I could hear geese honking above the dense Oregon fog…Immediately, God said, "I'm going to teach you to hear My voice." Little did I know how much I needed Jesus.
It’s so good to simply take a few slow, deep breaths. It can help to still me…
Let (we have a choice) not your heart be troubled (I protect my heart by looking up): ye believe in God, believe also in me (Jesus).
John 14:1
If I don’t do what Jesus asks me to do, I’ll be tempted to doubt and question Him, to take on care and fear. If I don’t “look up,” I may experience a hardening of my heart towards God.
God doesn’t ask me to understand everything that happens on earth. He asks me to trust Him, to look up.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:28
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding (our understanding is limited and finite while God’s understanding is infinite seeing the whole picture).
Proverbs 3:5
Why “Look up?” Jesus knew doing so would help us maintain a posture of trusting Him regardless of circumstances. In other words, “looking up” enables us to “be still,” to not give in to earthly emotions, and fear so that we don’t become full of concern about everything that’s happening around us. Looking up gives us God’s proper perspective. Jesus (not day-to-day circumstances) truly is our Prince Of Peace.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings (bad news): heart is fixed (his heart is looking up to Jesus), trusting in the LORD (the reward for being obedient to “look up,” to keep focused on Jesus, and His will and care for us).
Let’s be still knowing God is in control and that our redemption is very near.
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds (surpasses) anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 New Living Translation (NLT)
I was thinking this morning about how far God has brought me in His healing of my heart and emotions, my panic disorder and anxiety disease. Years ago, God brought me to a crossroads in my life. He was about to “fix” my heart. Was I going to continue to let panic usurp what His Word said about trusting Him in all situations, or was I going to step out in faith, believe and let His truth dictate my behavior?
The following is today’s (October 5th) entry in Sarah Young’s “Jesus Always” daily devotional. It’s a blessing…
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I WANT YOU TO HAVE NO FEAR of bad news. The only way to accomplish this feat is to have a steadfast heart, trusting in Me. There is an abundance of bad news in the world, but you don’t need to be afraid of it. Instead, confidently rely on Me – believe in Me. Find encouragement in My sacrificial death on the cross and My miraculous resurrection. I, your living Savior, am Almighty God! I am sovereign over global events; I am still in control.
When things around you or in the world seem to be spinning out of control, come to Me and pour out your heart. Instead of fretting and fuming, put your energy into praying. Come to Me, not only for comfort but also for direction; I will help you find the way forward. Moreover, I take your prayers into account as I govern your planet – in ways far, far beyond your understanding.
Don’t dread bad news or let it spook you. Instead, keep your heart steadfast and calm through confident trust in Me.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7
Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isaiah 40:10
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Pslam 62:8
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
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It’s amazing that God can fix a heart like mine. It’s such a tremendous blessing that Jesus works in our lives to bring us His rest and peace.
Remember, precious people of God, to not let fear run off with your emotions. God desires us to be steady, full of faith in Him, standing in the peace He makes available to us through the Spirit.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand. Lyric by Ed Mote
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand. Lyric by Keith Getty
In the Bible story of David and Goliath, Goliath represents “fear,” and having learned that God is faithful to those who rely on Him, David is now full of God’s faith; “But I (David – Put your name here) come to thee (satan and fear) in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
1 Samuel 17:45b
Fear will always attempt to defy (resist or refuse to obey) faith, to tempt us to walk in unforgiveness, to be jealous, to lose hope, to despair, to hate, to strive, to lose peace, to stop us from looking up.
40 And he (David) took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine (Goliath).
41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: But I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.
1 Samuel 17:40-47
This is our time to live as David – and all the other faithful men and women have done throughout time – lived. When the “Goliaths” of the end times seek to defy our God, run at them praising God, singing songs and speaking words of faith, saying the scriptures out loud, remembering that God rewards faith, and look for His favor in all situations, and take down “Goliath” in the Name of the Lord of Hosts.
Our faith and trust in Jesus’ Name scares the devil and his cohorts to death, everlasting death. Turn the table on fear. Consume it with faith in the Name of the God who was with all those mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews.
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3
To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Isiah 61:3
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand Lyric by Keith Getty
Praise be to Jesus, our Prince of Peace! Rest in His love and care for you.
I turned on the radio this morning and the program began playing a recording of the Las Vegas shooting. Immediately, I turned it off. Why? Because listening to the playback brings fear and fear’s companion is torment. Satan knows it and that’s why he loves fear. I’m telling you, you will not make it in the end times if you keep giving into fear. You can’t let it in the door of your heart. Take it captive to the obedience of Christ.
In the Bible’s book of “Numbers,” 12 men were sent out to spy out the promised land – note that the land had been promised to the Israelites just like God promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. Ten were fearful and tried to convince the others in the camp of the Israelites to be fearful as well. Two men didn’t give into the fear and said they could take the land because God “is with us.” Joshua and Caleb knew God would give them what He promised them.
Fear has torment. When fear tries to steal our faith, we have the tendency to start acting like God is no longer with us, that we need to take matters into our hands. Fear does this to us, it always lies to us. It’s why God tells us, over and over again in His Word to fear not.
God commands us to stay in faith, to act like He’s still with us. It’s why He tells us to “look up” when these things (fearful events that overwhelm the unsaved who don’t know they can have “faith” in God) take place. Personally, to end fear’s torment, to break its grip on my life, I had to stop practicing fear by practicing faith in God and what His Word says. I had to stop talking and thinking fearful words and thoughts. We must all do the same.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:28
Be still, and know that I am God:
Psalm 46:10a
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
Colossians 3:15a
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report…
6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
Numbers 13:30-32; Numbers 14:6-9
Joshua and Caleb believed God. Practice faith, and teach others to do the same. Put an end to fear’s torment by looking up. Let (it’s up to each of us to guard our own heart) the peace of God reign in your heart.
Here, in California, most drivers roll through Stop signs. I mean, after all, everyone’s doing it, why not me, right? Besides, it feels funny coming to a complete stop like everyone will think I’m weird, or something. Well, that’s the kind of reasoning that can cost you around $450 if you get caught rolling Stops.
We get used to living by fear because most people do it, right?
When I was growing up, I saw a lot of ads that had a bully kicking beach sand in your face while he stole your girlfriend. The ad was to motivate you to do bodybuilding or to take karate so you could whoop the bullies in your life.
The devil, and his fear, is the bully, and God wants us to live by faith so we don’t keep being intimidated by fear.
My Bible (Word) tells me God does not want me to live with any fear. It tells me God can always be trusted in all situations. In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, the Word tells me to choose life (faith) or death (fear) every day. From God’s perspective, it’s that critical.
My Bible tells me God does not want me to live with any fear. It tells me God can always be trusted in all situations.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2 Corinthians 6:17
God’s encouraging me to emphasize the importance of faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us it’s impossible to please God without faith. Wow, that’s serious.
It’s simply incredible to me that God loves us so much that He commands us to live by faith and not fear. He commands us to come away from the fear-inducing ways of this world to walk (live) by faith. He commands us to come out from among them and be ye separate. I really believe this means He wants us to live in all the blessings faith brings into our lives. Contentment, rest, peace, joy, self-control, etc. Having these spiritual attributes operating in our lives is the most valuable thing we can have in this life.
And, it’s just so much fun to live by faith, to experience God backing you up, to have Him reward your faith and trust in Him at all times.
Here are two verses that we must memorize to live by faith, to trust God in all situations.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Proverbs 3:25
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
I can’t tell you enough how important these two scriptures are. They protect your family, your faith, and their truths set you free from fear once they get into your soul. Memorize them, speak them to each other, put them up in your house, do whatever it takes to get them operating in your life. We must be people of faith in order to please God.
Jesus paid the price on the cross so we could live, truly live, by faith.
Choose fear and choose death. Or, choose Jesus, choose faith, and choose life.
“Now therefore fear (respect Him to the point that you do what He tells you to do) the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers (fear) served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (faith).”
Joshua 24:14-15
For so many years, our (my wife and I) conversations centered around fearful, worried, defeated thoughts. Thank God, finally, we got fed up and sick of living that way and, through some teaching we heard, began to keep our mouths shut unless we could say verses that re-programmed us to trust God. Whenever we’d begin to talk about fear, we’d remind each other about scriptures that would help our faith in God grow. Life was so challenging at that point, that we really had no other choice and that, as it turned out, was a tremendous, life-altering blessing. Now, I can see that God allowed my panic disorder, migraines, and all of the other fearful circumstances to teach us how to apply His truths so we could learn how to rest in Him, alone.
Fear is a lie. Fear comes from the devil who is the father of lies…
There are so many opportunities to worry about so many things in life. But, in Jesus, those same opportunities are occasions to exercise our faith in Him and His mighty Word. When fear thoughts approach, fight them off by remembering verses like these:
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 56:3
LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Psalm 84:12
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25
“You know, Mark, we’ve never been glad that we worried about this or that. Worrying only made our lives more miserable.” Wise words from my wife.
Every day, Jesus is developing our faith. With each passing year, we find that He really has been faithful to us, that we really can trust Him with all our heart. Learning to be content in all of life’s situations is where He’s taking us.
Jesus doesn’t abandon us. No way. He’s in perfect control. We’re not going down, and we’re not going under. No, instead, in His all-knowing way, Jesus is making us anxious for nothing.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
When we refuse to give into worry, we are seeking God by exercising our faith in Him, in His care of our lives, our hearts, minds and souls.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
My wife’s mom had become a slave to this world, she was super-driven, and, as a result, had a lot of strife in her life. No one was going to come between her and what she wanted to acquire in this life.
In many ways, I was a lot like that…And, I didn’t even know it.
One day, after we’d found out that mom had brain cancer, I was sitting in her living room with her. We were alone and she looked up at a living room wall that was tastefully decorated with a lot of items she’d worked hard to get. Mom was a gifted decorator and as she looked at that wall, and then around the room, she said something that totally caught me by surprise. She said, “None of it matters.” It was such a relief to hear her words and to know that mom was about to be relieved of so much worldly weight, so much heaviness.
Wow, coming from such a driven person where everything she’d worked so hard for MATTERED, it was quite a shocking statement. As it turned out, my daughter, Faith, led mom to ask Jesus into her heart just before she passed. God had revealed to mom that what she thought mattered, really didn’t and it was an honest moment that began an unloading of the weight that had weighed on mom’s heart, mind and spirit for most of her life.
What matters? What have I been enslaved by? What has this world taught me to carry that shouldn’t matter to me? Lord what am I carrying that I need to cast onto You? What “matters” can You set me truly free from? Please show me how You can lighten my life and spirit. Please set me free, Lord. I want to be like You, free.
One of the most blessed things Jesus has shown me is that He answers prayer. Nothing new, right? But, the type of prayer I’m talking about today is the one where I ask Jesus to show me anything that’s weighing on me that I’m not even aware of. Some “thing(s)” matters and I don’t even know it, consciously. In fact, the only way I find out about something that matters to me is by the Lord revealing it to me. It’s like I’m blinded to the “matter” and then He opens my understanding to it and shows me that He can relieve me of the weight of the “matter.” It’s so cool to be able to just pray for Him to help me with “matters” and then to rest knowing that I’ve asked Him for His help. Then, out of the blue, one day, He just shows me some thing and then relieves my spirit of the care of that thing. It’s an amazing relationship that’s a real, tangible, true blessing. What a Savior we have.
Go ahead, ask Jesus to show you what “matters” to you, some thing that’s weighing on your mind, on your life, on your spirit, and then watch what happens.
It’s really fun and amazing. He’s so faithful to answer that prayer. It makes me so happy when He surprises me by showing me how I can be set free from some thing that doesn’t need to matter to me any more. I don’t understand exactly how He does it but, somehow, He takes the weight of the matter from me and I can actually feel it happening. Incredible. But then, that’s our wonderful Jesus…He’s simply incredible.
Below is a youtube excerpt from Jonathan’s longer teaching. By the way, you can purchase teachings in their entirety (can be downloaded for about $7) at Hopeoftheworld.org.
Simply search Jonathan’s site for the youtube teaching excerpt number. For example, under the above youtube link teaching, it states, The Storm King #2106:
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But you can never, you can never plan it, so storms will come. The question is, “What are you going to do when the storms come? What do you do?” You may be in a storm now. What do you do?
There’s all kinds of storms in life. There are storms of financial problems. Emotional problems that become a storm. Opposition, people against me can be a storm. People talking about you…You get stormy. You know, a storm of losing a job, or a moral failure – there are so many kinds of storms. It takes away peace if you let it.
But the things is, that’s the whole point here. In this life, you will have these things. But, remember, not only has He overcome it, but remember your peace is not dependent on what’s going on around you. If it is, the enemy’s going to be able to always do what he wants with you.
Your peace is not to be a “fair-weather” peace. When someone says they’re a fair-weather friend it means they’ll be with you when times are good, when it’s fair-weather. But, when the storm comes, they’re gone. We all know people like that. But then, a real friend stays no matter what.
So our peace is not to be a fair-weather peace where it’s only good for fair weather, it’s to be a peace that’s good for the storms as well. You know, sometimes, they have all-weather tires that you don’t have to change. God wants us to have all-weather peace, all-weather joy.
It means we must be weather-resistant.
The way you deal with storms is crucial because every life has them so it’s crucial for your peace, it’s crucial for your victory – It doesn’t matter what the storm is.
And even if He’s in your boat, Messiah, you’re going to have a storm. What that’s telling you right off the bat is, right there, some people preach that He’s going to exempt you from having storms. But that’s not the Bible.
If we look at the life of the Apostle Paul, was he not in the will of God? And, did Paul not have enough faith? And yet, Paul, what’d he say, “I’ve been through this and I’ve been through that. I’ve been stoned nearly to death, I’ve been that. I’ve had all this, I’ve been in jail, etc.” And yet, he was praising God.
Paul was victorious not because he avoided those things, but because he triumphed in them…And he’s the one who writes to you, “Thanks be to God Who always causes me to triumph.” In the storms and outside them, He always does. And that’s the key, how do you do that?
Everything doesn’t have to go fine outside. In fact, sometimes because you follow Jesus, it will go worse outside. People will be against you. The world will be against you. Follow Me, take up your cross. There’s a cost to it Jesus says. But, everything still, in God, is to be victorious. The Bible says, God, Who always leads us to triumph – Not “sometimes.” That means whatever you’re going through in your life, if you’re following God, He’s always going to lead you to victory over it no mater what. Storm, or no storm, He’s always – that’s the world part, that’s the “outside” – but God, His promise is always to triumph, always.
You look at Paul, and here he is in prison, and it’s near the end of his life in the book of Timothy, and he, the man has no regrets. He’s not depressed. He has joy and hope. He says, “I have a crown coming for me, it’s laid up for me, I’ve fought the good fight of faith.” That’s the thing. He had more joy than any millionaire has if they don’t have the Lord.
Now, it doesn’t matter if someone doesn’t follow the Lord, they’re going to have storms, or if they follow the Lord, they’re going to have storms. But, the difference is how you go through it. That’s what makes the difference. The weather’s the weather. But, God is the God.
Thank God, whatever’s going on, one of the key things when you’re dealing with something – things are going crazy – one of the key things that’s kind of hard to first get into your head is that the tendency, the temptation is to focus on all the stuff that’s happening. And the first part of victory is not to focus on everything that’s happening. No, the first thing of victory is to focus on the Lord and not the problem. You have to start with the Lord if you’re going to have real victory over the problem.
So one of the first things to get, the first victory is getting your mind off all the stuff, the fear, the anxiety, and get it onto God despite it. And, just by doing that, you’re already saying, “I am not under the storm, I’m under God.” The fact that I can even let go means that God is more important than the storm.
Thank God you have Yeshua, Jesus, Messiah, in your boat cause if you didn’t, all you’d have is a storm. If you didn’t let Jesus in your life, then when the storms would come anyway, then you wouldn’t have anything. The people in the world don’t like that they’re dealing with the storms, and they’ve got nothing in the boat. But you’ve got that (Jesus), and that’s the most important fact you have.
Galilee is one of the most beautiful lands in the world, and it has storms at the same time. So, the same way, just because you have storms in your life, doesn’t mean your life is not beautiful in the Lord.
And, notice something. What’s Jesus doing in the boat? He’s sleeping. Now that’s something. How’d He fall asleep so fast? I mean, some people can sleep through anything. Some people wake up at any point. I’m kind of a mix. I sleep well for a while. But while I’m sleeping, our boys sneak into our beds. And they wait till we’re sleeping because then we can’t stop them. We wake up and there’s a hand over our face or a leg over there. But, I don’t usually wake up and I don’t know how they do it. And then they get up and go to school and they don’t even wake me. I don’t know how that happens. But the Lord is in the middle of a storm, and the boat is rocking heavily back and forth from side to side – and He’s sleeping. Why? Well on one hand, He’d been ministering right before that and ministry can take a lot out of you. When I’m finished ministering on Sunday, no matter what I do, my body shuts down. I cannot stop it. It shuts down and I’m asleep, you know, for a time. But He’s asleep, He was ministering so that’s probably why He’s exhausted. But, I also think that the Lord knew what was going to happen. I mean, God the Father knew what was going to happen and He, also, it was a setup from the Lord just like it is with our life. And so He’s sleeping there and they’re (His disciples in the boat with Him) going crazy while He’s sleeping. He’s (Jesus) unaffected. You know, the boat’s affected. There’s gotta be water coming on everybody, and He’s still sleeping. He’s unaffected. Which tells you something.
In the Lord, if you’re a follower of Him, you’ve got Him in you, you can actually go through things and not be affected by them. His presence does not change through anything. So if you’re always dwelling on the wrong thing, I mean, and in a sense they had the peace of God in their boat in the middle of the storm, but it wasn’t their peace until they stopped focusing on everything else but Jesus.
In the same way, the peace of God is there, but if you focus on a million things, you’re not going to know His peace until you focus on Him.
Hello Everyone In Jesus’ Name, The Name That Is ABOVE Every Other Name:
I’d like to ask for your prayers right now as my family (I suspect all six of us, our daughters and sons-in-law, will be approached with this attack) is under some pretty heavy spiritual attacks. We know God’s faithful and that He’ll bring us through this time, but it’s so great to know others are praying for you. Thanks for your prayers. ☺
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 28:7
Wow, I’ve been getting really whampoed (a new word Annie came up with a little while ago ☺), spiritually, lately – Very heavy attacks from the enemy of our souls.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5
What’s exciting about the spiritual opposition is that, through Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s youtube teachings, God’s teaching us that such times mean there are some really good spiritual lessons He’s about to reveal to us. Times of refreshing are just around the corner, new insights, and an opportunity for Him to show us His unwavering love and faithfulness to us. It’s really wonderful to anticipate God’s deliverance when we’re under enemy fire.
For one thing, God brought to us a verse we hadn’t read in a little while.
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
While the enemy can often attack us for no reason at all, I’d been making something other than the Lord my joy and, as a result, I’d, temporarily, lost my joy in the Lord. I was so caught off-guard, and confused that I couldn’t think of anything but that God was ripping me off – Yep, this is how satan works. Self-pity came in like a flood and I encountered a lot of discouraging, depressing thoughts.
Whenever I find myself focusing on something I want and am not getting, it’s easy for the enemy to take advantage of me and begin to tempt me with “idol” thoughts that can begin to make me mad at God. Never a good thing…
Just thought I’d pass this experience onto everyone so we can be on the lookout (bolo) for such attacks.
If you have something before the Lord in your life, lay it back down at the foot of the cross. Leave it there for God to deal with. Then, let Him relieve you, once again, of all “care.”
Praise Jesus! What an incredible Savior we have. He’s ever watching over our hearts to make sure we don’t get snared by the enemy’s tactics. And He’s always showing us new things that bring us His joyous victory for every-day living in the Spirit.
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19
Happy Monday as we begin another week and opportunity for Jesus to show us His faithfulness.
There’s Nothing like the joy “of the Lord.” His presence makes all the difference in our lives.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
When we rest under His mighty hand, He leads us and the way is filled with His provision, peace and rest. There are such rich, Heavenly rewards for humbling ourselves under His mighty hand.
Boy, the “mighty hand of God.” Is that ever true. He has the ability to search deep into our souls and set us free from anything that’s keeping us from living life His way. He’s so mighty that He can work all things for our good. He can change our reaction and tendencies to have fear when things come up.
Somehow, He teaches us to trust Him, always. He quiets our hearts and stills our emotions. His ways bring lasting peace, they point out areas we may be deceived in or can’t recognize on our own, rest, times of refreshing, newness in marriage, true life, joy, generational strongholds, and deliverance from any the bondage we pick up along the way in this life. Such a MIGHTY God we have. Such mighty love and care of us.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17
Ann and I were talking last night after she’d had two migraine headaches in 4 days. I woke up yesterday feeling like I’d had one in my sleep. We were “feeling” tired and a little mind weary.
We started talking about how neat it will be when we’re finally with the Lord in Heaven.
Next thing I knew, I turned to Ann and the first thing that came out of my mouth was, “Yes, it will certainly be incredible to be in Heaven with Jesus. But, I want to win back everything (peace, rest, trust in the Lord, joy, all the fruit of the Spirit) the enemy’s stolen from me through my own sin, worry, shame, coveting, unforgiveness, etc., and have overcoming victory while I’m on earth. And, I want to teach my children that they can do the same in their lives – they really can have the Lord renew their minds so they can live with God’s peace in the secret place of the Most High. I want to live like Joshua and Caleb. When I see obstacles (like the giants in the land God asked the Israelites to take), I want to say, “Surely the Lord will give us the victory!”” ☺
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5
I want to be like David!
A little while ago, I mentioned a Restoration program that Ed, at the church in Junction City, Oregon, we attended while living in Oregon, leads. One person who went through the program was asked how he was doing several months after completing the program. They told Ed, “Well, I’m doing okay, I guess.” Ed dug a little deeper and discovered the man had not been taking thoughts captive but was letting discouraging thoughts linger and steal his peace and trust in the Lord.
Folks, learning to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ is so important as we renew our minds in the Lord. Head off discouraging, defeating, self-pity inducing, and confusing thoughts that get you into a negative rut by taking those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
Here are the three most important keys I’ve found to keep my mind in Jesus.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
As my friend Merlin Carothers says in his great Praise series books, sometimes you have to thank and praise through clinched teeth, but it must be done to live in victory.
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 5:4-5
Remember, in this passage of scripture, God tells us we can take every thought captive. Ask for His help to do so. He’s ever faithful to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Ask the Holy Spirit to keep reminding you that God is working all things together for your good.
I use these three keys, God’s truths, to resist the enemy, to keep dwelling in the house of the Lord.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.
Psalm 23:6
Again, there’s so much I could say about today’s topic. God is just SO GOOD. ☺
Keep believing dear Christian brothers and sisters. The reward for doing so is matchless. See Hebrews 11:6
God allowed circumstances in our lives that made us desperate for His Word. We’re so grateful He gave us no other way out.
Ann and I were pretty miserable for most of the 13 years we lived in Oregon. We had people around us who loved us, but we just couldn’t seem to make much headway spiritually until…
We began doing the Word. We taped scriptures we needed for survival all over the walls of our home. We quoted them to each other and tried as hard as we could to believe their truths, to “stand” on them. Little by little, we began to have changes in our hearts, souls and minds. We had victory over the super-defeating thoughts that plagued us and weighed us down.
That’s why we like to share with others how God honors His Word and how He leads us through things in life that will build our faith and trust in Him. As a result of learning to depend on His Word, we’re having more peace and rest in our spirits and it’s making a huge difference in our lives.
The Apostle Paul asks his readers to “do” what they’ve heard and seen him do. What a blessing it is to trust in and obey Jesus. Trust and obey…That’s the “doing.”
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and (because of doing the Word) the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:6-9
Ann and I would never have come to believe the blessed truth in Romans 8:28 if we’d never made the decision to put God’s Word into practice every day.
One of my all-time favorite Apostle Paul verses –
And we know (“knowing,” truly knowing, is the destination, and God’s reward for believing and doing the Word like the Apostle Paul did) that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Wow, God is just so wonderful. Don’t you just love how He’s so faithful, how He keeps performing the work He’s begun in you?
I sat having coffee with my wife this morning. We sit out on our back patio for a few minutes each morning and watch for shooting stars before having our daily devotionals. I asked Ann to tell me some more details about how God is speaking to her heart and working in her life. What she told me was really a blessing and brought such peace to my own heart, mind and soul.
Here’s just one of the things Ann shared that was so soothing…
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:16-18
We’d love to live away from the city with all of its noise, over-crowded feeling, impatience, busyness, etc. We think it would be so much more peaceful for us to live on some land “away from it all.” And, maybe one day, God will take us out of the city. Only He knows what He has for us.
We can’t come out from among them, physically. We need to work and live where God has put us. But, God is taking us out from among them right in the midst of them. He’s putting His life in us. He’s calming us down, giving us peace and creating His new life in us right where we are. That’s amazing. He’s teaching us His deep, abiding peace, rest, joy, self-control, gentleness, meekness, humility, faith, and love right where we are.
Yes, the world is full of chaos, pride, idolatry, anxiety, worry, confusion, and questions for tomorrow. It’s living with man’s ways. But, for anyone who will ask Jesus to change them, to ask Him to do a mighty spiritual work in their life, to help them to believe and to not fear, to have their storms stilled, He will change them and bring them His life, His healing, restorative ways, right where they are. That’s powerful. That’s our loving Heavenly Father.
Be still (Mark and Ann, put your own name here) and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a
And let the peace of God rule in your heart (Mark and Ann)…
Colossians 3:15a
At times, we really feel like we’re living in the rat race. But, God’s taking the rat race out of us and replacing it with Him, right here and now. Thank you, Jesus.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you (Mark and Ann, your own name here) will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6
And they (Mark and Ann, your name) will be My people. ☺
I was thinking about a situation in bed this morning, and began to take on some “care.” Easy to get tricked into taking on “care.” ☺
That’s when the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart telling me to thank and praise Him for the situation. Wow, it removed the care from me and gave me peace. Thanking and praising God in all things can really disarm fear and care.
God is so good. ☺
I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.
Psalm 34:1-3 The Living Bible (TLB)
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23
I was a “Martha,” always worried about so many things, until I began to let Jesus in so He could change my heart and life. Since then, He’s been showing me the amazing realization and blessing of what it’s like to be like “Mary.” Luke 10:38-42
The size or severity of our circumstances don’t really matter. What matters is that God Almighty is always with us.
I don’t know what situation you’re facing today, but I know you’re not alone if you’re a Christian. God tells us we can be strong in Him and that He’s promised to never leave us nor forsake us, never…Deuteronomy 31:6
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer[e] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Acts 16:22-34
The precious passage of scripture is just one of the many that remind me that God is in control, knows what He’s doing and that He is always working all things for my good. Ask Jesus to make Romans 8:28 a reality in your heart and soul – “And we know“. When you know, you believe Romans 8:28, and you have such peace and assurance of God’s care for you – no matter what.
God bless you, dear people, loved of God, as you let the peace of God reign in your heart.
The more I trust and obey Him, the more I enjoy the journey with my Jesus. It’s like He’s bringing more and more of Heaven into my life and it’s making all the difference in the world.
Nothing like walking through life with my hand in His.
As anyone who’s ever tried will tell us, following God with everything you’ve got will tear “the flesh” right out of you – That’s exactly what God has in mind for His children. What a matchless, powerful, life-transforming deal is ours when we decide to follow Jesus with our whole heart. Learning to live with God in His high, Heavenly places will set us so free.
The enemy tries to trick us into thinking that following God will cost us everything.
Well, in a way he’s right. If you follow God, you’ll have to give up the flesh:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
On the other hand, by following God, you will get everything God has for you, and in John 15:5 and Philippians 1:6, Jesus tells us He’ll help us follow Him.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25
Following Jesus, Who is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6), will bring us into His marvelous light by saving us from the destructive works of the flesh.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness (life in the flesh) into his marvelous light (life in the Spirit).
1 Peter 2:9
There’s no place like the dwelling place of the Most High…☺
