To know God is a journey that takes a lifetime…each day drawing nearer and receiving more. But the true miracle is being known by Him. For there will come a day when we all must stand before the Lord… either to be recognized and acknowledged or rejected.
Tag: God is still in control
Colossians 1:21 ” Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.”
The sinful nature, with all its evil desires and thoughts can not coincide with God…for sin keeps us separated from Him. The world views God with indifference…but He views it as an enemy.
Psalm 88: 1-2 “O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before You. My prayer comes before You; turn Your ear to my cry.”
When our prayers rise to heaven, the Lord hears. When He hears, He answers. When He answers, He always acts on our behalf…according to His perfect Will.
Psalm 25: 12 ” Who is the man that fears the Lord?”
The Psalmist says we are to be obsessed by God. Not by the world…not by other people…not by anything other than the Lord. We are to be totally dependent and devoted to God and to God only. Like a tiny child’s awareness so absorbed in his mother, that even if she’s out of sight, his mind is ever set on her. And if a problem arises, he looks immediately to her for help.
Psalm 45:1 ” My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the King; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
Religious scribes were an important and integral part of ancient Jewish history. They preserved and interpreted the Holy Scriptures. When they spoke the word of the Lord out loud to the people…they were speaking on behalf of God…knowing His word would never return void without first accomplishing its purpose…the ultimate purpose for each listening ear.
Jeremiah 29:13 ” You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
God wants the best of you…not the leftover dregs. He wants your total heart, mind, and soul in pursuit of His will for your life. That means setting aside a time daily to be in His Word and pray…whether that means early in the morning, over the lunch hour, or in the evening when the house quiets down. Don’t squeeze God into your schedule…but rather work your schedule around Him and the things that have eternal consequences.
Proverbs 6:23 ” For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.”
We all want long life, health, and prosperity…but what does it take to achieve these things? This verse states that we need to first accept instruction and discipline from the Lord, and then allow it to be assimilated and incorporated into every part of our life…and into every action and behavior .
Ephesians 6: 14-15 ” Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
The first piece of equipment the Roman soldier put on was his belt…and the first thing every morning, we too need to be equipping ourselves with the truth from the Word of God. The only way we will ever be able to withstand the barrage of the enemy is with Truth. The breastplate was then hooked onto the belt… covering the vital organs, especially the heart. When we’re in right relationship, or right standing with God, our heart is protected from the flaming darts of the enemy. Finally, some historians credit the footwear of the Roman army as one of the greatest reasons why they were so victorious. Their shoes had spikes in the soles enabling them to maintain tremendous stance and balance whatever the terrain. When you know who you are in Christ and have that confidence…your “spiked soul ” enables you to stand firm and unmoved by the enemy threats and lies.
Ephesians 6:12 ” For our strength is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
It’s the age-old battle of good versus evil…but the battle isn’t against our fellow-man, but against what initiates the evil within us. The armor of God isn’t made for battles with man. Rather, its strength and protection is for battles from forces so powerful that without it we would be completely defenseless. It’s made for battles far beyond what we can comprehend…and battles that come from deep within.
Jeremiah 14:7 ” Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of Your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against You.”
Backsliding…slipping from good behavior to bad. Most times it’s slow and insidious…our waywardness creeping steadily towards what’s wrong…and before we realize it, we’re caught up in evil. Rarely do we see a Believer blatantly plunge into the deep end of wickedness without regard of the consequences for themselves and their relationship with God. Backsliding is rationalizing away God and putting ourselves in control…and that never ends well.
Safetypinlove 