Our Almighty God

David was anointed King as a young man, and King Saul hated him. He tried every method of trick, sleuth and military tactic to kill David; yet did not succeed. David knew that God had plans for his life and he was not afraid of Saul. David wrote that He had assurance that God was laughing at King Saul's plans (Psalm 2:1-4).

By expressing these words in his psalm, David also spoke a prophetic word concerning the end times, when Satan gathers the armies of the world against the Lord. People in these last days have no respect for authority, and they believe it is their right and duty to reject the concept of God as our Higher Power. They refuse to believe in Jesus, because His Biblical Word is contrary to their humanistic philosophy.

They want to rip off the fetters and cords they believe that God has on them, and they devise vain attempts to distance themselves in every way from God and religion. They join groups of other atheists and agnostics and take a position against God's people who dare to stand for God. They also make vain plans to thwart God's purpose in the earth. In many countries they persecute and kill Believers.

Yet, the Lord, who sits in heaven on His jasper throne, chuckles and ridicules these vain attempts to discredit Him as Almighty God (Psalm 2:4). He brings all of His Saints home to be with Him (Psalm 116:15). He never despises or shows partiality to anyone (Job 36:5; Deuteronomy 10:17), but gave His Son to everyone in order to bridge the gap, which our sin brought between Him and each one of us (Isaiah 9:6).

Prayer:

Father God, You are the Mighty One, and we humble our self before Your powerful hand (Joshua 22:22; 1 Peter 5:6). We know that You will lift us up in Your own time and save us in the same way that You cared for Your chosen people who sojourned in Egypt (Zephaniah 3:17; Deuteronomy 5:15; Daniel 9:15). You control the earth from the rising to the setting of the sun (Psalm 50:1). You are awesome and awe-inspiring, and we thank You for keeping Your covenant of love with us (Nehemiah 9:32). Thank You also for preserving us and giving us Your assurance for our future with You (Job 24:22). We praise and worship You in all of Your splendor and might.

Thought for the Day:

God gives love to thousands of generations who love Him, but His righteous judgment is on those who choose to live in sin instead.

- Jeremiah 32:18

Redemption

 

Jesus Christ lived on this earth for 33 years and gave up his life to die on Calvary's tree to redeem us from the penalty of sin, which is eternity in hell (1 Peter 2:24). Now, because of Christ's sacrifice for us, we are redeemed and acceptable to God and have peace with God (Romans 5:1). Jesus also provided us with God's grace, so that we can stand through our trials and rejoice in the hope of living in the glory of the Lord (Romans 5:2).

If we suffer according to God's will, we can follow Jesus' example and entrust our soul to our faithful God (1 Peter 4:19). If we are called according to God's purpose and live a life in love with Him, we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams (Romans 8:28). He gives us His faith to believe for things we cannot even see (Hebrews 11:1).

While we live on this earth, we gain courage as we walk in faith (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). We forget the past and look forward to the future as we walk in holiness and relish, by faith, the fact that we will attain the rewards, which God has in store for us through Jesus (Isaiah 43:18; Philippians 3:13-14). We function in the power of Christ in us to move mountains as we live by His faith (Mark 11:23).

God's love allows us to carry on through everything, which comes our way, to believe in His Word and to hope in His enduring promises (1 Corinthians 13:7). God dwells with us. We are His children and He is our God. He wipes away our tears and gives us joy instead of mourning. He redeems our past and gives us a thriving life on this earth and a future with Him in eternity (Revelation 21:3-4).

Prayer:

Father God, we try to avoid suffering at all costs, even though we live in a broken world full of tattered and trodden people. We fear death and tremble at the thought of our life being reduced to a pile of ashes. Remind us of the privilege You give us to live as Your child. Please call those we love to come to a life of advantage and blessings right along with us. Help us to sacrifice our life for others as Jesus did for us.

Thought for the Day:

Put the past behind you and live in Christ's redemption now and always.

Our Joy is in the Lord

Every person on the face of our planet searches for the meaning of life and their place in the larger scheme of existence. Many want fame, riches, success, health and some even seek inner peace and happiness. Others wish they were never born; some do not want to die. Now that they are here, some want to live forever. Others want to end their life here and now and take the chance that what is on the other side of life is better than the reality facing us here on earth.

The basic need in all of us is to find some sort of fulfillment now and in eternity as well. We concentrate on family, business, hobbies and sometimes even church of some sort. However, when we attempt to find fulfillment only by meeting our own needs, a web of conflict erupts. Self-centeredness limits us in life. It narrows the circle of our possibilities for our future. It’s stunts our emotional and social growth and restricts our full potential. We fail to encourage, strengthen and minister to others, because our life is consumed with our self.

Our needs often become an idol in our life, because we focus more about them than we do our Savior. This is a very lonely existence indeed. Most people who reach their goals and fulfill their ambitions in this manner end up very unhappy with the end result. Paul is a great example of someone who had nothing, but who lived a completely fulfilled life. Even prison did not douse his joy. His fulfillment did not depend upon any person, place or thing. He found His joy only in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul put his time in jail to good use and wrote letters that continue to edify Christians throughout the centuries of time. His legacy is more lasting than all the riches in the world. When we choose to submit our life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, as Paul did, He fills us with His righteousness in exchange for our sin, Godly wisdom replaces our temporal knowledge, faith takes the place of doubt and the fruit of the Spirit overcomes our carnal attitudes and expressions.

We can confidently trust that He who began a good work in us, will continue molding us until Jesus Christ returns (Philippians 1:6). God’s Agape love makes a true difference in our life. His Word is sustenance to our soul and a lamp to guide us on our path. God will be there for you, even when no one else is; He's the only one you can really count on to stand in your corner every time. He walks within us and leads us to spiritual prosperity and fulfillment. This, in turn, affects our soul – our mind, will and emotions, as well as our body. We are filled with deep peace and joy that transcends anything the world has to offer (John 14:27).

God has a purpose for everyone, and we will never find fulfillment if we do not live within that purpose. A church or an individual who puts their trust in Jesus alone, apart from human effort or accomplishment, finds what they are looking for. Those who think they are Christians, but who follow the designs and dictates of the world are simply fooling themselves. Everyone else can see their hypocritical lifestyle; and they lose respect for God and the church because of it.

Righteousness is not a list of imperatives, but the result of a life fully submitted to God. It is only as we are filled with the fruit of Christ’s righteousness that we can ever bring honor, glory and praise to God (Philippians 1:11). Integrity is the most vital factor in the life of a fulfilled believer. The objects and relationships that the world considers crucial are mere illusions. God completes His work in us as we totally surrender to His love and care.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, everyone searches for fulfillment; however, only those who put their total faith and trust in You will find what they are truly looking for. Everything else is an fantasy, which fades in the light of the Son. You are our only source of true peace and joy. We are only complete in You. A healthy life as well as a healthy church is submitted to Your Lordship and Your Spirit’s direction. As we submit to Your will for our life, You reveal Your perfect plan for us during each individual moment of our day.

Thought for the Day:

If all we have is God, we have everything we need (John 14:8).