"Did You Ask?"

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus".  Philippians 4:19

As soon as my eyes opened this morning, I begin to ask the Lord for help to get up, for Him to watch over my time, for Him to give me strength, for Him to give me a word for this devotional, etc.  I thought to myself-- people sure are "needy".  Our needs range from everything to help getting up on time in the morning to comforting us when we are in grief.  We have physical, emotional, material and spiritual needs.  Some of the needs we have are small.  Some are earth shaking.  Some are for ourselves.  Some are for others in our lives.  Some needs aren't really needs while others are most definitely a need of great importance.

I already know some of the needs I have today before the day even gets started.  I need God's help in every area of my life.  I need protection in travel.  I need wisdom and guidance.  I need His touch on the lives of those who have asked me to pray for them.  I need daily provisions-- food, clothing and shelter.  I need grace.  I need strength.  I need His presence.  And the list goes on.

We have a promise that He will meet and supply all our needs.  He didn't say He would always supply our wants or our fleshly desires.  Some needs He automatically supplies without us asking-- like air to breath.  But for the most part, He supplies our needs as we ask.  "Ye have not, because ye ask not". (James 4:2b)

Do you have a need this morning?  Is there something you need an answer to?  Have you asked God to supply it?  Have you talked about it to other people but not to Him?  Have you assumed He will automatically meet the need without you asking or petitioning Him for it?  He knows what you need-- even before you ask it; even before you know you have the need.  He desires to meet your need.  But often He is waiting until you ask.  So, ask that you might receive. 

Have a great day.  God will meet and supply all your need, but you should ask Him to do it. 

"Fight Another Battle"

"David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee".  1 Samuel 17:37

David fought against a bear, a lion, a giant and the enemies of Israel.  He was always fighting battles.  Just because he had fought against a bear and a lion and won did not mean that his "warring" was over.  Then there came a giant. 

Just because you have fought a spiritual battle or two doesn't mean that you can sit back and rest from battles.  Oh, there will be times of rest (thankfully) to catch our breath and regroup, but there will always be a giant to slay.  There will at some point come another bear or a lion.  Spiritual warfare is an unending part of the Christian life.  The enemy of our soul is always out to steal, kill and destroy us.  Our own flesh is always trying to defeat us.

Just because you fought a battle yesterday, and even won, doesn't mean you may not face another one today.  We can't rest from spiritual warfare.  We have to be ready for it when it comes-- and it will come.  We have to be ready to engage in it at a moment's notice.  We have to continually remember that, as David did, the Lord delivered me and will deliver me and give me the victory over the enemies that war against my soul.

Have a great day.  Just because you won a battle yesterday doesn't mean that you might not have to fight another one today.  Don't get too comfortable and forget about your enemy. 

 

"Go Back Again To The Word"

"Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached".  Luke 7:22

John the Baptist had heard the voice of Father God speak from heaven saying that Jesus was His Beloved Son.  He had the revelation that Jesus was the Messiah.  He proclaimed when asked if he himself was the Christ that he was not.  He is the one who bore witness that Jesus was the Lamb of God.  He baptized Jesus, saw the Spirit descend like a dove upon Him and humbled himself before Jesus as Lord. 

John knew exactly who Jesus was, but when he was cast into prison, when he was threatened, when he faced persecution and death, he questioned what he knew to be the truth.  As a result, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him what he already knew.  How did Jesus answer?  Jesus answered him with the Word.  He reminded John of what the scriptures said. 

We can know the truth but find ourselves in a trying time, in a dark place, in an unpleasant situation, in a time of trial and as a result begin to question what we already know.  Is that where you are?  Has the Lord already spoken to you about a matter but the circumstances around you are "speaking" otherwise?  Is your faith being tested?  The answer for you is the same one Jesus gave John.  Go back to the Word.  Remind yourself of what God has already said to you.  Renew your mind with what you know already to be the truth.  Meditate on that Word and let it get into your heart, spirit and mind and drive away the doubt. 

Have a great day.  When what you already have heard from God is tested, and the enemy is trying to convince you otherwise, go back to God's Word and listen again to what He has said. 
   

"Though Thick And Thin"

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother".  Proverbs 18:24

It is a rare thing to have someone in your life who will stick with you through "thick and thin".  I have been blessed to have a wonderful family that is always there for me no matter what.  I also have been blessed with loving and caring friendships.  Not everyone has that though.  Some people have no one to turn to.  Some have no one to help them.  Some have no one to defend them or come to their aid.  Some feel abandoned in their time of need and unwanted. 

I don't know which group you are in this morning.  You may have someone who will "stick" with you regardless of what you are going through.  You may not have anyone to stand by your side at all.  But whichever group you are in I have some good news.  There is someone who will stick with you when everyone runs out on you.  There is someone who will be with you when others are gone.  There is someone who will come to your aide when all human help is exhausted.  His name is Jesus. 

He sticks closer than a friend, a brother, a spouse, a parent, a confidant, or the most trusted person in your life.  He doesn't leave you when the going gets tough.  He doesn't walk out on you when you fail.  He doesn't turn away from you when you make a mistake.  He doesn't abandon ship when the storm comes.  He doesn't stay away when things in your life are out of control.  He is with you in the fire, in the pit, in the prison, in the lion's den, in the wilderness, in the storm, in the pig pen, in the good times and in the bad times.  All others may leave you, but He never will.  All others may forsake you, but He won't.  All others may turn their backs on you, but He will still be there. 

Have a great day.  Jesus will stick with you through "thick and thin", even if no one else does.  

"Content And Satisfied"

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."  Philippians 4:11,12 

I would like to read this verse to you in the Amplified Bible:  "Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.  I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want."

If ever a person went through hardships it was Paul.  He was beaten on more than one occasion.  He was shipwrecked three times; left for dead; stoned; imprisoned; hungry; thirsty and in perils.  (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) Yet he was "content".  He wasn't vengeful wanting to get back at those who had beaten, stoned or imprisoned him.  He wasn't bitter and angry.  He wasn't fearful.  He didn't accuse God of not taking care of him.  He didn't turn his back on God.  He wasn't anxious, depressed or despondent.  He was content though he was in personal lack and want; in hunger; in dire circumstances; physically hurting; in chains between Roman guards; floating in a sea; etc.  He was actually "satisfied".  He wasn't disturbed by it all or disquieted. 

 

How is that possible?  We might say, "Well, that was Paul.  He was 'Super Christian'.  He was an apostle".   No, Paul was like the rest of us.  But he had learned something that many of us don't learn or don't allow ourselves to learn.  He had learned how to be content.  How had he learned this "contentment"?  By learning who his God was.  (That I might know Him. - Philippians 3:10)

 

He knew that the Lord was his strength.  He knew that no matter what happened to him, the Lord was with him.  He knew that his God was able to do whatever He wanted to do on Paul's behalf.  He had completely surrendered to the will of God for his life.  He knew that Christ was in him and working through him.  He knew that there was nothing that the Lord could not enable him to do, give him grace to go through and strengthen him to endure.  "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (verse 13) He knew the Christ that lived in him, and he knew it was the Christ that lived in him that would help him make it through anything.  Do you know that?  That is where the contentment in whatever you face and go through comes. 

 

Have a great day.  Are you content in trying situations?  Do you know how to be satisfied where you are?  Or are you disturbed and disquieted by the trials that are going on around you?