God Preserves the Righteous

 

 

 

God is always merciful and provides for His children. We are blessed beyond our wildest imaginations by His loving kindness. He exhorts us to flee from evil and to do good as we dwell under the safety of His wings. He is righteous; and therefore, He judges righteously, and He never forsakes His Saints because He preserves us forever (Psalm 37:23-26).

 

He teaches us to speak wisdom and to live purely. This prevents us from reaping the inherent judgement that follows sinful, carnal, and self-centered behavior. He writes His laws on our heart, prevents our feet from slipping down the slope of temptation, and He teaches us His ways (Psalm 37:27-34). 

 

With Jesus, we will inherit all that belongs to our Father God as we dwell with Him throughout eternity. As we mature spiritually, God teaches us how to follow His peace and to stop listening to our own futile human understanding, which causes us to spin our wheels, but get nowhere in life. 

 

We make no more “pro-con” lists, but we sit quietly in His presence as we listen to the direction of the Spirit of God. Life is so much less stressful, we make better choices, and even when things do not make human sense, we see the "why's" in the long run because of His abundant blessings on our life. 

 

One case in point was when my husband and I traded in our mini-van for a 6-cylinder car. It was a huge decision because we felt led to use our retirement funds to pay cash for the vehicle. Though it is much smaller than our van, it has many safety features that we needed during yearly winter weather in the Heartland, and since gas prices are going up $.50 a day here, we are also saving so much money on fuel costs. 

 

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for always being on our side. We have nothing to fear as we follow Your perfect plans for our life. There is no trial that will not eventually turn out providing us with a miracle in our life (Psalm 118:6). Remind us not to despise Your chastening as You keep our feet from slipping off Your straight and narrow road and on to the wide road of destruction (Matthew 7:13). 

 

We never get weary of Your loving discipline because we know that it is for our benefit, and You always delight Your children (Proverbs 3:11-12). Help us in our times of infirmity and our temptations from iniquity. Remind us of our burdens for the lost, imprisoned, and people groups around the world that are unreached with the freeing Gospel of Jesus Christ. We love You with our whole heart, and we trust You to lead us in all our ways.

 

Thoughts for the Day:

The Lord is our ever-present help and supply, and He saves us because of His abundant mercy and love for us. Nothing can ever separate authentic Born Again Believers from His love, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord and King – not natural pestilences, death, negative incidents in life, demonic warfare, governmental powers, current evils and trials or those catastrophes to come, nor height, depth, nor created beings will ever rob us of His compassion and care for us.

- Psalm 109:26, Romans 8:38-39

Healing through Grief

 

Grief is one aspect of life that knocks us for a loop, and we may get off course, and lost for a while in unfamiliar thoughts and feelings. Our soul numbs from shock and possibly even denial. However, when we lose our way, our Father God promises to lead us along the unexperienced paths and ways that we do not know (Isaiah 42:16). 

 

He is our merciful Father and the source of all our deep comfort and assurance. Then when others walk this same path of grief, we can turn to them and offer them the same comfort that God gave us during all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

 

We often expectantly hope that our loved one will come back to us, even when we experienced the signed divorce papers or the death certificate. When the reality hits us, that this loss is permanent, our mind disconnects from our feelings, and we get busy filling our days and nights with distracting activities. 

 

Our body and soul are attempting to prevent us from going into a deep depression. Sometimes, we take shallow breaths, and our nerves cause our body to shake for no real reason. When we face the reality of the finality of our separation, we may start having dreams or even nightmares. This too is our soul’s attempt to deal with the heartache we feel. 

 

We process our grieving thoughts and feelings as we sleep. This enables us to make better decisions about our future. We cannot rush grief. Waiting on the Lord enables us to enter His rest through this time. God never leaves us and has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Professionals suggest that we make no major decisions at this time because they may adversely affect our life now and in the future. 

 

Our grief hits us at unexpected times, and we cycle through the stages of grief over and over as we begin to heal. When our soul finally accepts this new chapter in our life, we realize that God still has plans for us, and He will give us His blessings and guidance as we spend time in His presence within us (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 30:11).

 

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for planting us into a church family so that during times of grief they can help us to carry our load (Luke 22:31-24; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:4-5). We may sever our time in ministries in which we usually serve until we gain the physical, mental, and emotional strength to resume them, but You give us this time to heal. Remind us that tears wash away our grief, and we can allow our self to cry when a memory or comment trigger our emotions. Thank You for teaching me to journal during the hardships I experienced in my lifetime. 

 

Help others to enjoy the freedom as well. Deliverance from negative emotions and the clarity for us of our deep-seeded emotions that journaling brings. You are the source of our ultimate healing, and our strength to accept our loss when we bring everything to You in prayer (Romans 8:28-29). Our trust in Your trustworthiness gives us hope, peace, and joy that do not depend on our circumstances (Psalm 28:7; Nehemiah 8:10). We love you with our whole heart, and we have faith in You to reveal to us the unseen reasons behind our loss in Your timing and way.

Thoughts for the Day:

Rebounding into another relationship after a heart-rending loss is a real temptation; however, as we look to our growing intimate union with God as our source of affection, comfort, companionship, and fulfillment, we can escape the effects of negative choices and live in the center of God’s will for us instead. This also allows us to wait on Him for His desires and plans for our future.

Present Living

 

Heeding the advice and teaching from spiritually mature people, whom we encounter during God’s divine moments, helps us to grow under their tutelage. However, our main examples for a well-lived obedient life are in God’s Word through the good and the poor decisions in the life of Biblical authentic Believers.

 

We do not look to the future, but instead, we live in the present and trust God in the moment as He prepares our life for the current and future events that He has planned for us. As we take all our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), we are better able to avoid satanic lies and to hear directly from God in order to walk in His purpose for our life. 

 

We immerse our self in all our positive emotions and circumstances, and we draw near to God during negative thoughts and issues. We ask Him to help us to change them if we are able, or we put them in His loving hands as He helps us to refocus our mind on Him. 

 

We consult God with our whole heart for His strategies for us, and we only trust in His perfect plans for our life (Proverbs 3:5-6). We look forward to a new day to follow the peace of God in our life, which often makes no human sense at all and defies all odds due to our circumstances. 

 

We revel in that peace because it guards our heart, mind, and choices through the power of Jesus Christ and the leading of His Holy Spirit within us (Philippians 4:7). We abide in continual prayer and praise for our circumstances as we experience His hand in our life through every moment of our day and night. 

 

People are watching our life choices and taking ques for their faith and focus from us, so they can traverse the trials in their life with the same victory we exhibit. We are open and honest with our struggles and trials, but they also see our growing intimacy and faith in the unseen blessings that God provides for us.

 

God is our only dependable anchor for our soul through every trial we can ever experience. When we serve God, we have no responsibility to take action for Him, because we do not minister from our human resources. In fact, God calls us to lay down our finite talents and skills in order for us to be more open and obedient to Him, so He can live in and through us.

 

Prayer:

Father God, total surrender to You is the hardest thing we ever have to do in life. No wonder Your Word describes it as a time of striving (Hebrews 4:11-16). As we rest in You, the profound peace and joy we discover in the shadow of Your wings is more desirable than silver and gold (Psalm 17:8, 57:1, 63:7, 91:1-4). The stress of life melts away, and we start to rejoice evermore, regardless of our trials and our circumstances.

 

As we focus on Your nature revealed to us through Your mighty name, through the fruit of Your Spirit, and through Your interaction with us throughout the day, they all teach us who You are and how to enter Your rest. We desire to grow deeper in intimacy in our union with You. We also want to grow in Your grace and mercy as a tool for Your use throughout our days on this earth.

 

Thoughts for the Day:

When our life is too full of busyness, we miss out on the deeper union that the Trinity of God provides for us with His glorious presence in our spirit. Worshipping our Father God with praise songs, as well as daily time in His Word, helps to feed our spirit. God uses these songs and scriptures to deepen our intimacy with Him in each moment of our life.

 

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

 

God loved the whole world – past, present and future – so much that He became our Emmanuel, and He came to live with us on this earth (John 3:16-17). He chose Mary as Jesus’ mother, and the Holy Spirit formed Jesus in Mary’s womb. 

 

Jesus did not inherit Adam’s sin from His earthly Father, Joseph. This allowed Him to be God’s perfect Lamb, as well as our eternal brother and friend (God loved the whole world; Mathew 1:23, 12:50; Luke 1:38; John 1:29, 15:14-15).

 

His life on earth was no picnic. Like us, He experienced the trials and negative circumstances that are common during our lifetime (Isaiah 53:3; Hebrews 5:8). When He faced His future persecution and crucifixion, He asked Father God if there was any other way to pay the sin debt of the whole world (Luke 22:39-42).

 

Yet, He said, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” His humility led Him through the illegal mockery of night courts; a brutal scourging; and the exhausting trek up Golgotha’s hill, where He fell multiple times. The soldiers finally conscripted a by-stander to carry the cross the rest of the way up the hill (Mark 15:21).

 

When Jesus hung naked on the cross (Mark 15:24), humiliated, in pain, carrying the punishment for the sins of the whole world, and ashamed, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Psalm 22:1-3; Matthew 27:46)? Due to my sins, your sins, and the sins of everyone who ever lived and who would ever live, God could no longer fellowship with or look upon the man Jesus (Habakkuk 1:13). 

 

I could not live one moment without the Trinity of God in me, but Jesus hung tormented and in pain for hours without the sustenance from God’s Spirit that we are so used to having each moment of our day. Thankfully, Father God shortened the normal hours it took for a Roman crucifixion to extinguish the life from a body (Mark 15:22-25; Luke 23:44-46).

 

Jesus looked up into heaven and declared, “It is finished” (John 19:28-30). He took the sting out of death for every authentic Believer (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). His friends and family laid his body in the borrowed tomb (Matthew 27:60), but His spirit and soul were immediately transported to Heaven where He received His immortal body (2 Corinthians 5:8). 

 

Prayer:

Father God, Jesus – Your only begotten Son, did all of this for each one of us; yet, so many reject His sacrifice for their account, and choose to believe worldly fairy tales and satanic lies rather than Your Truth (1 Timothy 1:4), which is so readily accessible to everyone, especially now days by the internet. They condemn themselves to an eternity in everlasting torment (John 3:18), rather than to enjoy the blessings of Your principles, protection, provision, and presence both now and forevermore. 

 

They attempt to understand spiritual truths with finite minds and will not allow Your Spirit to guide them into Your Truth (John 14:6; Titus 1:14). We pray that You will draw them to Your bleeding side and hands (John 20:27). We pray for these prideful and rebellious people who, for whatever reason, cannot release their grip on satanic lies, human philosophies, and worldly traditions to grab hold of the life jacket of Your Truth. 

 

Thought for the Day:

We are forever grateful for the Cross, and we cling to the truth of what it represents in our life. We search for the narrow path of blessings, which God provides for everyone, but there are few who ever find it due to the sin they cling to and the unwillingness to trade their sin and addiction to worldly philosophies for the righteousness of Christ – a free gift to everyone who will simply humble themselves and believe.

- Romans 5:15; Ephesians 2:8-9

A Good Marriage - A Lifelong Commitment

 

 

When we enter our marriage with the idea that if it doesn’t live up to our expectations, we can always free our self by getting a divorce, we weaken our relationship before it even begins. If we focus on forcing our marriage to fulfill our needs, our self-centered and limited attention will ruin the good aspects we share.

 

If instead, we realize that we are a couple, and that both of us should be interested in the needs of one another, we will not make one-sided decisions for our self that negatively affect our mate. We will plan our choices together with much prayer for God’s united will for both of us.

 

Unified decisions, according to God’s ultimate plans for us, will lead to greater fulfillment and satisfaction for us both. A complete commitment to our marriage will help our marriage to be the best it can be in this sin-cursed world in which we live. We realize that an extraordinary marriage is based on actions, emotions and attitudes that promote our unity and joy in one another.

 

The purpose of getting married is to enjoy couple time throughout the day. Notes tucked in briefcases, phone calls during lunch time, a picnic at work or in a nearby park, a plant delivered for no reason at all, a card received in the mail at work, etc. all provide our mate with assurances that he/she is in our thoughts and in our heart.

 

At times, one mate may feel abused by the other because choices we make take away from our couple time. Insecurity arises, and we feel unloved and uncared for by our loved one. We feel more like a paycheck or a housekeeper than a husband or wife. God will easily give us ideas to bless our spouse every day if we care enough to seek Him.

 

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to thank You for our spouse, to practice humility and preference of one another rather than making self-centered choices. Remind us to make all our decision as a couple instead of forcing our desires and goals on our mate. Relying on and mirroring Your grace and unconditional love in our marriage will help our mate to feel loved and secure.

 

Help us to be an example of Jesus’ union with His bride (Ephesians 5:31-32) as we follow the principles in Your Word for a good marriage. Remind us that respect, generosity, time, attention, compassion, unconditional love, words of affirmation, and little gifts will remind each other that we were thinking of them, and this focus will go a long way in keeping our relationship strong and healthy.

 

Thoughts for the Day:

Keeping our mind focused on God’s perfect plans for our individual life will dove-tail into a stronger union with our spouse as well. We do not trapse off to “do our own thing,” but we find ways to work together, to help one another, and to be all that God is calling us to be. A fruit-filled life is one that starts by both individuals dying to our selfish desires and working together as God’s Spirit directs our paths.

 

 

No Greater Love

 

 

There is no greater love than when someone actually lays down their life for the safety and benefit of their family, friends, community, and country. Of course, Jesus Christ did this for everyone in the whole world, through past and present and future generations from the beginning to the end of time (John 3:16-17, 15:9-17).

 

He chose us before the foundation of the world, He knows us each by name, He wanted us as His adopted family, and He protects us regardless of the horrid trials we experience (Isaiah 43:1-3; Ephesians 1:5). His plan is to wipe away every tear from our eyes, to vanquish death and sorrow and crying and pain, and to do away with the former things in this carnal world (Revelation 21:4). 

 

God sent Jesus so He would pay the penalty of our sins, and we can flourish through Him (1 John 4:9-10). His love for us is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). He pardons our iniquity, overlooks our human penchant toward the flesh, withholds His anger over our occasional sin, and delights in having mercy toward us as His Spirit gradually matures us spiritually and sanctifies our soul (Micah 7:18).

 

Our refuge in trouble is in our eternal God, who cradles us in His everlasting arms to protect us from our enemies (Deuteronomy 33:27). His mercy is as high as the heavens, and His faithfulness reaches to the clouds and back again to us. He surrounds us with His righteousness like a mountain range, and His judgment never comes without adequate and merciful warning (Psalm 36:5-6).

 

We praise Him for His goodness and the wondrous miracles He performs in our life. He satisfies our longing and hungry soul and fills us with His goodness (Psalm 107:8-9). He directs our hearts deeper into His intimate love as we yearn for Jesus’ eminent return for His Bride (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

 

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for Your goodness and mercy toward us that endure forever (1 Chronicles 16:34). All You ask is that we walk away from sin, and we willingly come to You to receive Your life for us and allow Your love to fill us (John 5:40-43). We rejoice in Your hope, Your glory, and Your grace. We have patience in our tribulation because Your love covers a multitude of our sin and fills our heart completely (Romans 5:2-4).

 

You are a constant refuge and strength to us in our troubles. You are present in each moment of our life (Psalm 46:1). Your hope takes the shame out of our past through the sanctifying process of Your Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Thank You for planning a future for us that is filled with peace, and for delivering us from every evil (Jeremiah 29:11). The fullness of Your Agape love sustains us through every generation (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

 

Thoughts for the Day:

Jesus is the light of our world, even in the darkest hour (John 8:12), and He is rich in His glorious mercy on us all by saving us by His grace. His great love made us alive in Christ even when our spirit was dead in sin. Now, He abides in our heart by faith, and we are rooted and grounded in the width, length, depth, and height of His love as He fills us with all the fulness of God.

- Ephesians 2:4-5, 3:16-19

God’s Generous Supply

 

 

God generously supplies us with profit on our contribution to His Kingdom. His refund is not only pressed down and shaken together like a big bag of fall leaves, but it is running over (Luke 6:38). Our cup continually spills out with His abundant provision for us each and every day (Psalm 23:5). 

 

When we personally experience God’s principles, protection, presence, and provision in our life, there is little room left for doubt (Colossians 1:21-23). Having faith in anything or anyone other than our Creator God will do nothing to help us to receive answers to our prayers, to heal our brokenness, to deliver us through negative issues in our life, and to comfort us in our afflictions.

 

God calls us to draw near to Him with a faithful heart, full of assurance of His intentions toward us (Jeremiah 29:11). He saves our heart by the blood of the Lamb and frees our conscience from all evil intentions (Hebrews 10:22, 39; Acts 20:21). When we abandon our dedication to the Lord due to weariness, and forget the goodness of the Lord to us, then we are of all people most miserable and feeling forsaken (Psalm 27:13).

 

However, when we encourage our soul in our discouragement and hope only in God, praising Him when He inspires us and puts His joy in our soul, this helps us to escape eternal damnation (Psalm 42:11; Hebrews 2:3). We become partakers of Christ because we hold firm to the steadfast confidence we enjoyed in our early years of salvation (Hebrews 3:14).

 

Our faith is the substance of what we hope for and is the evidence of what cannot be seen or proven by our human understanding (Hebrew 11:1; Hebrews 11:7). Many Biblical accounts tell us about faithful Saints of God who did not receive the promise in their lifetime, but they had visions of them in the future and trusted in God’s promises (Hebrews 11:13).

 

Prayer:

Father God, You help us to develop our faith by leading us into a deeper belief in You. Your goodness, compassion, provision, and presence within us leads and guides us. Help us to keep our focus on what is unseen and that comes from You, rather than on what is seen and that comes from a worldly supply. The world’s resources will not last and will soon dissipate into thin air, but Your provision lasts for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:18, 5:7).

 

Help us not to throw away our confidence in You because You have a huge reward in store for us both now and in the future. We need patience so that after we do Your will for our life, we can receive the fulfillment of Your promises. We maintain our confidence by trusting in the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 3:6, 14, 10:19, 34-36). Otherwise, we lose what we already worked for and stored up by faith (2 John 1:8). We trust only in You with our whole heart and soul (Proverbs 3:5-7).

 

Thoughts for the Day:

God did not save us to be like those who fall back into following worldly wisdom and morals and aspirations, because these people are destroyed by their unbelief. Our faithful trust in God preserves our soul through our faith in His faithfulness to us. We can trust Him with our whole heart, and we have nothing to fear. 

 - John 3:18; Hebrews 10:39; 1 Peter 5:7; Job 13:15; Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 5:11, 9:10, 37:3-5, 40:4, 56:3-4,11, 62:8, 71:1, 115:11, 118:8; Isaiah 12:2, 26:3-4; Matthew 6:34; John 14:27, Philippians 4:7