Psalm 33:8-9 ” Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.”

For just a moment today ponder this.  God spoke, and the world as we know it was formed.  He spoke, and everything we see was created…out of nothing. For all things on earth were God-ordained.  But we also  need to realize that God’s commands are  very unique in that He requires inner commitment from us…not merely some external superficial obedience.  For God is so great that His commands are not to be questioned…His creative work not challenged.

Job 11: 7-9 ” Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens – what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave – what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.”

I think wise King Solomon summed it up best in Ecclesiastes 3:11 when he wrote, “God has set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  We can’t begin to know the mind of God, or even start to grasp His majesty and power.  We can only trust in His love and faithfulness towards us and walk in obedience…knowing He is in control of every detail of our life.  For nothing happens to us that hasn’t already passed through God’s hands.

Revelation 3:16 ” So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of My mouth.”

The biggest trap Believers fall into is complacency…especially if we’ve been a Christian for years.  Our spiritual life has become very comfortable because we’ve picked and chosen bits and pieces of the Gospel that suit us.  Our life in Christ has slowly become all about us – not others. We’ve become self-satisfied, tepid Christians with no enthusiasm  to reach the lost…no thirst to get into His Word…no eagerness to share the Gospel.  Complacency means we’re satisfied with the status quo, confident in our own salvation, but not really interested in anyone else.  No wonder in this Scripture God is ready to spit lukewarm Christians out of His mouth…they have lost their first love…their zeal…their spiritual fervor.  And to Him, they are worthless.

I Corinthians 10:31 ” So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

We hope that we’re honoring God during the Church Service, or when we’re praying for someone in the hospital.  But this Scripture tells us that we need to be showing respect to God in everything we do.  For if you think about it…all aspects of our lives are ordained by His hand.  That includes the mundane and boring, and the simple day-to-day tasks we take for granted.  That’s because we never know when He’ll take a practical chore and turn it into a divinely assigned God moment.

John 21:22 ” Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me.’ “

Earlier in this Chapter, Jesus told Peter what the future held for him.  But Peter wouldn’t let well enough alone…He now wanted to know what was in store for John also.  This is when Jesus firmly reminded him that it was none of his business and Peter must focus his attention his own personal walk…not meddle into other’s.  Sometimes we like to “help” God, when in fact,  we’re  actually  interfering with His plan for other people’s lives.  We think we know more than Him…but that’s when we usually get into trouble!  From that fateful day at the Sea of Galilee when Jesus walked up to Peter and his brother Andrew casting their fishing nets…Jesus’s directive to Peter had not changed…”Follow Me!” He said.  “Keep your eyes focused on Me and not others.”

Isaiah 26:7 ” The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, You make the way of the righteous smooth.”

Elsewhere,  Isaiah talks about God making the rough ground level, (Isaiah 40:4) and safely leading the Believer along unfamiliar paths, (Isaiah 42:16).  If we allow Him, the Lord will make the crooked,  straight…the rough, smooth…and the misunderstood, grasped.  Our way in this life is a constant journey on a little understood, bumpy path…where we are required to make decisions that can affect our life forever.  But when we allow the Lord to guide us…He will show us the most excellent way to go.

Acts 16: 25-26 ” About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”

Earlier in the day, Paul and Silas had been stripped, severely flogged and then thrown into prison.  So we now find them hours later holding their own praise and worship service to a rather captive audience of fellow prisoners and guards.  They could have wallowed in their sorrow and pain, but instead chose to worship God.  When we praise God in the midst of impossible situations, the atmosphere changes and with it, our attitude.  Our eyes are taken off the incurable, the grief-stricken, the hopeless dilemma…and allows God to work in miraculous ways.  It says here that the earthquake caused all the prison doors to open…not just the one to Paul and Silas’s cell, and that everybody’s chains came off…not just theirs.  When our focus is on praise rather than on self-pity, everyone around us will be blessed.

Joel 2: 25 ” I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-“

For many, life has been hard.  Years have been lost to bad choices, addictions, and the consequences caused by other people’s decisions.  We can’t but feel that our life has been robbed of  time.   But the Lord is telling us in this Scripture that He will completely fulfill those lost years…allowing us to reclaim the happiness and contentment…the peace and security that we thought we’d never have again.   For He is the God of redemption –  accomplishing the impossible,  and bringing to pass the unimaginable in our lives.

Job 42:1 ” Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.’ “

If you get nothing else from this devotional today…please grasp this concept –  nothing is too hard for the Lord.   Job’s personal relationship with God helped him understand that nothing could hinder or stop God’s plan and purpose.  Ephesians 1:11 says, “According to the plan of Him Who works everything in conformity with the purpose of His Will.”   There is nothing that can prevent God’s Will from being fulfilled, for all power and might are in His hands.  So if you’re facing impossible challenges today…take heart, nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Romans 8:31 ” If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Take a moment to re-read the scripture above and allow it to sink in.  If God is for you…what can possibly oppose you?  If the Lord is over you,  coming to your defense, protecting you, helping and comforting you in times of trouble…what evil can stand before Him?   Isaiah 41:10 states, “So do not fear, for I am with you…I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  God is greater than any of your fears today…and greater than the evil in this world.

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