God is in control…His choices explicitly and precisely are done to direct the course of redemptive history. He takes the simple-minded, the humble, the frail, and transforms them by the Holy Spirit into mighty men and women of God. For it is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty in Zechariah 4:6. Under His anointing, the powerless become strong…the lowly and scorned become bold. Never underestimate what the Lord can do through you…never underrate the glory and honor you can give Him by simple obedience.
Tag: obedience to the Lord
Psalm 16: 2 ” I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.’ “
Without the Lord in my life I have nothing. Without His constant love and guidance, I am adrift in a chaotic and scary world. Without God’s mercy and grace I am condemned by my sinful actions. Without my Father, I am alone and separated from His love. Without Jesus, my sins will ultimately send me to hell. Without the Holy Spirit next to me, I have no counsel. Without the Lord in our lives…we have nothing…nothing but fear, turmoil, and condemnation.
I John 4:1 ” Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
When you hear something and it doesn’t sit well inside…implement the “smell test”. It may look fine from the outside, but when you really scrutinize or “smell” it, you discern something is bad. As Believers, we need to be ever diligent of truths that seem to be a little bit off… that are corrupted or slanted just enough that they become untruths. Therefore, examine closely everything you hear and judge for yourselves if it is worthy to be received or not.
Numbers 15: 37-38 ” The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.’ “
These tassels were to be a visual reminder to obey the Lord’s commands, but in Matthew 23:5, Jesus accused some of the Jewish Leaders of making their tassels so extremely long as to make a show of their religious look. He went on to say, “Everything they do is done for men to see…” In many ways we can do the same, attempting to “look” super spiritual when we’re in certain crowds. God doesn’t look at our outward appearance…He looks at the heart. The Lord is saying to us – trim your tassels …get rid of your religious spirit and focus back on Me.
Psalm 85:6 ” Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? “
Revive us again Lord…that is my prayer today. Refresh our hearts and spirits. Revival isn’t something we can conger up ourselves Lord, You must show up first with a fresh wind from Heaven. Revive the World’s Church today Lord, that we as the Body may boldly move forward in Your plan and purpose. Amen.
Jeremiah 32:19 ” O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are Your purposes and mighty are Your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; You reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve.”
Elsewhere in the Old Testament it declares, ” For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths.” (Proverbs 5:21) We may think we’re being so sly…so cunning…so sneaky, that no one knows about our secret sin…but the Lord does. We may think we’re pulling the wool over everybody’s eyes…but God sees all…hears all…and knows all.
Psalm 112: 4 ” Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.”
When a fellow Believer is going through suffering and misery, we sometimes look heavenward and ask God, “Why?” We see examples in the Bible of powerful, Godly people who went through very dark times…and again we ask, “Why?” But if you talk to a Believer who’s gone through a traumatic event, in hindsight they will speak of God’s grace and mercy…of how He carried them when they were exhausted and weak…and of how His peace undergirded them to be able to move ahead day by day. Yes, just like Daniel, we will all spend a night in the lions’ den…but take hope, for God is right there beside you in the darkness until the sunrise.
II Peter 1:4 ” Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
You can be part of this world, but not polluted by it. (James 1:27) God has given you everything you need to live a victorious life here on earth. The Bible is full of His assurances that you can do it…just take a look.
Hebrews 11:15-16 ” If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.”
The Lord doesn’t want us to long for the past. When we keep going back to the comfortable…the things from our past, we will never move forward. God wants us rather to focus on His vision for today and the future in our life. Oswald Chambers said it best, “Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.”
Romans 2:1 ” You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at what ever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
We all give snap opinions mentally everyday. No one may hear them…but we’re constantly pronouncing judgment on those around us. But for as harshly as we judge others…in the same way we will be judged someday…which kind of makes you think doesn’t it.
Safetypinlove 