Encourage the exhausted, and make staggering knees firm.
Say to those with an anxious and panic-stricken heart, “Be strong, fear not!” (Isaiah 34:3,4).
“I don’t feel strong,” we might say.
“Fear not!” The Bible tells us with an exclamation point.
Indeed, your God will come with vengeance [for the ungodly]; The retribution of God will come, But He will save you.”
The eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped . . .
These are words of hope. The Bible is the Good News to those who believe. But when I look left and right I see chaos and violence. How about you. We must fight to look up and believe God:
A highway will be there, and a roadway; And it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel in it, But it will be for those who walk on the way [the redeemed]; And fools will not wander on it . . . (Is. 34).
How offensive this might sound to the natural ear, mind, and heart. But those who have tasted and seen the goodness and forgiveness of the Lord in His willingness to take all our sin on the cross, we’re reminded time and again,
“This is all my righteousness, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
But just as winter turns to spring, work must be done:
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you Hosea 10:12.
It’s time to return.
And the ransomed of the LORD will return . . . They will find joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will flee away Isaiah 34: 3-5,8, 10, Amplified.
My open Bible changes me. It is true as Psalm 19: 7 proclaims:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; (Psalm 19).
I’ve found revival for my weary soul in only a short reminder in God’s Word. Is anyone else being revived in the process of turning to the Lord in His Word for help?
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
But I wrestle with God. “What about this? How is this going to work out? What am I supposed to do?
Do we wrestle with God? Yes. We’re broken. We have stories and testimonies in our Bible pages of this.
But God never changes. He’s the same, yesterday, and forever. We can grow to trust Him more if we spend time with Him:
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lordare true, and righteous altogether Psalm 19: 7-9.
If this is what God says will bring rejoicing in my heart, then I will seek Him now, with my whole heart . . .
“Will you follow Me? Together we can journey.” Do we answer, “I will!”
“Get strong in the Lord,” we hear from our pastors. We’re exhorted daily, “It’s time to know the Word.”
So, let’s go then. On a walk, moving forward in The Song of Ascents, Psalm 120-123, Amplified.
The Lord gives words for our prayers and power to heal what’s been dislocated from His Word of truth.
Who is God except the Lord? And Who is the rock on which we stand? We do best to know Him more and more fixing our eyes up, neither left or right.
A prophesy was given in 2019 that the year 2020 would be as Psalm 120:
In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue . . .
Woe is me, that I sojourn with Mesheck, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]!
My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” Psalm 120: 1,2,5,6,7.
The ancient Word speaks as if written today. They prove to be an accurate prayer from our heart at present.
We have not experienced anything the Lord has not walked through and experienced. The old hymn,”O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” makes this clear in our mind’s eye:
“With grief and shame weighed down. Now scornfully surrounded With thorns Thine only crown; How pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
Our Jesus, how He knows our sadness and losses, our persecutions, and abuses. He took all our shame and failures on Himself, on the tree:
“What Thou, my Lord hast suffered Was all for sinner’s gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain;
What is our response when we view so clearly His willingness to face our curse?
Do we take a hard look? Do we see Him now?
“Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, Vouch-safe to me Thy grace. (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. Based on Medieval Latin poem. Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux.)
Together, we speak aloud the next Song of Ascents as we press forward into 2021. We won’t lean on our own understanding, but boldly proclaim in an ever-growing faith:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills, . . . From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber Psalm 121: 1-3, Amplified.
We can trust the Lord in all things. We remind ourselves these things:
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He.
Will.
Keep.
Your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 121: 7,8. A Song of Ascents.
Laws are made by man to protect the people, but move to close the doors of God’s house.
God is Spirit. His Church is not a building. The hearts of His people speak in confidence continuously, . . .
despite the location:
“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May they prosper that love you [the Holy City]! Psalm 122: 1,2,6.
“We pray for the peace of Jerusalem dear Lord!”
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, Ephesians 2:14,15.
He is our peace? Our peace isn’t good circumstances. Our peace is a Person! What is His name?
God saves us once from sin and death for salvation in Jesus. And to all who receive Him and believe in His name, He calls us His children. Children of God.
He saves us daily from our “natural selves.” Our brokenness, our anxieties, doubts, jealousies, hatreds, and our rage. Jesus calms the wind and the waves. He can tame our flesh. In Christ alone . . .
That He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity . . .
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 2: 16,18.
We’re not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. We have access by the Spirit of God to the Father. These are not mere “positive thoughts.” God’s Word, the Gospel message is the power of God to salvation.
Step by step, breath by breath we speak, meditate, pray His Word, and become more and more empowered and hopeful:
[Earnestly] remember the former things which I did of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like Me.
Declaring the end and the result from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose. . . Listen to Me. . . Isaiah 46: 3,9.
He, Jesus, keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him! (Is. 26:3.)
Psalm 123. A Song of Ascents. Unto You do I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in heaven . . .
Instead of worry, we worship and wait in ever-growing faith in God, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the lover of our souls:
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84: 10,11.
We speak aloud and are changed from glory to glory being transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ:
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; . . . They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion Psalm 84: 5,6,7.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living Just because He lives.
We can rest in our Jesus. He is our hope and stay. Do you join me in an “Amen?”
The Word of God. Hymns. Music Therapy. God’s help and comfort for us right NOW.
In a shattered world, where do we find real, living, powerful, present comfort? The Bible tells us in Psalm 119, our comfort comes from the Word of life.
When we have no words to pray, Psalm 119 provides the prayers:
Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors Psalm 119:17-24.
Yes, God is not silent. He speaks. His Word shows us the way.
Do we desire to be children of light in a dark place? What do we do?
Now is time to speak aloud truth. The Bible says, “Thy Word is truth,” John 17:17. We either believe this or not. God gives us choice. He sees each man’s heart, even if mankind thinks he’s his own person not needing Jesus.
Who is born of God? Those who believe in His name. What can we proclaim as true about Him regarding our lives today? Speak aloud Be Still My Soul by Kathrina von Schlegel:
Be Still my Soul, the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide,
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul, thy best and heavenly friend, Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end . . . Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul! for God will undertake to guide the future surely as the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know the voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Maybe our hope and our confidence is shaken a bit, but we will not be greatly shaken. We will choose this minute, and move about by the power of the Spirit of God to know Him more and be still.
Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.)
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.
Are we on God’s side?
He’s on our side.
He will guide the future.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, and all is darkened in the vale of tears, then shall you better know his love, his heart, who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Do we have His love? His hope?
God’s heart beats with constant love for us. He doesn’t change. His ways are unsearchable. Do we believe in Jesus?
Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8a.
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ -2 Thessalonians 3:5.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with . . . singing. —Zephaniah 3:17
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. —2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Our hope is our faith in a true and living God.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them – 1 John 4:16.
You, me, we can trust Him always.
The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. —Romans 8:18.
Music Therapy of the Hymn Be Still My Soul and Psalm 18 is provided to meditate on God’s Promises. He alone is true to His Word:
You O LORD, keep my lamp burning. My God turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop, and with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is flawless and He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God beside the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? Psalm 18: 28, 29, 30, 31.
A song can bring hope. Let a song bring healing and light in the dark spaces.
Classic Christmas hymns are memorable. They’re powerful with their clear and focused doctrinal lyrics.
They also can fall into the danger of being over familiar, where the words aren’t heard anymore. They become as elevator music to a hearing ear.
Isaac Watts penned Joy to the World in the 1700’s for Christmas. Hundred’s of years later, these lyrics are rich in wisdom and carry remedy for our hearts in turmoil, sadness, and fear.
“Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing.”
Hearts are burdened and weary. Believers in Jesus, His birth, death, resurrection can be tempted to doubt, forget the good, and lose the song of His grace and new mercies for each new day.
Let’s prepare Him room. The dark world around us needs a God song. Let heaven and nature sing, and let’s take a breath and join this chorus in our attitudes and willingness to shine for Him.
Christians need their lives to sing for the Lord at this time.
People of all ages, the young, the elderly, everyone in this troubled day are in need to hear heaven and nature sing. There’s power and refreshing of outside crisp air, the cover and color of evergreens, the cloud’s formations. A change of space brings revival.
I’ve thought about changes in melody and song. Think of the classic lyrics, Amazing Grace how sweet the sound.
They’re sung in many melodies. Each brings the deep truths alive.
How about “Hallelujah“? Oh, the many different melodies we sing those glorious words of praise.
I ventured to put a new twist to Joy to the World to bring out the lyrics of some fantastic verses:
“No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found.”
How glorious are these thoughts. We receive Him, and we don’t have to let sin and sorrow grow, we can walk in newness of life and He fills us with His Spirit.
Simply to speak these words lift a weary soul.
Jesus comes to make His blessings flow,far as the curse is found. He is able. He is Savior of the world. He is a gracious, compassionate, slow to anger. He abounds in mercy.
Jesus comes to bring forgiveness to whosoever will believe in Him.
To this we sing Hallelujah. So let us sing, “Joy to the world the Lord is come”!
The soil of our heart can become parched and dry as the day’s minutes pass by.
The winter winds of loss and outside fears bring a sting of pain.
But hear the good news: He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The light of His righteousness And wonders of His love . . .
Hallelujah. Let earth receive her King!
Prayer:
“Dear Lord, give us Your strength to sing: “Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ . . .”
You’re the One who asks of us, “Do you have ears to hear? Do you believe I am He? Have you prepared your heart for Me?
You tell us, ‘I’m your peace.’
‘I’m your healing.’
‘I’m your rescue.’
‘I’ve come to bring salvation and grace.’
It’s time I agree with You, Lord. Do I believe You Lord? Help me receive Your love.
Yes, I receive. Yes, I believe.
I pray now, help my unbelief. Bring Your joy to my world. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—John 1:12.
How many ways can we sing, “Amazing Grace”? How many ways can we say “Hallelujah”!
So, let us sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come.” Let our lives sing as we focus on Him as He lets His blessings flow .
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:11-13.
“Let us sing, Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”
Walk with me in victory in the Song of Ascents as we run our race and fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith . . .
The Song of Ascents were recited as the children of Israel journeyed up to Jerusalem. Journey with me. Speak aloud the Songs. Pray the Songs, for such a time as this, together we ascend to our promised land:
Psalm 120, A Cry in Distress A Song of Ascents:
Quite accurate for our year 2020, Psalm 120.
In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? Sharp arrows of the warrior, with coals of the broom tree!
Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war Psalm 120.
We won’t stand still, we keep moving forward. Psalm 121 will help us with our focus:
Psalm 121, God is Our Keeper. A Song of Ascents.
The LORD will preserve those who trust in Him from all evil, from this time forth, and even forevermore.
Perhaps we walk in a desert place, but when we feed our hungry soul with faith as we drink the Living Word, we are refreshed in ways beyond our mind’s eye.
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126: 5,6.
But I can’t get ahead of myself. “The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”
We can rejoice in the Lord, always:
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!” Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— “Great is Thy faithfulness, ” Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
How glad we are to enter the house of the LORD!
“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Our feet have been standing Within the gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem is built. As a city that is compact together, Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD . . .
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good”Psalm 122.
“Yes, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem because You, dear Lord command us to. We seek Your good this day dear Lord. We rejoice that You hear our prayers.”
To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud Psalm 123.
Why should I feel discouraged Why should the shadows come Why should my heart feel lonely And long for heaven and home When Jesus is my portion A constant friend is He His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches over me
Cevilla D Martin, His Eye is on the Sparrow
Bring us to a new beginning Lord. We seek You. Help us believe You and Your Word. Help our unbelief. We cry “Mercy Lord.”
Renew.
Restore.
We walk with ears to hear:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper . . . Psalm 1:1,2,3.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish Psalm 1:6.
The LORD God, Creator of heaven and earth, He is our hope and defense:
If it had not been for the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, . . . Our help is in the Name of the LORD who made heaven and earth Psalm 124. (Calligraphy, tonirypkema.com)
“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say – “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us;
Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.”
Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth Psalm 124.
Those who trust in the LORD are like mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever Psalm 125:1.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts.
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 125.
Breath by breath, step by step, with our eyes focused up, we walk this journey meditating on God’s Word that we might be as trees planted by the rivers of water whose leaf shall not wither, (Psalm 1).
Because: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.“
The Bible tells us so. Today, I hear the voice of the Lord, and I will stand on His promises. Join me in faith to believe God more and more and grow in understanding of His Holy Word? Yes and amen.
“For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity Psalm 125:3.
Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
We remember our hope:
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus by Robert Lowry, 1876.
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy . . . The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad Psalm 126.
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad.
Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South.
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come againwith rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126.
Do we sow in tears? We shall reap in joy.
Do we continually go forth weeping? We are bearing seed for sowing. We will rejoice again because the Lord is working. He is helping. He is drawing near as we draw near to Him.
“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you Isaiah 46:3,4.
“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.
“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels Isaiah 46:5-8.
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’Isaiah 46: 9,10.
From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness.
I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel Isaiah 46:11-13.
Do we hear the voice of the Lord? Do we believe?
“I believe You, Lord.”
Aloud we proclaim Your Word. Our faith in increased. We are being changed.
Unless the LORD builds the house they labor in vain who build it Psalm 127:1.
Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. they shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate Psalm 127.
Moving forward in the Song of Ascents. Psalm 128:
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.
When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Life might be messy, but with the LORD, it will be blessed!
Blessings come in many ways. Often by trial and hardship. They’re the good things that draw me closer and closer to the Lord. The pain brings remembrance of Him:
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed 1 Peter 2:24.
In this collage of God’s Word and Psalms and hymns, I share encouragement from a Traditional Spiritual written in about 1800, There Is a Balm in Gilead:
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain, But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again.
If you can’t preach like Peter, If you can’t pray like Paul Just tell the love Jesus, And say He died for all.
Step by step we journey, fixed on the Author and Finisher of our souls. He speaks, . . .
with each step we’ve all been given privilege to choose:
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess Deuteronomy 30: 15,16.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. Deuteronomy 30: 17,18.
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Deut. 30: 19,20.
Who will repeat His Word back to Him in faith and believing: “I chose life, so that me and my children may live. That we might love You, Lord God, and listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You.
For You, Lord are my life, and You give me many years in the land . . .
Every rose bush has it’s thorns but we celebrate the beauty of the flower.
Focus is the key.
In our broken world, I have choice. You have choice. We all have choice to focus on the thorns or the rose.
I might start my morning strong in believing my Lord, but often, dark clouds of trial and hurt, pain and sorrow come quickly to cover the Son’s warmth and love by noonday.
The praise to God in my heart flies away leaving me flat and despairing.
I become cut up by the thorns of life and forget to be careful in my thoughts. I forget to enjoy the rose.
As a believer in Christ, I’m tested. We’re tested. We pray for this when we ask of God to:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 119: 23,24.
The Lord is faithful to answer my request. He shows me . . . Impatience. Inner destructive dialogue of myself and others. Stubbornness. Unbelief. Hatred.
The beauty of the Lord is: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” 2 Timothy 2:13.
Let’s choose to change our mind when we’re flooded with troubles and tempted with thoughts that destroy, and instead choose to grow in the grace of our Lord and in knowledge of Him.
How? We’ll proclaim aloud His glory from His Word and grow in believing:
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness Psalm 96: 13.
Do I believe He will? Do we believe God?
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary Psalm 96: 4,5,6.
Do I believe He is? Do we believe?
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land Psalm 95:3.
He is the great King above all gods.
How can we despair in the midst of praise?
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Can we say together? Has our faith increased? Yes, we will:
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity Psalm 96: 7-10.
I will focus in the morning. I will re-focus at noon. Join me in desiring to have a song the whole day through:
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:1-3.
Jesus is the rose:
“I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys” Song of Songs 2:1.
Can we help each other keep our eyes on the Rose? Together, we win.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care Psalm 95: 6.
Amen. Amen.
Let me know if you joined me in proclaiming, “In Jesus name, Amen.”
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, wrote There is a Voice of Sovereign Grace. This hymn is found in 32 hymnals.
I pray this old treasure speaks light to stir up deep joy down in every believer’s heart today:
HOW sad our state by nature is! Our sin how deep it stains! And Satan binds our captive minds Fast in his slavish chains. 2 But there’s a voice of sovereign grace Sounds from the sacred Word, ‘Come, all despairing sinners, come, And trust upon the Lord.’ 3 My soul obeys the almighty call, And runs to this relief; I would believe Thy promise, Lord, O help my unbelief. 4 To the dear fountain of Thy blood, Incarnate God, I fly; Here let me wash my guilty soul From crimes of deepest dye. 5 A guilty, weak and helpless worm, On Thy kind arms I fall; Be Thou my strength and righteousness, My Jesus and my All. Isaac Watts, 1674-1748 (1)
In my Spurgeon Devotional Bible, I’m reminded that “God’s grace outruns human sin.”
The Word of God explains:
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God Romans 5:1,2.
A New Living Translation simplifies this rich thought:
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
But there’s a voice of sovereign grace Sounds from the sacred Word, ‘Come, all despairing sinners, come, And trust upon the Lord.’
December cheer is here, in the Word and this Hymn. This truly is a hiding place. My refuge in a storm. Romans 5: 3-5.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love Romans 5:3-5, NLT.
My soul obeys the almighty call, And runs to this relief; I would believe Thy promise, Lord, O help my unbelief.
Healing flows in old lost words added to Spurgeon’s thoughts on Romans 5: No. 562 in C.H. Spurgeon’s “Our Own Hymn Book”
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us Romans 5:5.
Because the LORD is Omnipotent in wisdom and power, I invite you to speak aloud His Word back to Him:
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad Psalm 118: 21-24.
Together we pray to the LORD, Creator of heaven and earth His Word:
Listen to (our) my prayer, O God, do not ignore (our) my plea; hear (us) me and answer (us) me . . . Psalm 55:1.
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets Psalm 55:9-11.
As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice . . . Psalm 55:16,17.
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords Psalm 55:20,21.
God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God Psalm 55:19.
We unite in prayer and pour out our complaints to a Living God, Sovereign over all the affairs on the earth:
Your words were found, and (we) I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation. Jeremiah 15: 16,17.
The LORD spoke in regards to Jeremiah’s cry. What is the LORD saying to me? To you? To US? Let’s speak the Word of God aloud that we might have ears to hear and hearts as soft clay in the potter’s hand, that He might work in us,
Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth . . .
And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you;
For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord. “I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible” Jeremiah 15: 19-21.
Can we hear the cry of the LORD, “Will you come back to Me?”
Can we hear His voice over the noise, “You’ll be able to extract the precious from the vile.” “Come back to Me. I am able to make all grace abound. I make all things work together for good to those who are the call according to My purpose.”
Together, evening, morning, and at noon we will:
22 Cast (y)our cares on the Lord,
we recite together His faithful Word. We will seek His face forevermore:
. . . He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days
But as for me, I trust in you Psalm 55: 22,23.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Eph. 3: 20).
“Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken,” the prophet Amos recorded for whosoever has ears to hear and eyes to see, “against you, O people of Israel—against the entire family I rescued from Egypt:
“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim? Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey? Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait? Does a trap spring shut when there’s nothing to catch? When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed? Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?” Amos 3:3-6.
“That’s it,” many people shout in this present time, I refuse to believe in a God who is evil!”
Yet, Amos the prophet continues, Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7.
The lion has roared— so who isn’t frightened? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message? Announce this to the leaders of Philistia and to the great ones of Egypt: “Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria, and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.
My people have forgotten how to do right,” says the Lord. “Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence. Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord, “an enemy is coming! Amos 3:8-11.
Paul the apostle recorded in Romans 9:7-16 the common belief that God’s not fair. Are we curious to hear the Scriptures on this point?
Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.
This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;
he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”
Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses,“I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.
In our human cry for fairness, we are tempted to believe God is unfair. But Paul continues in Romans 9:18-23.
So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”
When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?
In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
“God, give us hunger for the Word of God,” a daily prayer on our lips. For such a time as this, we must thirst for the Living Waters of God’s Word, continually praying for wisdom and understanding in His ways:
Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,“Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.”
And,“Then, at the place where they were told,‘You are not my people,’there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”
And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved. Romans 9: 25-27.
The LORD is a gracious God, compassionate, slow to anger the Bible proclaims. We must turn from the words of man and hear the testimonies of God:
For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality.”
And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”
What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.
Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him.
They stumbled over the great rock in their path. Romans 9:28-32.
Jesus is the rock of stumbling: “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 1 Peter 2:8.
We have choice. Will we choose Jesus?
Amos 4, consider. This is the Word of the Lord, NLT. Is it time to turn and trust in the Lord?
Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!” The Sovereign Lord has sworn this by his holiness: “The time will come when you will be led away with hooks in your noses. Amos 4:1,2. (This is how they treated their enemies).
Every last one of you will be dragged away like a fish on a hook! You will be led out through the ruins of the wall; you will be thrown from your fortresses,[b]” says the Lord.
“Go ahead and offer sacrifices to the idols at Bethel. Keep on disobeying at Gilgal. Offer sacrifices each morning, and bring your tithes every three days. Present your bread made with yeast as an offering of thanksgiving. Then give your extra voluntary offerings so you can brag about it everywhere! This is the kind of thing you Israelites love to do,” says the Sovereign Lord.
“I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I kept the rain from falling when your crops needed it the most. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away. People staggered from town to town looking for water, but there was never enough. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I sent plagues on you like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago. I killed your young men in war and led all your horses away. The stench of death filled the air! But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“I destroyed some of your cities, as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Those of you who survived were like charred sticks pulled from a fire. But still you would not return to me,” says the Lord.
“Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”
For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
Can we hear the word “return?” Do we choose today in humility to return, to “repent” for the kingdom of heaven,
is.
at.
hand.
God is gracious to receive those who chose to believe in the Son He graciously gave to pay our debt in full on the cross at Calvary.
“Today, today . . . ” the Good Shepherd calls His sheep. Do we turn to Him? The choice is ours.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” John 12:24.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
How can we bless the Lord at a time of trial or loss? We can . . . when we remember all His benefits as Psalm 103 reminds us:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Circumstances change continually. We’re tempted to fret. We try to figure things out. We become angry and impatient.
Will we remember our great and mighty Lord?
He forgives all (y)our iniquities, Who heals all (y)our diseases, . . .
The struggle is great, . . .
to fret, or choose faith?
God waits. He’s patient and kind. It’s one thing to be patient, but patient and kind? That is glorious. That is the Lord. Fret brings on a deaf ear. Faith opens the hearing,
“Look up. Let go. Turn around. Follow Me.”
The struggle is great. There’s a war in our spirit. We have a choice to make.
When we look into His Word, we’re reminded that He who is faithful and true, keeps His promises:
He redeems (y)our life from destruction, He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, He satisfies (y)our mouth with good things, So that (y)our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Emphasis mine).
What will I think on today? What will I remember? The losses, the hurts? Or the promises of God?
Do I choose to believe the Lord, this moment, this day? Who is my Lord? Is it my own understanding or God’s proven character:
The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water” Jeremiah 2:13.
Selfishness and a stubborn spirit steal and bring thirst to my soul. But to all who seek Him, Jesus, He gives benefits:
” . . . but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” John 4:14.
If I’m aware that I’m full and overflowing with the Lord’s love and sufficient grace, then my eyes see the green pastures the Lord has made me to lie down in, ( even in the storm), then I understand He restores my soul, yesterday, today, forever. He is God.
Circumstances change, but God doesn’t.
Who is God that I should bless?
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
He is a gracious and compassionate Lord whom we can trust at all times.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Is He “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name?” Do we agree and ask to surrender as His children under His will? As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
Do I bless the Lord and remember His Word? It is light and life to our soul when we choose Him, Jesus.
Yes, when we remember His benefits toward us, those who choose to be children, forgiven and free: But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
The battle is won in prayer and praise.
Dear Lord, with all that is within me, let us remember all Your benefits:
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all Psalm 103: 1-19.
To give thanks can be hard. Especially during times of loss or pain.
Children are a gift. They are our teachers. I share a lesson from a little child.
I heard about a very young boy who never knew his dad. His mom got very ill and died.
Relatives and friends expressed sadness around the boy.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months where the boy felt bad because everyone around him had unhappy faces.
He was sick of being sad and decided to do something about it. “People are happy when they get presents,” he thought, “I need to give presents.”
At first, he found things around the house and handed them to his relatives and neighbors saying, “This is a gift for you.”
The boy was changed, forgot his sadness and began to see smiles again.
The young boy asked if he could go to the dollar store to buy things he might give away to people.
“This gift is for you,” he would say to strangers in the park and hand them a little treasure. Smiles and thankfulness he received which made him very happy. Everyone he met was filled with thankfulness as they received his gift.
God holds out a gift, in this present, sad and dark day.
Our Father in heaven, Almighty God gave to whoever would receive:
For God so loved the world that he gave . . .
his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Can we hear Him with our eyes and hearts? Can we see His hands spread wide, “This gift is for you.”
Are we critical of the gift? Are we wise in our own eyes?
It’s time to learn from the children:
Jesus said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me Matthew 18:1-5.
Children. Believe. God.
We suffer loss, stress, pain. Today, . . . can we see the gift that the Lord holds out to us? His Word is Living. Comfort. Life. Hope. Peace.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Psalm 91: 1-8.
Is it time to decide to turn from the sadness? Is it time to turn to the Lord and let Him cover us in His love?
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly John 10:9,10.
It’s time for life, and that more abundant. Jesus gives . . .
His arms are wide.
The Gospel message is this: We’re all separated from God. Sin has ravaged all of human kind.
. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23.
But God, sent His Son Jesus to die in our place.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23.
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 53:6.
As John the Baptist spoke as the messenger to “prepare the way in the wilderness,” Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near Matthew 3:2.
Eternal life begins the moment we believe:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.But ahireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming andleaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; andI know My sheep, andam known by My own.As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;and I lay down My life for the sheep.Andother sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice;and there will be one flock and one shepherd John 10:11-16.
Is today the first day of the rest of your life receiving the gift from the Son? Pray to the Lord. Do we have the Lord, but continue in stubbornness and pride?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.
Ask for His forgiveness in that we have all gone astray. Receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus. And the Lord tells us we be new:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
If you have prayed to the Lord to receive His gift of salvation, let someone know! Amen.
There are times when we make a choice of a road, thinking it’s the right way, only later to discover, after a loss of time and energy, it’s a dead end.
We turn around, with much of our insides churning and turning as well.
Along our journey, do our ears hear the temptation of an acquaintance,
“Let’s go out and raise some hell. Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman. Let’s pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. We’ll load up on top-quality loot. We’ll haul it home by the truckload.
Join us for the time of your life!With us, it’s share and share alike!” Proverbs 1, The Message.
Or, do we undergo the continual temptation, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol . . . ” the Proverbs 1 NKJV.
S T O P! For a moment, instead of the pointing finger, and a heart on the defensive, can we look inside and consider our hearts? Are we offended about the shedding of blood for any human kind?
God knows us better than we know ourselves. Do we care about God more than our own self-satisfaction?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction Proverbs 1: 7.
Do we really care about love? God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is Love.
God is love 1 John 4:7.
Do we want to give Love our ear? Our decision is either a Dead End or Life and Light. (Yes, each with capital letters.)
Some may ask, “How can a God of love allow all the death and suffering?”
God speaks, each and every moment of each and every day. Do we have ears to hear? That is the life and death question:
“Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:
“How long you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning. And fools hate knowledge” Proverbs 1:22.
We have a choice to make. Do we believe the Holy Bible? Do we consider the writings penned thousands of years ago by the inspiration of God to many authors through a large span of time, over a huge expanse of area? Are we curious to take not of the hundreds of prophesies stated, each fulfilled in due time.
Or, not? God speaks:
“Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded.
Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you Proverbs 1: 26,27.
Are you offended by the Word of God? Or does this put a reverent fear in our heart?
Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you . . .
God calls. Do we refuse? Or do we turn to hear what the Spirit says:
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat Psalm 19: 1-6.
Do we consider the Word of the LORD?
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Is today a day we turn and give the true and living God our ear? Or, not:
“Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies . . . But,
whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil” Proverbs 1: 29-33.
It’s time to listen. I want to hear Him today. He’s perfect, pure and holy. I’m not. He covers me and gives me new life. Power is the gospel message:
1 John 4: 7-21, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Today. He who has ears to hear let him hear, and turn to follow God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit. Amen.
Simply pray and talk to the Lord yourself . . . and tell someone else, that you have decided to turn to Christ today.
Are we choosing man’s enlightenment above the Lord’s report for our light?
What we believe can cost us the destiny of our eternal life: And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27.
The Bible teaches that we are simply passing through the life we live on this planet, and then . . . our eternal destiny. This is a matter of choice on our part. The LORD God is a gentleman. He gives us choice.
However, what does the Word of God say? Do we have curiosity? What if the report of man is faulty? Are we journeying on a Dead End?
“I don’t believe Christians, they’re all hypocrites,” might be the response. But what about believing God, the Creator of every living thing in this Universe? Will we believe Him? What is His report?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad 2 Corinthains 5:10.
The Bible proclaims this as truth.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil John 3:19.
Is this truth?
The Prophet Isaiah asks plainly,
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Isaiah 53:1.
The arm of the Lord has been revealed to anyone who has ears to hear. Nine hundred twenty-two times is repeated the phrase, “He who has ears, let him hear.”
Parables were told by Jesus. A parable of the seed falling on different soils, . . . And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” Luke 8:8.
Gardeners understand good soil. Do we have ears to hear?
Hearers of the Word of God are likened to those who build their house on a solid foundation. Who would think to build their house on the sand?
Yet, are we choosing to build our eternal destiny on man’s word above the Word of God?
Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 2
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” Matthew 7:24-27.
Is this a day of deep darkness? Is there no light to see? Are we willing to open the light of God’s Word? The arm of the Lord is revealed to all who will hear:
” . . . when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him Isaiah 53: 2-3.
Jesus knows this is each of us, yet His arm is held out still.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted Isaiah 53: 4.
Does Jesus carry my sorrows?
Do I care for my own pleasures and desires above the holy requirements of God? Sin separates me from His holy presence . . . Does this not break my heart?
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 4-6.
We’ve all gone astray.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us Romans 8:5.
Jesus. Prays. For. Us.
Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors Isaiah 53:14.
Do I believe the LORD’s revelation of love to me?
This is what matter most in the life of each and every living soul.
Do we turn on the light of His Word? Jesus stands at the door of our heart. Do we open up to Him today?
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me Revelation 3:20.
As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion” Hebrews 3:15.
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9.
Thro’ death into life everlasting, He passed, and we follow Him there; O’er us sin no more hath dominion– For more than conqu’rors we are!
His Word shall not fail you–He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.
“Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near” Revelation 1:3, Amplified.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Do I believe it? Do you believe it? Why does this matter?
If God’s Word is truth, as Jesus Himself proclaimed in His prayer for those who follow Him in John 17:17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth,
then, I must understand there is blessing in hearing and receiving the Book of Revelation along with the entirety of the Bible. This is the revelation of Jesus.
Jesus is the Word. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God Revelation 19:13.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth John 1:14-15.
Everyday I need revelation of Jesus Christ. I need to see His glory. How about you?
The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Am I separated to Him that I might receive His amazing grace, one time for salvation, everyday for light in the midst of a dark world.
Let our hearts sing, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17.
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved . . . “
Am I separated to receive the fullness of His grace? Grace is His unmerited favor on my life. Jesus offers sufficient grace and forgiveness. Am I in a place to receive this?
Happy, blessed, and safe are those who read and hear, who keep these words in our heart, who choose to believe and follow the prophesy. From the first Book of Genesis to the final Book of the Revelation of Jesus.
Where do I stand? Where do you stand. Are we separate unto the Lord?
Can we sing, “How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.”
What does it mean to be sanctified?
Why would I want to be separated to God? Will He take away my life’s desires? Does fear keep me from receiving God’s love and life eternal through His Son Jesus Christ?
Am I half-hearted or set apart?
Jesus was all in:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit John 19:28-30.
Jesus gave all when our backs were turned to Him: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.
The revelation of Jesus is grace and truth. “And of His fullness we have all received grace for grace.” We receive because he gave us what we didn’t deserve. This makes me want to be on His side, no?
Read in Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828, the definition of sanctify:
SANC’TIFY, verb transitive . . .
1. In a general sense, to cleanse, purify or make holy.
2. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3 . . .
5. To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy by detaching the affections from the world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love to God.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.
To sanctify God, to praise and celebrate him as a holy being; to acknowledge and honor his holy majesty, and to reverence his character and laws. Isaiah 8:13.
God sanctifies himself or his name, by vindicating his honor from the reproaches of the wicked, and manifesting his glory. Ezekiel 36:23.
Is this not safety? In a day where so much expense and time is being spent on safety are we safely set apart to God, the keeper of our souls?
Am I a lost soul? or am I sanctified to the Lord, the One who is able to save us to the uttermost:
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them Hebrews 7:25.
“Give me revelation,” we pray in this dark day. We need to know truth. Let’s read aloud the Amplified version of His grace upon grace for those who choose Him today:
Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever]
and Who was [continually existing in the past]
and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—
and formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath].
So it is to be. Amen. Revelation 1: 4-7.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:8.
Separated to God? Yes!
Let’s proclaim together: “I will be careful and safe, making the most out of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Today, we ask to be cleansed and emptied of ourselves and filled with the Spirit of God, that we might have lives that bear much fruit. That God’s love and joy and peace would permeate from our lives because we choose to be separate to Him.
That we might have patience in all things. That we might have the fullness of self-control and gentleness.
We ask for a filling of His Spirit over and again. That we would be faithful to read and hear the revelation of Jesus Christ through the entirety of His Word.
He has given us a new song. Today we will choose to make music in our heart to the Lord.
Let’s continually give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His love, He has made glad, me, you, and those we are around!
PS: If you’ve never asked the Lord Jesus in your life, . . . do it now.
Simply bow your head and talk to Him. Ask forgiveness for your stubbornness and hardness of heart. Ask Him to wash, cleanse, and purify.
He will. He will sanctify you.
Ask the Lord to fill You with His Spirit and understanding in His Word, in the revelation of Jesus.
He will. He looses the stronghold of every chain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And tell someone that you have opened your heart to Love.
When the news of the day brings weariness, I ask God to give me an open heart and an understanding mind to receive His Word. Anyone else need a bite of comfort food?
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God . . . The voice of one crying the wilderness says, “Prepare the way of the LORD; . . . Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth;
The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5.
I must allow breakthrough of the water of the Word to run through the desert of my weariness. I will. Join me?
Yes, we will allow the Lord to move the mountains of trouble in our personal worlds today.
The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass. And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers and the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever” Isaiah 40: 6-8.
When circumstances are hard, we can see our God is greater.
We search His Word to increase our faith.
We take up the shield and God protects from all the fiery darts of the enemy, of doubt, and fear, and helplessness. The Word is living and alive. Our God is an awesome God:
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span . . . Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him?
With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way . . . Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales . . . to whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? Isaiah 40: 12-18.
I choose to fear the LORD and take hold of His Word that I might discern the lies from what’s true:
The voice of the Lord speaks, do we respond, “I will receive His love this day.”
“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, . . .
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.
Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, three in One . . . He is the I Am speaking to us. He speaks personally.
He takes hold of me, personally, individually, and you. My great and mighty God, Creator of the universe and all that’s in it, and yours. We can say, “He is mine.”
We will weep and cry aloud. And we will receive His love and healing. He is with us, now . . .
O how He loves you and me, O how He loves you and me,
He gave His life, what more could He give?
O how He loves you, O how He loves me,
O how He loves you and me. Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for mankind to show;
What He did there bro’t hope from despair:
O how He loves you, O how He loves me,
O how He loves you and me.
To give thanks can be hard. Especially during times of loss or pain.
