Thankful That God Is Not A Man

This morning I was thinking about what to write, it occurred to me how men and God are very different. Mankind is known for turning their backs in times of trouble while God never leaves us. The scriptures speak of this many times.

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10 But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

It is sad when our friends walk away in times of trouble. It is not meant to be that way. We are meant to help each other and live in unity. But even when we fail each other, we can know that God does not leave us. He will not let our enemy triumph over us. Ultimately we win and He holds us up. I am so thankful that God is not a man.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised. You alone can send Your kingdom to this earth. Please give us Your abundant provision today. Forgive us for walking away from each other. Heal us, both on the outside and on the inside. Deliver us from evil that would come to do us harm. Show us a sign for good. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

The Thankful Road

The road we traverse in our walk with God is largely up to us. We can choose God’s way, or not. That may sound like an oversimplification, because we all know how tremendously complex life can be. But in a way, that is really the point. Although the draw to think about and be wrapped up in the many distractions that are not God is significant, going that way in mind or deed is a choice.

We can choose to commit to thinking about God and acting in a way that He would choose for us. Our God is trying as He always does to constantly remind us of His path. He is trying to tell us of the benefit of allowing Him to be God, watching over us to keep us safe and whole. And He has provided us with means to that end in the form of prayer and praise.

Psalms 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

One of the first things we can do is be thankful. If we will offer up our praise and thanks, the thankful road appears and we head down a path that leads to God and His ways. If we choose the distractions, the thankful road becomes very hard to see. Today, take time won’t you to say thank you to God and sing Him a little song? If you are like me, it may just be a joyful noise (I am not a great singer), but to God, it is another one of His kids singing and He is a happy Father watching.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. We offer You our thanksgiving as a sacrifice to You for Your abundant wisdom. You alone are worthy of all honor and glory. Let Your kingdom come, let it rise up on our prayers and praise to You. Build up Your fortress of truth that we can enter in and be safe. Send us Your abundant provision today. Help us to see Your ways, and then give us the strength to choose to do them. You alone are worthy for us to follow. We choose You and we choose life. Forgive us when we don’t make the right choices. Help us to always find our way back to You. Send us Your miraculous healing – physical, spiritual, and emotional – that we might serve You and that all men might know that You alone are God. Deliver us. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Always And Forever

As I was thinking last night and this morning about how Gad works and who He is, I became very thankful that He is my God. It is easy for me to be a worrier. My earthly father was. It is what I learned. But as I read scripture I see a different picture. I see one where we should and we can trust the living God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Paul made this point clearly for us.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we can only trust our God to good and not evil for us, then we can be assured that He will keep us. We may not always be comfortable, but God will always provide for us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. Thank You for being our God, the Creator of the universe. Please send us today Your abundant provision. Please send today Your kingdom in this earth. Let You majesty reign today in our lives and in the earth. We thank You for Your healing. We thank You for Your deliverance. We thank You for Your love. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

The Journey Called Life

This morning when I got up I went to look at the door I built for the chicken coop I built. No, I never built either before. As I looked at them I realized they were okay. I am sure to the skilled carpenter, defects would appear immediately. But I am the loving carpenter that built them and to me they are my creation. We are like that to God. He is the skilled carpenter, but He is also the loving carpenter. He knows we have flaws. He knows we make mistakes. But that is not how He sees us. He sees us as the children that He loves.

2 Corinthians 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Our Father loves us without reservation. Of course He wants us to become better people, but He holds back none of His love for us while He helps us grow. He loves us at all times. Today, as I think about our God, I am very thankful to be on this journey of life with Him as our King because He truly cares for us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised We love You and need You and thank You. Send us today Your abundant provision. Let Your kingdom come to earth today in healing and deliverance. Be strong on our behalf. Forgive us when we transgress Your ways. Help us become better people and followers of You. Let Your glory be shown in the earth. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Again And Again

As I am writing today I am thinking of all of the benefits our God has provided. Granted there are times in life when it becomes challenge, perhaps even to the point of seeming overwhelming. But what an amazing benefit we have in knowing that we can always retreat into the shadow of the wings of our God.

Psalms 17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

We have many opportunities in life for the cares of this life to overtake us. And those same opportunities offer us the chance to trust in our God, to rest in His presence, knowing that He cares for us. When I imagine the Creator of the universe watching out for me I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. How great a gift of life we have received!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. Send us Your abundant provision today. Thank You for watching over us and our loved ones. Keep us from harm and from evil. Forgive us when we stumble. We forgive those that have harmed us in the past. Prevent those that would do us evil. Send us Your healing and deliverance. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Our Defense

As I watch the conflicts in today’s world unfold, I am thankful that I do not live in a place where I have to go to bed at night wondering if rockets will land in my house while I sleep. It is sad that so many people in the world just cannot get along. But we as believers know why this is. It is because we have an enemy that is our to kill us. It is that enemy that keeps the world at war. While today it may not be near us, none of us knows what tomorrow may bring with regard to the physical attacks. What we do know is that God has not left us without defense.

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We see in this passage that there is an armor we can where, and a weapon we can use. The weapon here is the rhema, the utterance, of God. It is the things we say and pray out loud. For those like myself that believe in the ability of believers to pray in the Spirit, this is our weapon. Paul say we are to use it all the time (“Praying always”) and that it is our ability to fight for ourselves and others. Here is why I am thankful for this. We have an invisible foe out to kill us. But we also have invisible protection and an invisible weapon far more powerful than anything our foolish enemy could imagine! Thank You God!

Prayer
Father, we love and exalt You. We want to thank You today for Your kingdom. We thank You for not leaving us defenseless. We ask for forgiveness for the sin in our lives, and that You help us to wash it away. We ask that You remind us to pray in the Spirit every day, that we might be victorious and that You might send us Your healing, deliverance, and overwhelming abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Every Moment Of Every Day

When we think about how wonderful our God is, and all that He provides for us every day, we can be overwhelmed with gratitude. He rules the heavens and the earth, and He does it in a majestic way. He watches over us and our families. He keeps our enemies at bay. He creates a path for us to walk. When I think of these things, I become so thankful. It makes me want to pray and praise. But in these moments what can we pray if we just cannot find the words. May I suggest turning to the scriptures and reading them out loud or even singing them as your own to God. Here is one that I found this morning.

Psalms 97:1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

May God bless you today as you pray and sing.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. Thank You. Thank You for all You are and all You do for us and all Your children. We love You. Forgive us when we fall. Help us back up. Send us Your kingdom today. Send us Your healing, deliverance, and abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Thankful Living

This morning as I was looking out my window at my garden I thought about how we as believers respond to good and bad news about things in our lives. First, we tend to classify it as good or bad, which is based on what we know or can understand. When I think about hearing good news, say a financial blessing, our minds can race to what we will do with the money. Pay off bills, get needed clothing, a car that runs better – these and many more can flood into our brains. But then I imagined a better reaction for me might be to bow my head and say thanks to God. We ask Him for the good in life on a regular basis, when it comes, should we not realize that it was Him that made it happen. Better still, should we not be waiting in anticipation of it coming? This is what it would mean for me to be living thankful to God at all times.

Psalms 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. Thank You for all You have provided for us. Thank You for Your kingdom that You bring into our lives. Thank You for forgiving us when we ask as we do now. Thank You for sending today Your healing, deliverance, and overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Humbling Experiences

Writing today I think of how much God intervenes on our behalf. I know for myself that I try to do the best I can in life and yet find myself making so many mistakes. When I look at my shortcomings and those of the people around me or those that are in government, it becomes overwhelming if I let it. Then I remember the scriptures and it gets better.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Paul is clear that if we focus on ourselves or on each other, we will miss what God is doing. We will be overwhelmed in those comparisons. That is misdirection. But there is good news. God gave us the standard of comparison for us as individuals. That standard is Jesus. Will we fall short? Absolutely. But our hope lies in our ability to trust that our God will lead us, guide us, and train us to be like Him more each day. If our hope is to rely in ourselves to do the work on our own, we are doomed. Only God can get us there. An for that we can be truly thankful.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. We long for Your kingdom to physically manifest in the earth. We are frail. We are but dust that You formed. Forgive us. Please mold us again into Your image and likeness. Please send us today Your wholeness, healing deliverance, and provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Weary But Thankful

Ever had one of those days that started early, ended late, and seem to go on forever? Yesterday was one of those days for me. There was so much to do for work, and I had friends that needed to talk with me in their situations when I did take a moment for a break. But as I reflect on it now, when I was finished very late, I had to smile. God had blessed the day. Today, as I reflect upon such blessing in my weariness, I am very thankful. It reminded me of a psalm.

Psalms 118:1O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

We will have those days of challenge. But at the end of them we can be thankful that God was with us as we walked through them.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We are so very desperate for Your kingdom upon the earth. We are very thankful for You being with us in good times and bad, when we are on the path and when we slip away You bring us back. Please send today Your healing, deliverance and overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.