that was talked about was not in any specific area, because He helps us in ALL areas of life-- areas that are either spiritual, physical, emotional, material, etc. in nature.  He helps us with all our needs. 

This morning I felt impressed to share this same subject with you again.  He is our Helper- present Helper who gives us help each time we need it.  He didn't just help us in the past.  He isn't just waiting to help us in the future.  He helps us now.  He helps us each and every time we need help if we will call on Him, allow His help and trust Him to help us. 

God's help is not like a "coupon".  It doesn't expire.  It isn't for a limited time only.  It isn't available only for certain needs, but excludes others.  There are no disqualifying conditions.  He is our Helper who gives us help... period!  It can't be redeemed only once-- it is there endlessly. 

Did you draw on His help yesterday but won't today, even though you need it, because you feel like you are needing too much of it.  You won't use it up.  It is there for you continually- He is there for you always.  Let Him help you again today, and tomorrow, and the next day, and the next... as long as you need it. 

Have a great day.  As long as you need the Lord's help it will be there.

For further reading:
Psalm 30:10; 54:4
Hebrews 13:6