Dive in Daily Devotees

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭89:19‭-‬20‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[19] Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people. [20] I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him.

David what looked to the world like an ordinary shepherd boy was anointed as king. God knew that he was a man after God’s own heart. I have been talking about how our heart is what God looks at and that even though we are not perfect if our hearts are after God’s heart we will want to please Him. We will acknowledge our sin and confess it. Being a man after God’s own heart did not stop David from ever sinning again but it did mean that when God brought his sin to his attention he acknowledged it and agreed with God that it was sin and cried out to God for mercy. Psalm 51 shows us how that conviction and recognition of our sins should affect us. This is David’s confession and lament for what he had done with Bathsheba.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[10] This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

So our actions will reflect our hearts. I know people who profess to believe in Jesus but there are certain things that God clearly speaks against that they refuse to agree with God that it is sin. Anyone who is living in sin and continues to deny that it is sin does not have a heart for God. Living in sin is choosing to not do what is right. It can be holding onto anger, bitterness and hatred for a brother or sister in Christ to greed to sexual sins or abuse of drugs or alcohol. You make your own list. Anything that is a sin that you walk around justifying to yourself and or others and ignoring God and His word on the subject is a stronghold that the enemy is holding onto in your life. Being a child of God means surrender of yourself to the one who created you. Anything you hold back from Him is something that you are  surrendering to the devil. Reminds me of an old Randy Travis song “Which Way Will You Choose?” I will share it on the sacrifice of praise button today but if you are reading on another day search for it. I love Randy Travis’ gospel music he has so much good stuff.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16‭-‬17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[16] This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Jesus laid down His life for us. When we KNOW that, it should change our hearts to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others. This does I believe include literally lay down our lives if necessary but it more often means it figuratively. I just officiated a wedding ceremony for a young couple who were alumni of our youth group. We had talked about the kind of love that God calls us to in marriage. It is this kind of love. Agape, sacrificial love that is a willingness to put what is best for the other first. Well here we see that we are called to that kind of love for every member of the body of Christ.  Which is difficult enough with someone that you have had a choice in marrying but to love like that even when some of those people are people we would not normally choose to spend time with is an understandable struggle.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Telling someone you love them and saying nice things to them in an attempt to convince yourself and them that you mean it is not love and it is not truth. But stepping into the uncomfortable and spending time listening, doing things with and providing for someone, especially someone you would not normally spend time with speaks love. Valuing their thoughts, ideas and interests and meeting their needs often requires sacrifice. Sacrifice of our time, our own interests, our finances, or our need to be right. But If done with a true heart for God it will be an action that is not just a blessing to the one you are putting first but God always honors it and it becomes a blessing to you as well. I think that if you don’t feel blessed from it then you might want to check your motivation and your heart.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:19‭-‬20‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[19] This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: [20] If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

The wonderful thing is that no matter how well or how poorly we do at showing agape love to others the lover of our soul loves us with perfect agape love. When we fail in our imperfection Jesus who is greater than our imperfect hearts knows everything. He know the truth of our hearts and when we recognize our weakness and sins He knows that our hearts are broken because of it and we can rest in His presence. Because as we read in 1 John 1:9 “,,,he is faithful and just to forgive our sins will also cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  May that bring you peace.

 

 

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[11] But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

Your brother and sister is every believer.  Now we can only go by a persons profession of their faith because we can’t see the heart.  Now John talks of our actions being proof of our faith. But my experience is that as a human it is not possible for me to never slip into sin. If your thinking how do I know who is really a believer and who is not so that you can make sure you don’t hate them, then perhaps you need to look at it a different way.  Again our hearts have to align with God.  I believe that God loves every person He created and that to be the most Christ like I need to love everyone.  That does not mean I condone sin or agree with everyone’s decisions.  I can hate the evil in the world and still love the lost and desire their salvation.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15‭-‬17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[15] Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. [16] For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

I can hate these things and still desire salvation and freedom from the ties that bind people to the world. When we speak out against the evil in the world,  we need to be careful to do it with a heart of concern and love for those living in it.  Being hateful toward a person living in worldly darkness is not going to draw them to Jesus. Jesus didn’t stone the woman caught in adultery He showed her mercy and love and told her to leave her life of sin. If we are to do this for sinners how much more should we show love to our brothers and sisters.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[23] No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

When I read this I thought of people who say they believe there is something greater our there. They may even say they believe in a god but their god is… or is not…. They have created a god that they are okay with.  They don’t believe in Jesus because then they would have to believe His teachings and believe the Bible and they have already decided they don’t like it even if they have never read it. Believing there is a god doesn’t save anyone.  Without Jesus sacrifice you are dead in your sins.  So belief in anything other than Jesus is a false idol and is useless.  Jesus and the Father are one and cannot be separated. You cannot believe in one and not the other.

At Christmas time people look at the manger scenes and listen to the stories of Jesus, birth and even unbelievers celebrate. After all the baby Jesus is a sign of hope and peace on earth good will to men.  They look at Him separate from the Father. But even in the Manger He is not just a baby. I hope you are reading this on the day it is written for and listen to the sacrifice of praise.

After writing I read the below prayer for my “Prime time with God” devotional.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for pursuing me with Your love and Your grace.

Thank You for making a way for me to be restored to You.

Please help me to love You and to love all others…

 Jesus said to him,
“ ‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40

Remind me Lord, to look for Your will to be done in all circumstances…

Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10

You are the God who comes to me in unexpected ways.

May I see Your sacred presence in the midst of the ordinary tasks of each day.

Please help me to walk with you in humility…

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

I desire more of You, Lamb of God, in my life, in my home, in my city and in this world.

In the holy name of Jesus I pray,

Amen.

 

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[6] If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

It is possible to claim faith in Jesus but be a liar. This lie is in our hearts because we can hear the gospel and it make sense to us in our minds but if our hearts are not changed so that our actions are also changed and we no longer desire to live in the life of darkness that we lived in before Him, then it is all a lie.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

When you put your faith in Jesus and you receive Him into your heart there will be a change from darkness to light in your life. You will begin to be convicted of your sin a step at a time. You will desire to be with other believers. You will begin to want to turn away from things that are displeasing to God and want to do things that are pleasing to God.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

When our sin in brought to our attention in reading the word of God, or when someone of faith brings it to our attention, or from the conviction of the Spirit, we should turn away from it and confess it to God. He not only will forgive us but can enable and empower us to turn from it. We are sinners by nature so we will have sins in our lives until Jesus returns. We can improve but we will never be perfect. People who claim that they do not have any sin to confess again are liars. They are lying to themselves. If we had the word of God in us we would know the truths that include the fact that we are all sinners and that only through Christ can we be set free. And the truth that there is no one perfect but Jesus Christ Himself who gave up is life as a sacrifice for our sins. If we can live without sin on our own then there would be no need for Jesus.

Our actions are what paints the picture of our hearts. We can say we believe but God tests us by our hearts not our words and if our hearts are right then our actions should follow. I know people who are good at acting good. They do good things and say nice things and they mean it, but they have no faith in God. Their hearts are not their motivation for their actions. It could be self-gratification, or achievement, or pleasing others that motivates. But whatever that other motivation is doesn’t matter. It’s still a lie to think it is not sinful. I think they have the hardest time seeing themselves as sinner needing a savior. They can look at themselves and compare their lives to the things in the world around them and think that they don’t deserve the same judgement as those who are worse than they are. But in reality all sin separates us from God. Even 1 sin. Even the sin of pride of doing good is still a sin that will separate us if we try to do it on our own. Humility and a servants heart is not something that can be learned on our own. It can only come from a transformation bestowed on us by the ultimate humble servant who died for us. Don’t think about your actions live your life in Christ.

So if you find yourself daily thinking about, what do I need to do to do the right thing, or to do a good thing, change your focus. Instead of living your life trying to be good, live your life getting to know God. The better you know Him, love Him and keep His word in you, the more Christ-like you become and the rest will just fall into place.

This morning on the radio I heard someone talking about praying the scripture. This is something that I have done and at times certain scripture call to me to pray them. Today I went into my reading with the thought of praying the scriptures. Kino has been very heavy on mind right now because he is struggling in so many ways. Not just his daily struggles with trying to make money and provide for himself and care for others but he is struggling emotionally and spiritually wanting to run away from where he is and potentially put himself in just different kinds of danger. He is crying out to God for an answer and he is not receiving one. Or not receiving the one he wants to hear.‭‭ When I advise him to stay because God has told him to be patient and wait in the past and he has not told him otherwise it is confusing to him because he is so unhappy but he does trust my words and his Dominican mom Maria who is telling him to stay as well. I am praying these scriptures for him today.

Psalms‬ ‭86:1‭-‬2‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[1] Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. [2] Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;
[4] Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.

Lord God hear Kino’s prayers. Please answer him in some way that he may know it is You. Whether it be to provide his need, show him Your protection or just bring him joy. He has seen all these things in the past and he has shown his faithfulness to You and his trust in You as your servant. May he put his trust in You and feel the joy that it brings.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:5‭-‬6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[5] Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. [6] Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

Lord direct Kino in seeking wisdom and understanding. I thank you that he seeks guidance from those of us he trusts to care for him. I pray Lord that he would also hear the wise advise to dig into your word and seek wisdom directly from you. I pray that when he does do that that You would give him wisdom and understanding and that he would no turn from it but dig deeper into it that it may protect him. I pray he would come to love Your wisdom and trust that it will watch over him.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:10‭-‬11‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[10] Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. [11] I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

I pray Lord that he would not just accept what I say but accept what You say and that You would give him many years of life. He is struggles with life as though he has lived a lifetime already. Please show him that he has many years of life ahead of him and that if he would follow the ways of wisdom and stay on the straight paths that you lay out this time of suffering will be only a small portion of the life that you have for him.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[26] Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Keep his feet on the path you have for him giving careful thought to his steps to be sure they are in line with your will that he may be strong and steadfast especially in these difficult times.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:4‭-‬6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[4] ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

From the Enduring Word commentary

I bore you on eagles’ wings: An eagles’ wings are strong and sure; but they also speak of careful protection. It is said that an eagle does not carry her young in her claws like other birds; the young eagles attach themselves to the back of the mother eagle and are protected as they are carried. Any arrow from a hunter must pass through the mother eagle before it could touch the young eagle on her back.

What a beautiful metaphor. God carried them out of captivity and protected them as a mother eagle would protect it’s young. Jesus did the same for us. He sacrificed Himself to protect us from the attack of the enemy. Thank you Jesus.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[1] Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[5] Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:10‭-‬11‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[10] He said, “Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. [11] Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”

They left their established safe, comfortable homes to join up with people who were wandering in the wilderness. All because they heard about what God had done.  I wonder how the word got to him. I can only imagine the talk.  The Israelites encountered other people on their travels. We already read about their battle against the Amalekites. It was all so miraculous that it’s no surprise that word got out. Jethro did not need to witness it for himself to be trust in God and respond in trusting Him enough to pack up everyone and go to where Moses was and he is full of praise for God!

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[14] When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:21‭-‬22‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[21] But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. [22] Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

Jethro responded by going to where God was working and when he got there God used Him to help, direct and guide Moses.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[27] Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

And when his purpose of reuniting Moses with his family and helping him to do the right things to be able to still help the people but not to carry the burden all himself, it was time to return home.

If we watch for where God is working and join Him in those places God is able to use us to join Him be it at home or away from home.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[33] but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

It may seem difficult to listen to wisdom in times of fear especially if we are fearing harm to ourselves. We are seeking godly wisdom and as I have mentioned many times before the descriptions of wisdom in Proverbs always seems to describe Jesus to me. Referring back to yesterday’s post if you set your heart and mind on Christ Jesus spending time with Him and seeking to know Him then you are listening to wisdom. And in doing this when we are experiencing outward troubles we will have that peace that transcends all understanding in the midst of it. We will rest in the safety of the arms of our Lord and even when we face harm we will not fear it because we will not be alone.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:1‭-‬2‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[1] The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. [2] So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

The Israelites are daily experiencing the provision of God through the miraculous gift of manna and quail every day and still when they are thirsty instead of turning to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving (See yesterday’s post again) they grumble again.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[2] So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

They not only grumble they quarreled with him the Hebrew word for quarreled is “riyb” which means to quarrel or reprimand. They were showing strong disapproval of Moses for bringing them to this place. Which as Moses recognizes this is not about their beliefs about him but their belief about God. When they challenge Moses who has been following God’s direction they are challenging God.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[3] But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Their thirst was real and it is an understandable concern but so was their hunger and need for food. They did not seek God’s wisdom so they were in fear of the harm that would come to them without water. I was thinking this morning about yesterday’s story and I wonder why they have so much trouble trusting God. And here we see it again. What came to mind is they don’t have Jesus. They don’t have the Holy Spirit. They have the law. Their understanding of the law was performance based. Do these things, don’t do those things. Even though God had told them that He desires their heart more than sacrifice and lawful obedience they still see action as the requirement. So they were lacking the heart and mind connection. For us when Jesus came He was the sacrifice and He clarified that the way to salvation is not through the action of following the law and performing sacrifices but through a heart and mind trusting in Him. From that heart and mind change the obedience comes out of love. We are also given the Holy Spirit to live in us. Before Pentecost the Holy Spirit only came to people for a short time and purpose. So the Israelites were operating from a performance based self-focused perspective. They obeyed and performed properly so they want God to do the same. They don’t verbally blame God because that would be “wrong” so they blame Moses. They are not thinking about the fact that God knows their hearts and even if they were outwardly blaming Moses they were inwardly blaming God.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[4] Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

Moses was not the one in the wrong but he does the right thing when they all do the wrong thing. He turns to God in prayer and petition.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17:6‭-‬7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[6] I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. [7] And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

And God honors Moses heart and provides for them again.

None of us are perfect so we all will forget to seek wisdom at times. We will face potential harm and experience that fear but as in yesterday’s post if we are in Christ He will guard our hearts and minds and make it possible for us to think on Christ-like things. If we are obedient to stay connected to Him in prayer, petition and thanksgiving and to His word through bible study and His body through the church then we will be reminded of his promises and we can remember His instruction in wisdom and then we will rest safely in His arms and find peace.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:1‭-‬3‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[1] The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. [2] In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. [3] The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

The desert of sin also known as the wilderness of sin does not refer to the moral concept of sin but to the Hebrew word sin – khata which means to fail or to miss the goal. Interesting that this is one of the places that the Israelites failed to trust God and once again grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[4] Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

Good does not respond with anger or wrath.  He knows the weakness of the people and their need for food. If they would only recognize the greatness of God’s love for then and His power to provide they might turn to Him is prayer instead of complaining.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[8] Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

The people didn’t think about their complaining as being against God.  They were hungry and tired and were just complaining. Haven’t we all complained about our situation when we have been sick, tired,  and at our emotional and physical wits end? Well when we complain to others about our situation instead of turning to God in prayer even if that prayer is complaining or lament it is a failure to trust God.  Failure to trust His Sovereignty, His omniscience, His love and faithfulness. In those times we are also wandering in the wilderness of sin.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[12] “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

But even when we fail God never does. He understands our weakness especially in times of struggle and He wants us to remember that He is the Lord our God.  When He provided the meat and bread He tested them to see if they would obey and not keep any till the next day. When He reveals Himself to you in the times you fall short, give Him the Glory and trust in His word fully.  Don’t hold onto the things of this world for they will only rot and decay. Praise God and thank Him. He is the Lord your God.

After writing the above I went to visit a church I don’t usually go to and the pastor preached on peace. He talked about Philippians 4:4-9 which I saw connections to the above post.

Here are some things I took note of and how I see them relating to the above post. V6 “Do not be anxious about anything…” He talked about how anxiety and fear is our default. When God say’s “Do not be” it is not a suggestion it is a command. And when He gives a command He also tells us how to obey the command. V6 continued “…but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” So in the face of our anxiety and fear we need to turn to God in prayer. We need to ask Him for what we need and thank Him whether He give us what we ask for or not.  (The Israelites did not turn to God in prayer and petition they complained instead of giving thanks for all the miraculous things that He did do for them) And when you do as He commands v7 “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” The word guard is a strong word I have written in my bible from before that it means garrison which means to station troops or guards around something. What does He guard your heart and mind from. From anxiety and fear. The battle against our fear is in the heart and mind. We have to chose to change our mind and think on V8 “”…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” To fight the battle against anxiety we need to be careful in our thoughts and deeds but first we must have a change of heart. We to have our hearts “in Christ Jesus”. If we try to change our hearts and minds on our own we will not be successful because when fear and anxiety return we will fall into it again and again. (just like the Israelites continued to grumble against God over and over again) But if we are in Christ Jesus and we are staying connected to Him through things like bible reading, prayer, fellowship with believers & church when it does return we will have been reminding ourselves of what God has commanded and promised and what He has done and then He will take us to a place better than we could ever understand He will give a peace that doesn’t make sense in the face of that fear and anxiety. But first you must be in Christ Jesus. (The Israelites continued to grumble against God because of their fear and anxiety over their situation and their hearts were not transformed because they were trying to do it on their own. They were not trusting God and remembering all that God is and all that he has done and all that He has promised them so they were not able to have peace.)

I also thought of my dear friend and faithful reader of this blog Denise. She has gone from being a person overwhelmed with fear and anxiety and she has done it by doing exactly what this scripture says. She has followed Gods command and He has fulfilled the promise and given her a peace that makes no sense. The anxiety and fear still return but her heart and mind has been set on the things of God and she can remember what God has done in the past so she is much faster to turn to God in prayer, petition and thanksgiving and she stays connected to Jesus through bible study, devotional reading, church, praising and worshiping Him with music and dance and because she remains in Christ Jesus He has given her a peace that she had never thought possible in the past.

I hope that when you face anxiety and fears in your life that you will remember to turn to Philippians 4:4-9 and be able to V1″Rejoice in the Lord Always. I say it again rejoice” because you know that “the Lord is near”.

 

Being in the season of Advent, we are to be setting our sight not just celebrating the first coming of Jesus but looking forward to the second coming.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[3] Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

Every generation has had reason to see signs of the second coming. Ours is no different. Scoffers and the following of eveil desires has gotten so bad that what God calls sin is now considered right in the eyes of the world and supported by government. Those who stand for truth are condemned, persecuted and even prosecuted. Christians are called bigots and haters no matter how lovingly we speak the truth. Our young people have been taught that if someone does not conform to the social beliefs of the culture that it is because they hate those who do. The more I see and hear what is going on in our schools and government I often cry out come Lord Jesus. But that is the wrong heart to be saying that.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[8] But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

I look forward to heaven when a thousand years will be like a day and everyone will live to love and serve God. So I want the Lord to return so I can experience that instead of the complete opposite world we now live in. Still the wrong heart.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[9] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The right reason to pray come Lord Jesus is with a heart for people to come to repentance. Jesus will not return until all who are written in the Lamb’s book of life have been saved. So instead of praying come now so I don’t have to endure this world any longer, I should pray Lord bring all your sheep to you that we may all come home.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[13] But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Home to live on a new earth where we will all dwell together in peace and harmony.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[14] So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

So what do we do while still in this difficult and broken world? Strive to live a life pleasing to God. And look for every opportunity to share the Gospel and join Him in the work to make Him known.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:17‭-‬18‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[17] Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!

Standing for what is right and true regardless of what the culture says. Regardless of any criticism or condemnation we must endure. Not allowing ourselves to be pulled into the lies. How do we do that? We “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Stand firm on the Rock that is our Lord Jesus Christ and give Him the glory both now and forever!

My daily prayer from Prime time with God

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your generous Holy Spirit.

Because of Your great love for me, You have given to me everything I need.

Because of Your loving Generous Holy Spirit within me, I will in turn love and give generously to You and to others.

Please show me the ways that You want me to be generous like You.

Please open my eyes to the opportunities around me…

• to give a meal in the name of Jesus,
• to comfort those who mourn,
• to pray for those who are sick and suffering,
• to give of my time and resources someone in need,
• to show mercy to others as You have shown mercy to me,
• to share Your love and salvation with everyone,
• to speak Your Truth in love at all times,
• And every other opportunity that you prompt me to give…

Please help me to see the needs around me and to open my heart to those in need.

Please prompt me to act.

May I allow Your love to flow through me to bless others in the Name of Jesus.

In the generous name of Jesus I pray,

Amen

 

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[4] For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Have you ever thought about angels sinning? I know that I have heard someone say that the angels didn’t have free will but that didn’t make sense to me because if that was so then how would Lucifer and all his followers turn against God. I don’t remember reading this in any of the many times I have read this book in the past.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:9‭-‬10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
[9] if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. [10] This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;

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