The Bible…no other book available to the masses can speak so intimately to each one of us. Scripture we have read over and over one day jumps out at us and we read it anew from a totally fresh perspective. Or a verse we come upon will apply perfectly to the problem we’re struggling with that very day. The omnipotent voice of God is alive and at work in His Word. When you read it the Word is set free to accomplish its goal. On the Day of Pentecost after Peter had addressed the crowd concerning the risen Jesus they had crucified it says “that they were cut to the heart” by his words, repented, and over 3,000 were baptized. Their thoughts and emotions were pierced by Peter’s anointed words.
Isaiah 32:17 ” The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
Righteousness is “Right Living” in this Unright world populated by many Unright people. Living a righteous life day after day is frankly a challenge, but Isaiah wanted us to be encouraged by the incredible benefits that we could gain from living a righteous life. The result of this right living will be a sense of total well-being in your life. The culmination of this righteousness will be tranquility knowing that your relationship with God is secure. It may not be the easiest, but the bottom line is that discipline produces righteousness which produces peace.
Romans 15:13 ” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Just after my sister began chemotherapy for breast cancer they found a suspicious nodule on my mammogram. My first inclination was to call everyone I knew to pray, but the Lord stopped me cold…”Trust in Me” He whispered. ” Alright”, I countered, “but what about just a few of my prayer warrior friends?” Again God’s reply was “Trust in Me.” That evening Landy and I prayed, and the next morning this scripture in Romans jumped out at me. “Lord, my trust is in you and no one else, please fill me with all peace and joy as I wait on you.” I prayed. The Ultrasound showed just a benign fluid filled cyst, nothing worrisome at all. As I thanked God for this good report I pondered what lesson He wanted me to take from this all. By putting all my confidence in Him I was filled with hope,joy,and peace as I trusted in Him. I then could overflow with that same kind of faith and confidence every time I prayed for someone else. My faith has grown by this experience, my confidence in my God has only deepened.
Romans 4:18 ” Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him,’So shall your offspring be.’ “
Have you ever been in Abraham’s sandals? God has given you a promise which you have fervently held on to, maybe for a long time,but it continues to look so hopeless. It says that Abraham also realistically knew that he and his wife were way beyond childbearing age, yet he neither weakened or waived in his belief that God would come through somehow. And so I encourage you today…regardless of what the situation looks like, know that God is in complete control and has the power to do what He has promised, for with God ALL things are possible.
Proverbs 28:10 ” He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”
I’ve been around farmers all my life, from being born and raised on a farm in Illinois, to being married to a man who was in agribusiness most of his life. Those that work the soil are a special breed…they are true stewards of “His land”, and take the responsibly seriously. This might be why the writer of this Proverb used a farmer to contrast with those who continually run after empty, worthless things. A farmer is disciplined, and realistic, with insight and wisdom to get the very best out of his land without depleting it in the process. While a daydreamer with visions of grandeur will always chase after that next big thing that’s forever just out of reach.
Ezekiel 22:30 ” I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”
There are people around you today with broken down walls. They have gaping holes that need repair, but helplessly they watch the enemy breach them. So what erodes at our walls? Things like depression, chronic illness, grief, or addictions all pound against it. Before long despondency and apathy take over and we give up. This is when standing in the gap for someone becomes so very important. By interceding in prayer on their behalf and offering encouragement and support you can give hope to the hopeless. And by standing in that void of their broken down wall you have made it secure against the enemies siege.
Psalm 119:109 ” Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.”
The Psalmist was being very honest with God…Lord I know I mess up on a daily basis, and put myself in harm’s way by thinking I know more than You, or demanding that I get my own way. I also unfortunately realize this is not Your will for my life. So though this world pushes and pulls me in all kinds of directions, I will not lose sight of your law… And I also understand that I must first KNOW Your law in order to not forget Your law.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 ” But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
The other night the Lord gave me a vision of a lone tree standing in the mist of utter destruction for as far as the eye could see. You could tell by the missing limbs and scarred bark that it had been through quite a storm. My mind’s eye was immediately drawn to all the devastation and chaos around, when the Lord instead had me focus on the tree. ” Was this tree just planted here?” the Lord asked. “No!” I answered. “You can tell that it has weathered a massive storm.” Then He whispered,” As it will be in a believer’s life…storms will come into your life, you may be hurt and even scarred in the middle of the fury, but with roots deep in the bedrock of Faith you can withstand the devastating storm. And with each storm you endure, your Faith will grow deeper and deeper in Me.”
Luke 10:41 ” ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered,’ you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’ “
This verse comes from a very familiar story…Jesus and the disciples have come into Bethany, where Martha has invited them in for a meal. She is distracted and worried about feeding 13 hungry men, while her sister Mary sits at the feet of Jesus listening. Martha’s focus becomes the meal not the Messiah. Getting the food on the table takes her attention away from who will be sitting at the place of honor eating it. Distraction and worry give way to frustration and anger. “Don’t you care Lord?” Mary laments. I can just see Jesus smiling and shaking His head saying “Martha, Martha, there is but one necessity and Mary has selected it.” But what exactly did Mary choose? She chose time with the Lord. And so I encourage you to not allow distraction, worry, and the things of this world to rob you of this “better” thing. Mary chose what was eternal…what would you choose?
I Corinthians 14:12 “So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spirtual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”
Spiritual gifts are given as a result of God’s grace and not by any effort or merit on our part. These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to teach,serve and encourage others…not us. Each one of us is given a “pattern” of gifts unique to our talents and passions. That word pattern is similar to how each shot-gun has a unique shell pattern, and brings me to my little story.
My father was a firm beliver that his three girls should learn to handle guns, and so many a Sunday afternoon were spent shooting clay pigeons. As we became older, boys started coming around, and if we liked them, they’d be invited for Sunday Dinner. After Dinner our Dad would ask the young buck if he’d like to shoot a few clay pigeons. They would all jump at the chance to show off to us girls, and being the good hosts, we always let the boy shoot first…then we’d take over! Depending on how the young man reacted determined whether we’d date him again or not. We laugh about it now, but several future husbands passed the clay pigeon test.
Safetypinlove 