Author: kezha1

Jeremiah was a prophet that spoke for the Lord during the heartbreaking final days of the nation of Judah…and as her city of Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians. His message was primarily one of judgment upon Judah for its shameful and persistent sins…but the people refused to listen or repent. Throughout the Book,  Jeremiah warns the people that, “God has spoken and won’t relent…He has decided and won’t turn back.” (Jeremiah 4:28) And He ends this Scripture with a rather chilling revelation…”In the days to come you will understand.” In other words, the time is coming when you will see with your own eyes the wrath of God. Fast forward in time and this warning is as urgent today as it was back then. God’s plan, purpose and Divine Will can not be stopped… just as His wrath cannot be avoided. The time to turn & repent is now.

For many of us at the end of the day our emotional gas tank is empty or running on fumes only. That’s because we’ve had bits of ourself taken all day long as we take care of the needs of others. And this hollow feeling definitely needs to be filled by something good & worthy, not by food, alcohol, drugs, or apathy. Psalm 23:3 tells us that the Good Shepherd restores our soul. And just as sheep are physically renewed once they get needed food, water, & a safe place to rest…our soul is rejuvenated by God’s Word as it transforms our barren life…bringing it back fresh & strong again. Our emotional gas tank must then be filled on a regular basis by God’s Word in order that we can adequately & lovingly care for others.

Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, which got me thinking about the word supplication…a type of prayer you don’t hear about often today. Supplication is an earnest and humble appeal, plea, or petition for compassion, mercy, and kindness from the Lord. When Paul wrote about putting on the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20 he added prayer as one more offensive weapon in the Believer’s arsenal. And while Jesus was here on earth He established a pattern of prayer in the lives of His disciples which they continued to follow closely. (Acts 1:14) We truly have no idea what the power of our prayers possess. And when we have no words… there is still heartfelt supplication before the Lord, who hears our despondent cries for mercy.   

God’s wisdom…His sound judgment & insight is so superior to ours that we’re unable to wrap our heads around it. That’s because God’s wisdom and way of reasoning is in accordance with things of the Spirit – thus confounding our worldly reasoning which is earthly & carnal. Job 28:23 tells us that only God understands the way to wisdom, and as Creator, He alone knows where true wisdom is to be found. There is nothing hidden from Him, nothing concealed from His scrutiny. Or as it says in this Scripture, God’s wisdom & insight is magnificent because, unlike us, He can see around the corner. Which is why all the more we need to be depending on His divine wisdom & not our own in overwhelming times of confusion, bewilderment, and chaos. 

Earlier in this Psalm the Writer, while in the midst of devastating trouble, pleads with God, “Sustain me according to Your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.” (Psalm 119:116) And this may be how you feel today. Anguish, pain, fear, and misery has pressed you into the dust of hopelessness. And though you may think you can’t move because of this crushing weight…there is still one thing you can do, and that is to worship. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving from the very depths of your suffering. Draw a ragged breath and express gratitude for His promises, faithfulness, and steadfast love. Now it may not change the situation or circumstances…but it will change you and your mindset… as you worship God in the dust.

If we look at the chaotic world today, you’d have to admit on the most part we’re quite powerless against the evil that is enveloping the earth. So when we come to the end of ourselves & our abilities, we can only look to God for deliverance. (II Chronicles 20:12)  There is no other that can give us everlasting salvation, redemption, and deliverance from trouble. ”But I Am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me.” (Hosea 13:4) There is no other that can save us.

We are tempted everyday from every side. Jesus said this to His disciples in Luke 17:1, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come…” We are constantly tempted by our own evil desires (James 1:15) but the real danger lies not in the temptations but in our thinking that we can dabble with sin and not get drawn in. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Christian, beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed in case you fall little by little.” And that’s what usually happens…we toy with sin…flirt with it, and think our will power is stronger than its seduction. We look at sin casually and trivialize it with a “I’ll just try it once” attitude…not realizing that you can’t play with fire and not get burned.  That’s because there’s nothing small or insignificant about sin…and there’s no such thing as innocently dabbling in it…this will only lead you down a very dark path.

Have you ever really thought about the expression, “To take offense”? Wrapped up in this phrase are the feelings of being wronged, insulted, or attacked by someone…but to “take” offense means that we have to first choose or accept what has been said or done as a willful gesture of disrespect. And many times what we thought was intentional was far from it. Our ears are deceived in hearing “things” that were never really said. Our mind perceives wrongly that words spoken by others are meant to be an insult when it wasn’t that way at all. And our eyes think we see someone shunning us when in fact they didn’t even realize we were there. Taking offense often can blow things way out of proportion and cause unreconcilable riffs in relationships, work, and at Church. But we don’t have to “take” offense when we rather rely on wisdom, self control & forgiveness instead.

Why are we so good at putting limits on God’s divine generosity towards His children? We’re reminded in the first verse of Psalm 23 that, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.” So all we have to do is remember that everything belongs to God, for He created it. And if He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers (Luke 12:27)…He’ll take care of us. For God is fully capable of satisfying every material & Spiritual need we’ll ever have with the inexhaustible riches of His Kingdom… or as II Corinthians 9:8 tells us, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Job’s misery and grief mirrored Proverbs 27:3 that says, Sand is heavy, but no where near as burdensome as sorrow and affliction. When the crushing weight of loss, illness, or fear overwhelms us, it does feel like the sand on every seashore has been dumped on our chest… but that’s the time to roll the burden over onto Jesus’ more than capable shoulders for Him to bear it for us.