Your Perspective... God's Perspective

Do you ever worry about how others see things and what they think of you?  Do you find your own self getting wrapped up in a warped perspective?

Rather than base our lives on our personal views or someone else’s mindset, we should be concerned with how God see things.  We should make His perspective our perspective.  To be made whole, we need to see ourselves as God sees us.

What I love the most about the story of the prodigal son is how the father looked upon his son.  It didn’t matter if the brother was looking down on the prodigal, the father was looking at this prodigal son with eyes full of love, mercy, forgiveness, goodness, hope, kindness, and restoration.  When the prodigal son realized that, he was filled with peace and gladness.

When Jesus told the story of the prodigal son, He wanted us to know that God the Father will do the same for us if we will just return home to Him and receive His grace.

God sees what’s wrong with us.  He can’t overlook sin.  But He does have a solution!  He can take what’s wrong and make it right.

The Lord also knows that it hurts when other people judge us.  But that’s when we have to remind ourselves of how God looks upon us.  He says in 1 Samuel 16:7 that humans look on the outward appearance, but He looks on the inward.  He looks at the heart.

You know, when we stand before His throne after our lives are over, it won’t matter what we thought or how other people saw us.  All that will matter is what God thinks of us!  If we know Him and live in a way that pleases Him, we can look in His eyes, take comfort, and have confidence that He loves us.

Let this be the day that God’s perspective becomes your perspective!

The Switchboard

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

What is a comfort that you’ve experienced that you can give to someone else?  One thing that comes to my mind is the peace and nearness of God that comes through prayer.

In 1 Corinthians 12:26-27, Paul tells the church that since we are members of the body of Christ, when one of us suffers, we all suffer; and if one of us rejoices, we all rejoice.  I believe that we all need to have more empathy...the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.  We need to stand by one another with this quality, and we need to pray for one another with this ability.

One of the marks of the early church was earnest prayer.  When somebody was sick or suffering, they all gathered together and prayed hard for that person!  We all know someone who is hurting or in danger, and today we need to come together in fervent prayer for that person.

James 5:13-16 can tell you more about this...

“Is anyone among you suffering?  Then he must pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  He is to sing praises.  Is anyone among you sick?  Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

I love to hear my grandmother, Mimmie, share her thoughts about a group of people praying for somebody.  She says that she can’t help but think of an old-time switchboard that telephone operators used to work with.  When a bunch of people get to praying over a situation, she feels like it lights up the switchboard in Heaven, and gets God’s attention.

A lot of times, there isn’t anything that we can do for a person but pray for them.  We act like it’s a last resort, but it is truly the best thing we could ever do for someone.  To know that somebody is seriously praying for you brings an unexplainable comfort!

So light up the switchboard in Heaven today, and do it for someone on a regular basis!

Overcoming Separation

My favorite passage of Scripture, Romans 8:38-39, declares that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But I want to ask you something...

What separates you from God?

I have to ask myself the same question.

You see, nothing separates us from His love --- He will never stop loving us --- but there are things that can come between us and Him.  Constant temptation, committed sin, troublesome doubts, or hope-shattering trails are all things that can hinder our fellowship with God.  A lot of times, the problem isn’t in the circumstance, but in the way we handle the situation.

That’s why I believe we have to make a choice to overcome these obstacles we face, and faith is what starts this victorious thing.  Listen closely to 1 John 5:4-5...

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world --- our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

This faith and belief in Jesus is deeper than “head-knowledge.”  It is truly a revelation from God.  His Holy Spirit can draw you to Him and show you that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to God” (see John 14:6).  This is something that penetrates your heart and causes you to say, “God, I don’t want to live for myself anymore.  I want to live for You!”  Following Jesus’ words in John 15, you “abide in Him.

One thing that God seems to prick my heart with when I think of “abiding” is taking everything to Him in prayer.  Whatever happens, whatever I think or feel, I should discuss it with Him.  (That sure would save me from a lot of trouble if I would do it all the time!)  Maybe that was on Micah’s heart, too, when he said, “Walk humbly with your God” (see Micah 6:8).  When you walk with someone, you talk with that person, because you aren’t on your own anymore.

Being close with the Lord isn’t something that “just happens.”  Everyday we have to choose to overcome whatever could or does separate us from Him.  Each day we need to pray as John the Baptist did, “Lord, increase and make me decrease” (see John 3:30).  Everyday we need to choose to “love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength; and our neighbors as ourselves” (see Mark 12:30).  Everyday we need to “submit ourselves to God; resist the devil, so he’ll flee from us; draw near to God, so He’ll draw near to us; cleanse our hands from sin; and purify our hearts” (see James 4:7-8).

Philippians 2:12 says for us to “work out our salvation.”  Thankfully, we don’t have to work it out alone.  If we choose to open ourselves up to God, He will fill us, and lead us down the path He wants us to tread.

Monday Morning Memory of Aunt Edna

My alarm clock went off too early for me that Monday morning.  Before I even rolled out of the bed, I was already feeling the pressure of to-do lists and tasks building up inside of me.  “Gosh, Lord!  I don’t feel like I’m making any progress.”  After muttering that sleepy-headed prayer, God filled my mind with a memory.  Even though I didn’t hear an audible voice, I felt like He was saying to me...

“Eryn, do you remember that time back when you were 15-years-old, and you used to call your Aunt Edna on the phone?  Remember how through all of those chit-chat’s, she came to know Me?  Don’t forget that the most important thing you can ever do in your life is help somebody know Me.  If that is all you get done today, you’ve had a very productive day.”

I hadn’t even thought of Aunt Edna for months, but when God triggered my memory, He lifted a great weight off of my shoulders and gave me the right perspective.

One of my favorite witnessing stories in the Bible takes place in Acts 8.  As Philip was walking down a desert road to Gaza, he came across an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the book of Isaiah while traveling in his chariot.  Philip casually asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, and the eunuch replied, “I need someone to explain it to me.  Why don’t you join me in my chariot?”  They discussed the passage of Scripture and Philip was able to tell the eunuch about Jesus.  The eunuch then understood what he was reading, believed in Jesus, and was even baptized in a body of water they passed by as they traveled that road towards Gaza.

This story is a reminder to me of how in a day’s most simple, even boring, sometimes viewed as “worthless” events, God can be glorified.  A lot of times, just reaching out to others in unplanned kindness can bring them closer to the Lord.

God has given every one of us responsibilities and tasks.  He wants us to be diligent.  After all, if we can’t be faithful with the little things we are given to do now, we won’t be able to move on to bigger things.  But we can’t forget that the top of our priority list needs to be kept for God, and one of the greatest things He has ever called us to be is His ambassador --- His official representative (see 2 Corinthians 5:20).

Whatever situation we find ourselves in, whatever tasks we have to complete, however we may feel, we need to share the Word of God and live the Word of God.  He promises, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth.  It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  (Isaiah 55:10-11)

If we live everyday as an ambassador of God, then everyday of our lives is worthwhile, productive, and pleasing to Him!

God's Book Collection

Reading through the Bible, I’ve discovered that God has quite a collection of books that He is keeping.  These books have been around practically forever, and He makes an entry about every person...past, present, and future.

In Psalm 56:8, David says to the Lord, “You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle.  Are they not in Your book?”  What a comforting thing to know that God sees our suffering and is concerned about it!

When time has ceased and Judgment Day occurs, more of God’s books will be opened...

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  (Revelation 20:11-15)

God hasn’t revealed all of the details on His book collection in the Bible, but He has given us enough information to know that we want our names written in the “Book Of Life.”  I don’t know exactly when a person’s name is written in this book, but I do know that receiving Christ as your Lord assures that your name is in that book, and rejecting Christ guarantees that your name will not be in that book of life (see Psalm 69:26-28).

Daniel 12:1 says that “there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time, God’s people, everyone who is found in the book, will be rescued.”  We know that God takes care of His people; and when our earthly life is over, we’ll be with Him in the new heaven and earth that the book of Revelation speaks about...

“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.  In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.”  (Revelation 21:22-27)

I pray that your name is in the book of life, and that you’ll live in that blessed assurance!

Unity!

Galatians 3:28 proclaims that we are all one in Christ Jesus!

Since God says that, we should live it.  As Christians, we need to unite and stand strong with one another in this wicked world.  After all, there are already enough people attacking the faith without us abusing each other.  If we believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, crucified and resurrected, and He is the only way to receive freedom from sin and eternal life...THAT’S THE MAIN THING!

When the Bible speaks about “The Church,” it is referring to every believer on earth (past, present, and future), not a building or denomination.  As believers in Jesus, we are all members of the the body of Christ.  (1 Corinthians 12 has a lot to say about this body.)

Before He was crucified, Jesus prayed for all who would ever follow Him, saying, “Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, the Name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”  (John 17:11)

So let’s please our Heavenly Father!  As His children, let’s love one another, TOGETHER glorifying Him!

"What Are You, O Great Mountain?"

Jesus said, “Have faith in God.  Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he is saying is going to happen, it will be granted him.  Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”  (Mark 11:22-24)

As a little girl, I used to read this passage and think of physical mountains.  Now that I am older, I realize that Jesus was speaking to us about the mountains in our lives that cannot be seen with the natural eye.  He was referring to those mountains located in our hearts that cause us sorrow, anxiety, unbelief, or pain.

I believe that everybody has some sort of mountain that they will be up against in their lifetime.  Maybe you’re facing your mountain now.  How do you get over it?  How can you climb it?

I think Zechariah 4:6-7 is the hopeful answer to these questions:

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.  What are you, O great mountain?  You will become a plain...”

Everyone’s situation is different, but the same God Who wrote these words will guide you over your mountain.  He will walk with you, and He will carry you.  He’s still the One Who can, and will, turn your mountains into plains.

“‘There is hope for your future,’ declares the Lord.”  (Jeremiah 31:17)

Mandatory Decision... So, What's Your Choice?

Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV)

So which gate are you going through?  Which road are you taking?  Where are you going?  Do you travel with the "many" or are you one of the "few?"

Here's the thing: There are only two answers.  When it comes to God, you make a choice because there is no neutral ground.  Whether you want to or not, you will choose and you life will reflect what you've decided.

Have you ever thought about what keeps a person from making a commitment to God?  What really hinders someone from getting personal with Him?  Some will say it is because they're not sure if He is real, if the Bible is His true Word, or if Jesus really said and did all that is claimed.  I feel sorry for the scoffers who mock without a care, but for the innocent doubtful, I can empathize because uncertainty has crossed my mind and heart, too.  If anybody, sinner or saint, lives long enough, they will have times of doubt, too.  It's just part of being human.  But I remember keeping the faith (even if it felt weak at the time) and seeking God.  He drew near to me and His peace and assurance of truth chased all the doubts and worries away.  Therefore, I believe that if a person will muster up even a hint of faith and wholeheartedly seek the Lord, they will find Him and will come to know that He, His Son Jesus Christ, and His Words are true!

So as far as not coming to the Lord goes, I believe there's something more to it besides the "unbelief issue."  I believe it goes back to the long existing problem that everyone is born with: SIN.  "No man can serve two masters" (see Matthew 6:24), so God's Word can really put a person in an uncomfortable place when He calls us to choose between following His Son Jesus Christ or reject Him, do as we please, wind up spiritually dead, deceived, and eternally lost.  But due to the yearnings of the flesh, some will try to pull off a combo of serving God and doing what pleases their carnal nature.  What happens?  It rips a person apart!  (Just think about putting your left leg on one horse and your right leg on another horse.  Try to ride them both at the same time, and you'll see that you're in for a dangerous, insane ride.)

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in Him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."  (1 John 2:15-17)

This lust and pride defines sin.  Think about this: Sin is a selfish thing!  Don't be deceived by the world...Thousands of shameful acts are sins all committed with purposes of filling a longing for self-pleasure and what that person wants for their own gain.  You see, the Bible says that when we're tempted, we're drawn away by our own lust and enticed.  Conceived lust brings forth sin and when it's all over and done with, sin leads you to death (see James 1:13-15).  We're not just talking about a physical death, but a spiritual one where you are separated from God eternally in a literal fiery, tormenting, never-ending hell.  Hell is not just an idea or a belief held by an old-fashioned backwoods preacher that he talks about to make his sermon more dramatic or "scare people into getting religion."  It's a real place!  It's just as real as Heaven, and both places are just as real as where you're sitting right now reading this article.

Anyway, this selfishness of sin leads to destruction.  And it's selfish to think that we'll enjoy ourselves since we've got "forever to get right with God."  That's one of Satan's biggest gimmicks.  Young or old, none of us know when we'll draw our last breath.  We also don't know when Christ will return to raise His believers up to Heaven in the Rapture.  It's does seem like this world is getting worse and I really believe that Jesus will come soon!  The bottom line is this: All of us need to always be ready!  We need to heed these Scriptures:

"Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded."  (James 4:7-8)

"Therefore, my beloved, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  (1 Corinthians 15:58)

I pray that you will come closer to the Lord right now and let Him lead you through this life for evermore!

Do You Want To Experience The Love of God?

God wants you to be reconciled to Him.  He wants you to have peace, joy, and hope while you’re on this earth.  He wants you to have eternal life with Him in Heaven when you die.  He wants to cleanse you of all your sins and change your heart.  He wants to be your Savior and your friend.  All this can be done through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only way to God and his death on the cross and resurrection gives us salvation.

All you have to do to start walking with God is say this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me.  But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later.  I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father.  So come into my heart.  I know I'm a sinner but I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me.  Help me to live for You from now on. I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You.  Thank You, Lord, for what You've done and what You are going to do for me!  In Your Name, Amen.”

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17)

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

From “Broken Wallflower” to “Spirited Dancer”

“Men throw broken things away, but God never uses anything until He first breaks it.” - Adrian Rogers (Love Worth Finding Ministries)

What a powerful statement!  The longer I live, and now as I wait for a broken knee to heal, I realize that without Christ I can do nothing (see John 15:5).  The truth of how He and His Word are the only things that will never change and never end are reaffirmed in my life daily (see Hebrews 13:8 and Isaiah 40:8).

In my words, living for Christ is about being totally immersed in Him.  Oswald Chambers (a Scottish minister of the late 1800s/early 1900s who is famous for the devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest) defines it as “abandonment to Christ.”  Others call it “surrender.”  Whatever title you put on it, it is something you are urged to have in your relationship with the Lord.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  (Romans 12:1-2, The Holy Bible)

So how do you get to this place of surrender, immersion, and abandonment to Him?  The answer is this: When you reach the end of yourself.  Truly, it is a different path for everybody who has ever come to this level in their walk with the Lord.  Maybe a trial, a temptation, a mountain of ruin, restlessness, heartache, discontentment, loneliness, confusion, or simply the “still, small voice” drove you to see that you needed to belong to Someone greater.  Whichever way you come, it is a revelation and a wooing of the Spirit of God.  (The Spirit moving upon your heart is the only way you can long for the things of God.  The Spirit working inside of you is the only way you can do what pleases God.)  So you come and pour out your heart before God and He meets you right where you are.  You take your focus off of yourself and you pursue Him.  You find yourself seeking Him in everything, meditating on Him and His Words throughout your day, and taking everything to Him in prayer.  You're so in love with Him!  Your life motto could even be a quote of John the Baptist's: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  (John 3:30, The Holy Bible)

Trust now rests on God’s guidance.  Someone sent me an article written by an unknown author and it was about the word “guidance.”  It was the best thing I ever read about the subject.  The author noticed at the end of the word “guidance” was the word “dance.”  In front of “dance” were the letters “G-U-I.”  The author immediately thought, “‘G’ could stand for ‘God,’ and then there's ‘U’ and ‘I’...you and I.”  The author looked at the word again.  “Guidance...God, you and I dance.”  The author went on to say that when two people dance, only one needs to lead.  The other simply follows.  When the two move in this way, there is a flow, a smoothness, a oneness.  Trusting in God for guidance can be like dancing with Him.  You just let Him lead as you delight in following Him and the moves you make are right and beautiful.

The greatest thing is when you have immersed, surrendered, abandoned yourself to Christ, you find that as you focus on Him and lose sight of yourself, He somehow shapes you into an object of His beauty.

I see the Master walk along the hall and hold His hand out to the broken wallflower.  Grab hold of it and become the spirited dancer.  Let His Words fall upon your ears and sink down into your heart.  Live in His light that He gives out.  In His arms, belong to Him, live for Him, abide with Him.  You'll find yourself becoming what He wants you to be, what He sees you can be, what He can mold you into.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  (2 Corinthians 3:18, The Holy Bible)

This former broken wallflower is now enjoying the dance.  I hope you dance, also!

-Eryn Eubanks (September 11th, 2006)

The Bridal Gown

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”  And he was called the friend of God.  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  (James 2:14-26)

I am thankful that when we are saved, we are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9).  Our works alone cannot save us because we'll never do enough good to "cancel out" our sins.  But the Lord sees our faith and we're made right with Him by His grace.

How do others see our faith?  By our works.  James said, "I'll show you my faith by my works."  (James 2:18)  In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He said that a good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit.  Good can't produce evil, and evil can't produce good.  By their fruits, you shall know them.  (See Matthew 7:17-20)

In the book of Revelation, I've read of a great marriage that is going to take place.  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”  (Revelation 19:7-9)  (The Lamb is Jesus and the church is every believer.)  Jesus tells of this great love and longing for relationship with us in John 17:23-26..."I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Revelation 9:8 tells of the fine linen the bride shall wear.  It is the righteousness of the saints, clean and white.  I wanted to dig deeper and get a clearer picture of what this righteousness is.  In this verse, the greek word for "righteousness" is "dikaioma" and it means "just deeds."  The gown that we shall wear before the Lord is made up of our good works.

"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."  (1 Corinthians 3:12-14)  What we do for God's glory is what will last and matter through eternity!

As a dressmaker sews a bride's gown, we're spending our lives making our gown that we'll wear before the Lamb.  So let's remind ourselves constantly of "the big day."  Let's draw nearer to God and get ourselves ready, staying faithful and pure.  Let's spread the news of Jesus Christ and "let our lights shine so everyone will see our good works and give glory to our Heavenly Father."  (Matthew 5:16)  When "the big day" arrives, I pray that we will all be dressed in the very best! 

-Eryn Eubanks (June 2006)

Abraham's Faith

"And God brought Abraham forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  And Abraham believed in the LORD; and God counted it to him for righteousness."  (Genesis 15:5-6)

Abraham's righteousness was through faith in God.  Through this faith, God was able to use Abraham and do a mighty work in his life.

What God did in Abraham's life did not depend on:

*him being perfect.

*him knowing how everything was going to happen.

*his circumstances.

*his understanding.

Let's take a closer look at these points...

Before God spoke to Abraham and even after the times he spent with God, we read about times when Abraham made mistakes.  There were times when he lied (see Genesis 20).  At one time, Abraham and Sarah's doubt caused them to take matters into their own hands so they could have a son.  Abraham had a son with Hagar, and jealously and strife was the effect of this action.  (For more details, see Genesis 16.)  Abraham was not perfect...He was very human.  And God still wanted to use him and fulfill His promises for Abraham!

Abraham and Sarah were both approaching 100-years-old when God told them that they would have a child for the first time in their lives.  How could this be?  They didn't understand how everything was going to happen.  They didn't know what the next step was going to be.  But they didn't have to know everything.  All they had to do was trust God.  The promise becoming a reality didn't depend on circumstances at all.  Faith was what it depended on.

And one happy day, God's promise of a son came to pass..."And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.  And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him."  (Genesis 21:1-5)

But a test of faith versus understanding was about to come Abraham's way.  "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."  (Genesis 22:1-2)  What was going on?  What was the Lord doing?  How was His promise of so many descendants go to come true?  Wasn't this wrong to do to Isaac?  What about this family's love and their feelings?  But Abraham was faithful and brave.  He believed God beyond what he could see or understand.

“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.  And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'  So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.  But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!'  And he said, 'Here I am, my son.'  Then he said, 'Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?'  And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.' So the two of them went together.  Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!'  So he said, 'Here I am.'  And He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'  Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.  So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.  And Abraham called the name of the place, ‘YHWH Yireh;’ as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’”  (Genesis 22:3-14)

God knew what He was doing and He fulfilled His promise.  Abraham's people have always been large and in existence, and they always will be because of that promise made long ago.  That covenant rested on faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him...By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  (Hebrews 11:1, 6, 8-10)

God spoke to Abraham, Abraham believed Him and had faith in Him, and it was counted to Abraham for righteousness.  I believe God still speaks to us today, wanting to do great things in our lives.  All God needs us to do is to believe Him...Have enough faith in Him to surrender our lives and everything we have to His guidance, His plans, and His will.  When we stand before God with this kind of faith, we are righteous!

-Eryn Eubanks (June 2006)

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 5 of 5)

Now we see that Joseph, his father, his brothers, and all of their families are happily dwelling together in Egypt.  Near the close of Joseph's life story,  Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Joseph, and Joseph's brothers as he is on his deathbed.  As an act of faithfulness, Jacob requests to be buried with his ancestors in Canaan.  After this request, Jacob passes away and his last wish is fulfilled.

Genesis chapter 50, verses 15-21:  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."  So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’  Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.”  And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”  Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.”  And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

In this final chapter of the book of Genesis, we find out that Joseph is indeed a blessed man, filling his life with 110 years and living to see his children's children.  Before he died, he told his people that God would visit them and bring them out of Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.  Out of faithfulness, he also requested to be buried with his fathers in Canaan.

We've learned a lot of great lessons from Joseph's life:

God is always in control.

Keep dreams alive because God can bring them to pass.

Hold on to hope because God is faithful.

Maintain a positive attitude because God still fills your life with blessings.

Flee from temptation!  (Remember Potiphar's wife?)

Life isn't always fair, but God takes care of His children.

God keeps His promises!

God cares enough to work in our everyday lives and in our lives everyday.

Forgiveness and mercy will forever be some of the finest, godliest qualities a person can possess.

I think it would be a good thing for people to see Joseph in us, because people saw the Lord in Joseph.  Let that man's life inspire you.

And never forget the theme to his life:

"We know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  (Romans 8:28)

Let it be the theme for your life!

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 4 of 5)

From Genesis 42-44 we read about the famine that had struck the land.  Joseph's father, Jacob sent his other sons to Egypt for food.  The official they must go before is their brother, Jospeh.  Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they don't recognize him.  Through these chapters, He has them travel a few times between home and Egypt, he questions them (some questions were about their family), and he has them perform certain tasks.  Finally all of the emotion this event had brought into Joseph's life was displayed.

"Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, 'Make everyone go out from me!'  So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.  And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.  Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph; does my father still live?'  But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.  And Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come near to me.'  So they came near.  Then he said: 'I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.  But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.  For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.  Hurry and go up to my father, and tell him that God has made me lord of all Egypt, and tell him that I have said come down to me...do not tarry!'"  (Genesis 45:1-9)

What genuine, unspeakable forgiveness Joseph showed to his brothers!  In an even greater manner, Christ can truly and amazingly forgive us.  As His followers, we must be forgivers, too.

I pondered the subject of forgiveness, and this is what forgiveness is:

1. Demonstrating the love God has placed in our hearts.  Through forgiveness, we show that we love God and others.

2. Obeying God.

3. Trusting God to deal with the people who treat us badly or offend us.

4. Letting go of anger and grudges that are destructive.

5. Healing for us, others, and our relationships (including our relationship with God).

6. To be given at anytime freely and unlimitedly.

7. Required if we're to be forgiven by God (see Matthew 6:14-15).

8. Unhuman...It takes the Holy Spirit's help.

God wants us to forgive others, as well as ourselves.  He is always ready to help us do both.  He is also willing and wanting to forgive your sins.  He made a way for your forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only One Who can take your sins away and set you free.  Open yourself up to Him today.  Surrender!  And as you do, forgive yourself and everybody who has ever wronged you, too.  Whatever you need help with, the Lord will help you!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me.  But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later.  I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father.  So come into my heart.  I know I'm a sinner but  I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me.  Help me to live for You from now on.  I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You.  By the help of the Holy Spirit, I also forgive myself and everybody who has ever offended me.  Thank You, Lord!  Thanks for what You've done and what You are going to do for me!  I trust in You to help me.  In Your Name, Amen.

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 3 of 5)

Joseph ran into some discouraging times once again but his attitude remained positive and he kept his focus on God.

Starting at Genesis chapter 40, we see that Pharaoh’s chief cup bearer and chief baker offended him.  So Pharaoh threw them into the same prison Joseph was thrown into.  Joseph was responsible for them.  One day Joseph noticed that they were kind of down so he asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?”  They told him, “We both had dreams but there isn’t anyone to interpret them.”  Joseph replied, “Interpretations belong to God.  Tell me your dreams.”  They did and Joseph told them the meaning of the dreams.  Joseph said to the cup bearer, “You will be restored to your position you had with Pharaoh.  When all goes well with you, remember me and mention me to Pharaoh so I can get out of this prison.”  Joseph had bad news for the baker.  Joseph told him that Pharaoh would hang him.  Both interpretations came true.  But the chief cup bearer forgot about Joseph.

Two years later Pharaoh had a dream and he was troubled because of it.  He sent for his magicians and wise men to interpret it but none of them could.  Then his cup bearer remembered Joseph.  So Pharaoh sent for him.  Joseph came before Pharaoh and Pharaoh said, “I’ve had a dream but nobody can interpret it.  I’ve heard that you can interpret any dream.”  With humility, honesty, and boldness, Joseph answered, “I can’t do it, but God will give you the answer He desires.”  So Pharaoh told him his dream and Joseph interpreted it.  Joseph said that Egypt would be blessed with seven years of abundance but seven years of famine would follow.  He said that Pharaoh should look for a wise man to put in charge of the land of Egypt.  He said that Pharaoh should find commissioners to store food for the years of famine.  Pharaoh liked the plan and he asked his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?”

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of his palace, people, and the land of Egypt.  Joseph was Pharaoh’s second-in-command.  Joseph was blessed.  He carried out the plans for the seven years of abundance and the seven years of famine.  When the whole world was going through a severe famine, Egypt still had food and all the nations came to Joseph to buy from the storehouses.

These things that happened in Joseph’s life are a testimony to the fact that God is in control of everything and He is faithful.  When life wasn’t the best for Joseph, he still did his best.  He used his God-given gift of interpreting dreams to help others.  Joseph kept faith in God and he obeyed God.  When that chief cup bearer forgot Joseph, God didn’t forget him.  God used Pharaoh’s circumstances to bring Joseph to a new level.  When Pharaoh told Joseph of all the great things he heard about him, Joseph gave the glory to God.  Pharaoh looked at Joseph with favor and God worked through Pharaoh to bless Joseph.  God made a way for Joseph when it looked like there wasn’t a way.  Joseph kept the confidence in God and God saw him through.  The Lord kept His promises...He always does!

No matter what comes your way, remember that God is in control and He wants what’s best for you.  If life isn’t at its best for you, make it a point to do your best anyway.  Use your skills for God’s glory.  Keep faith in the Lord and obey Him.  Come what may, glorify God.  Live boldly because He is with you.  God will never forget about you and He will make a way for you.  He won’t ever let you down.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for always being with me.  You see everything and You are in control.  No matter what unfair acts are done to me while I’m on this earth, remind of these truths.  Help me to live in boldness, peace, and Your will because of Your truth.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 2 of 5)

(Read Genesis 39)

Last time I wrote about Joseph, he was sold as a slave. Now we see how God had His hand even in this depressing situation.

Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. In this foreign land, God blessed Joseph with favor and success. Potiphar trusted Joseph with everything he had because it was evident that God was with Joseph. Things were going well and Joseph was obedient to God.

But trouble lurked in the house...

Potiphar's wife developed a crush on Joseph that turned into lust. Every time she saw him, she would plead with him to go to bed with her. Every time he said no.

One day, there was nobody in the house but Potiphar's wife. Joseph went to the house to do his work. She cornered him, caught him by his clothes, and pleaded one more time. In haste, he fled from her and that place, leaving his garment behind. Potiphar's wife was furious so she called together the men of the house and Potiphar. She lied about Joseph and said that he had tried to do something with her. Unfortunately, the lies were accepted as truth and Joseph was thrown into prison.

Joseph certainly didn't deserve to be slandered and imprisoned. Once again, he had every reason to be angry and discouraged. He did what was right in the Lord's sight. He had experienced great favor and success only to have it snatched away.

But Joseph did not complain. He did not give up on his dreams or on God. Joseph continued to serve God and God honored that. Near the end of Genesis 39, we read about Joseph finding favor in that prison. The guards liked him so much that they trusted all of the prisoners to him.

Sometimes in our lives, we do what is right and receive something bad. Sometimes it seems like our good efforts aren't paying off. But God sees everything and He will reward us for all the good we've done for His glory.

If circumstances are weighing you down with sorrow, take hope in God. Trust in Him and obey Him. He will bless you with mercy and favor. Trust in His timing.

PRAYER: Thank You, Father God, for being with us through the good times and the bad. It brings us peace to know that You see the good that we do and that You will reward us. Please encourage and bless us. Strengthen us so that we can keep on doing Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Lessons from The Life of Joseph (part 1 of 5)

For a while I have wanted to write a series of lessons learned from the life of Joseph.  Whenever I read about Joseph's life, I am reminded of Romans 8:28. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to God's purpose."

Joseph was a godly man. He was called according to God's purpose. Joseph endured trails, temptations, and sufferings. But God let these things work together for Joseph's good. Every situation, good or bad, played a part in God's will being done in his life. Though Joseph endured hard times, he also enjoyed blessed times.

(READ GENESIS 37:3-4)

Joseph was Jacob's eleventh son, born to him in old age. Joseph was Rachel's firstborn son; and Rachel was Jacob's best-loved wife. I believe these might have been a few reasons why Joseph was Jacob's favorite son.

As we've read, Joseph's father gave him an ornamented coat, also known as the coat of many colors. This coat represented favoritism and honor with his father. Because of his father's partiality, Joseph's brothers hated him and were mean to him.

(READ GENESIS 37:5-11)

Joseph had dreams -- dreams God gave to him...dreams about his future. Maybe it wasn't the smartest thing for Joseph to share his dreams with the ones who hated him; but out of this event we see a great quality Joseph possessed: FAITH. He took his dreams seriously and had faith that God would help his dreams become reality. Even when circumstances seemed like they would stand in his way, Joseph believed in God. Even when others doubted, Joseph kept the faith this his dreams would come to pass.

(READ GENESIS 37:12-36)

Joseph's brothers tried to put an end to him. But God did not say that it was the end for Joseph. Everything that happened here; from Dothan to the pit, from the pit to the merchants, from the merchants to Potiphar; everything played a part in God's plan for Joseph.

Not once is it recorded in these Scriptures that Joseph complained to God or gave up on his dreams or his life. I don't believe Joseph gave up at all. He could have. He certainly had the circumstances that could've easily made him lose hope. But through all of this Joseph hoped in God. I believe he still kept the faith in God to bring his dreams to pass.

Do you have dreams that God has placed in your heart? If you do, be like Joseph. No matter how impossible it seems for your dreams to become reality, take them seriously and believe that they will. With God, nothing is impossible. No matter who doubts your dreams, don't let that cause you to doubt them or the power of God. Trust in God to let your dreams come to pass.

Joseph could have thought all was lost when he was sold by his brothers. What was to become of him? Are you in one of those situations where you're wondering what's going to become of you? If you are, follow Joseph's example. It is one of the hardest things in life to not know what your next step is going to be. But God knows. Trust in Him to lead and guide you. Don't lose your hope. God still has a purpose for you and that circumstance might play a part in that purpose being fulfilled in you.

Always have faith in God. His promise that all things work together for the good of them that love Him will never fail. Let that give you hope.

PRAYER: Dear Father God, thank You that no matter what comes my way in life You're always there to lead me. May I follow Your guidance. I'm trusting in You to let my dreams come to pass. I'm trusting in You to fulfill Your purpose in me no matter how many times Satan would try to put an end to me. My faith and hope is in You, Lord. Thank You for walking by my side. I love You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

A Lesson from Elijah

Have you ever been faced with a huge problem? Did the problem seem so difficult that you longed to get away from it? Did the problem scare you? Elijah, a mighty man of God, could probably answer yes to these questions. At a certain time in his life, he was deeply troubled and needed rest. Let's take a look at his story in 1 Kings 19:1-15...

"Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, 'May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.' Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.' The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected Your covenant, broken down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.' The Lord said to him, 'Go and return on your way."

Elijah was so weary and depressed that he longed for God to let him die. But God had a different plan for Elijah. When we're burdened down like Elijah, God still has a good plan for us, too. I believe when Elijah went to the wilderness he was looking for rest. During this resting period for Elijah, he was given food to strengthen him for the journey. All of us need to be strengthened for life's journeys. There are various ways that God gives us strength. One way is through the spiritual food of His Word found in our Bibles.

As Elijah rested, He also waited on God. (See 1 Kings 19:11-13.) Waiting on God gave Elijah strength; and in like manner, as we wait on God we shall be strengthened. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). As we wait on God, we must seek Him with all of our hearts. We must listen for His voice; and when He speaks, we must obey Him.

After Elijah was strengthened, after he had rested and sought God, God told Him, "Go and return on your way" (1 Kings 19:15). Sometimes God will say that to us, too, after our strength has been increased. Sometimes God sends us to tackle our problems. God wanted Elijah to keep on walking, and like Elijah, we must keep on walking. God had a mission for Elijah and God has a mission for us.

Wherever God wants us to be, we must go there. Sometimes it's simple to follow God's lead. At other times, though, it can be scary to obey Him because we don't know what's going to happen. But God has chosen us and not rejected us. We don't have to fear because He's with us. We don't have to be anxious because He's our God. He will strengthen us and help us. He will uphold us with His right hand. (See Isaiah 41:9-10.)

When the sea of doubt feels like it's going to drown you, remember that God makes a way in the sea. (See Isaiah 43:16.) When the troublesome fire and the high waters of fear seem like they're going to destroy you, remember that God is with you. (See Isaiah 43:2.)

I'd like to leave you with this truthful and hopeful challenge: We walk by faith, not by sight; so have faith in God and walk wherever He leads you.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that as we walk by faith in You, you lead us to the place that You want us to be...the place that is best for our relationship with You. God, may we seek You in prayer and worship, may we be inspired by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and may we feast on Your Word so that we'll receive the strength that only comes from you. May our fear be replaced with courage. May our doubts be replaced with faith. May our will for our lives be replaced with your good and perfect will for our lives. May our hope always be in You. As we walk in Your ways, may we always glorify You. We love you and thank You! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Keep The Dream

This month's devotional subject is about something very dear to me that takes a lot of faith...dreams. I have a lot of them, and the ones that I want to accomplish the most are huge.

We all have dreams. Sometimes it may seem like our dreams will never come true. But I have learned something from other people who've had their dreams come to pass, and what they've done is what the Bible tells us to do concerning our dreams and goals.

The Lord knows that we have desires for our dreams to become a reality. I believe that God places some of these desires in our hearts. Psalms 37:4-5 says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."

No matter how far-fetched our goals and dreams may seem, we must still try to accomplish them. We cannot let our hope of achieving them be stolen either. If we doubt that our dreams will come to pass, then they will never become a reality. "For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7). We also must not allow ourselves or anyone else to say negative things concerning our dreams because death and life are in the power of the tongue. (See Proverbs 18:21.)

We have to remember that "with God, nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). We must keep the faith in Him. We have hope in these words spoken by Jesus in John 14:13-14: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Jesus also said that when we pray, we should believe that we will receive the things that we desire. When we do this, He said that we will have what we desire (see Mark 11:24).

We want God's will to be done in our lives. Sometimes His plans for us are different than what we hope for. When we truly live for God to have His will done in our lives, then we know our dreams can't come to pass if He doesn't want them to. As the Bible says in Lamentations 3:37, "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" We can pray about our dreams, and by seeking God, we'll see how He wants our lives to be as we let Him lead us. We'll see if our dreams line up with His will. Always remember this, though: either way it goes, God's way is the best!

"The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" (Proverbs 13:4, NIV). So as you work hard pursuing your dreams, remember and apply the words of Habakkuk 2:2-3 to your life. "And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

On a regular basis, envision your dreams coming to pass. Don't imagine or believe the opposite of that. Pray about your dreams. Always keep faith in God. Trust in His will for your life. Follow Him forever.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the dreams that I have. Help me to never doubt that they will be a reality one day. When I think about my dreams, may I see myself accomplishing them with Your help. No matter what comes my way, help me to never give up. I put my dreams, my heart, and my life in Your hands. I put my trust in You. May Your will be done and may You be glorified in my life. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.

PURE

James 4:4 says that friendship with the world is hatred towards God. This verse also states that anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. When you're a "friend of the world," you're really a slave to sin, and sin and God don't mix. At times, it's easy to be friend of the world.

Sometimes it seems as though temptation comes to us constantly. Often we find ourselves caught in sin. Still, in a world that is polluted with sin, God wants us to be pure (clean from sin). Being pure is the only way we can have fellowship with God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

So how do we become pure? By the blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us from all sin (see 1 John 1:7). If you're contaminated with sin, all you have to do is tell Jesus that you're sorry, ask Him to forgive you, and ask Him to cleanse you from your sin.

Now the challenge is to stay pure. The Bible speaks of many ways to do this. Here are two that help me the most:

1.) Drawing near to God through prayer, reading the Bible, and worshipping Him.

2.) Thinking on and seeking things that please Him.

"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." (Philippians 4:8)

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

As long as we're on this earth, it will be a challenge to stay pure. But we don't face this challenge alone. God will help us! All we have to do is just ask Him to and He will work with us as we try to do good for Him. When you face the strong temptations, remember this Scripture:

"Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The New Living Translation.)

So "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Remember to "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). With you trying your best and God helping you, you will stay pure in this wicked world.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I'm sorry for anything in my life that is impure. Please forgive me and cleanse me. Please help me to do my best to be pure. What needs changing in my life, Lord, help me to change it. Help me to please You all of my days. Thank You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Jehovah-Shammah + Jehovah-Jireh

"My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord: Remembering my affliction..." (Lamentations 3:18-19). The author of these words had a reason to feel this way. In 586 BC, Jerusalem, his home, was destroyed by the people of Babylon and the Jews were taken captive. Reading further in Lamentations 3, we find that the author also felt trapped in the dark, broken, ignored, bitter, and distressed.

So have you ever felt the way he felt because of your affliction? Maybe you're going through trials and you feel that way now. It's easy to get doubtful and depressed when things don't go the way we wished they would have, when God seems like He's vanished, or when we feel like God doesn't care anymore.

But He promised to be with us always (Matthew 28:20) and be near to us when we talk to Him (Psalms 145:18). When we look at God's words, it's obvious that He loves us and cares about what happens to us.

But maybe your doubt and depression still lingers and you're wondering what to do to get over this problem victoriously. The answer can be found in an event recorded in Matthew 14:22-32.

In these Scriptures, Jesus told His disciples to cross over to the other side of the sea in a ship while He sent the multitudes away. After this He went to a mountain to pray. But at that time the ship was in the middle of the sea and was being tossed with waves because of the wind blowing against it. So Jesus went to His disciples that night by walking on the sea. The disciples were scared to see Him because they thought He was a spirit, a ghost. But Jesus immediately comforted them and said, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." After this, Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, if it's You, bid me to come to You on the water." Jesus said, "Come," so Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. But soon he started looking at the strong winds, he became scared, and he began to sink. Finally he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, caught him, and lovingly asked him why he doubted. Peter and Jesus went into the ship and the wind ceased.

Maybe you're caught in a storm. Stay focused on Jesus as Peter did at the beginning of his walk on the water and you will not sink...you will not be defeated. "For the Lord preserveth all them that love Him" (see Psalms 145:20).

Maybe you're in a storm and you've lost focus of God. You started off good like Peter, but then you started looking at the bad conditions around you and now you're sinking.

Or you may be in a storm and you've never even turned your eyes towards Jesus.

For either of these situations, all you have to do is call out to God like Peter did. Just cry out to Him a simple prayer: "Lord, save me!" The Lord will uphold the ones who fall (see Psalms 145:14), He will hear your cry and save you (see Psalms 145:19).

When you are depressed, make it a point to focus on God and trust Him. It may be hard to do, but He'll help you out. If you will come near to God, He will come near to you (see James 4:8). He can give you His peace which passes all understanding and it can keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

I believe the writer of Lamentations learned to focus on God during his hard times. Later on he said, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him...I called upon Thy Name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee: Thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; Thou hast redeemed my life" (Lamentations 3:22-25,55-58).

So let's focus on God and draw near to Him. Let's do this in the good times and the bad times. Then we can also proclaim these victorious, joyful words!

PRAYER: Dear God, I thank You that You are with me always. Help me to trust in You in the good times and the hard times. Help me to be closer to You. May Thy peace and joy fill me, too. With love and thanks...In The Name Of Jesus. Amen.

*Jehovah-shammah means "The Lord is there." Jehovah-jireh means "The Lord will provide."