"Winning Over The Wicked"

"The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law."  Psalm 119:61

There are always going to be wicked people who are out to "get you".  They will rob you, they will do you bodily harm, they will try to take advantage of you, they will be jealous of you, they will try to destroy you, they will lie about you, cheat on you, use you and abuse you.  They don't care about you, they only care about themselves.  That is why they have no conviction or reservation when it comes to doing you harm or taking what belongs to you.  They want what they want only and see their evil and wicked deeds as an opportunity to get it.

So, what are the righteous to do?  Don't forget God's law.  That's what we do.  That doesn't make any sense, you might say.  Maybe not, to our natural man or to the world, but God's word is our only hope.  His word will get us through the difficulties of life.  His word will give us strength, hope and peace when it seems like the wicked are prevailing and we are under attack.  It will give us wisdom and guidance on how to handle ourselves, not like the world does or thinks we should, but in a way that is pleasing to and honors God. 

I am not going to have to stand before wicked men when I reach the end of this life and step into eternity.  I may have to face them here and now while on earth, but then I won't.  The One I will face is the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father.  When I face them, I want my life to be such that they are well pleased that I conducted myself and handled the trials, problems and temptations that I had to endure the way they "prescribed" for me to handle them.  I want to hear them say, about everything I did, "Well done."  Keeping His word in focus and practice during the times when the wicked try to destroy me will cause Him to say just that.

Have a great day.  Wicked people will always be out to destroy us but holding on to God's Word and applying it in those times will cause us to be the ones who win in the long run.

"Knowing God's Ways"

"He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel."  Psalm 103:7

The children of Israel saw the acts of God-- the parting of the Red Sea, the pouring out of the plagues on Egypt, water from a rock, etc.  They only saw what He did, but Moses knew His ways-- he knew why God did what He did, he knew God's heart and reason behind His works and acts. 

Throughout the Bible it is recorded that God often revealed what He was going to do and why He was doing it to His servants.  He took them into His "confidence".  What He did then, He still does today.  He will do the same for you and for me.  So, which would you rather be?  Like the Israelites or like Moses?

If you are one of those who want to know God's ways, I see three things from the life of Moses that will help you to reach that goal. 

1)  "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.  And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.  And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I." (Exodus 3:2-4) Moses turned aside to see the bush that was on fire.  We have to "turn aside" from the cares of life, from the distractions, from the things of the world and turn toward God to "see" and "hear" what He is doing.  This doesn't happen automatically.  You have to make a deliberate choice to do so. 

2)  "And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.  And he said, Cast it on the ground."  (Exodus 4:2,3a) What is in your hand?  Surrender it to God.  Surrender your talents, your agenda, your plans, your own desires, your will, yourself, etc.  Give whatever you have in your hand (in your possession) to God and let Him use it according to His will.

3)  "And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain." (Exodus 19:3a) God told Moses to "come up the mountain".  He told him to bring with him two more tablets of stone.  And He told him to come up the next morning.  We see two things here that Moses had to do, actually three.  Moses obeyed God even though none of these were an easy task.  Moses also answered God's call to come up higher.  Moses had to persevere.  He couldn't stop short.  He had to keep on going until he reached the place God called him to.   

Let me recap and sum it all up.  If we want to be people who know God's ways instead of just His acts, here are three things from the life of Moses, the one who knew God's ways, that we can learn from:

1)  Make the choice to turn toward God and seek Him, and away from the world.
2)  Surrender everything you have to God.
3)  Be obedient to what He tells you to do, even though it may cost you.  Persevere and don't quit.  Go up higher until you reach that desired place.  You can't stay in the "low places" and expect to reach it.   

Have a great day.  Do you want to be a person who only sees what God does?  Or a person who knows God's heart and why He is doing what He does?   

"Out Of Reach"

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."  Hebrews 12:1

We are told to "lay aside" those weights and sins that would easily beset us-- that would pull us down, keep us in bondage or cause us to sin.  You may say, "I do that but it keeps coming back.  I keep falling into it."  Perhaps it is because you aren't laying it far enough away.  Most of us will "lay it aside" but we lay it where it is still within arms reach so we can grab it anytime we want.

For example, if you have a problem with adultery, just refraining from calling the person you are having the affair with is not enough.  It is still within arm's reach if you have not deleted their number from your contact list.  If you have a problem with overeating sweets.  It isn't enough to just not buy them, but you need to go clean out the cabinet where you have the brownies hidden.  If you are trying to "lay aside" anything that is a bondage to you, but you are keeping it where it is accessible, then you are not laying it aside.

Another way we lay it aside out of arm's reach is by renewing our minds.  If we keep it near us mentally, we will eventually pick it up.  Continuing to think about it keeps it close to you.  You will never get it far enough away to keep from picking it up as long as you are thinking about it, entertaining thoughts about it or dwelling on it. 

So, you say you have laid it aside, but have you laid it far enough away?  Or is it still close enough to be able to go to it any time?  Is it close to you through your thoughts?

Have a great day.  You have to lay besetting sins out of reach or you will keep picking them up.  

For further reading:
Romans 12:2; 13:14

"Thou Art Worthy"

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Revelation 4:11

The verse above says that the Lord is worthy to receive glory and honor and power.  It didn't say He was worthy to receive glory only when He answers our prayers in the way we wanted them answered.  It doesn't say He is worthy only when things are going well for us.  It didn't say that He is worthy when we have lots and plenty to spare only.  It doesn't say that He is worthy in just the times that He has come through for us with some deliverance, healing or need that He has met.  What it says is "He is worthy"-- period.

He is worthy of all the glory and honor and power whether He ever answers another prayer for you; whether He blessed you ever again; whether He meets and supplies one more need you have.  He is worthy of all the glory and honor, not just when He does something on your behalf. 

He was worthy before He answered the first prayer you prayed.  He was worthy before He saved your soul.  He was worthy before He delivered you from your problems, issues and addictions.  He always has been worthy of all honor because He is God.  He always has been and always will be whether you think He is or not; whether you say He is or not; even if your opinion, your feelings, your emotions, or your disappointments say otherwise.  He is worthy just because He is God.

Have a great day.  The Lord is worthy of all glory and honor and power not because of what He has done, but because of who He is.  

"Looking In The Wrong Place"

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."  Hebrews 12:2a

If you are looking to people to affirm you then you are looking in the wrong place.  If you are looking to people to make you happy, again you are looking in the wrong place.  If you are looking to others to make you feel valued, loved, fulfilled and important, you are still looking in the wrong place.  If you are looking to man to solve your problems, deliver you, save you, meet all your needs, you are not looking in the right place.  If you are expecting them to give you peace of mind and peace of heart and come to your rescue and heal the inner hidden places in you, you are still looking in the wrong place.

People can "help", but they cannot solve.  They are just as weak, just as frail, just as lost, just as needy, just as messed up as the rest of us are and in need themselves.  We are all in need of someone bigger than ourselves to give us what we need.  We need someone wiser, stronger, more powerful, more loving, more compassionate than we are.  That someone would be Jesus. 

There is nothing wrong with reaching out to people.  But if you are putting your faith in them to give you what you need, you are misguided and looking in the wrong place.  Jesus is the true source of all that we need. 

Are you seeking out people, but forgetting Him?  Are you looking to others, but not to Him?  Are you depending on some person to give you what you need, but are leaving Jesus out of the picture?  Then you will never find the thing you are searching for and the answer you need because He is the answer.

Have a great day.  If you are depending on people to give you what you need you are looking in the wrong place.