Month: July 2026

Proverbs 3:11-12 talks about the chastisement of the Lord. That it’s difficult, but an expression of His love for us…for He disciplines those He loves. I Corinthians 11:32 goes on to tell us that God’s correction and conviction is to instruct or train up, in order to cause us to conform to His Divine Truth. This persistent & patient discipline is highlighted in Job 36:10, “He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.” God will keep bringing us back to the same issue until we finally relent and listen…opening up our ears to Divine correction and then guiding us to repentance. All the while, encouraging our personal responsiveness and opportunity for growth and moral realignment. So just remember the next time God brings you back to the same issue…His purpose is restoration, not punishment.

Are you a victor or a victim? As you go through your day do you feel powerless, targeted, slandered, and helpless? And so you then react in a defensive manner…a victim’s mentality of, “everyone’s out to get me and there’s nothing I can do about.” But Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ Who gives us strength. And that we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us. (Romans 8:37) So we don’t have to play the role of victim, when God has empowered us through the Holy Spirit and Jesus living in our hearts. (Psalm 60:12, I Timothy 1:12, II Timothy 4:17, Ephesians 3:16) For when we rely on God’s power, we can gain the victory as overcomers… whatever the circumstances may be.

When you need to put everything in the right perspective…spend some time with Jesus. That’s because, like Isaiah 55:6 tells us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declare the Lord.” Our limited perspective on things is very often narrow and self-serving…where God’s viewpoint exceeds human imagination, with His compelling plan and purpose behind everything He does. Therefore, His point of view takes into account every detail of His profound wisdom, holy Providence, infallible foreknowledge, and immutable counsel. And we know that God always carries out His gracious and all-wise plan, (Ephesians 3:20) so we must then seek out and trust in His all-discerning perspective .

My very special time of day is early in the morning… with the quiet dawn, my first cup of coffee, and a conversation with the Lord. But so many times my mind either wanders to the “what ifs” of the future, or the regrets of the “would of, could of, should ofs of the past. It’s then that the Lord gently reminds me of the importance of the “here and now” of the present day. Jesus wants us to focus on today…for we can’t change the past, and we don’t have knowledge of the future…so having anxious thoughts about either one accomplishes nothing. Instead, His desire is that we order our priorities correctly, by focusing on how we may serve Him today…for this unique and special present day we will never have again.

Our circumstances may shake us, but they never shake God. He is never uncertain or troubled by the trials we find ourselves in. That’s because God is Omniscience, Sovereign, and possessing of eternal foreknowledge of everything from the beginning of time to eternity. So the next time you are caught off guard and jolted by life’s problems…remember that your God is unshakeable, unflappable, and undisturbed by it, and that His unfailing love for you will never change. For God is eternal…an immovable foundation for our faith, and the ultimate source of unwavering strength and security for Believers.

Faithful endurance is essential in the Christian journey…it’s not passive waiting but rather active obedience…demanding strenuous effort and perseverance on our part. But what if we’ve been persevering in the same situation for years and the finish line is still out of sight? James 1:3-4 encourages us that this trial is designed by God for a purpose. It’s a test of faith in order to develop perseverance…and in turn, perseverance produces a mature Christian character within us. So today, be encouraged to persist in spite of the difficulties…holding fast to God’s promises with determination to walk the path laid out in front of you…for I know you can do it!

The litmus test of whether we have truly forgiven someone… is how we recall the past situation. If it’s with calm indifference and gratitude to God, we have forgiven with a changed heart. But if when we remember the person, there still arises indignation and wrath…we have not truly forgiven them. If our attitude, ( our mental position and outward manner) remains angry at that person, Satan can then easily gain a foothold in our life. (Ephesians 4:26-27 & II Corinthians 2:10-11 & Psalm 4:4) That’s why I Timothy 2:8 exhorts us to lift up holy hands in prayer, without burning anger or discord.

The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, put it this way, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all…” (Isaiah 7:9) James calls it establishing your heart, while Paul calls it being steadfast and immovable. Either way, it can be some of the toughest times of your life to just stand firm. You want to “do something”…defend yourself, fight back, justify your motives, or even run away. But instead, God tells you to be still and trust Him. “For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (II Chronicles 20 :15)

God’s perfect love is amazing! It’s unlike anything we’ll ever experience here on earth. That’s because His love is shown in His faithfulness and in His relentless pursuit of sinners in spite of our rebellion or indifference. God’s love for us is perfect in every way…desiring only the very best. (I John 4:17-18) This perfect love can then heal us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) and enable us to forgive the unforgiveable by Jesus’ redemptive work on the Cross. (Colossians 3:13) But one of the most amazing things that happen when you let Jesus in, is that He will transform you from the inside out…exchanging your cold heart of stone for an undivided and responsive heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19-20 & Hebrews 8:8-13)

I’m going to date myself when I remember the old TV series, “Father Knows Best”, which ran from 1954 to 1960. But there’s a whole lot of truth in that title. As humans our quest for knowledge and understanding is insatiable. We want to know what’s going to happen right now…which is hard, especially when we have no control over the situation. So first, we must acknowledge God’s majesty, holiness, and authority…and that it’s His timing, not ours that will win out. Then as we ponder this Proverb, we will realize that it’s our relationship with God that is the foundational basis for obtaining true Godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. For when we are firmly rooted in Christ, our heart grows wiser every time we choose to follow Him, and not our own intellect. (Proverbs 3:5) That’s why true transformation will never come from our pursuit of intellectual knowledge…it can only come from our trust and obedience in our Heavenly Father Who knows best.