Words are Precious

 

Words are very precious to me. I love to write, I love to learn new words and use them, and I love to read God's Word. Last night, I inadvertently deleted several posts I had written for my blog.

I was devastated. I backed up my files four days before this, but I had a writing spurt between then and the catastrophe and the Holy Spirit helped me to write some inspired words. All lost.

I called my sons and between them, they did their best to recover my precious words. The files did not go to the recycle bin. My computer just wiped them out.

I also lost the Google Talk phone capability on my computer. This made me realize that if I felt this loss so deeply, I will be devastated if I ever lost the Word of God through persecution of the church in America.

At my age, I do not have a good memory anymore. Much of the Bible, which I memorized in the past is no longer in my conscious mind. I will not be able to fall back on that if the precious Word of God is taken from us.

Therefore, I purposed in my heart that I will go back to the verses that I could once recall at will and refresh my memory every night, because those words are stored in my subconscious mind.

As I reread them, I am easily recalling them into my conscious mind. Many of them were set to music by friends in my past, which makes it easier to remember them.

I want to make God's Word a priority in my life, so if we ever lose the written Word, my spirit and soul can find nourishment from the Words I hid in my heart (Psalm 119:11).

Prayer:

Father God, let us never take Your Word for granted. Our freedoms in America over all of these years lulled us into a sense of security that is no longer guaranteed. Many other countries across the globe lost their freedoms in small increments over time and we are losing them also. There is not a Christian nation left in our world today.

We look forward to Christ's imminent return; but if You tarry any longer, America may fall into enemy hands and we may lose our hard won freedoms. Help us to hide Your Word in our hearts so that it will sustain us in our times of trials now and in the future.

Thought for the Day:

The Word of God speaks to our spirit and soul like no other words we could ever read or hear; it sustains us through every trial.

- Psalm 119:116

Carried by the Angels

In life or in death, God gives His angels charge over us to safeguard us through every trial and affliction. They lift us up in their hands, protecting us and even preventing us from stubbing our toe (Psalm 91:11).

When we die, these powerful, supernatural beings escort our spirit and soul​ into eternity (Luke 16:22). We confidently know that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Whenever we are afraid of life or of death, we can make a conscious effort to still our soul - our thoughts, choices and emotions - and to put our trust in God (Psalm 56:3).

Our Lord God is with us wherever we go in this life or in the next. This fact makes us strong and provides us with confidence and courage (Joshua 1:9).

We have no need to fear any entity, because God set His safeguards in place to care for us (Isaiah 40:10-13). As we keep our thoughts centered on Him, God keeps us in His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). 

Even if something bad happens to us, God promises to bring good from it (Romans 8:28). Maybe that good is nothing more than for us to encourage someone else suffering right along with us.

Once we surrender our will to God's will, we stop worrying about the headline news or what might happen a moment from now. We live in God's rest in this one moment of time, knowing that God has a perfect plan for us in all of our future moments.

The Creator of the Universe lives within us by His Holy Spirit through our relationship with Jesus Christ. He has plans both for our life and the day of our death (Psalm 139; Ecclesiastes 7:1).

It encourages us to realize that our last breath on this earth is followed by our first breath in heaven, and that it is literally that quick.

Prayer:

Father God, we do not know our future or that of America; You did not mention America in Your Word. Israel is Your chosen nation, and these end times are about the salvation of Your nation, Your judgment on the nations who turned their back on You and casting Satan in the lake of fire for eternity.

Thank You for giving Your angels charge to carry us in their hands. As Your Saints and authentic Believers, we are Your Bride, Your Church and Your Body. You effectively care about and for each and every one of us now and always (1 Peter 5:7). We have no need to fear (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Thought for the Day:

God is our Father; and Father Knows Best. - Psalm 91

Unreached People Groups

 

In this modern world, it seems impossible that there are still people who have never heard the gospel of Christ (Acts 4:12). They have had little to no opportunity for outreach and evangelism (Revelation 15:4).

An unreached people group is one that has less than 2% of Believers in their country and has no church planting capabilities or Bibles in a language, which they can understand.

Jesus told His disciples to go out into all the world and to preach the gospel to every nation (Matthew 24:14, 28:18-20). Christians in every succeeding century have followed suit.

Of course, America and England sent out the most missionaries so far. However, in today's spiritual climate, other countries are now sending missionaries to England and America, due to our lack of faithful, committed Believers. Churches are continually closing here.

We are afraid to speak to our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors about the difference that Christ makes in our life, and how God's unconditional love provides us with so many benefits both now and in eternity (Romans 15:21; Psalm 67:1-3).

The Apostle Paul is a great example to us, since he took several missionary journeys covering large land areas and started over 50 churches to carry on the ministry of spreading God's Word to the masses (Romans 1:5).

God calls all Believers, even today, to reach as many people in our area of influence and to plant as many churches as there is a need, in order to take as many people to Heaven with us as we possibly can (Revelation 5:9, 7:9-10; Mark 13:10; Acts 13:45-47).

Prayer:

Father God, as we go about our day, remind us to preach, saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and then to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and cleanse the lepers (Luke 24:45-47; Matthew 10:8).

Help us to be strong and courageous, because wherever we go, You are there with us and in us (Joshua 1:9). Move by Your Holy Spirit in the lives of people we know and those unreached people groups all over the world, so that the soil of their lives will be ready to receive the seeds of the gospel, which we commit to spread as sowers of Your Word (Matthew 13:18-23).

Thought for the Day:

All the ends of the earth shall remember what Jesus did and turn to Him, and all the families of the nations of the world shall worship before Him.

- Psalm 2:8, 22:27, 67:5-7, 98:2-3