Have you ever spent an entire night before and examination studying in the hopes that you can earn a passing grade? I never found cramming to be an effective way of learning. The rapid review of facts may give and illusion of comprehension but there will be no knowledge. “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’”Jeremiah 5:21-24 Continue Reading…
Turn, walk, and love the fear of God: Jeremiah 5 and 6
Urgency and devotion of the hearts desire: Isaiah 56 and 57
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.’” Isaiah 56:1 The message within Isaiah 56 and 57 talks of two groups of people, those who set their hearts toward God and those who set their hearts away from God. The message proclaimed is one of urgency, devotion, and dependence. The time is drawing near when God will collect all those who have trusted, hoped, and believed in His Son, Jesus Christ. Where have you set your heart? Are you resting steadfast upon the promises of God or have you decided that your life is your own kingdom to be conquered? There is hope for everyone. No matter where you find your hearts devotion you can turn and trust in God alone for your hope. Continue Reading…
Will you abdicate the throne of life to the True King: Isaiah 48 and 49
What can be learned of God? As we look upon the interaction between God and his creation throughout scripture we start to glimpse how perfect God is and the completely dysfunctionality of mankind. We easily align ourselves in complete allegiance to God but do we truly live as a child of God? “Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.” Isaiah 48:1,2 Have we progressed to a point where we only view our faith and religious endevours as chic, trendy, fashion? What percentage of people claim to be religious because they attend church once a year or because they feel in tune with themselves or nature? Continue Reading…
And we will see the Lord in His glory: Isaiah 35
Are you broken and weary by the trials and trouble of life? Do you look upon your life and despair think that all hope is lost? I challenge you to aspire to hope again. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” Isaiah 35:1,2 Jesus Christ lives! That is your hope. You can never change the fact that Jesus gave up His life that you could live. Will you trust fully in His provision? Continue Reading…
Is God your all encompassing everything who sustains you: Psalms 144
“My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:2-4 Have we forgotten the love for God that was encompassed in complete awe and wonder because of God’s sufficient faithfulness? Listen to David’s words in Psalm 144; God is David’s lovingkindness, fortress, stronghold, deliverer, shield, and refuge. This list of who God was for David is all encompassing to every corner of David’s life. There is no area within David’s life that God was not intimately present in. God by our limited human understanding should have no desire to interact with us but His grace is greater than our inability. Continue Reading…
Give up the pretense of striving to be good and cling to God: Psalm 143
How are you feeling today? Is your life marked by an eternal perspective or has your perspective wavered as you fight, strive, and toil against your sinful nature? We claim to fully acknowledge our helplessness before God but our thoughts and actions often tell a different story. We consider ourselves to be good but are we living and embracing the grace of God? The grace of God is to be consistently abided in, clung to, and treasured above everything else in our lives. We must give up our pretense, full of our striving to be good enough, and cling to God in our weakness. We cannot make a way through our but God is more than able to help us. “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.” Psalm 143:8,9 David knew that in the despairing moments of life it was only God who could move to bring lasting deliverance. His enemies were surrounding him but despite the imminent danger David clung to God. When all you see is despair will you cling to God? Will you give up you attempts to save yourself and let God save you?
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Find your trust in God’s faithfulness and sufficiency: Psalm 138
Do you believe that God answers every prayer? Do you view answered prayers as the ones with results matching your expectations? Do not fall into the habit of believing that God’s care and concern for you is summed up in whether you get what you desire. Remember that when God decides that your desire is not ultimately best for your life that He is answering your prayer. Are you willing to rest in God and wait on Him? Do you respond with humility, thankfulness, and reverence to God? Do you find strength in God? ”On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:3 It is imperative that we trust God and believe that He will work for our best when we come to Him in prayer. ”The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 Will you trust in God’s faithfulness? Will you trust in the sufficiency of God? Continue Reading…
God’s lovingkindness is truly everlasting: Psalm 136
What comes to mind when you think about the lovingkindness of God? Is the lovingkindness of God a solitary act or a renewing act for mankind? Was it loving kindness that caused God to create this creation we live in? Was it lovingkindness that continually delivered the people of Israel from themselves? Was the lovingkindness expressed wholly upon the cross of Calvary? Was it lovingkindness that brought you through life to this exact moment? The lovingkindness of God is not a small act played out in a single moment but it is woven throughout time from the past, through the present, and into the future. The lovingkindness of God speaks to His unfailing faithfulness and covenant with mankind. “Who remembered us in our low estate, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, and has rescued us from our adversaries, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; who gives food to all flesh, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:23-26 Continue Reading…
Who sits on the throne of authority in your life: Psalm 134
Have we become so busy that we cease worshiping God? Our days become more and more cluttered with tasks and errands as we continue in the race of life. We have bills to pay, food to provide, shelter to pay off, and clothing to purchase on a continual basis but has this grind of life drawn us away from worshiping God? We have taken our belief and trust that God will provide for our needs and taken the burden of provision upon our own shoulders. What would happen if we returned to our first love? We so easily say that God will provide for us but then we do not rest and wait for Him. What would happen if we took time regularly to rest before God and share our heart with Him in worship? When we return to our first love of God we will find that all of the worries and concerns don’t press upon our lives as they once did. God stands ready for you to cast aside your burdens and worries of life upon Him. In His complete sufficiency there will be total satisfaction and rest. Will you return to worship the God who loved you so much He gave you eternal life through His only son? Continue Reading…
Taste the pure faithfulness of God: Psalm 132
What is faithfulness? We too easily perceive with a feigned understanding the truly unknowable faithfulness that is sourced in God alone. We cannot know God or comprehend the depth of His faithfulness to us. In Psalm 132 the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem is recalled and celebrated as the great faithfulness of God is praised. The psalmist cries out for God to remain faithful to His promises to the line of David. He knows that God is the true source of hope because He remains faithful to His lovingkindness. We look upon our friends, family, or pets as examples of faithfulness but this faithfulness is built upon flawed humanity and our emotional expectations cannot be truly faithful. Have you tasted the pure faithfulness that is found in God alone? Can you rely on God’s lovingkindness? In your helplessness will you trust in God’s faithfulness? Continue Reading…
