Deliver…

Deliver…

Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. ~ Psalm 119:153-154

King David penned some wonderful words for those who are suffering in affliction and hardship; and I feel led to share them this morning:

Psalm 34:15-20 (NIV)

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

We can look back through the OT Scriptures and see the hand of God Almighty deliver His people … His treasured possession … from those who would oppress them with hardship and afflict them with injustice. Yes, the righteous cry out for the tender mercies of God to deliver them from their troubles, and His ear is attentive to their sighs and prayers. Have you ever prayed like David did?

Psalm 31:2-5 (NIV)

Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

Psalm 18:1-2 (NIV)

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my sovereign shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Oh, my friend, do you not know today that the Lord is the Mighty God who delivers you? It is He who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:3) The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3) And Jesus is calling you today to come to Him. For He will deliver you! He will heal you! He will set you free! Jesus asks you to trust Him and to believe. For He is full of compassion and ready to deliver you from all your affliction. Yes, He says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Seek the Lord this morning … while He may be found. He is your refuge and strength; an ever-present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He declares to you: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4) Indeed, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Mighty…

Mighty…

The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage….” ~ Deuteronomy 7:7-8

Mighty! It means possessing great or overwhelming power and strength. The Lord revealed Himself to Abraham as El Shaddai – God Almighty. (Genesis 17:1) Yes, He is the all-powerful One who reigns over all creation! And it is this attribute of our God that comes into focus as He draws unto Himself a people for His treasured possession and inheritance….

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, God manifested His power to bring salvation for His people. Indeed, “When the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.” (Exodus 14:31) As Moses attested: “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? (Deuteronomy 3:24)

King David, a man who sought the heart of God, would exclaim: “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (Psalm 24:8) And, “My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.” (Psalm 62:7) Indeed, “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.” (Psalm 89:8) Isaiah resounded: “I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16) Jeremiah reflected, “No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. (Jeremiah 10:6)

One of my favorite verses is Zephaniah 3:17 – which reads: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Oh, how I pray all people would see that our God is mighty to save! (Isaiah 63:1) Indeed, Jesus is not only mighty to redeem us, but He is mighty to preserve His people in sanctification and holiness. As Paul expressed it: “He who began a good work in you will carry it one to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms…. (Ephesians 1:18-20) Oh, my friends, let us to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power! Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Refuge…

Refuge…

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1-2)

I have been under the weather with influenza this week; and a dear friend and prayer warrior shared a prayer that reminded me: “God is my refuge.” It was a timely word … a needed word … to encourage me as I walk through this valley. As I deal with the symptoms and malaise of this virus, I have found that my time of isolation has proven fruitful. I have taken time to meditate on what it means to have God as my refuge and my strength. For indeed, He is a shield … a protective cover … for all who make their refuge in Him. (Psalm 18:30)

If you or someone you know are being oppressed by a spirit of infirmity, I encourage you to read these verses below and let them settle on your heart:

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. ~ Psalm 31:3-5

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. ~ Psalm 36:7-9

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. ~ Psalm 57:1

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. ~ Psalm 59:16

My salvation and my honor depend on God Most-High; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. ~ Psalm 62:7-8

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most-High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ~ Psalm 91:1-2

My friends, let us take all of our infirmities in prayer before the Lord and His throne of grace. Let us find our refuge in Him … our ever-present help in times of trouble. In the shadow of His wings, we will find mercy and strength for the day. Indeed, His love is unfailing, and He is the fountain of life for all who drink.

Have a Blessed Day!

My Refuge and My Shield

Psalm 119:114 (NIV)

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your Word.

In our Verse of the Day, the truth that God is our refuge and our strength is declared in His Word! Yes, we hope in His Word because that is how we KNOW through faith that He is with us … He surrounds us … He protects us! I want us to look at this section of Psalm 119 for the immediate context:

Psalm 119:113-120 (NIV)

ס Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
¹¹⁶ Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
¹¹⁷Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.
¹¹⁸You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.
¹²⁰My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

In a world where we feel surrounded by chaos and confusion and conflict and coercion and cancel, there is a place of refuge and strength for believers. His name is Jesus! I did not say there is a place of hiding because we are not called to hide from the world; rather, we are to be His light in the world. We are to be that city on a hill where it cannot be hidden. (Cf. Matthew 5:14-16) We need to remember the intercessory prayer of Jesus when He prayed for all believers:

John 17:13-21 (NIV)

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus wants us IN the world, but He prayed for God to protect us … to be our refuge from the evil one. So, we do not ignore what is happening in the world or stick our heads in the proverbial sand. Believers have been called … we are sent into the world to testify to the truth! That truth is God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (Cf. John 3:16-19) Yes, we are to engage the world with the light of the Gospel … with the truth of the Word.

Thus, we need to know the Word of God. We need to know the Truth. And through the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell us, we receive wisdom and discernment. The Apostle John has elaborated this for us:

1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

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. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Lord Jesus, you are our refuge and strength because You have given us your Spirit … the Spirit of Truth who indwells us and fills us with Your abiding presence and love. Only in You is the wisdom and knowledge of God made known to us. Only in You is the great love of the Father fully expressed and experienced in our hearts. You are the true light that gives light to everyone. Oh, that the light you have given to us might be received in every heart. You are the Living Word in which we hope and find shelter. You are the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through you. (Cf. John 14:6) And so, I pray that we your children would be your image in this world just as you are the image of the Father. You have sent us into the world just as the Father sent You into the world. Yes, I pray that through our lives and testimonies of redemption, more people will see your kindness and repent. I pray that your great love, which is rich in mercy, will bring life to those who are dead in transgressions. Oh, that your grace, Lord Jesus, would abound as your people proclaim the light and hope, the joy and peace, the truth and love of the Gospel … so that no one would perish but come to a knowledge of the truth and receive eternal life in you. This is my prayer, Lord, and I ask in Your Name. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. ~ Psalm 18:30-32

I AM with You….

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Do you need a Word from God to lift you up? I think our Verse of the Day will do so. It reminds us how God is active in the lives of those who love Him – who have been called according to His purpose. God is with His people! God is for His people! He is ever present and engaged to help us; to strengthen us; to uphold us … when the challenges of life tend to overwhelm us.

Isaiah 41:8-14 (NIV)

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, “You are my servant”; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Look at the context for a moment. Those who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced … those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish … those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. God said we are not to fear! “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Cf. Isaiah 54:17) Indeed, our Verse of the Day reminds me of what Paul shared in Romans 8 regarding the engagement of God in our lives through Christ Jesus. I have reprinted a portion for our reference and encouragement:

Romans 8:26-39 (NIV)

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As you face each day and the challenges it might bring you, be encouraged! God is with you! God is for you! The Holy Spirit helps you to pray according to the will of the Father. Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for you! If you are in Christ, you are no longer condemned … you are beloved! There is nothing that is able to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Yes, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Cf. Joshua 1:9)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6-8

Renewing Your Strength…

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

I have always loved this Verse of the Day from Isaiah 40. It brings back memories of an “old” praise and worship chorus we used to sing at the church where I was saved. It was based on this passage:

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

They shall mount up with wings as eagles.

They shall run and not be weary – they shall walk and not faint.

Teach me Lord … Teach me Lord to wait.

I will reprint the larger passage for some context:

Isaiah 40:27-31 (NKJV)

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah concludes his message with an exhortation to completely trust in God for all things … even when we feel weary of life or when we feel He does not hear us or intervene in the circumstances we feel are beyond our control. Isaiah wants the people of God (in all generations) to KNOW the Lord, the Creator, our Father God is eternal. He neither faints nor does He grow weary. So, we are moved by this knowledge to simply trust that God knows everything going on in the world and in our lives collectively and individually. Indeed, His understanding is unsearchable!

Moreover, I think to better understand the “conclusion” of trust, we need to see the broader context of why deep trust is encouraged … why deep faith in God is necessary for our well-being. I strongly urge you to read the entire Chapter 40 and discover what God inspires Isaiah to declare about His “working” in the lives of His people; how God WILL comfort His people! Indeed, I believe the desire of God is always to comfort His people. As Paul shared: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Perhaps that is why Isaiah opens this message with, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”

The prophetic word Isaiah was moved by the Spirit of God to declare is so uplifting as you read it through the lens of history and fulfillment. Verse 3: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” And then we see John the Baptist, the man God sent to preach the work of repentance for us. Verse 10: “Behold, the Lord God shall come in strength, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His recompense accompanies Him.” And then we see Jesus, the One whom God sent to complete the work of salvation for us. And, oh, how Verses 12-26 bring us greater perspective on the power and majesty … the divine nature and character of the God who comforts … and how we should understand our total dependence upon Him for everything because of who He is! God is always in control whether we see it or not. God is always faithful to His people … to His creation in all things! And so, Isaiah enjoins us to trust our Heavenly Father….

My friends, I pray that you and I will receive this word and let it inspire our faith today and always. Our Lord has already comforted us with the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. He has already prepared a place for us. He is coming again to receive us. So do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we do not lose heart. (Cf. Galatians 6:9) Yes, do not grow weary in doing good and what is right. (Cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:13) Rather, let us wait upon the Lord! Let us rest completely in Him! Let us renew our strength through the knowledge of what He has already done for us! For our generation still has a work to do in these latter days … the work of comforting others as we ourselves have been comforted by God and the work of reconciliation to complete. So let us run and not be weary … let us walk and not faint. Yes, let us keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus … the author and finisher of our faith. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

The Sovereignty of God…

Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He enables me to tread on the heights.

In Our Verse of the Day, I see the reference to the sovereignty of God has come into view for us again; but I think this verse takes us in a somewhat different direction of thought. The Prophet Habakkuk sees the Sovereign Lord (God Almighty) as his source of strength. Knowing God is sovereign and governs over all circumstances and situations should give us strength and hope. It should give us boldness when in battle against the darkness of this world. I love the imagery he used here – comparing the surefootedness of a mountain sheep, antelope, or deer upon steep rocky crags. Though it appears to be in danger of falling; it’s hooves, leg muscles, dexterity, and instincts stabilize its center of gravity as it climbs the heights. It moves gracefully and naturally in its habitat – having confidence in the strength and abilities God has endowed it with….

Habakkuk applies this metaphor to our experience with God. The Father has instilled in us the assurance of His sovereignty and the hope of His compassion. He has given us His Word to instruct us. He has given us His Spirit … His divine power to navigate the challenges and hardships of life that we face. Through these, we receive comfort and confidence in God … the One who created us and called us to be His own people.

I think it is important for us to see the context of his prayer in order to appreciate his conclusion: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength.” I encourage you to read the entire Book of Habakkuk to understand the frame of reference found in his “complaints” to God … and the responses of God he shares with us. It was a time of great upheaval in the land of Judah due the impending invasion of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) – whom God would use to bring judgement upon His rebellious and idolatrous covenant people. Habakkuk struggled to understand why God would permit an evil nation to carry out His purposes. It is a question we have probably pondered as we look at the ever-increasing intensity and extent of evil in our world today. Perhaps, it should be a wake-up call to the Body of Christ in these latter days….

Despite his concerns and apprehensions surrounding what God is doing to cleanse and deliver His covenant people of their sin, Habakkuk understands that “the righteous will live by faith”. (Cf. 2:4) He is confident of the ultimate goodness, righteousness, and love of God regardless of what his eyes see before him. Habakkuk is unmoved in his faith by the calamities that will befall his sinful nation because he knows that God will preserve His holy ones. Habakkuk assures us that we can trust the sovereignty and justice of God: “The Lord is in holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” (Cf. 2:20) And so I love the comfort of his inspired words … especially at the end of his prayer:

Habakkuk 3:16-19 (NIV)

I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to tread on the heights.

Whatever your concerns or apprehensions might be regarding the darkness and evil so prevalent in the world, always remember that the Sovereign Lord is your strength! You and I are able to stand with confidence even upon the rocky crags of mountain heights…. “He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber.” (Cf. Psalm 121:3) Yes, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” (Cf. Psalm 145:17-18) Indeed, I invite you to read both Psalm 121 and Psalm 145 so that your faith will be strengthened. You and I can endure all situations and circumstances through Christ who gives us strength. (Cf. Philippians 4:13)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“See, it is I who created the blacksmith – who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to cause devastation; yet no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. ~ Isaiah 54:16-17

God Is My Strength…

Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV)

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Our Verse of the Day comes from the beautiful Psalm 73. I decided to reprint the entire Psalm for us today because of the message it conveys regarding our attitudes towards those who seem to prosper in this world; and yet, they do not know God nor have a faithful relationship with Him. When Asaph, the Psalmist, went into the sanctuary of God, he discerned the end of the unrighteous and took hope in the resurrection to come for the righteous.

Psalm 73 – A Psalm of Asaph.

¹Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

²But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.

³For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.

⁵They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

⁶Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

⁷From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.

⁸They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

⁹Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

¹⁰Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.

¹¹They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”

¹²This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

¹³Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.

¹⁶When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply –

¹⁷Until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

¹⁸Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

¹⁹How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

²⁰They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

²¹When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

²²I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

²³Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

²⁴You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

²⁶My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Do you ever have thoughts or feelings like those expressed in this psalm? Do you envy others because of their apparent wealth or prosperity? Do you feel the arrogant have treated you with malice, contempt, injustice, or oppression? Do you seek revenge or demand justice based on your own perceptions? I believe Asaph affords us some great perspective when we need to process through any feelings of jealousy, disappointment, injustice, inequity, bitterness, or pain. He paints a vivid contrast between the destinies of those who live in covenant with God and those who live apart from Him in this life. He reminds us that there is a Day of Judgment coming, and there is hope for those who submit themselves to God….

However difficult it might be for us to put into practice, our Lord Jesus taught us to have a mindset of love and forgiveness that supersedes the natural inclinations of our hearts. He reminds us that our hearts are to be compassionate just as our Heavenly Father is compassionate toward all:

Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

My friends, no matter what your circumstances might be, God is for you! We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Cf. Romans 8:28) As King David reflected, we are always before God … always in His presence. It is He who sustains us and guides our hearts. (Cf. Psalm 139) It is He who will take us into glory. As Paul affirmed: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18) Oh, yes, God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever! Let this truth be the anthem of our faith.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. ~ 1 John 2:15-17

You Are My Strength…

Psalm 18:1-2 (NIV)

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Our Verse of the Day continues to remind us that God is the source of our strength. He is our rock, our fortress, and deliverer when we are facing the challenges and battles of life. He invites us to take refuge in Him … to allow Him to be our defense … our shield. There is no power like our God! Indeed, what a powerful word we have from the inspired pen of King David!

Oh, I just sense there is someone … or perhaps many who need this Verse of the Day! You are fighting spiritual battles … that are beyond your own understanding … beyond your own strength … beyond your own abilities. Let me assure you they are battles that belong to the Lord! You do not have to carry them! You were not meant to carry them! God is wanting to show you HIS power, HIS strength, HIS love and care for you … in order to build your faith and to increase your trust in HIM and Him alone! For our struggle 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. (Cf. Ephesians 6:12)

Paul gives us some spiritual context for the battles we all will face in life: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons of our warfare are not of the world; on the contrary, they have divine power to demolish the strongholds of the enemy. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord! It is His divine power that will carry you through them! So, I encourage you to take up the sword of the Spirit … which is the Word of God. (Cf. Ephesians 6:17) For the Word of God is the ONLY offensive weapon we have been given for battle! Yes, the Word of God is sufficient to arm you … for it is the power of God unto salvation. The Word, along with our spiritual armor, equips us to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power so that we will be able to stand our ground … and having done everything to stand! (Cf. Ephesians 6:10-17)

My friend, I encourage you to take every thought of defeat captive and to make it obedient to Christ. Through prayer, seek Him and allow Jesus to be your stronghold and fortress … your shield and strong tower. Go to Him in faith and trust that He goes ahead of you and that He is your rear-guard. Settle in your heart this truth: “No weapon formed against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. (Cf. Isaiah 54:17) Yes, this is my prayer for you and all who are on the front lines of suffering and hardship … for those who are in engaged in any struggle to difficult to fight alone. Take refuge! Find rest in the Lord Jesus Christ! He invites each of us: “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Cf. Matthew 11:28-30) And Jesus has promised: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Cf. John 14:27) Oh, indeed, there is peace and rest for your heart that you can receive today! His name is Jesus, and He is watching over you. I pray that you will seek Him with all our heart….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! ~ Psalm 61:2-4