The Daily Dose

Rest in Him

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Rest!  It’s a good thing!  It’s different than peace because peace is something that God gives, but rest is something we enter into, on purpose.  Today’s scripture says (You) come to me, then I will give you rest.  Glory to God!  With all the struggle and anxieties in life, it’s so wonderful to have a place of rest, and that place is in Christ Jesus.  A rest that we don’t have to wait for, we can enter in immediately. Whenever we are feeling the uneasiness of day-to-day life, and even when we are facing the stresses in life, we can easily enter in by getting quiet and submitting (unloading) everything to Him.

But how?  How do you unload these burdens and get into the  rest of my Savior, that God kind of rest?   Jesus says in this passage “take My yoke on and learn from me.”  A yoke?  That sounds like more work.  A yoke is not a reference we commonly use today, but in the days when Jesus was speaking, everyone could understand this picture.  It was used to team up a pair of oxen and then attach them to a plow so they could work together to pull it.  You may be saying, “that doesn’t sound very restful to me.”  However, Jesus said, “get into the yoke with me and I will make your labor/burden easy and light”.  He’s saying that I don’t have to struggle through life when I have attached my life to His, because when the hard times come, He pulls the load and carries the weight.  My part is to enter into His rest.

There’s only one question left and that is how do I get into the yoke with Jesus?  He answers that question for us.  He says, “learn of me and of my gentle and lowly (humble) heart.”  By becoming a person of humility, submitted to God and His word I can then enter into His rest.  By turning all the care over and taking on God’s Word (Jesus) instead, I then enter in.  This is where our relationship with the Lord grows.  When we “get in the yoke” with Him, we are spending time with Him, talking to Him, walking with Him and trusting and speaking the promises of His Word.

Today I want to encourage you that no matter what you are going through, you don’t have to struggle.  Enter into your Savior’s rest by getting into the “yoke” of life with Jesus.  Humble yourself by submitting to and obeying His Word then apply it to all your circumstances.  Let the force of God’s Word do the work on your troubles while you take a rest.

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 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.

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

For the next five days, I will not be able to write a new message so I will be sending out a “Dose” from the Journal series from the book of Matthew. I hope you will enjoy these excepts from the latest Daily Dose book coming out at the end of the year.

You are greater!

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Matthew 11:11

John the Baptist.  Jesus said he was the greatest of all prophets.  In fact, Jesus said he was the greatest of those born.  The reason was because he was the one who prepared the way for the Lord’s ministry here on the Earth.  John was the forerunner, the one who announced Jesus to the world.  He made the announcement when Jesus began His ministry here in the world: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the word.” (see John 1) John was the greatest prophet because he was the last one before the coming Messiah, Jesus, came.

The second part of the verse is the astonishing part.  Jesus said, “Even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.”  Jesus was not talking about those in heaven.   When He referred to the “kingdom of heaven,” He was talking about heaven on earth, after his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.  He was speaking about those who would receive salvation through His blood sacrifice.  The New Testament Church, the body of believers.

This truth is something that has slipped away from us in today’s world.  We, like the prophets, have the power of the living Spirit of God on the inside of us.  We have been raised up from the grave with Christ Jesus to sit together with Him in heavenly places.  We were once dead, but now we are brought to life through Christ Jesus.

Before salvation came into the world, God had chosen one person at a time to give His message to throughout the ages. They were never well-dressed, smooth talking, political minded, or famous religious leaders.  Then He sent John the Baptist, a rough around the edges man out in a deserted place.  He was bold in his witness that Jesus was coming.  He wasn’t afraid to speak up and speak out against anyone who was disputing his teaching and his message. 

Now, God still speaks today and to those who you could consider “less than important”.  We sometimes get the idea that if we can just get the right politician in office, or if we can just have that great pastor come and preach, then the world could be fixed.  The truth is that politicians and pastors are not the solution to the world’s problems. God’s message of salvation is the only hope for the world and we every believer carries that message with them each day.  We are His messengers!

The point is that just because you may not have a well-known, popular platform, you still have a voice and the Word of the LORD has come to you in the scripture.  It is now your job to tell the “good news” that Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of the world, came and He took away the sin of the world.  You are greater than all the prophets of old because you have that great salvation that they were all waiting for before His arrival.

Today I want to encourage you to be the voice of one telling the message that the kingdom of heaven has come. You are God’s voice in the earth now so share the salvation message wherever you are in life.  Some may accept it readily and others may just listen for now, but seeds of God’s Word are being planted and He will send the next person along to water them.  Soon new baby Christians will be born all around us and the whole world will know that Jesus is LORD!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 11:1-19

 1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

10 For this is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,

17 and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

 

Fullness of Joy

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”- Psalms 16:11

I remember when I first started writing the Daily Dose Devotional back in 2019.  It is hard to believe that it has been going on for five years now.  What a blessing it has been to me to write each day as the Lord puts an encouraging message on my heart.  Truthfully, I am happy to share it, but I know I am the one who benefits most from it. 

The key verse today is one that I memorized at a very young age, but only now am I beginning to really understand it.  It is fitting that the first time I heard this scripture was in a story I was told in junior church back when I was in elementary school.  I never understood why it stuck with me all of these years because I thought it was something that you could only experience once you died and went into the presence of God for all eternity.

Now, I realize that I don’t have to die to be in the presence of God.  In fact, I go there every day.  I set aside special quiet time to sit in His presence and to commune with Him.  I can attest to the truth of this passage that when I do, I experience His fullness of joy in my life.

Even though we are going to go through things in this world, as we follow the path that God shows us and stay in His presence each day, we can have that promise of fullness of joy.  This was evident in the Apostle Paul’s life. On one occasion, he and his partner had been beaten and thrown into prison but instead of being afraid or angry, they rejoiced!  Acts 16:25 says “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”  How could they do that?  Number one, they knew they were on God’s path, the path of life.  And secondly, even though they were in prison, they could still be in God’s presence.  They knew that no matter where they ended up, God was with them!!  Now that’s something to rejoice about.

We can have that fullness of joy each day too by following the path He shows us and knowing that no matter what is on that path, God is with us.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. (See Hebrews 13::5) So, no matter what life throws your way today, remember that God is with you and will get you through it.  There is nothing too difficult for Him!!

Today I want to encourage you to set time aside each day to spend in the presence of God.  Begin to follow the path of life He is showing you.  Then as you go through your day on His path, remember that He is with you and goes with you wherever that path leads.  His joy is available to you all day long simply by recognizing that when you follow the path He designed for you, you remain in His presence.  Let that joy inspire you to rejoice in your life no matter what the circumstances are around you.  In this crazy, messed up world that we live it, we need His presence more than ever.  Keep Him in mind as you go through your day and talk with Him along the way.  He will always be there for you the more you determine to be on His path, the easier it will be to rejoice in His fullness of joy!

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 16

1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.”

3 As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take up their names on my lips.

5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.

10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

11You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

It’s your choice

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill? – Psalms 15:1

 As I thought about Psalms 15 before writing this morning, I took a few minutes to contemplate the opening questions in this chapter.  Lord, who may live where You live and who can stay at Your holy place?

As I continued to read the list of qualifications that come next in this Psalm, it occurred to me that we all have the opportunity to be with Him.  Anyone can abide in His tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill that wants to live their lives according to the stipulations to get there.  God doesn’t make that choice for us, we decide.

As I list the attributes that are required in this Psalm, take time to consider your own life and where you may have areas that need improvement?  Of course, none of us are perfect so we cannot always get it perfectly right, but with God’s help, we can improve and become more aware of areas where we struggle.

1. Walk uprightly/honestly.
2. Works of righteousness and doing good for others
3. Be honest in your heart.  Don’t try to make your way the right way. 
4. Do not backbite or speak evil of others even if it is the truth.  Instead, speak the love of God over others.
5. Do not do evil to your neighbor.  Ever, even if you believe they deserve it or have done something evil to you.
6. Do not scold or reproach your friends because to be a good friend you will love at all times.
7. Despise the vileness of evil people, but again you do not have to speak about it.
8. Honor those who fear the Lord even if their doctrine is a little different than yours. Let the Holy Spirit search their heart.
9. Swear to your own hurt and do not change. This means you do what you say you will do when you say you will do it.  Keep your word and don’t make up excuses.
10. Do not lend your money for interest, instead give expecting nothing in return like Jesus commanded in Luke 14.
11. Do not take a bribe to condemn innocent people even if you feel like they deserve it.  God is the judge.
12. When you do these things, you will never be moved

This doesn’t sound that hard to do, in fact, it is really a list of things not to do.  You have to intentionally say or do things against this list in order to move away from God.

After reading though this passage again, It makes me ask why do some people choose to walk away from God?  Why are there people out there, many people who choose to live some place rather than with their heavenly Father and Savior Jesus?  Doing the right thing is not harder than doing the wrong thing, it just isn’t as popular as doing the wrong thing.  When living life according to God’s Word and ways, you will live a more peaceable and pleasant life.  You will enjoy life and feel good about the choice you make and know that you are honoring your loving Father and the precious people of the world that He sent His Son to die for and rescue from the evil world around us.

So today I want to encourage you to align your life with the characteristics in Psalms 15.  Start today to be more intentional to walk out an honest and true life.  Do good for others whenever possible and be honest with yourself in all things.  When you mess up, admit it and take it before the Lord and get rid of it.  Make His way your way in all areas of life.  Don’t speak evil of others, ever.  Just don’t do it.  Remember that God sent His Son for all people, and they all have the opportunity to choose Him as long as they are breathing.  Pray for those far from God to be brought near to Him.  Don’t do evil to your neighbors and don’t feel the need to correct your friends, just be there for them.  Don’t get sucked in to evil activities but recognize that they can defile you if you do.  Honor those who fear the Lord and keep your word.  If you say it, consider it a promise and then do it no matter how you are feeling about it later.  Don’t lend money, use it as a tool to reach others far from God.  If you get it back later, that’s great but if not, it is a seed planted in the heart of the receiver.  Don’t try to pin anything on innocent people or even shift the blame when you are the responsible one. After you do these things, you will always be close to your Father in heaven!  Remember it is your choice to abide in His tabernacle and you are the one who decides to dwell with Him.  Make it your life goal to stay close to Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 15
1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;

3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Finding hope in God’s goodness

Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him. The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord will protect his people. – Psalms 14:5-6

 As I am reading through the book of Psalms it seems like these chapters were written much more recently than during the time of King David.  The things that he wrote about so long ago, sound like they could have very accurately been written yesterday.  As David described the condition of the world when he was here, it doesn’t sound like much has changed.  Oh yeah, maybe we are a little more comfortable and seemingly more civilized, but I guarantee you that the hearts of people over all are just as dark as they were back in King David’s day.

In the same way that people are the same as they have always been, so God is also the same God that He has always been and always will be.  Psalms 14 says that God is looking from heaven to see if there is anyone who understands or is seeking God for navigating this life.  He is watching over His people and looking for those who are ready to start following wisdom and His ways instead of stumbling in the dark like the foolish of the world do.

Hopefully, that is where He finds you and me.  Not groping around in fear and ignorant ways like those who have no hope or help.  Hopefully, God’s people will be found trusting in His protection and provision instead of trusting in the uncertainty of politicians, world leaders and even selfishness.

In the world we live in today that used to look like a gradual decline but now has escalated into a landslide decent from moving in God’s direction to now doing things as it seems right in our own hearts, God’s steadfast love and grace are still abundantly available to every person on the face of the planet.   There is no shortage in supply and there is no limit to accessing His gifts.  What a contrast Psalms 14 gives between human waywardness and our heavenly Father’s divine faithfulness.  Despite the extreme differences, this Psalms still offers hope and encouragement for those who seek God in the middle of a world that tends to run away from Him.

As part of the family of God, we are comforted in knowing that God is with us through all the craziness of the earth today.  No matter how overwhelming the evil around us might seem, our Father in heaven lives with those who are faithful to His call and direction.  His presence brings peace and courage to stand against the challenges that we face each day.  We can run to our Father for refuge, and He will not only protect us personally, but He will also ensure that we will have all that we need to get our mission and life assignment done right in the middle of the darkness we live in.  We find shelter and strength as we purpose to walk closely with Him in our everyday life, trusting His wisdom in every area and decision we make.

Today I want to encourage you that even though it looks like there is nothing new under the sun, to seek God diligently!  Go after His plans and His purpose and trust Him for the empowering grace to follow His leading.  Your pursuit of His ways are not in vain and your efforts are seen and valued by His watchful eyes.  As you determine to live according to His will and ways, you can trust that God’s presence will be your constant companion and guide.  Life is challenging and sometimes leaves you feeling vulnerable and oppressed but be assured today that God is your refuge and will protect and support you when facing adversities.  He cares for you deeply and will hold you up in every struggle you have in life.  Put your hope and trust in Him today and stay confident that His salvation and restoration are not only possible but also promised to those who are seeking Him. Let that hope empower you to endure hardship by knowing that God’s deliverance is a sure thing, and His plans are always good.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 14

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

3 They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the Lord?

5 There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous.

6 You shame the counsel of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.

7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Remind yourself

But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. – Psalms 13:5-6

 Some days I wake up and just feel low.  Even though there is nothing really wrong in my life, there are still days that I have to stir myself up.  Because I have created the habit and space to spend time with my heavenly Father each morning, He always helps me to fix my heart and perspective on Him and the purpose for today.  Whenever those days happen, I remind myself to be thankful for all that God has done in my life and is still doing today.  I thank Him for His faithfulness and that I know He loves me and leads me step by step through life.  Then I ask Him for some encouraging moments or words to help me shift my thinking from this temporal world to His everlasting Kingdom.

In Psalms 13, David wrote out some things he was feeling that day.  He was discouraged because he felt like he was facing his struggles in life all alone.  He even asked God why He was hiding from him and why God had forgotten about him.  He appeals to the Lord to hear and enlighten his eyes so he won’t sleep the sleep of death and his enemies will not prevail against him.

By verse five of this Psalm, David is stirred up and reminded himself that he has trusted in God’s mercy, and he remembered that his heart rejoiced in His salvation.  David actually begins to sing to the Lord because God had always come through for David and faithfully dealt bountifully with him all the days of his life.

It is the same thing for us today.  Even though most of us will never go through the trouble that David did, we still have a lot to rejoice about.  We will probably never have the king of our land seeking us out to try to kill us and it will be pretty unlikely that we will ever have one of our children rise up to take our home and kingdom from us.  But that doesn’t mean we will never have days that we need to be encouraged.  Like David did, we can talk it over with God.  We can ask the questions that are in our heart about the circumstances we are going through, but ultimately when we shift our attitude to be thankful for all He has brought us through in the past, that is when we will begin to have peace and understand the purpose of the path we are on.

Today I want to encourage you to make time to talk about your life with your heavenly Father.  Set aside a special time to connect with Him personally.  Chances are you are feeling some unsettling emotions of your unknown future, but remember He has it all planned out.  Press into Him today and ask Him to keep you on the path of His plan for your life.  Put a guard up against the external voices that will plant doubt and fear in your heart.  Instead, spend time meditating on His promises from His word.  Then remind yourself about the complications He has brought you through in the past.  Only then will you be able to keep your mind fixed on the blessing of abundance in your world and only then will you be able to “see” how He has been carrying you through the whole time.

If you have never received His peace and joy through His provision of salvation in the blood of Jesus, do that right now.  He will not only come into your heart and life and save you, but He will also keep you in all your ways from this day forward as you commit them to Him.

Pray this prayer from your heart to receive Him today:  God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for the rest my life here in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 13

1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

A lot or a little

“Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Rewards.  If you’re anything like me, heavenly rewards seem far away and almost undiscernible.  I mean, what are the rewards in heaven?  Most people don’t even know what that looks like. I know there are crowns.  In fact, the Bible talks about 5 different crowns.  They are: The Victor’s crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life and the crown of glory.  Those rewards are awesome, but certainly these are for the really great ministers that are reaching the world every day, right??  Or are they?

Today’s passage talks about receiving rewards, just because you received others.  For example, if you receive and accept the words of the gospels, you are receiving the disciples.   Jesus said that is just like receiving Him and our Heavenly Father.  What about the prophets?  If we receive God’s prophets and the word they gave in the Old Testament through them, we will also receive their reward?  That sounds amazing!

Jesus said there are even rewards in simple acts of kindness such as giving a cup of cold water.  So, how do you know who to receive and who to be kind to?  Well, first of all, kindness should be to all people.  God loves all people, so we are to love all people.  Second, we should receive God’s Word and the prophets who wrote it as the final authority on every subject.  Even though there were men that wrote the words, they were people of God that God spoke the message through.  It is the true and living Word!

Lastly, righteous people of today.  This gets a little sketchy in my mind.  Certainly, this takes some discernment.  There are many who claim to be righteous today but have gotten off track. However, 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that He gives us His righteousness when we give Him our sin. So, even if you do not agree with every word that a person proclaiming the message gives, you can still receive them as a righteous person because they are in Christ Jesus.  This does not have to be complicated.  Righteous people are children of God.  Not perfect people, because there are none.  Just children of God and to receive them is to love them.  If we love all people as Jesus told us to, we will receive our eternal rewards.  To sum it all up:  Love all people unconditionally so they can know God and experience His goodness in their everyday life.

Today I want to encourage you to think about heavenly rewards.  Obviously, God wants us to know about them because He talks about them in His word.  Next, walk out simple acts of kindness wherever you go.  Lastly, love people because they are God’s creation and love is the way to draw people to Him.  Your reward will be great and best of all, you will get to hear Him say: “Well done!”

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:40-42

 40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Find life

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:39

Have you ever wondered in your lifetime why certain activities didn’t bring you the satisfaction that you expected them to?  Have you ever thought about why the new job or new home didn’t fill the void that you thought it would?  In today’s reading, Jesus tells us how to find that fulfillment in life that we all seek and sometimes never find.  It is losing yourself in Him.

Sometimes life feels like we are chasing after the next big event or new accessory.  Somehow in life many of us have gotten the idea that some material thing or grand experience can fill the emptiness that each person has on the inside.  The problem with that is that our Heavenly Father created that spot inside of every person for Himself to live in.  That is why when we get that new relationship or latest devise, it fills the gap for a little while, but the newness quickly wears off.

Thank goodness the Lord’s mercies are renewed every morning and His lovingkindness continues for ever (Lamentations 3:22).  He can bring joy into each day we are alive in this world simply by putting His plans and agenda before your own.  In fact, the verse today says that we must lose our lives in Him so we can find it.  When we put away the things and desires that we think will bring happiness, and instead, seek after what God has designed us accomplish, we will live a life of total satisfaction.  The reason is because He created us with that purpose in mind when He made us.

Today I want to encourage you to spend some quiet time with your Heavenly Father before you start your day.  Get alone with Him and ask Him to fill up your heart with the assignment He has for you today, this week and your lifetime.  Then make it a habit to spend time with Him every morning to get the plan from Him and soon you will be walking out the good missions He created you for.  Then and only then will you find true joy, satisfaction and fulfillment that you never have had before.  Lose your life today so you can find what life is really all about.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:34-39

 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;

36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

 

Help, Lord!

_{Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. – Psalms 12:1}

I specifically remember a day not too long ago that I made a conscience effort to listen to conversations going on around me.  At work, while I was running errands and in my neighborhood.  It is easy to see what is in a person’s heart, just by listening to the words that they speak.  As I took time to simply hear the voices around me, the first thing I recognized was pride.  Almost every conversations was retelling something that had happened to and how they prevailed by not backing down or letting anyone get the better of them.  Next, I heard gossip and complaining and the last thing I noted was fear.  I was disappointed that it seemed like the whole world around me had no idea that they could be doing something to make things better in their world, but the choice was to just talk about things in a negative way, never realizing that it didn’t help things at all.

I was reminded of the day I took time to listen to people around me when I read Psalms chapter 12 this morning.  But instead of feeling helpless by the pride and evil going on around me, I spoke these words in prayer. “Help, Lord!  Where are the godly people and why does it seem like they are so far and few between?”  I know there are still many Christians in the world, and I see so many of them on the weekend when I go to church, but why is it so hard to identify them when I go out into the world? 

Then I read verse six in this Psalm that says the words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace and purified seven times.  God’s Words are perfect, and they are pure and true.  When we begin to speak what He says we are speaking His plan and His promises.  Whatever is going on around us, God has a word for that situation, and He wants us to know what He says so that we can speak those words instead of pride and fear over our life’s circumstances.  His words are His will, and we can be praying scripture over our homes, over our neighborhoods, over our country and our world.  These are the words and promises that will make an impact and God’s words are how we will be the light to the world around us.  We can know the will of God for every life crisis we come up against because His will is His word.  Our faith in His power to change things starts when we know what His will is for that situation by finding His promise in His book.

Today I want to encourage you to talk differently than the world around you.  Put away criticizing, complaining and condemning conversations.  Instead speak the good news of God’s promises and salvation plan for the world we live in.  Begin to make notes when reading the scripture of the passages that touch your life personally.  Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and ears to the words that your Father wants you to hold onto for your struggles and then put your faith in action by holding on to those promises when you begin to worry about the things in life.  When you don’t know what to do or say, it is ok to cry out for help.  “Help, Lord! Show me the way to your godly words and plan.”  He will show up and shine the light in every dark time you find yourself in.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 12

1 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things,

4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us?”

5 “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Put your trust in Him

In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? – Psalms 11:1

If I said to anyone of you reading this message that the world we live in is messed up, I don’t think anyone would question why I would make such a statement.  No doubt, the dangers surrounding our everyday lives can be extremely frightening. With unexpected weather phenomenon or current sickness and diseases that might be going around, not to mention the violence that happens daily, it is easy to see why some people are just not able to cope.  Many times, over the past several years I have said: “I don’t know how people go through life without knowing God and that He has a plan set in motion.”  Honestly, I look to Him each day and trust Him for protection, for provision and for the grace I need to accomplish His plan for the day.  I cannot even imagine living in this world without knowing my Father is with me to take me through life’s struggles.

I’m sure we all know people who are terrified of the things that could happen to them at any given time.  They worry about getting sick or being hurt in some way.  Some people are so afraid that they won’t even leave their homes because of the fear that something bad could happen.  It is a sad thing to not know how to trust God to watch over and to keep you in all your ways.  There are so many promised in His word about how He is watching over His people and even wants to be actively involved in their lives.

I love how Psalms chapter 11 starts.  It states that I put my trust in the Lord so much that I would not even think of saying to my soul, you should run away and hide.  Fly away to the mountain like a bird that takes refuge from predators.  It goes on to say, yes, the wicked are out there and there are threats that exists in the world, but God is in His holy temple (which is the body of His people) and with His eyes He is looking and watching us.

This chapter even goes so far to say that life is a test to see if we will trust Him or try to figure things out on our own.  He is watching us and when we call on Him, He always answers.  He has a plan and a purpose and nothing or no one in this world can stop it!  Glory to God!

When you renew your mind to the promises He gave in His word, you will no longer live and make your decisions based on fears and outward circumstances.  Suddenly, you will trust Him to empower you to accomplish every great thing that He has put in your heart for this life.  He will give you the boldness and the strength to share His love and provision with those who live in terror of things to come, and He will lead you to those who are ready to hear His message of love and salvation wherever you go.

Today I want to encourage you, no matter what is going on in your life and in the world around you, to put your trust in the Lord! Don’t run and hide from the unknown and treachery of the outside world.  Instead, look to His word and promises and believe what He has said about leading you in the path of righteousness.  Recognize that every day is a test and you have the choice to trust and follow Him or lean on your own limited understanding and fear.  Realize that He is only a prayer away and is ready to rush in and rescue you from every scary thing you come up against.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 11

1 In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?

4 The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.