God is for us

(Psa 56:9 KJV)  When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

 One of Satan’s favorite strategies is to make us feel all alone.  There are many situations in life that are beyond our wisdom and our power.  There are times when we can truly be overwhelmed. But, we are not alone.  We have not been left to survive on our own wits and strength.  We have One who is for us.  In fact, as God’s child, we have the very Creator and Ruler of the Universe on our side, to protect us, guide us and help us.  When we cry unto Him, He will provide the help we need.  Don’t despair….cry out to God.  He is for us.

Our God still reigns

Gen 8:22  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

 I was reminded of this verse as colder weather is in the forecast.  God is faithful.  He has set the times and the seasons for the earth, and it is by His faithfulness that they shall continue.  This same God is the One who has promised to be faithful to you and me.  The very Creator of the universe, who holds all things by His power and wisdom, has promised to take care of His children.  As fall gives way to winter, let’s be reminded of God’s faithfulness and God’s control over all things.  Trust Him.   

Let your light shine

(Mat 5:13 KJV)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Mat 5:14 KJV)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Mat 5:15 KJV)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 The work of God is the preserving of society.  Just as salt was used to preserve meats, so the influence of God and His people preserve society from moral ruin.  We live in a troubling time.  Many people seem so ignorant of right and wrong.  There are a lot of solutions to our societal problems being offered and pursued.  Yet there is only one solution that will work: that is the return of people to a true knowledge of God and a real understanding of right and wrong. Without God and His influence there is absolutely no good in the universe.  God is the source of all good.  It is the influence of the kingdom of God that transforms and preserves any society.  Therefore, we are to let our influence for good contribute toward preserving our society and those around us from moral ruin.  We are to let our light shine, so that ones around us may see what is right.  In a dark time, we are often tempted to withdraw, yet it is in such a time that our influence for good, our light, is most needed.  Let your light shine.

Be thankful, and pray

Col 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

 We have many needs, in our own lives and all around us.  Our society, our country and our world stand in desperate need of prayer.  We are to persevere in prayer, to stick with it, to continue watchfully in prayer.  Don’t lose confidence, don’t give up.  We are to bring our needs and concerns to God in prayer.  However, we also need to do so with thanksgiving.  We are not to despair, keep holding on to God, yet do so while remembering His goodness and faithfulness.  Bring your needs to God, but do so with a thankful heart for what He has already done

Come to worship

Psa_100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 I know life has its ups and downs.  There are times when the problems seem to mount up.  Yet, our God is good.  I would encourage you on this the Lord’s Day to set aside your worries and trials for a while and let your mind be filled with the goodness of God.  Let’s come into His presence and into His house to worship Him.  Remind yourself of all of God’s blessings and let thankfulness well up in your heart.  Give voice to your thankfulness and let His praise be known.  Prepare your heart and mind for His presence, worship Him and praise Him.

Love as brothers

(1 Pet 3:8 KJV)  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:(1 Pet 3:9 KJV)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.(1 Pet 3:10 KJV)  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:(1 Pet 3:11 KJV)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.(1 Pet 3:12 KJV)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 Notice the attitudes we are to have as Christians; live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  We are not to repay evil for evil, to trade insults …but instead we are to bless …knowing this is our calling.  Those who want to enjoy life will be careful what they say and do. Stay away from all evil, do good, seek peace, go after it.  God watches over those who do what is right and He will answer their prayers and help them;  But God is against those who do evil.  Let’s live in a way that God can freely answer our prayers and provide the help we need.

When I am afraid

Psa 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 Many things in life can cause us to fear.  Sometimes we find ourselves suddenly thrust into an emergency or other fearful situation.  Sometimes we see trouble or storms on the horizon and feel fear rising within us.  Whatever the source of fear, there is one remedy: Trust in God.  Our safety, security and help all are found in our heavenly Father.  Fear is the natural response to danger.  Calm and peace is found when we feel safe and secure.  Only as we trust God can we enjoy relief from fear and the safety and security we crave.  Make this your life practice: “At what time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”  When fear rises, turn your trust and confidence toward God.  He is our refuge 

Worthy of our praise

Psa_105:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people

 Our God is worthy of praise and thanks.  God is faithful to answer when we call on His name and seek His help.  We have experienced an unusual amount of difficulties and trials recently, yet God has proven Himself to be faithful in every situation.  We are to let those around us know of God’s faithfulness and the help He gives us.  Let’s make sure we give God the thanks and praise that He is worthy of.  First, let’s make sure we express our thankfulness to God in our time of private prayer.  Let His goodness fill your heart.  Then, express your thankfulness for God’s goodness and faithfulness to your family, your friends and those around us.  Our God is faithful and good…let’s give Him the praise He deserves.   

Keep trusting

Psa 57:1  To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. Psa 57:2  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

 This is a Psalm of David when he was pursued by Saul and in great danger and distress.  Notice his plea to God for His mercy, his plea for God to be compassionate toward him.  I want us also to notice David’s confidence in God.  God was his hope and his hiding place, his place of safety in the midst of the storm.  David was confident that God would work out the situation, as He has worked all things for him.  Sometimes life brings us to a place of danger, a storm, a calamity.  We need the same confidence that David expressed in this passage.  Cry out to our God.  Throw yourself on His compassion and mercy.  We can hide in Him, under His protective wings, until the storm passes over.  Don’t despair:  God still is working all things for our good.

The Lord reigns

Psa_93:1  The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

 We serve a mighty God.  We need reminded that our God is all powerful; there is nothing beyond His ability.  He rules over all the world.  God created the world, established it, and continues to be active in His creation to accomplish His purposes.  When the troubles of life seem overwhelming, we need reminded that we have a God who is in control and sufficient for everything that we may face.  Trust Him.

Commit your life to the Lord

Psa 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 We don’t often know what life holds for us, where the path we are traveling will take us.  But there is one who knows the future, not just the world’s future but our future. This passage tells us to commit our path of life, our future, to the Lord.  We are instructed to commit our way to Him, to place it in His hands, and to trust Him.  If we do, He will bring it to pass; He will work out our future according to His will and wisdom.  Worried about the future?  Place your future in His hands and trust Him to work.    

Cleansed within and without

(2 Cor 7:1 KJV)  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We are to be cleansed both inside and out, in our spirit as well as our body. It’s not good enough to just keep a list of do’s and don’ts; holiness involves an inward cleansing first.  Holiness is love lived out; it is love in action.  It is the motives and intentions demanded by love - love for God and love for others. We are to be cleansed in our attitudes, how we think about life, how we think about God, how we think about others.  We cannot be pleasing to God without having both our body and spirit cleansed.  Give attention to your life, but also stay pure in your intentions, values and attitudes.

Give thanks unto God

Eph_5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 This passage reminds us that we are to give thanks unto God for everything.  Every good thing in life that we enjoy comes from the love, goodness and mercy of our God.  Whether it be health, or finances, or enjoyments of life, or relationships, or things spiritual….EVERYTHING that we enjoy comes from our heavenly Father.  Our thanks should be directed to God, through our mediator and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are not worthy of any of the good things we enjoy from God….it is only by His great mercy and Jesus’ sacrifice that we are able to enjoy these things.  Direct your thanks to God.  Direct your thanks in Jesus name, for His great gift of salvation.  One of the keys to a truly thankful life is to remember how unworthy we are of all these things, most of all, unworthy of His great love and mercy.  Give thanks to God for all things.     

The Lord thinks on us

Psa 40:17  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

 What a wonderful truth!  The Lord thinks on us, He considers us, knows our condition.  Even though we are poor and needy, He thinks on us.  His thoughts toward us are to help and deliver.  The Lord takes note of us with compassion to help and deliver us.  We know our God is faithful, yet our plea is that He deliver us speedily.  Trust Him.  Call out to Him.  He is our help.    

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Fear is one of Satan’s most common weapons.  He will use the fear of all sorts of impending evil to try to cause us to lose faith and hope.  This passage reminds us that all these dangers cannot separate us from God’s love.  In fact, we are more than conquerors, more than just survivors.  We can be thoroughly victorious through Jesus Christ, the One who loves us.  There is nothing in this life, the spiritual world and even death itself that can separate us from the love of God.  I know at times the future looks fearful.  Let’s remind ourselves of the One who loves us, the One who protects us, the One who will see us safely home. We are safe in the face of danger.  We will come through with overwhelming victory, through the love and power of Jesus Christ. 

A month of thanksgiving

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 Later this month we will celebrate a national holiday of Thanksgiving.  Usually the day is so busy with food, family and travel that we don’t have much time to really be thankful.  So, let’s begin now and make this a month of thanksgiving.  Our God is worthy of praise and deserves our most heartfelt thanks for who He is and what He has done.  He is good, completely good, all the time, in every situation.  He is Lord of lords, all powerful, the Creator of all things.  And above all, He has shown us His great mercy in salvation.  Begin today to tune your heart to praise and thankfulness.  Make thankfulness part of your daily communion with God.  He is worthy. 

Don't worry

(Phil 4:6 KJV)  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 This is admonition we all need from time to time:  Be careful for nothing, don’t worry about anything.  We are all prone to worry.  Many of our greatest battles and greatest fears have to do with the future, not the present.  Sometimes our worry shows a lack of trust in God - sometimes it shows our determination to have our own way.  When we think of the future, too often we leave God out.   What are we to do instead of worrying?  By prayer and supplications let our request be known to God.  Let God know; take it to Him in prayer. Trust God to work it out as He sees best.  This is the way to peace.  Trust Him.     

This is the day the Lord has made

(Psa 118:24 KJV)  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 I am thankful for the beautiful fall colors on right now, even though it’s turned a little cooler.  The fall colors in spite of the weather brought this scripture to mind. This is the day the Lord has made. This day belongs to God.  Actually, every day belongs to God; He made it, He owns it, He rules it.  Because the day is the Lord’s and we are the Lord’s, we can rejoice in it and enjoy it.  We can enjoy God’s goodness and love today. Don’t let a fear of the future rob you of the joy of your salvation today.  Serve Him with gladness each day, every day.  I know the fall colors won’t last long, but God’s love will continue.  No matter what the day holds, we can rejoice in the God of our salvation.

God will complete the work

(Psa 138:8 KJV)  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

 God will bring His purposes to completion, to perfection, in the lives of His children.  He will complete what he has begun.  He will not begin to intervene on my behalf, and then abandon me.  He will not promise, and then fail to fulfill his promise.  He will not encourage me, and then cast me off.  God will bring His purposes to pass in our lives because His mercy, His love, has no end, it endures forever. He will not forsake His own. Trust Him to lead on.

Come before His presence with singing

Psa 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 Our God is worthy of praise.  His presence brings joy and happiness.  This passage admonishes us to serve Him with gladness; to allow our life in service to Him be lived in appreciation and happiness.  We are to come into His presence with gladness and singing.  We should be thrilled with the opportunity to come into His presence, to enjoy time with Him.  Singing is a natural response to excitement, joy and satisfaction.  Let’s allow our joy and satisfaction be known by our enthusiastic singing and praise.  Your singing unto the Lord will thrill both your soul and lift the spirits of those around you.  Purpose to express your joy to the Lord in singing in the weekly worship services.