If you are reading this then you are here and as such you have things to do and get done. This is the day that the Lord has made and so let’s rejoice and be glad in it! God has prepared in advance good works for us to accomplish today and it is up to get it done! So let’s be about the work of the Father and getting done those good works! Let’s focus on the things He has for us to get done today including making plans for what is next. Let’s not try to go it alone but instead choose to work on things together! We were never meant to go it alone and hence why God gave us one another! We were never meant to go it alone and hence why God sent the Holy Spirit! God cares too much to leave us on our own and promises to never leave us nor forsake/abandon us! So today let’s make sure we lean into God and cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us! Let’s choose to listen to the prompting and directing of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to accomplish all that God has planned for us! Let’s remember God’s plans for us are for good and not for evil, they are to give us hope and a future! Yes, in this world we will have troubles but we don’t have to worry or mope about it because we know that Jesus overcame the world! Yes in this world we will face trials too but don’t fret or worry about that because we know that we should consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because we know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. We know that when we let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. So today, let us choose to lean in on God and trust Him, pursuing His plans, His purposes, and His calling on our lives!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ‘
Are you ready for today? Do you have a to-do list? Do you know what you need to do? Invite Jesus into your heart and life today to lead and guide us in every good work!
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.
So you get to listen and try to absorb. You get to participate and ask questions. You get to see people in action. Now it is time to go deeper from knowledge to understanding so that this understanding comes will be the triggering mechanism to help things rocket off, finding the power to propel us forward and thrive for the glory of God! Understanding is so powerful as it can help us get to forgiveness when needed! Understanding is so powerful because it can help us respect and honor others better! Understanding is so powerful because it can bring joy and happiness! So today, let’s lean into what God has to say and make sure we don’t just know about God but rather we know God and live to understand Him intimately! Let’s lean into what God is speaking to us so that we aren’t just people who are hearers or readers of the Word but rather people who understand and become doers of the Word!
Verse of the Day:
‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ‘
So are you ready to wait upon God so that He can renew your strength? Are you ready to abide with and in God? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life in order to make the choice to grow closer and closer to God? Are you ready for today to be the day your life is transformed for the glory of God?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
This is the day that the Lord has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let’s not be paralyzed by fear of the future but instead let’s make the most of our today! Let’s keep focused on what we can do today because tomorrow is not promised! Let’s focus on today rather than worrying about tomorrow because tomorrow will have enough to worry about! So let’s choose to start thriving today! How about physically? Let’s start our workout routine we have stopped and been putting off! How out spiritually? Let’s start a bible reading routine so we can dig deeper into scripture and understand God’s Word and His Word for us today! How about mentally? Let’s look into what we need to know, to learn, to be ready and grow! How about emotionally? Let’s take inventory of the things that will help us grow and flourish emotionally! In the midst of all of this let’s combine them in a way that will help us to take new ground in spite of or because of our current circumstances around us!
TODAY! This is the day the Lord has made! Let’s work as unto the Lord! Let’s be good stewards! Let’s lean in on God because we can trust Him and we know that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it! Let’s persevere no matter what obstacles get in front of us, no matter what struggles we are facing, no matter what trials we must walkthrough, and no matter what troubles come our way because we know that Jesus is with us and that we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world! Let’s choose unity over self and walk it out at the speed of health so that the relationships will end up better and stronger than ever before!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
We have been created on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose! We have been uniquely created for this life and we get to choose if we will answer the call and be who God created us to be! We need to answer the call in order to thrive for the glory of God! Are you ready? Have you asked God about why He created you? Have you asked God why He created you with the gifts, skills, and talents He has given you? Have you asked God what He wants you to do? Are you ready to find out? Would you consider digging into God’s Word? Would you consider going through a book like The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren? Would you consider going through a book like The Cause within You: Finding the One Great Thing God Created You to Do in This World by Matthew Barnett. Why not get your journey started by inviting Jesus into your heart? Why not get started with allowing the Holy Spirit to be your comforter and your guide? Why not get started today?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
When things don’t seem clear and you aren’t sure what to do, do what you know to do. God has given you directions so do that. God has given you wisdom so do that. God has given you hope so do that. God has a plan so do that. God has a purpose so do that. And in God’s timing, which is perfect, you will know what to do and then you can step up, step out, and do it. Be it at work! Be it at home! Be it somewhere in between! Let’s capture what God has for us to do today in the midst of the world being shaken and do it! Let’s capture what God has for us to do today so that we are doing the right things when the only thing left is unshakable and do it!
For me, that means I get to be the dad my wife needs me to be. For me, that means I get to be the dad my kids need me to be. For me, that means I get to focus on preparing for what is yet to come like scripts, decks, and videos that speak to men, youth, and kids about the importance and the responsibility of being the dads this world needs.
Verse of the Day:
‘Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ‘
Where are you today? Are you ready to lean in on God to be able to do what you know to do in the midst of uncertain times? Are you ready to lean in on God to be able to do what you know to do in the midst of shaky times? Are you not sure what to do? Are you not sure how to do it? The answer is to turn back to God and lean in on Him for wisdom and discernment, direction and instruction, so that in everything you do He will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory and it will be for your good.
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Today I need to take some additional time to hear from God. Today I need to set time aside to receive a message on THRIVE. Today I need to get away and hear the message being preached on THRIVE. Today I need to consume the message in preparation for the week ahead. What will it bring? Not sure but can’t worry about it because today will have enough things to worry about. No need to be anxious because God cares for us and so I cast my cares on Him! My hope and my trust are in God! I know His plans are for my good and His glory! So today I give this day into His hands!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” ‘
Let’s make sure to prioritize first things first! Let’s choose to make each day count for the glory of God! Let’s turn back to God today in the midst of everything else that is trying to take up space in our lives! Let’s cast our cares on God and return to Him with fasting and weeping and mourning. Let’s all of our hope and trust in God! Let’s acknowledge Him in all of our ways so that He can make our path straight! Let’s invite Jesus into our very situation and then follow after Him and His instructions and directions.
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Let us take hold of the reality of what we have learned through the book of Exodus when it comes to THRIVING and allow God’s Word to help us as we look ahead and into the future of this life. We learned about risk-taking, getting out of the boat, and allowing God to do new things in our lives, God answers prayer, and God is near to His people. We learned that God’s deepest work can come out through our trials, troubles, and pain. We learned how we are closer to a breakthrough than we think even during what we are going through. Just like the turbulence right before breaking through the sound barrier, life can get bumpy right before the breakthrough. During the struggle, we need to trust God and His choice of us for this calling and purpose rather than thinking we are the wrong choice. We need to trust God even when we do not understand. We need to keep turning to God when we do not know what to do or where to go. We need to fight our way through the pain, fear, and unbelief. God is in control! Do not give up! Lean in, kneel, and call out to God. We have learned the importance of picking our battles. We need to choose to fight the fight of trust – that God is good even when our circumstances are not. We need to choose to fight the fight of perseverance – to keep going and not quit (do not give in to the doubts and fears the devil is trying to use to get you to quit). We need to choose to fight the fight for unity – to move forward at the speed of health. We learned the why! It is important to know why! Why did God put Egypt through the plagues? Because He wanted to answer Pharoah’s question “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” Egypt had a god for everything, and the plagues demonstrated that God was over and of them because they were not real gods. We need to understand WHY. Could simplification be the answer? What does that say and what does that mean for and to you? We learned the importance of leaving the things behind us to move forward to the things God has for us. We learned the importance of leaving the mistakes and trials of the past behind us. We learned the need to let go of the struggles and pains of the past. We learned the importance to instruct our kids. We learned God is so for you – taking you right where you are and leading you into a new beginning. We cannot get stuck in the past and not step up and step out into what God has planned for us. We need to do what we have to do to get where God needs us to be. We learned that we need to wake up to the reality of what is taking place instead of getting stuck we need to act. We need to pray and call on God rather than absorbing or accepting failure around us. We need to be able to accept success and breakthroughs when it is right in front of us. We cannot allow the fear of the unknown or the future to become our master again. We learned how we must let God make the change and take hold of the reality that God is able to exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or imagine. We learned how God wants to forgive you so much He came after you. He did all the work himself. Just needed to accept the gift. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. We learned how God gave the cloud and the fire to comfort them. Do not let your heart be troubled. God has a change and a new way for you. God will stand between you and the enemy. We learned how today by faith in Christ you can be forgiven and start the journey with Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will lead you and guide you. He will come behind you to watch your back. We learned that we need to do what God is telling us to do. We need to stop going backward. We need to stop surrendering when we are on the verge of a breakthrough. Start moving towards what God is calling you to. Dare to sow, to pray, to give your best. The things you can do so do it. We learned how God had the wind stack up the water into walls and dried the ground. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord and keep moving towards what He is showing us and telling us. Pharaoh woke up to a supply chain issue – he questioned why he let them go and just because one day their eyes may be opened to the reality of the situation, it does not mean that we should not be moving forward into the promised land and glory had prepared in advance for us to step into. God does not send you to hell, He opened the door to forgiveness and heaven, and we need to choose the final destination. You are the only one who can keep you from eternal life with God and forgiveness.
Where are you today? What decisions are you facing? What challenges are you facing? What struggles are you facing? What opportunities are you facing? What will you do about it? Where will you turn for wisdom and advice? What will you do about the answer you receive? Will you go? Will you do it? Will you trust Him? Let’s give it up to God! Let’s go to Him for wisdom and advice! Let’s be obedient to His instruction and go do it!
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Well, another week has gone by, and still no news. As such keeping, the team focused and moving forward doing what we are supposed to do. Heard word of some changes coming down the pipe but they were for other folks and not our team. We had to lock in our goals and so we locked them in based on what we know today with the expectation that they will need to be adjusted (even if only to match up with the categorization). I have expectations of additional responsibilities and as such am looking forward to more details and clarity so that we can also look to get additional resources to help us with any new responsibilities.
To go from surviving to thriving requires change. 2022 is the year to THRIVE for the glory of God. So change is coming and maybe we will get clarity on it next week. Once we can realize the changes or adjustments then we can step up and plan for what it will take in this new setup or arrangement. Don’t worry about anything because worry interrupts happiness and changes nothing!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:7
‘ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ — Matthew 6:25-34
‘ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”’ — Matthew 11:28-30
‘Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. ‘ — Proverbs 12:25
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ‘ — John 14:27
‘Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. ‘ — Psalms 55:22
‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ‘ — Isaiah 41:10
‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ‘ — Joshua 1:9
Let’s choose to fight the right battles! Let’s fight to trust God because no matter what the circumstances God is working it out for His glory and our good! Let’s choose to fight the battle to persevere, not giving up and not giving in! Let’s choose to fight the battle for unity with health so that as we move forward together we do it in a way that allows the group to remain healthy.
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ‘
Where are you today? Are you in a holding pattern and needing God’s wisdom and discernment? Are you in a holding pattern and need God to cover you with peace and love? Are you in a holding pattern and need God to lead and guide you? Invite Jesus into your situation today! Ask the Holy Spirit as your comforter and your guide to give you the wisdom you need.
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
I am so grateful for a loving and caring God. I am so thankful that He knows what I need even before I can ask. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He gave me His Word. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He gave His one and only Son. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He doesn’t want me to go it alone and so He not only give me one another but also His Holy Spirit to be my comforter and my guide. So, what to do when you don’t know what to do? You do what you know how to do and turn to God and ask for His wisdom and discernment, for His leading and guiding, so that you can move forward for the glory of His kingdom.
Can you believe it is the end of the workweek already? Let’s finish the week strong! Let’s give our day into God’s hand to help us navigate not only the information that will come our way but also the time we spend today with others, on projects, etc. Let’s choose to live today in a way that will glorify God! Let’s trust God knowing that whatever is going on it will be for His glory and our good! Let’s persevere as we move forward not giving up and not giving in to the lies or tricks of the devil. Let’s work for unity in health so that in and through it all God will be lifted up and glorified and others will see it and glorify our Father in heaven.
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ‘
So are you ready to finish the week strong? Are you looking to figure out what to do? Are there many open questions? Is there uncertainty taking place? Let’s lean in on God! Let’s trust in God! Let’s not think we can figure it all out but instead turn to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help us! Let’s invite God into our life situation.
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Today, as I enjoy the weekend with my family the workweek, has finished and yet the news/answers didn’t come. So what is going to happen? Don’t know! What will we do? Don’t know! Where will we be? Don’t know! But I do know what my team does and so we will keep doing that to the best of our abilities in order to not only support the various teams across the company but also produce the best-localized content we can for our customers, shoppers, and visitors.
So are you having to deal with unknowns? Are you having to deal with uncertainties? Are you having to deal with changes? Are you having to deal with obstacles? Are you having to deal lack of clarity? Are you having to deal with a lack of direction? So what are you going to do?
Do what you know how to do! Invite God into the situation and do what you know how to do!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. ‘
So what are you dealing with today? Is God your go-to? Is God where you turn when you are facing uncertain times? Is God where you turn when you are facing challenging times? Is God where you turn when you are facing change? Are you ready to open that door to start a conversation and relationship with God so that not only can you be engaged to the world but allow God to engage with you in the midst of the trials, the troubles, the challenges, and the change? Let’s invite Jesus into our situation and walk it out with Him! God doesn’t want us to leave Him out of it but rather He desires to be with us, He is going before us, He is walking with us, He will never leave us nor forsake us, and so we just need to invite Him.
I am so curious to see what and how God will work this week. Week 1 was a shock with the change that was announced. Week 2 wasn’t as much of a shock but was still a significant change. Week 3 was a week of preparation and closed with some pretty important conversations with leadership and so I am curious to hear what comes out of or directions that will happen because of those 3 conversations. I noticed a meeting added to my calendar which feels like it will provide some insight and visibility into the events of Friday. My hope is in God and thanks to that I know that the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord and as such, there is no need to worry. God’s set THRIVE as the word for 2022. It’s being shared through the scriptures of Exodus and how even in the midst of pain or suffering, we need to cling to God. Just because we are facing troubles doesn’t mean God’s not there. Remember what Jesus had to say about the troubles of this world? He said to take heart because He has overcome the world. Remember what we are told about when we face trials, troubles, temptations, and tests? James 1 tells us “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials [temptations] of many kinds, 3 because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.“
So are you ready for today? Are you in a relationship with Jesus? Are you needing help? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and your life and your very situation?
Ever gone through a tough time and had to push through? Ever gone through a tough time where it felt like someone was trying to shake you up by changing the rules or the roles? Ever gone through a tough time where someone promised one thing and did something else? Ever gone through a tough time when you were made the sacrificial lamb because of the numbers? Ever gone through a tough time when you weren’t sure if you could or couldn’t trust someone?
What was your response? Were you tempted to quit? Were you tempted to give up? Were you tempted to give in? Did it upset you? Did it frustrate you? Did it cause you to question?
What did you do about it? Where did you take those concerns? What direction or instruction did you receive? Were you going to a reliable source? How did you respond to those instructions? What if they said to forgive them? What if they said to forgive them, face it head-on, and then work to make things right? What if they said to forgive them and hang in there and not give up?
How long would it take for you to become obedient to that instruction? How bad would things have to get before you would consider being obedient to that instruction? Do you realize that by not being obedient there is a larger battle taking place inside of you than outside of you? Do you realize the impact it has on your mind, your body, and your soul? Do you have to hit rock bottom before you will stop trying to avoid or go it your own way? Do you have to obey immediately? Do you start following the instructions right away? Do you start to lean on God rather than your own understandings? Do you start to trust God with everything, acknowledging Him in all your ways so that He will make your path straight? Do you keep casting your cares on God because you know that He cares for you? Do you give it all up to God even though it is still happening rather than being worried or anxious? Do you keep knocking, keep asking, and keep seeking to show your trust that God will open the right door, answer your question, and reveal the truth to you in His perfect timing?
I remember a time when I had to forgive but nearly hit rock bottom before I was ready to obey.
A story about the power of forgiveness
I remember a time when after four bosses/reorgs there were four of us who ended up in a tough situation, three of us were put in a bad position, and I was lied about and set up to be the sacrificial lamb in order to meet the numbers. I remember learning about how when they had done the “stack ranking” two teams stood up for me when my own team was looking to throw me under the bus. I remembered that previous situation and my first response was to forgive and then to face the lies before working to get things fixed up. It was much quicker, had no downward spiral, provided a window to testify of God’s goodness, and later discovered that even though they had put me as a 0 in God’s books and in the outcome the amount I was saving through God’s direction worked out to be better than what the companies gave the person who had the highest rating. God is good! God is greater! God is higher! I can testify to how His way was better than my way. I can testify to how His way was higher than my way. I can testify to how His way gave me a platform to both share God’s goodness, God’s faithfulness, and God’s provision in the midst of this broken world.
2020 was the latest incident where I was being challenged because it kept feeling like a setup. It felt like I was being positioned to fail. I felt like I was being cut off and isolated. I felt like I didn’t know what was going on and why. 2020 had the theme of hindsight is 2020. It took all the way till December for the aha moment, for the light to bring clarity to why the pain, the suffering, the treatment took place. Through it all I forgave. Through it all, I prayed with my wife and kids. Through it all, I trusted God and cast all my cares on Him. And in December it all changed. And in December within 16 days I went from uncertainty to confidence to a completely new reality. The first 12 helped me heal. The last 4 I walked through a door I hadn’t realized God had been preparing all year for me to be ready to walk through. Trust God! Trust God’s Word! Trust God’s wisdom and discernment! Lean not on your own understanding but rather in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight! 2020 finished strong and was a setup to a great start to 2021.
I am not sure where you are at today. I am not sure who did what to you. I am not sure who said what to you. I am not sure how they did it or why they did it. I just know the first step that is key is to forgive them and then to turn to God for wisdom and discernment on what to do next. It may be to wait. It may be to act. It may be something totally unexpected. Be still and know that He is God! Trust in the Lord in all your ways! Trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength! Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Be obedient to God’s leading, guiding, and prompting! Then testify of all He has done in and through you and your life to everyone God brings to you to encourage them!
‘And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. ‘
You ever needed God to let you know what is really going on? Ever found out and then had the others wonder how you found out? Let’ check out the context of today’s verse and use the Amplified version to learn more.
‘ But when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious, completely enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews. He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the heaps of dust and rubbish, even the ones that have been burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should get up on it, he would break down their stone wall.” [And Nehemiah prayed] Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their taunts on their own heads. Give them up as prey in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their wrongdoing and do not let their sin be wiped out before You, for they have offended the builders [and provoked You]. So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart to work. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry. They all conspired together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to cause a disturbance in it.
But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. Then [the leaders of] Judah said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, And there is much rubble; We ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.”
Our enemies said, “They will not know or see us until we are among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” When the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times (repeatedly), “From every place you turn, they will come up against us.” So I stationed armed men behind the wall in the lowest places, at the open positions [where it was least protected]; and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; [confidently] remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and [with courage from Him] fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and for your homes.”
Now when our enemies heard that we knew about their plot against us, and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each one to his work. From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. Every builder had his sword secured at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet [to summon the troops] stood at my side. I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
So we carried on with the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem so that they may serve as a guard for us at night and a laborer during the day.” So neither I, my brothers (relatives), my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each took his weapon [even] to the water.’
Ever felt like someone was testing your limits to find out when you would quit or give up?
If we considered the measure of what it takes to make someone quite as an indicator Nehemiah shows it would take a lot.
We see in the midst of everything thrown his way, nothing was going to keep him down.
We see a guy who has a huge task in front of him and all of his help is demoralized.
We see how he motivated them and got them to rally around the idea so as to get started building the wall.
It didn’t take long though for them to start losing hope between the betrayal from the inside and the opposition from the outside.
Ever been insulted to try and demoralize you and get you to quit? They did.
Ever been attacked to try and demoralize you and get you to quit? They did.
Ever found out in advance and had to come up with a strategy to avoid any panic?
Ever came up with a strategy that thwarted the plans and kept everyone focused and on point?
Were you able to encourage them with God?
‘When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; [confidently] remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and [with courage from Him] fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and for your homes.” ‘ Nehemiah 4:14
Will you lean on and trust God enough to help you be the leader this world needs?
Will you lean on and trust God enough to help you be the leader your team needs?
Are you able to help them focus on the problem, on what’s important, and live up to God’s calling in and on their lives?
So have you been through some things and wondering what to do? Are you going through things and wondering what to do? Are you dealing with things and wondering what to do? Why not invite Jesus into the situation and get God’s perspective into what you should do? Ready for some wisdom and discernment from God? Ready to be bold and courageous in stepping out and doing what He instructs? Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
During COVID I read two great books about being in a pit by Mark Batterson. Through those readings, I took hold of the reality that I don’t need to pray for safety but I do need to pray for protection in doing what God calls me to do. I learned to pray for wisdom and discernment in order to know God’s instruction and direction. So with God’s direction and instruction, I would just need to be obedient and pray for God’s protection as I step up and step out boldly to get done the good works God had prepared in advance for me to accomplish. The two books were In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day and Chase The Lion.
2020 was a year when I felt really down but had the theme of Hindsight is 2020 through it all and kept wondering when God would reveal to me what was going on and why I had to be in such a place, such a position, and if it would ever get out. I was feeling down. I was feeling stuck. I kept wondering what my way out would be and how God would bring it about because for most of the year He kept telling me to wait and stay. Through 2020 God blessed me by having to stay home more and foster a stronger and better relationship with my wife and kids. Through 2020 there were many great family moments that took place and having my family praying for me in and through it all while we all leaned upon God to help us make it. It took until December before it happened. It took until December before the why was revealed. It took until December before I was unstuck. It took until December before I found a way out. The interesting thing for me was how quick it took place when God said “now”. I learned about the opportunity on Thursday. I sought wisdom about the opportunity on Friday and gave my answer that I would go. I was working on my new job the following Tuesday, ramping up and gaining a new team. In the midst of the feeling down, I kept looking up to God! In the midst of feeling stuck, I kept holding onto God! In the midst of seeking a way out, I trusted God! Count your blessings! Testify to God’s goodness!
So don’t give up! Don’t try to go it alone! (I walked through it with my family sharing the journey with them and feeling loved through it all) Don’t try to go it alone! (Spend time seeking God, talking with God, and listening to God) Don’t be robbed by the devil who walks around like a roaring lion seeking who he can kill. Don’t be fooled by the devil whose plan is to steal, kill, and destroy, instead trust in God whose plan is to give you life and life more abundantly.
‘Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. ‘
Do you realize the context of where this information came from? Let’s get some additional context and expand on it using the Amplified version:
‘These are the names of the mighty men (warriors) whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, also called Adino the Eznite (spear) because of the eight hundred men killed [by him] at one time. Next to him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three mighty men with David when they taunted and defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had gone. Eleazar stood up and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; the people returned after him only to take the spoil [of the slain]. Next to Eleazar was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered into an army where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people [of Israel] fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the center of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory. Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time in the cave of Adullam, while an army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out [in worship] to the Lord. And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should drink this. [Is it not the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did. Now Abishai the brother of Joab the son of Zeruiah was chief of the thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and gained a reputation beside the three. He was the most honored of the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three. Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many notable acts, killed two [famous] warriors of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. And he killed an Egyptian, an impressive and handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with his own spear. These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and gained a reputation beside the three mighty men. He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three. David appointed him over his guard. Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; then Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba of Shaalbon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel of Giloh, Hezro (Hezrai) of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.’
Are you preparing for the battles, the challenges, and the threats?
Are you preparing so you will be ready when they show up?
What are people running from? Could that be an opportunity for you to run towards?
Could the fact that others are running away mean you could get to the opportunity first because you are prepared and going upstream?
Do you trust God enough to go and do what He calls you to do?
Do you trust God enough to go and do what God has prepared in advance for you to do?
Do you trust God enough that when others fear something you are courageous and bold knowing if God calls you to it that He will lead, guide, and protect you through it?
We see how in Benaiah’s case his boldness and courageousness got him promoted to head of the bodyguards for David and commander-in-chief of Israel’s armies under Solomon.
We see how thousands of years later we marvel at the courage, the risk taking, and the faith of this brave, courageous, fearless, heroic, daring, gallant, confident, spirited, and determined warrior!
What comes to mind when you did something big for God out of faith?
What comes to mind when you think of the legacy you will leave behind?
Does anyone know about the faith it took?
Does anyone know about the faith experiences you went through?
Do you remember when your faith was greater than your fears?
So where are you at? Are you in a pit? Are you facing a lion? Are you wondering what to do? Are you wondering how to proceed? Are you ready to trust God? Are you ready to do what God is calling you to do? Are you ready to leave a legacy? Are you ready to create a legacy? Are you ready to build the faith of others by sharing your story? Could today be your day? Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
What tends to be the cause of staying awake at night for you? Is it concerns? Is it worries? Is it stress? Is it anxiety? Is it health related? Is it family related? Is it work related? Is there anything that is keeping you up at night?
Ever considered that you have a choice between being kept up at night versus getting sleep? Ever considered that you have a choice between worrying and stressing over something versus giving it over to God? Ever considered that you have choice of staying up all night worrying and stressing about it versus giving it to God since He is going to be up all night anyways?
I can remember many years back when a pastor shared how they had some concerns and after a while said to God, “Since you are going to be up all night anyways, I am going to give this over to you so that I can get a good night’s rest.” How about you? Are you willing to give it up to God? Are you willing to give it over to God? Are you willing to let go and let God? The decision is yours! The choice is yours! Will anything keep you up tonight?
Are you ready to be open and honest about yourself?
Are you ready to be open and honest about what you are going through?
Are you ready to be open and honest about answering the questions people ask?
Are you ready to be transparent and share the highs and lows of your life?
Are you ready to stop hiding behind a mask or persona or image?
Are you willing to share your concerns?
Are you willing to share your hopes?
Are you willing to share your faith?
Are you willing to be real and express your feelings and emotions?
Are you able to express when you are angry?
Are you able to express when you are feeling despair?
Are you able to express when you are fearful?
Are you able to express when you are confused?
Are you able to take these and bring them and give them to God?
Are you able to bring your fully exposed self to God?
Are you going to give it up to God in order that He will provide insights?
Are you going to give it over to God in order that He will provide renewed confidence?
Are you willing like today’s verse writer to cast your cares and concerns on God?
‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills [of Jerusalem]— From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord , Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber [briefly] nor sleep [soundly]. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do] From this time forth and forever.’ — Psalms 121:1-8
We find that God rewards his honesty with hope!
We find how wrestling with his doubts strengthens his faith!
God’s timing is different than our timing and so we don’t know how quickly this played out but we know that it did and that God let him know that He is aware of what he is going through and is present with him in the moment.
No matter what situation we are in, no matter how threatening it may seem or feel, don’t lose hope, turn to God, trust in Him, let go and let God!
So whatever we are going through, let’s be honest about it with God!
So no matter what we are going through, let’s cast our cares on God because He cares for us!
Let’s allow Him to fill us up with more hope, more understanding, and more confidence in Him!
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
When have you felt that God is taking a nap and you were on your own?
Does being honest with God about your doubts and fears seem right to you? Why or Why not?
So where are you at today? Are you stressing or worrying? Take hold of God’s offer to cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you. Are your worries and stresses, anxieties and fears keeping you up at night? Take hold of God’s reality that He is always up and cast your cares on Him, trusting Him to be able to take care of the situation and provide you with answers. Are you ready to let go and let God? Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Considering the times we are in, would you accept and invitation to an event? Would it matter if it was inside or outside? Would it matter who it was for? Would it matter how many people would be attending? Would it matter what the weather will be like? Would it matter if it was personally delivered? Would it matter if it was handwritten rather than printed out?
Considering the times would be you open to make an invitation to others? An invitation to celebrate? An invitation to serve? An invitation to search your background? An invitation to search your heart? An invitation to search your mind? An invitation to search your worries and fears? An invitation to your home? An invitation to lead or direct you? Would it matter how well you know the person? Would it matter if you knew their intentions were good?
Would you accept or give an invitation at this time?
Will you invite Jesus in and discover that God is for you and not against you? that God loves you and wants the best for you? that God is calling you to partner with Him for a greater reason and purpose of sharing His Word and the Good News with the world?
So will you allow love to overcome fear? Will you pray instead of worrying? Will you cast your cares upon God because He cares for you? Will you invite Jesus into your heart so that He can make your path straight? Will you choose to go beyond routines and rituals and step into a living relationship with God?
Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Ever faced a challenged? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him? Ever faced a trial? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him? Ever been in trouble? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him? Ever felt troubled or anxious about something? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him?
Did you try to do it in your own strength? Did you try to do it your own way? Did you allow the situation to spiral downward or out of control? Would it have been a small thing when it started but became a bigger thing by the time you pulled God in? Did you think it was too small to bring to God? Did you think it wasn’t important enough to bring it to God? What held you back?
God tells us in His Word that we should cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us! Do you realize how much God loves you? Do you realize that God wants to be in such a tight relationship with you that You will talk to Him about the big things and the little things? God loves you! God wants to be in relationship with you! Will you accept it and walk out your life in relationship with Him?
So will you start your day with God today? Will you start it with Him no matter how good or how tough it is? Will you decide to invite Jesus into your heart and receive God’s gift of grace? Will you receive the promise that all things are possible with God?
Instead of allowing the devil and the world to make us feel anxious or afraid, let’s take hold of the things Paul tells us we should meditate on! THINGS THAT ARE TRUE! THINGS THAT ARE NOBLE! THINGS THAT ARE JUST! THINGS THAT ARE PURE! THINGS THAT ARE LOVELY! THINGS THAT ARE OF GOOD REPORT! THINGS THAT ARE VIRTUOUS! THINGS THAT ARE PRAISEWORTHY!
Let’s be people who practice prayer! It is simply talking to God and sharing our lives with Him! You don’t have to speak New King James English or anything like that because God understands all languages. Talk to Him like any other friend or person you would share stuff with.
Let’s not forget to pray and miss out on the benefits of it! Don’t miss or lose out on God as our source of peace, hope, and joy!
Let’s pray about everything!
Let’s thank God for His wisdom!
Let’s trust God for His purpose and plan and will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven!
God can provide peace in the storms of life, through the storms of life, and by removing us from the storms of life! Trust Him!
God is ready and waiting! Will you turn to Him now and pray?
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
What are some things you tend to worry about?
People’s intensions
People’s motives
Results
Impact
Value
What they are saying
What they are thinking
Take some time right now to pray about them, thank God for His wisdom and strength, and trust Him for His timing.
Heavenly Father, I thank You Lord for this day and for everything that will be in it. I thank You Lord that You aren’t out there somewhere but You are right here with me, right here and right now. Thank You Lord for allowing me this time daily to come and talk with and hear from You through Your Word. Thank You for having called me to spend the start of my day not only in Your Word but also blogging about what I am hearing and learning. Lord 2020 was a crazy year and You heard my troubles and trials, my worries and concerns, and through it all, You were with me, providing me the faith to carry on and to persevere. Lord, even as 2020 was drawing to a close and it appeared that 2021 was going to be starting on a better note because of the change that had begun in December, You had one more change which transformed the end of my year and the way 2021 has kicked into gear. Thank You Lord that Your ways are not my ways. Thank You Lord that Your ways are higher than my ways and better than my ways. Thank You Lord that Your timing is perfect. With but 7 working days left in 2020, You were able to show me a new opportunity for a job, provided leadership support for the transfer, move me to a new team, and allow me to become the leader of a new team in time for me to take 2 weeks off to refresh and renew in preparation for all that You are going to do in and through me in 2021. Lord, as I hit the mid point of the first month, I give this new role into Your hands and praise You for the door being opened so wide I couldn’t miss it and for opening new doors of relationships that will allow me to help more lives and be salt and light and joy and hope — through Jesus — into the lives of people around the world that I have direct contact with and even to those I may never meet in my lifetime. So Lord, I thank You for the gift of prayer that I am able to speak with you throughout my day, or as Your Word says, “pray without ceasing“. So I give all this day up into Your hands and ask You to use it so that in and through it all, You will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Anything on your mind? Want someone to pray with you? Feel free to reach out to one of my contact options below as I would be happy to pray with you. Any worries? Any fears? Any doubts? Want to talk about it? God’s always available, 24/7 daily. Want to grab hold of the promise of wherever two or more come together in agreement feel free to reach out to me and we can discuss.
Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together.
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Ever gone through a rough year? A year that brought with it so much change that it caused uncertainty that led to worry that the to being anxious? A year where there was so much bad news and fear mongering that it weighed you down even more? A year where it became new and you didn’t know what you could our couldn’t trust or at times even believe? A year where the weighing down of your heart and mind feels like more than you can bare or handle?
What did you do? What could you do? Where did you turn? How did you make it through? We’re you able to fine a way or make a way even when and though you didn’t think there was a way? Who could you turn to to help?
God knows what we are going through and that is why Jesus offers up His way and His plan for us. He says to us “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” in Matthew 11:29-30. Jesus went through troubles and pain to the point of sacrificing Himself in order for us to receive both forgiveness and reconciliation with God. We can receive this gift of grace that guarantees eternity with God. But it is a choice. It is something we need to deal with daily. We read in God’s Word that we need to take up our cross daily when in Luke 9:23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” So just because we are going to face trouble we don’t have to worry but instead we can take heart because we know Jesus has overcome the world. We don’t need to carry the load alone either because Jesus has offered to trade us and help us carry the load. God has also told us to not go it alone and so He gave us one another. God has blessed me with an incredible wife and an incredible friend who have, are, and will walk with me through this thing called life. We can’t fall into the trap of the devil and isolate ourselves but rather we need to come together with brothers and sisters in Christ for where two or more are gathered God is with us. We need to keep Jesus in the center for a chord of three strands is not easily broken.
Today’s Verse of the Day speaks to this too when it says:
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad. [Ps. 50:4; Prov. 15:13.]”
So we need that encouraging word. It may come brought prayer. It may come through reading God’s Word. It may come from a friend who sticks closer than a brother. It may come from your spouse. But the key is not to isolate yourself and allow the lies and deceptions of the devil to make it worse. That one encouraging word can break the fear and anxiety.
“He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people:”
Yes, worry, anxiety, and fear are real, especially in 2020 and in this world. And yes we have scripture that speaks to not being afraid, not worrying, and not being anxious for anything but today’s verse gives us another option to help us out, something to do, and it empowers us with something we can do for one another as believers. So if today worry tries to way you down, look for an encouraging word either in God’s Word or thru a trusted friend or spouse. Don’t go thru it alone!
And if you aren’t going through this right now, consider how you can be the encouragement for someone else. Let them know that you are praying for them. Let them know an encouraging word from God’s Word. Do something to bring encouragement into their life. Allow your struggle to be an encouragement to others.
They says that hindsight is 2020. If we focus on the trials and the troubles of the past like they are the present and not focus on the overcoming and victories of the past, we can get stuck carrying the weight of worry, fear, and anxiety. We need to learn from the past so that we won’t be doomed to repeat it. We need to lean into God rather than our own understandings. So today let’s take hold of the hope that is in us and available to us through Jesus. Let’s be more than overcomers! Let’s grab hold of the victory that Jesus has already won by His blood on the cross and the words of our testimonies of all He is and has and will do in and through our lives! Let’s be focused on eternity with God!
If you haven’t received Jesus into your heart and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, why don’t you jump ahead and pray with me and we will wait here for you to come back before we move forward.
With October in the rear view mirror along just past halfway through November, let’s reflect on what we have learned in the past 6 days as we meditate on God’s Word this 7th day. Do you have any highlights or insights from what we have read in the past 6 days? What connections have you made or can you make in relations to our readings from God’s Word? Have you made time to speak with God through your reading time? Have you made time to speak with God as a part of your daily schedule? Are you prioritizing God enough that He gets prime time with you? Have you missed the mark this week and need to turn back to God and confess it and ask Him for forgiveness? Have you taken time to thank and praise Him for the forgiveness that has already been paid for through the blood of Jesus? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the other blessings in your life? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the answered prayers? Do you have any worries? Are you taking hold of His promise not to worry but to give it up into His hands? Let’s ask God for wisdom and guidance for this day! Let’s put our trust in Him!
In a time of change, will you share what God is doing and saying in and through your life with others?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Today’s reading fromGOD’S WORD – THE BIBLEcomes to us from:
‘ And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].’
Let’s use John Gill’s Exposition to reflect on today’s scripture.
Verse 11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,…. The Lord Jesus Christ, by whose blood they were redeemed and ransomed out of the hands of Satan, that was stronger than they; and by which they were justified from all sin, and so all charges and condemnation were of no avail against them, whether of Satan or the world; and by which they were cleansed from all pollution, both internal and external; and by which even their conversation garments were washed and made white; by this they also, drew nigh to God with boldness, as to their own God, notwithstanding the accusations of Satan; and this they could, and did make use of as a shield to defend them against all his charges; and this being sprinkled upon them, as it gave them an inward conscience peace amidst all, so it was their security from the destroying angel; and under this purple covering they went triumphantly to glory, having through it obtained an entire conquest over Satan: as also
and by the word of their testimony; either by Christ, the essential Word, they bore record of, who is sharper than any twoedged sword, and through whom they were made more than conquerors; or rather by the use they made of the Scriptures of truth, the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to which they bore a faithful testimony, and to which they adhered, and by so doing gained the victory over Satan and his instruments, whether false teachers or persecutors; and particularly by the Gospel, which they embraced, professed, and preached with constancy and courage, and by their last testimony they bore to it at their death, on the account of it, as it follows:
and they loved not their lives unto the death; they did not value them; they made no account of them; they were not anxiously careful to preserve them; they chose to lose them; they ran to the stake, and willingly and cheerfully laid them down; they did not count them dear unto them, as said the Apostle Paul, that they might finish their course with joy, and testify the Gospel of the grace of God, or bear a testimony to it, Acts 20:24; yea, as Christ has directed, Luke 14:26; they hated their lives in comparison of him, and when in competition with him and his Gospel; and by dying thus they conquered Satan; had they loved their lives, and saved them by denying Christ and his truths, Satan would have conquered them; but dying in the cause of Christ, and for it, they got the victory over him.
As day 329 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Today’s devotional that I am following is The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com
Ever been at the start of something and felt a bit nervous? Or may just a bit anxious? Or maybe a just a bit afraid? Or was it excitement you are feeling?
When you get butterflies in your stomach, what feeling have you connected it to? I remember when I had the aha moment when I realized that all of those things can trigger the same feeling and so it is up to us to decide what the situation is telling us. Do you want it to be a positive or negative moment? Do you want it to be something that builds up or tears down? Do you want it to be something that makes it better or worse? Do you want it to be something that causes a lift or a downward spiral? You get to choose!
Whenever I see or hear or read the word anxious a verse comes to mind:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Which points to the saying do worry about anything but instead pray about everything! We need to remember that God loves us! So we need to build on our relationship with Him and cast our cares upon Him!
Whenever I see or hear or read the word worry, it brings to mind another verse:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
So today as we prepare for this new week, let’s not worry but instead cast our cares on God because He cares for us. Let’s not be anxious about anything but instead pray about everything. And remember how that feeling we have in our stomach isn’t negative but rather excitement for what is about to happen.
And one more thing to remember if or when you start to have the feeling of being downcast… turn back to God!
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Today’s verse of the day comes from Matthew 6:33 and says:
‘ But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.’ — Matthew 6:33
Ever considered a top 5 list of your priorities? Ever considered what you say your top 5 list is and how you are actually living and if they align? Ever considered what it would take or require of you to live according to what you say your top priorities are and the impact it would have on you life? How would it impact your relationship with God? How would it impact your relationship with your spouse? How would it impact your relationship with your kids and family? How would it impact the way you work? How would it impact the way you serve? How would it impact where you spend your time and energy? How would it impact where you spend your money? What does it say about where you need to be investing more or less?
I remember when I had the aha moment when the doctor told me things were going to have to change. I remember reflecting on my priorities in word and comparing it to my priorities in action and how I needed to change the way I was living. And has it transformed my life, for the better. God is ensuring everything else gets take care of. I am sure you have seen the prioritization visualizations where you have big rocks, small rocks, sand, and maybe even water and they ask to put them all into a jar and after each one they ask if it is full or if they can add more. The key is putting them in the jar in the right order and then they will all fit. So how will you fill your life? Are you putting the big rocks in first and then the small rocks and then the sand and then the water? Are you willing to put things in the right order so that God can take care of the rest?
So today, let’s get started with our reading plan as we spend time to kick off our day with God, our top priority!
With September in the rearview mirror how will you live out your today? If hindsight is 2020 then what have we learned? If hindsight is 2020 then how can we apply the lessons? If hindsight is 2020 and we are almost finished with October then how are we getting prepared? Don’t worry! Don’t be anxious! Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! Cast all your worries and cares upon Him because He cares for you! And live out your today holding onto the truth that God loves you.
Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 300 link to join me and sign up. It is never too late. The 49 week challenge has 6 days in which to notice a promise to trust, a command to obey, a truth to embrace, a warning to heed, or an encouragement to rest in and 1 day to reflect on what you’re learning and to share it with others, to think back over the week’s readings, to see connections between the various passages of the week. Each day we have time to talk to God and contemplate what is being said through His Word, and even more so on the 7th day.
How interested are you in what will happen today? How interested are you in what will be required of you today? How interested are you in what decisions you will need to make today? How interested are you in hearing from God today? How interested are you in accomplishing what God is calling you to do today? What if it were life and death decision? What if it were everlasting life and everlasting death decision? What if the decision that you make today will determine how you will spend the rest of eternity? Would it make a difference?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Let’s be ready in and out of season to give a reason for the hope that is within us.
Let’s be filled up with God to the point of overflowing rather than allowing other things to get in there and cause worry and anxiety.
Let’s be filled with God’s Word in order that we know the truth for the truth will set us free.
Let’s be filled with God’s Word in order that we know right from wrong and are able to speak life in love in a way that can be heard, received, and accepted when we correct, rebuke, and encourage.
Let’s be filled with God’s Spirit so that we will be filled with great patience and careful instruction.
Let’s be prepared to give a reason! Let’s bring logic to the illogical.
Let’s not get distracted nor thrown off but instead let’s keep our heads in all situations. Let’s not lose hope but instead endure all situations! Let’s finish the good works God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish!
Let’s fight the good fight!
Let’s finish the race!
Let’s keep the faith!
We know the reward Jesus has and is preparing for us in Heaven so that on that day when we get to see Him face to face, we can hear the incredible words “well done my good and faithful servant”.
So don’t lose hope and don’t give up! Press on towards all God has planned for you.
Facing troubles? Take heart for we know that in this world we will have troubles but that Jesus has overcome the world!
Facing trials? Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds because we know it builds up our faith, helps us persevere, and when perseverance has completed its work, we will be complete and lacking nothing!
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. So let’s live out our lives today so that God will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Don’t worry because they look bigger or greater or scarier, allow your faith to overcome you fear.
Trust in God more than you worry or become anxious about anything else.
Do not be dismayed! Do not fear! Remember God is with you and He is your God! Remember God loves you!
Remember how God has built up your faith through moments and the testimonies you can tell. Just like David had the stories of the lion and the bear, what testimonies do you have of what God has done in and through your life and built up your faith?
Put your trust in God for the battle is the Lord’s!
God is our rock and our foundation!
Let’s give the praise!
The Lord is our strength and shield!
The battle belongs to the Lord!
Our help comes from the Lord!
God is watching over you all the time!
God is watching over your life – your coming and going!
As day 300 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Today’s devotional that I am following is The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com
As I was starting my day the verse of the day jumped out at me with an interesting statement. I started with 6 things God hates and 7 that He detests. It brought to mind what things are being done that should be stopped? It also brought to mind what things are being done that should be avoided. After the last couple of days speaking to what we need and should be doing all founded on love, it was interesting to me to read today’s verse of the day. If we just love God and love people, we won’t find ourselves doing what God hates nor what He detests. So as we consider the DOs and how we can live out our lives with AGAPE or UNCONDITIONAL love and live our lives loving our neighbors as ourselves and as we learn through the story of the Good Samaritan – it means we need to love everyone! God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to give His life once for all in order to make a way to pay for our rebellion and rejection, put another way out sin, so that we can and are able to turn back to God and receive forgiveness, put another way repent of our wicked ways and be forgiven. And yet, here we are today and loving everyone isn’t the way the world is moving forward. It isn’t fake love but unconditional love that we are to be living. We are to be living AGAPE love not just PHILEO or EROS type of love which are temporary or can sway or change over time. AGAPE is something where even if you don’t like someone, you can still love them. You wouldn’t have PHILEO love nor EROS love for someone you don’t like. So today, let’s get our day started with and in love!
Today’s reading from God’s Word comes from the book of Proverbs:
‘ These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [Ps. 120:2, 3.] A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.’ — Proverbs 6:16-19
So first let’s look to remove pride for we know that pride comes before the fall. Let’s eliminate the spirit that makes us overestimate ourselves and underestimate others. Second, let’s be truth seekers and truth tellers and remove a lying tongue. Third, let’s be justice and righteous and stop causing or instigating or creating situation that will cause the shedding of innocent blood. Forth, let’s bring our minds under the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us purify and sanctify and cleanse our minds, taking captive every thought and making it obedient to Christ so as to stop the creation and the speaking and the acting of manufactured wicked thoughts and plans. Fifth, let’s turn back to God, let’s turn from wickedness and evil, let’s humble ourselves keeping our feet from running to evil and getting tripped up by the lies of the devil who is trying to rob, kill, and destroy us. Sixth, we need to be seeking truth and justice, keeping ourselves from making up stories and being false witnesses or gossips. Seventh, let’s be people who live their lives to produce love, hope, truth, and unity, people who are trying to draw people together and towards God by the words we speak, the thoughts we think, and the way we live our lives keeping from sowing discord among others.
Are you with me? Are you willing to try and be doers of God’s Word? Are you willing to be ambassadors of peace? Are you willing to be salt and light? Are you willing to lead with love even when it is hard and you may not be in agreement with others? Will you put God first, loving God? Will you put people second, loving your neighbor as yourself? Just these two love commands will make such an impact to the world around you for the glory of God, in Jesus’ name.
With September in the rearview mirror how will you live out your today? Another work week complete. Less than a week away from a new year beginning. Taking record of the lessons learned this year and how to use them to improve the year ahead that will start in a week. They say hindsight is 2020, let’s learn from it and not repeat the mistake nor increase the pain, let’s choose to be salt and light, being good stewards, and producing good fruits by the Spirit of God!
Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 298 link to join me and sign up. It is never too late. The 49 week challenge has 6 days in which to notice a promise to trust, a command to obey, a truth to embrace, a warning to heed, or an encouragement to rest in and 1 day to reflect on what you’re learning and to share it with others, to think back over the week’s readings, to see connections between the various passages of the week. Each day we have time to talk to God and contemplate what is being said through His Word, and even more so on the 7th day.
How interested are you in what will happen today? How interested are you in what will be required of you today? How interested are you in what decisions you will need to make today? How interested are you in hearing from God today? How interested are you in accomplishing what God is calling you to do today? What if it were life and death decision? What if it were everlasting life and everlasting death decision? What if the decision that you make today will determine how you will spend the rest of eternity? Would it make a difference?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Remember the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Be strong in grace
Entrust to reliable people who will teach others
Let’s live according to the rules
Let’s endure for Jesus!
Let’s be faithful to God!
Let’s be a worker who handles the word of truth
Let’s build our lives on God’s solid foundation!
Let’s decide to invite Jesus into our hearts and become His
Let’s be useful to God and be ready to do the good work He prepares in advance for us to accomplish.
Do not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Don’t be a gossip or troublemaker
Don’t be grumblers against God
Don’t be a grumbler against God’s plan and will
What would it take to get your attention? How severely would it have to be? Would it require the ground swallowing it or you up? Would it require a plague?
How long does it take for you to forget what God has done and you start grumbling?
God can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around and use it for good.
Don’t lose hope or faith in the midst of trials and troubles. Trust in God!
Remember the experiences of the past, the trials and troubles, and how God used it and turned it around for His glory and promised you Job 42:12
Lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge God who will make your path straight!
As day 298 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Today’s devotional that I am following is The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com
As today begins and the direction is seemingly becoming clear, don’t worry. Cast your worries, cares, and anxieties upon he Lord because He cares for you. Take hold of God’s Word where the verse for today is:
“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” — Philippians 2:13 AMPC
Did you feel the draw? Did you feel the desire? Did you find yourself back where you started but this time setup to do or accomplish more? Consider how God has created connections. Consider how God has given you wisdom and knowledge. Now consider how pursuing the pleasures and satisfaction of God is so much better than merely the satisfaction of man. God has brought you and positioned you right here and now for such a day and such a time as this. Ask for God’s wisdom in and through today’s reading and today’s meetings so that you can choose your path and walk it out in a way that will bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name.
Life changing is part of God’s plan. He is in the transformation business. With the craziness or craziest year that I can remember 2020 has brought many challenges and changes and opportunities to learn and grow. Be it at home, at work, as a society, as a nation, as a neighborhood, there is an opportunity to have 2020 be a year of lessons learned. A year where going God’s way rather than going with the flow can bring great revelation and direction. Waiting on God to help renew your strength and refresh your mind. Be it a week away at the beach with family. Be it a week away spending time both meditating on God’s Word as well as reading a devotional like Chase the Lion. Coming back, unaware of the crossroads that would appear on the first mourning back and needing to decide. The excitement and energetic response of being ready thanks to God to respond and to decide to let go and let God work in and thru the process. It may look similar but God has bigger and greater plans for what is ahead. He will give wisdom and discernment along with clarity of vision with he lessons learned from the hindsight of 2020. Are you willing to go it God’s way? Let’s do it.
So let’s allow God to will and to work in and thru us for His good pleasure. In Jesus we don’t just have the motivation but also the power to act and accomplish His purpose and plans. From the beginning God has been planning and preparing the good works He has for you to accomplish. We are full of good works to accomplish! We can’t just be packed with potential, we need to go beyond that. We need to transform that potential energy into kinetic energy and get it moving into explosive power of and from God. Let’s move into the miraculous power of God in and thru us. Let’s allow God’s purpose and plan to explode out of us, moving things forward for the glory of His kingdom. So let’s do the works God has called and created us to do. Let’s go beyond the ability and into the action of doing and accomplishing the good works He prepared in advance for us to accomplish. Let’s be doers of the Word. When we aren’t doing what we are full of from God we end up full of it. Let’s not be full of it but rather instead let’s be doers for the glory of God. Let’s be working as unto the Lord.
August is in the rearview mirror and just over a quarter of the year remains. Are you willing to wait upon the Lord who will renew your strength and direct your steps? Are you ready some clarity of vision for what is ahead from what you have learned from the lessons of 2020? If hindsight is 2020 then how will you take the lessons learned into your future? Have you written down your lessons? What you did right? What you did wrong? There is no such thing as failure as long as you learn from the mistakes, then there is successes and lessons.
With August in the rear view mirror, let’s reflect on what we have learned in the past 6 days as we meditate on God’s Word this 7th day. Do you have any highlights or insights from what we have read in the past 6 days? What connections have you made or can you make in relations to our readings from God’s Word? Have you made time to speak with God through your reading time? Have you made time to speak with God as a part of your daily schedule? Are you prioritizing God enough that He gets prime time with you? Have you missed the mark this week and need to turn back to God and confess it and ask Him for forgiveness? Have you taken time to thank and praise Him for the forgiveness that has already been paid for through the blood of Jesus? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the other blessings in your life? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the answered prayers? Do you have any worries? Are you taking hold of His promise not to worry but to give it up into His hands? Let’s ask God for wisdom and guidance for this day! Let’s put our trust in Him!
In a time of change, will you share what God is doing and saying in and through your life with others?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Today’s reading from GOD’S WORD – THE BIBLE comes to us from:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. — Matthew 6:25-34
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:6-7
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. — Psalm 55:22
Be careful for nothing,…. This must be understood not in the most extensive sense, but with a limitation and restriction. There are many things that saints are to be careful for, as men and Christians; they are to be careful of their bodies, as well as of their souls; of the health of them, which is to be preserved by all lawful means, and not exposed to unnecessary danger; and for their families, to provide things honest for them, proper food and raiment, and the necessaries of life; for whoever does not do that, denies the faith, and is worse than an infidel; and even for the things of this world in a moderate way, using all diligence and industry in obtaining them; men ought to be careful to discharge the duties of their calling in civil life, and to care and concern themselves for the honour of God, the interest of religion, and the support of the Gospel; and that they offend not God, by sinning against him: but the carefulness the apostle speaks of, is an anxious solicitude for worldly things, an immoderate concern for the things of life, arising from diffidence, or negligence, of the power, providence, and faithfulness of God: saints should not be anxiously, or in a distressing manner concerned for the things of this world, but be content, whether they have less or more; nor be over much pressed with what befalls them, but should cast their care upon the Lord, and carry every case to him, and leave it there:
but in everything. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, “in every time”: always, constantly, every day, as often as there is opportunity, and need requires. The Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions join it with the following clause, “in every prayer and supplication”; but the grammatical construction of the words will not admit of such a version; it is best to understand it of every thing, or case, which should be brought to God; whether it be of a temporal or spiritual kind, relating to body or soul, to ourselves or others, to our families, relations, and acquaintance, the church, or the world:
by prayer and supplication: which may include all sorts of prayer, mental or vocal, private or public, ordinary or extraordinary, and every part of prayer: prayer may design petition, or asking for good things that are wanted; and “supplication”, a deprecating of evils that are feared; though these two are often used together for the same thing, for prayer in general: which ought always to be accompanied
with thanksgiving; for mercies received; for a man can never come to the throne of grace, to ask for grace and mercy, but he has mercies to bless God for, and so to do is very acceptable to God; nor can a person expect to succeed in the enjoyment of future mercies, when he is not thankful for past and present ones: in this manner therefore, at all times, upon every occasion, in a way of humble petition and supplication, joined with thankfulness for all favours,
let your requests be made known to God; not to men; fly not to an arm of flesh, but to God, to him only, and that in the most private mariner, as not to be known by men; and put up such requests, as there may be reason to hope and believe God will “know” and approve of; such as are agreeable to his will, to the covenant of his grace, and the declaration of his word: use familiarity with God, tell him as you would do a friend, freely and fully, all your case, pour out your souls and your complaints before him. This God would have his people do, and he expects it from them; and though he knows all their wants, and what are their desires before they express them, yet he will seem not to know them, or take any notice of them, until they open them to him in some way or other; either by vocal prayer, or mental; by ejaculations, or sighs and groans, by chattering as a crane or a swallow, all which he understands: and be the case made known in what way or manner soever, with ever so much weakness, so be it, it is made known, it is enough, it shall be regarded and not despised.
Verse 7
And the peace of God which passeth all understanding,…. Not that peace which God calls his people to among themselves in their effectual calling; and which he requires of them to cultivate and maintain; and which he encourages in them by the promise of his gracious presence among them; and which indeed he is the author of, and therefore is so called, Colossians 3:15; and which may be said to surpass or exceed all speculative knowledge, and understanding; for the one puffs up and profits nothing, but the other edifies; and much less that peace which God has in himself, who is all peace and love, and which passes all understanding, human and angelic; but either that peace which is made with God by the blood of Christ, and is published in the Gospel of peace, which passes and surprises all understanding of men and angels, that it should be; that the thoughts of God should be concerning it from everlasting; that a council of peace should be called and held between the eternal Three, and a covenant of peace entered into; that Christ should be appointed the peace maker, and the chastisement of it laid on him; that he should make it by the blood of his cross, and for men, while enemies to God and to himself: or else that peace of conscience, which arises from a view of peace made by Christ; of justification by his righteousness, and atonement by his sacrifice; and which may be called “the peace of Christ”, as the Alexandrian copy reads; both because it is founded upon, and springs from him, and is what he is the donor of: and this is what passes the understanding of every natural man; he knows nothing of this peace, what this tranquility of mind means; he intermeddles not with this joy; it is unaccountable to him how it should be, that such then should have peace, who have so much trouble, are so much reproached, afflicted, and persecuted, and yet have peace in Christ, while they have tribulation in the world; which
shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ, or “in Christ Jesus”: some read these words prayer wise, or as a wish, “let it”, or “may it keep”, so the Vulgate Latin; but they are rather a promise, encouraging the saints to the discharge of the above duties; as rejoicing always in the Lord, showing their moderation to all men, avoiding anxious care, and betaking themselves at all times, on all occasions, to prayer to God; in which way they may expect peace, and such as will be of that see vice to them, as here expressed; that is, be a means of their final perseverance; for the peace of God, in either sense, is a preservation of the saints: peace made with God secures them in Christ from all condemnation by the law, sin, Satan, the world, or their own hearts; and peace in their own souls, on so good a foundation as it is, keeps them through Christ as in a garrison, from being overset with the troubles of the world, or the temptations of Satan; and is a means of preserving them from being carried away with the errors and heresies of the wicked, having a witness to truth within themselves; and from every evil way and work, from profaneness and immorality; the grace of God teaching them, and the love of Christ constraining them, which is shed abroad in their hearts, to live and act otherwise.
As day 259 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Are you willing to walk in humility? Are you willing to speak with humility? Are you willing to point people to Jesus? Are you willing to give Jesus the credit? Are you willing to speak life in truth out of love? Ever considered what it is that God has for you during this season? Have you stopped to ask? Have you waited to hear and listen?
Imagine being called in front of the leadership to give an answer. Imagine being called in front of the leadership to speak. Would it matter to you which leadership it was?
Do you have conviction to give a reason for what you believe?
With April in the rear view mirror, let’s share our takeaways from today’s reading! Did you catch and promises to trust? Did you catch any commands to obey? Did you catch any truths to embrace? Did you catch any warnings to heed? Did you catch any encouragement to rest in? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world? What verse stood out most to you today?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from:
Choose eternal life with God rather than apart from God!
Choose to receive Jesus so that you can have life and life more abundantly!
Choose Jesus and be redeemed!
Choose Jesus and turn back to God!
Be strengthened in the Lord and walk securely in His name!
As day 124 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Today’s devotional The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com
God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity... 
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