The Daily Dose

Where do you belong

The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.  Revelation 15:6

I feel like it has taken me a long time to know where I belong in the body of believers and even life for that matter. It has taken many years to discover my purpose and called place.  However, even though I know I will continue to grow and step in to new assignments, I have a constant peace in my life because I know that I am where I am supposed to be.

It wasn’t always this way.  The first half of my life I carried a feeling of not belonging.  Even within the church walls, I felt out of place for much of my adult life.  But when I began to do what I knew was right, on a consistent basis, over time, I was able to step into a place where the gifts and talents that God had given me were being used to where now I know I am where I am called to be.

In today’s reading, this scene in heaven is so amazing to me.  The angels are in place for the exact moment of their purpose.  When the temple of God was opened, seven angels came out of the temple dressed in spotless white linen with gold sashes.  The passage doesn’t say how long they have been in the temple, but they are in place for that precise moment, holding their purpose to be executed at the exact point of God’s plan for their mission.  There were no questions by the angels of how long they would wait until their purposed is realized. They remained in the holding place of the temple until the doors were opened.

This picture of the angels helps me to realize that much of my life was in a holding position.  I was being prepared and developed for a future time.  My purpose and call were always the same mission, but the time leading up to realizing them was where I was learning to hear the voice and direction of the Holy Spirit so that I would be ready to respond at the precise moments that God needed my life to reach another.

Maybe that is where you are today.  You sense that there is more, and you do not quite fit in where you are right now.  It’s ok, don’t give up.  Use this time to press into all that you are called to by consistently following the direction of the things that the Holy Spirit puts in your heart.  You may not always get it perfectly but keep checking in and taking those next faith steps.  Your consistent walk with Him will have you in the exact right place at the exact moment of His plan.  You will be cleansed from all spots and blemishes, prepared for every good work that He has designed for you to complete.

Today I want to encourage you to take a moment to evaluate your place in this world.  Are you confident that you are in the right place at this time in your journey?  If you feel like things are not quite in place yet, be encouraged that you are in a holding pattern being prepared and developed for your future self.  Press into His love and direction and be determined to be ready for that appointed day to come that He has prepared for your gifts and ability.  Understand that you are in a time of refinement and although it feels like nothing is happening around you, it is happening inside of your heart.  Let the empowering grace of God transform you into a vessel of honor to accomplish all that is in the heart of God for you to achieve.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:5-8

5 Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 

6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. 

7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 

8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

Great and Marvelous

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Revelation 15:3

After writing the other day about reading God’s word to get to know Him more, I want to continue with that focus today.  The next two verses of Revelation 15 are a condensed version of the song of Moses from the Old Testament in Exodus 15:1-19.  Moses sang a song of triumph as the Israelites left Egypt to go to the promised land.  In Revelation, those who have the victory over the beast, his image and his mark sing this song again with harps except this time, they are in heaven.  In the words of this song, we learn so much about the character of God and the lengths He goes to for His people.  Below is a list of attributes we can learn about God and depend on when we are facing any battle.

1. His works are great and marvelous.
2. His ways are just and true.
3. All people should fear Him and glorify His name?
4. He alone is holy.
5. All nations will come and worship before Him.
6. His righteous deeds have been revealed.

Our heavenly Father’s works are great in quantity and in awesomeness.  He does marvelous, wonders that are not possible without Him.  All His ways are just and true. Because of that, He can be trusted and will never deceive or lie to you (something that is so precious to me).  We fear and reverence Him by giving Him glory and honoring His holy name.  One day every nation, tribe and tongue will come before Him and worship because He does not hide His works of righteousness.

This song tells the story of my life and what He has done to rescue me.  I know Him greatly and intimately because of the trouble He has saved me from.  When I imagine the multitudes standing on the sea of glass singing this song to Him, I am inspired to praise Him again and again.

Today I want to encourage you to worship and praise His holy name.  Come before Him each day and worship His holy name.  Set special time aside to sneak away and be alone with Him to talk about the things on your heart.   Then come together with others and declare His wonderful works in your life.  Encourage others because of His goodness and then tomorrow, get up and do it again.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:3-4

3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.

4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come

and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Why do you read?

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.  Revelation 15:1

As we begin chapter 15 of Revelation, I want to take a pause here and ask ourselves: Why am I reading this book?  Why do I read any of God’s Word?  What am I looking for?  These are questions I thought about this past weekend.  Why am I reading God’s Word everyday and what am I looking for when I read the scriptures. 

I have to be honest and say that some of the reasons are because it is a habit and because I know it is the right thing to do and it is good for me. I open up the bible every day to make sure I am taking in His good content.  Also, If I am being totally honest, I look into God’s words for His promises and that translates into “What’s in it for me?”  Kind of a selfish attitude, but still, it is important to know where the real answers to everyday life can be found.

However, and this may seem like a no brainer to some people, but now I am taking on a new purpose for reading the holy Word of God.  This is so that I can know more about Him and understand Him on a more personal level.  I believe this is the main reason why God has preserved His story and book down through the ages.  It isn’t so that we can know what is coming up next although much of that is in there.  It isn’t even so that we can know how to live life successfully, because that is also in there.  The real reason God has given us His very own words in a book that we can hold onto in this physical world is so that we can know how much He loves us and wants to walk with us each day we are here in this world.

In today’s key verse, we read that God’s wrath is complete!   He will never pour out wrath on His enemy again for all eternity.  I also am made aware from this chapter, that I am not reading it to see what the anti-christ will be doing on the earth, I am reading this book from heaven’s viewpoint.  I said it before, but this is not a vision to learn about the beast and the false prophet, this is the revealing of our Lord Jesus and events that took place in heaven to be lived out in a future time in the world.  This is God’s story, and it is the conclusion to the age of grace that we live in today.  It is the last opportunity for those who still live in the world to step into that personal relationship with their heavenly Father and He is pulling out all the stops to urgently get that message out to the remaining few to be rescued during that time.

So now, my perspective has changed and each day when I open God’s word, I am looking for His love and what He wants to teach me about our relationship.  I will be looking for the message He wants to speak to me personally and also what He plans for me to share with others.  I have included a prayer below that I now put into my Daily Dose Journals, that you can pray before you read God’s word each day to help you remember why you are reading and also to ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Who He is and His great love for you in a new and special way.

Today I want to encourage you to answer the question: Why do you read God’s Word?  Start turning your focus when you open it to His love and goodness instead of reading out of obligation or habit.  Pray the prayer below and let your time in His word be a personal time to enrich your relationship with Him and get to know Him better.  Begin to increase your understanding of the love He has for you and all people and then just sit in His presence and listen to words of wisdom He wants to share with you for the day.

Pray: Father, thank You for Your Word and that I can get to know you better through it.  I thank you for the wisdom and promises in it!  Open up my understanding now as I read, to receive the message that You have for my life personally today and show me how to apply these truths in my everyday life.  I thank You for showing me more of your great love and all You are imparting into my heart through this reading and for giving me opportunities to share your love, wisdom and promises with others each day.  In Jesus name, Amen!       

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:1-2

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 

Invest in your future

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

I love this passage in Matthew that talks about your “treasure”.  This was also one of those elusive scriptures to me because I never considered that I had a “treasure”.  Treasure to me always seemed like something in a fairy tale or pirate story.  Silly right?  Finally, I realized that my treasure is what I value most and what is most important to me.  When I began to think about what was valuable on earth like material things, as opposed to things valuable in heaven such as people and the good we do for others here in this world, then I started to get it.  That’s when I began to recognize how important it is to invest in my future . . . my eternal future.  But how?

Let’s examine the today’s key verses a little closer.  It says that your heart will follow where you put your treasure. So once again it is a step of faith. The first act is to intentionally lay up your “treasure” in heavenly things.  So first of all, determine what your treasure is.  The passage is talking some about your financial treasure because it refers to “things”, but it is not limited there.  Your treasure is where you put your time and energy also, which are even more valuable than your money because they are not replaceable.  Put your money, time, resources and efforts into the things of the Kingdom of God and before long that will be what you are most interested in and love. AKA where your heart is.   You will notice your heart following your “treasure”.  You will become increasingly interested in growing your heavenly account each day.

Revelation 14:13 says “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” It is very interesting that though we cannot be saved or get into heaven by “good works” or anything we do other than make Jesus the Lord of our life, this passage would indicate that good works are still important and will actually follow you into eternity.  That is, work that is done for the kingdom of heaven here on earth.  We’ve all heard the saying “you can’t take it with you”. Well according to God’s Word, there is something you can take with you, other people and good things done for others in the name of Jesus.

Today I encourage you to start investing in your eternal bank account and look for others you can bless and pray for.  Reach out and ask God to lead you to those good works that He planned for you before you were born.  Then begin to walk in them.  Instead of checking the stock market or your bank account each day to see how your investments are doing, start checking your heavenly account and adding to it daily.  Soon those will be the only investments you are interested in looking at because you heart has followed the action you physically put behind your faith.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:19-24

19  “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 

20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

22  “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 

23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

What about fasting?

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  Matthew 6:16

After teaching His disciples to pray in secret, Jesus told His disciples another practice that is to be done in secret.  Fasting.  Notice, He doesn’t say to them “If you fast?” like it is an option. He says “When you fast” because it is something they did regularly.

So, what is fasting all about?  I want to answer that question by identifying what fasting is not.  Fasting, at least godly fasting is not about a diet or weight loss.  Fasting is not something you do as a ritual or commandment of God.  Fasting especially isn’t something you do to try to get God to answer your prayer request.

Fasting is a time of separating from the things of the world to “tune in” to the things of God.  It doesn’t have to be food, but certainly can be.  It could be things such as social media, tv/movies, news, or gaming. It can be anything that uses the time that you can turn your attention to God instead.  The things you fast aren’t bad things, it’s just a time you purpose in your heart to spend with God in the space you usually spend with those other activities and distractions.  Fasting can also be a time when you decide to reach out to others more or in a different way than you usually don’t take the time to, a time of giving of yourself. 

When fasting foods, it can be for a time of cleansing in your body for more healthy living.  The timing is also flexible.  It can be one day as the Israelites did weekly on the sabbath or three days as Esther did to seek God’s wisdom.  Daniel fasted twenty-one days, he still ate food, he just fasted “pleasant foods.” Lastly, Jesus and Moses fasted forty days. 

Fasting is not a ritual practice; it is a spiritual discipline.  In fasting, your physical body is forced to submit to your spirit and must obey what you tell it to do instead of your sprit giving into the demands of your flesh to be comfortable.  It is not something you do to try to get God to move closer to you or to move on your behalf.  Fasting is for you to move closer to God and to act on His behalf.  It creates a desire in your heart to purge out the unclean to make a space for the pure things of God’s plan.

I know this is not so interesting to some, but it is truly a powerful act of worship.  By putting your flesh in subjection to your spirit, your spirit becomes dominate and more discerning of the things God is speaking to your heart.  Today I would ask that you consider and pray about fasting.  Read about it in the Word and listen to what God has to say about it.  It is not a bad thing, for sure, and it is not obsolete.  The same results can be had today that were given all through the scriptures.  If nothing else, in fasting you show yourself just how serious you are about the things of God, and Jesus promised when done in secret you will see the rewards of it openly.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:14-18

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 

17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 

18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Harvest time

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  Revelation 14:15

 If you know anything about harvest time, you understand that it is an exciting time, but it is also a time for a lot of work.  Depending on how big the harvest is, it can take days and even weeks at times.  In recent years, my husband has taken up gardening.  It is something that he really enjoys.  In the spring, he spends a lot of time planting, nurturing and caring for the new little seedlings that he starts in the house and when they grow up strong enough, then he transplants them into the garden area that has already been prepared for them to take root.  Then all through the summer, he watches over these plants to make sure they are getting enough water and nutrients and also that no pests are feeding on them and damaging the leaves and even the roots.  By the time the harvest comes in and the fruit is fully grown, he knows every detail about each of the plants.  When the vegetation is fully matured, he begins to bring in the produce, there may be just a little bit at first, but after only a few short days, there is abundance.  That’s when the work really begins.  If we don’t keep up with the harvest, the crop will become overgrown and spoiled.

Planting and reaping is such a vivid picture that parallels life and also what happens when people turn their lives over to the Lord Jesus.  Someone plants a seed in the ground of a person’s heart about God’s love and provision of salvation and if that seed is prayed over and nurtured it will grow up until that person decides to receive that gift of salvation the Father in heaven wants every person to know. If the person never makes that decision or if the seeds were never planted, there can be no harvest of that life into God’s kingdom. 

Matthew 9:37-38 – “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Jesus said that the harvest of the world right now is plentiful, but we need more laborers.  He commanded that we pray to the Lord of the harvest, to send out more laborers into the harvest.  Laborers come in many different ways.  Some are seasoned Christians that have been called to foreign lands to reap that harvest.  Others are called to do the work of the ministry right here in their own neighborhoods.  Some are called to be financial laborers and support the work of ministry and still others are new laborers that are growing up under the training of the seasoned workers.  The point is that we are all called to bring in the harvest of new believers to disciple them up and equip them to go back into the fields to bring more in.  We all have a part to do and a place that we have been designed to fill.  Evidently this is not an automatic thing or Jesus would not have said that we need to pray that the harvesters will get into their place and bring the people in before it is too late and that crop is lost for all eternity.

In today’s reading, it is talking about a different harvest time.  John wrote about One sitting on a cloud with a sharp sickle in His hand and then some angels with sickles also.  At that time, it is the season for the earth to be reaped, but the harvest is to bring in the great winepress of the wrath of God. This is a great battle that results in blood flowing up to the horse’s bridle for 200 miles.  I cannot even comprehend it.

Today I want to encourage you while we are still on this side of that great harvest of the wrath of God to get into your place as a harvester of souls.  Begin to plant and water seeds with God’s Word and your prayers.  We live in the time that was prophesied by the prophet Amos when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested.  This truly is the time when the harvest is plenteous so we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers and also pray that you would step into your laboring position.  If you do not know where that is, begin to take the next steps and opportunities that open up in front of you and determine that you will take your place along side all the other harvesters in the world and bring in your section of the field.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:14-20

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 

16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 

19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 

20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

You Can’t take it with you

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”  Revelation 14:13

Have you ever heard the old saying: You can’t take it with you? Meaning that when you die and leave this world, you cannot take any material things with you when you go.  Once I heard an older preacher say that they never saw a moving truck following a hurst to the cemetery.  Yet the majority of people spend their entire time here in this world trying to accumulate the best things that will only last for a few short years here on earth.

It’s true, when we leave this world and go on to live in heaven, we cannot not, nor would we ever want to take any physical thing that we have acquired here in the earth with us when we pass.  It just cannot compare to the treasure we will see in heaven.  However, there is something that we can take with us from this life.  That is the good works that we do for other and the souls that we lead to our Savior Jesus.

Today’s reading describes three angels that fly through the heavens proclaiming the everlasting gospel message and also giving warnings to the people on earth to fear God and give Him glory.  These angels are messengers to preach the good news that Jesus is Lord to the people in the world and to warn them that the beasts and systems they are trusting in are going to fall and God’s wrath is coming to those who receive the mark in their hand or head.  This is bad news, but there is still time at that point for the people of the world to turn to God and aways from the deception of the evil leaders.

Then John was told to write a proclamation that those who die in the Lord are blessed and they will rest from the labors and all their hard work will follow them into eternity. These that are suffering the terrible afflictions of the evilness that is possessing the earth are blessed and all their labor to help others in that time will live on with them for all eternity when the finish here in this world.

You and I are blessed too.  Even though we will escape the treachery of those great tribulation days, God’s blessing is on us right here and now.  We have been called to do His good works and glorify our Father here in the world.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine brightly so that the world can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  His intent was for His disciples to carry on in the good work Jesus started and to continue in it through the generations until the end of the age.  These good works, feeding the pour, healing the sick, sharing the salvation message and following the leading of the Holy Spirit will follow you into eternity.  So you can take something with you when you leave this world, that is all that you have been called to by your heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to do the good works that Jesus did while He was here in this world.  Love the unlovable, Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you.  If anyone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other also.  From him who takes aways your coat, do not withhold your shirt either.  There is no reward for loving those who love you and doing good to those who do good to you.  Even the world does those things, but loving your enemies, doing good, lending and hoping for nothing in return,  that is when your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High because He is kind to the unthankful and evil so be merciful just as your Father is also merciful. In the same way that Jesus said these things in Luke 6, that is the good that will follow us into our eternal destination.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:6-13

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people

 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 

10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Worship Him

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.  Revelation 14:3

 I love to sing worship songs. In fact, I look forward to the worship at our weekend services just as much as I do the message from the word of God.  There is just something about lifting my hands and singing praise to God that makes my heart smile.  I’m sure it is something that God put inside me but having that time to turn all my attention to Him and turn off the noise of life puts me in a place of contentment and joy to be ready to receive what the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to my heart in the word of God coming up.  Of course, I don’t always wait until Sunday to praise Him with song.  I have worship music playing in my home and work place all day long most of the time.  It is not unusual for me to stop in the middle of whatever I am doing to lift my hands in worship to my Father in heaven.  He is so wonderful and worthy of all my praise!

Having worship music around me all the time is also something I use to keep myself from being distracted with cares and burdens that life wants me to take on.  Not only that, but music is so powerful that it can change my whole attitude in a matter of seconds.  That is true with the wrong kind of music also, If I do not keep my heart guarded against the wrong rhythms and words, I can easily get sucked in and become stained with the world’s ways, words and deceptions.  Our enemy loves to use a “catchy” tune to get us speaking words that are contrary to God’s word.  In the world we live in today, it has become one of the greatest tools to lure people into agreement with the world culture that we live in.

In today’s reading, we see again the hundred and forty-four thousand that were back in chapter seven.  John sees this group again standing on Mount Zion with a Lamb, the Lamb of God.  John heard a loud voice from heaven like many waters and thunder.  Then he heard music playing harps.  Suddenly, this group of one hundred and forty-four thousand have been redeemed from the earth and singing a new song before the throne of God, before the four living creatures and before the elders at the throne.  These have kept themselves undefiled and are the firstfruits to God and the Lamb and there is no deceit found in them, being without fault before the throne of God.

The passage doesn’t say that it is because of their worship in song that they have kept themselves from being defile when they were in the world, but I know that it did help them.  Worship is one of the sure ways to put your heart in the right place and keep it out of the wrong places.  In heaven, these sang a new song that no other could learn or sing.  It is a special and unique tune that only this group is able to offer to the Lord on His throne.  As they kept themselves in praise and worship in the world, they kept themselves from being spotted by the world’s corruption. 

Today I want to encourage you to praise and worship Him often.  You don’t have to wait until Sunday to lift up your voice in song.  You can praise him in the morning and the evening, even all day long.  Surround yourself in worship music throughout your day and pause once in a while to thank Him for His loving kindness and tender mercies.  I like to put myself on a praise fast meaning I fast all worry, anxious thoughts and unsettled feelings and instead take a time to worship, praise and thank Him for how He is working all things for good in my life when fearful thoughts come.  It helps me to stop those worried thoughts and turn my attention to giving my care over to Him because He cares for me! You can trust Him with your care today too and lift up a song of praise in place of your concerns!

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:1-5 

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 

3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 

4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 

5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Don’t be deceived

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.  Revelation 13:14

I remember once when I was in junior high school hearing a teacher talking about being deceived.  I don’t even remember the context in which he was talking about it, but I do remember a girl in my class whom I thought of as very smart and very grounded in her faith for her age saying, I hope it never happens to me.  I remember thinking, what?  Why would you even say that?  Then I thought. . . “That will never happen to me.”  Exactly, that is what I said in my head and in my heart.  I still remember it and that was over 40 years ago.  It wasn’t long after I graduated from high school before I fell into a great deception.  I had always thought that I knew exactly what I was doing and I should never have gone the direction I went back then or made the decision I made that led me into a deep pit of circumstances.  Though, within the last ten years of my life, the holy Spirit revealed to me that I had been deceived and drawn away by my immature way of thinking.  When I think back about it all now, I see that I truly was deceived into thinking that I was ok even when I was so far from God’s plan for my life.

It reminds me of a warning that Jesus gave to his followers in Matthew chapter 24.  He said  “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  He wasn’t talking about in the tribulation times, He was warning then that even in their time many had risen up to collect a following of people who believed they were going to be delivered from the Roman oppression that they were experiencing.  Many had already come and gone before Jesus was even born and many have come and gone since He left this world.

In today’s reading, THE anti-Christ, the devil incarnate comes to power and deceives everyone in the day of his leadership. Even though there are some in the world at that time that do not fall for his devises, they will be forced out of civilization and out of the culture of the day.  They will not be able to participate in the “life” that this world leader creates without receiving His mark on them.  That mark will identify all those who belong to him.  Those with the mark will worship him and the images he builds that represent him.

In the world we live in today, there are deceptions all around us.  Hopefully we, as God’s people are wise enough to not be taken in by the enemies tricks and traps.  Sadly, many people, even though they are Christians, are lured from standing for God and for good by the distractions and fears that this world offers.  Many believers believe more in the enemies power to hurt them, than God’s power to protect.

The solution is to stay close to your heavenly Father, spend time with Him each day and ask Him to keep you in all your ways.  Hide His word in your heart so that you will not live your life against His ways. Acknowledge Him in all your ways so that you are not pulled away by material things and pleasures that the people of the world chases after.  Lastly, surround yourself with friends and a community that will keep you accountable to stay on track in your faith and daily walk with God.

Today I want to encourage you to not let yourself fall into the deceptions of this life.  Be aware of the subtle ways the enemy sets up circumstances to turn your heart away from God’s perfect plan for your life.  Whether it is with things or attitudes of the heart, don’t let Satan’s ways be your ways.  Press into your Father each day so that when this great deception of the Revelation times comes, you won’t be anywhere around to be drawn in or to run away.  You will already be at home with your Father in heaven.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:11-18

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

The Beast

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.  Revelation 13:1

 I have always struggled with disturbing images in movies or pictures.  Once I see something, my brain or mind or whatever takes hold of the image and doesn’t let me forget about it.  For that reason, I am very careful about what I look at and the programs that I watch.  Especially right before bedtime.  If I see something that is intense or scary, I will almost certainly dream about it or even worse, not be able to sleep at all.  Over time, it feels like I can hit a delete button in my head, but when I try to do that right after first seeing something, it just doesn’t seem to work.

In today’s reading, the apostle John, now back on earth in his vision, sees quite a disturbing image.  He describes a beast rising up out of the sea that has seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns on those ten horns.  This beast has blasphemous names on its heads.  John describes the beast that he saw like a leopard having feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion.  He identifies the source of this beast’s power coming from the dragon, which we already established is Satan, and the beast is given great authority in the world.  The next part is even more chilling.  One of the beasts heads had been mortally wounded with a deadly wound, but was healed, which make the entire world marvel and follow the beast.  Not only follow it, but even worship the dragon who gave the beast it’s authority.

Through this entire description, John never expresses any personal feelings.  He doesn’t talk about how the image made him feel like he did when he ate the little book.  He simply related what he saw with no sign of fear or terror in his report.  Certainly, this was an unsettling thing to witness, even if John didn’t feel the threat of it at the time.  He didn’t ask any questions and he wasn’t asked any questions as in other parts of the experience he was writing about.

As I read this passage again, it occurred to me that John’s reaction should be exactly the way we view these passages and every disturbing image that we encounter. When we know who we have become in our salvation in Christ Jesus and we understand that with Him, He will work all things together for our good as we love Him, we don’t need to be afraid, or even phased by treacherous times or current events in the world around us.  John’s account sounds like something that plays out in a horror movie, but even on the daily news in our current surrounding, we hear about wars, famine and pestilence that can cause panic and strike fear in to the hearts of those who don’t have hope beyond the earthly circumstances.  So when you sense that fear, anxiety and distress is trying to plague your thoughts, remember instead Who you belong to and Who is watching out for you.  The One who died the death of separation so that you don’t have to and the One who carried away your griefs, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities, and put peace and healing in their place.  He has not given you a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.  You have no reason to fear any evil because He is with you and comforts you.

Today I want to encourage you while reading through this passage to remember that your Father in heaven is with you and guiding you through all of life’s disturbing and fretful ways.  You don’t have to be anxious or afraid because He is your Shepherd and the One who is looking out for you and providing everything you need during treacherous times.  No matter what you see on television or social media, His overriding truth is your comfort and your peace.  Trust that He has your best interests in His heart and He is leading you step by step through the dark valleys to get you to your green pastures and still waters.  Lastly, remember that your name has been written in the book of life and no beast can take that away. 

If you have never received God’s great gift of salvation and His peace and comfort that comes with it, pray this prayer today and invite the Lord Jesus in to be your Savior and Lord over all.  He will come in and lead you on paths of rightness.

Pray: 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 my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:1-10

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 

10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.