Too Many Struggles

As I look into the forest out my window today I see the flowers in bloom with the leaves starting to change. It reminds me of a blend of the seasons as we transition to fall from summer, with another Midwest winter just around the corner. Somehow that reminds me of the world we are in today. I wonder at all of the struggles in the world today. So many people trying to get advantage over one another, or even hating one another for their beliefs. This is not the way our Father in heaven meant for it to be. We are meant to live in peace.

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

This is the perfect picture of where we are meant to be. Yet we are not. On this day of rest, it makes me ponder, how long? How long will it be before we can all live together in unity? Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High God. We need Your kingdom in the earth. We are saddened that there is so little peace today. Why must there be cruelty in Your creation? Please send Your abundant provision today. Please forgive us, and forgive those that do us evil. Turn them, Father. Turn them to You. Help us all to be more like You. Send grace and peace. Send Your healing to the hearts, minds, and bodies of Your people. Deliver us from wicked men. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

We Can Become What We Need To Become

When I speak with fellow believers there is a common theme amongst those that have a sense of humility. They worry about whether they can make it, whether they will be good enough. This is a thought that I also have from time to time, and it has caused me to consider the answer. By ourselves, the answer is no. But we are not by ourselves, we have God on our side, making the answer yes. Paul spoke of this in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The real question we must settle the answer to is whether or not we will trust our God. Actually, this may be a lifetime journey and not a point in time question. It seems that God has us in a world where He allows us to be presented with challenges on a regular basis. For us to succeed, for us to have Him make us better, we must trust that He will do what He says He will do. Each of these moments becomes and opportunity for us to again trust that He will finish the work in us, that He is our Provider, our Healer, our King. It can be challenging because the world is big and we in ourselves our frail. But we must believe and trust that we are not alone.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We need Your kingdom in the earth, but mostly in our hearts and minds. Help us today to trust in You. Give us Your abundant provision today. Forgive us our sins, and those that sin against us. We need Your help because we cannot do it alone. Heal us and deliver us. Let Your will reign in the earth. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

The Perfect Law Of Liberty

For many years I have heard men speak of what James referred to as the perfect law of liberty. It was unclear to me what that was or what it meant, until recently.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The struggle for me was that I knew no man is made perfect by the Law, but but by Jesus. It made me think that there must be another law other than the Law, the Torah. Trying to determine what that was lead me to what Jesus did for us.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Here we see that the curse of the Law is taken away by Jesus on the cross. We also know that the new covenant is the Law written in our hearts and minds.

Jerimiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

So then, the perfect law of liberty is the Law in our hearts and minds that leads us on to do the right things, and permanent forgiveness of transgression of the Law (which is sin according to 1 John 3:4), leaving us only with the blessing of the Law. The Law in our hearts and minds is made into perfect liberty by the work of Jesus on the cross. This is not so we can do whatever we want, but that we might receive forgiveness when we ask and live in the blessing of the Law. This is truly a blessing and something to be thankful for today!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised. Let Your perfect Law of liberty bring Your kingdom to the earth today. Give us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us when we transgress the Law as we are frail humans. See us through the blood of Your Son and the work He did on the cross for us. Send us Your healing and deliverance. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Through The Glass Darkly

Paul was very big on the need for the power of God in our lives. He often demonstrated this power and lived in this power as we see the miraculous and the deliverance of God regularly in His life. One of these things he spoke of was the gifts of the Spirit used to build us up (which of course fights off the enemy).

1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Paul encouraged us to do this often.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We are also told that if we pray in the Spirit it builds us up.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When Paul was explaining the need for the gifts of the Spirit, more specifically speaking in tongues and/or prayer in tongues, he spoke about where we are now versus where we will be. He said that now we only can know God partially but one day we will know Him just as He knows us now. This is difficult for me to comprehend because God knows everything, including our thoughts. But it is what the scriptures say.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

And it was so important that Paul made a point of saying specifically not to forbid it.

1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Today, take a moment to pray with your spirit and not with your understanding, and let God’s Spirit help you to ask for yourself and others those things of which you may be unaware. This is yet another way to battle our enemy with powerful spiritual warfare.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are our God and King. We are blessed above all people that you have given us Your commands and statues for wisdom, writing them in our hearts and minds. Let Your kingdom resonate in the earth today Lord. Give us abundant provision, overflowing that we might bless others. Forgive us when we go against Your ways, and guide us back gently. Heal us, and we will be healed. Deliver us, and we shall be set free. Let Your people be a token for good that all may know You alone are God. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Helping Others

When we think of helping others it can bring to mind many things for us as believers. The carry in dish for someone with family members recovering from an illness. The neighbor trying to build a playhouse for their kids. The widow in the country with the long snowy driveway and no one to help. Certainly these all qualify as good things to do and all are helpful. The help here is obvious, and even the non-believer could be of assistance. But there is another way that we as believers can help substantially that others that are not believers cannot. Prayer. Encouragement. Edification.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God takes care of us, and especially does so in response to prayer. Those prayers can be our prayers or the prayers of others. Likewise, we can pray for those we know that have a specific need. We can also pray for those that we know that are facing challenges bigger than themselves. We can even pray in the Spirit for those needs of which we are not aware or even people of whom we are not aware. That is a part of our mission as believers, to extend to this earth God’s kingdom through prayer.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the One True King. You alone are worthy of our praises. You alone delivered the children in the desert. In those days and at that time You brought a glimpse of Your kingdom to the earth on their behalf. We ask You do that again, now, here, on behalf of Your people in their hour of need. Give us Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us our transgressions, and help us to forgive those who do us harm. Defend us from those that would do us evil, who seek to blot us and Your name out of this earth. Send Your healing today, and Your deliverance. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Don’t Fade Away

Growing up my earthly father taught me a saying. Might is not always right, but right is might. I have thought on that statement in life many times when I have been faced with challenging situations. As believers this statement is encouraging to me because our God is the Almighty One, and He is also the source of all that is righteous. The result is, the One backing us up has both might and right on His side. I do not say this so that we could boast. Our Messiah warned against that in speaking to the seventy (notice it was more than His twelve disciples).

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

It would be easy for us to become caught up in the moment of victory. For many of us this would represent some of the few victories we believe we have experienced. However, if we will walk in God’s ways, that need not be the case. If we walk in God’s ways we will in fact experience victory on a regular basis, victory in many shapes and sizes. God created us to lead. He created us to lead creation. He will continue to empower us to lead creation in His ways. We need only follow Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of all honor and praise. Let Your kingdom come to earth today Father. Let Your kingdom guide our hearts and minds, ruling the air. Let Your royal decrees awaken within us, inscribed on our hearts and minds, that we might have the power to say and do them. Give us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us when we fail You. We need Your grace and love, more than ever perhaps. Send Your healing and deliverance. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

We Are With Him

We welcome our God into our lives when we have troubled times in our wake. We also welcome Him when we first turn to Him. Perhaps we could have more full lives if in the good times we also welcome Him. Perhaps the way this is best done is by taking some set time every day to be with God and just thank and praise Him. The psalmists spoke of this often.

Psalms 75:1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Our Father is ever with us. He is ever protecting us, and keeping us safe.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of all praise. Let Your kingdom fall upon the earth today. Send us overwhelming provision today. Forgive our lack our purity, and help us to be whole in You. Give us Your healing and Your deliverance. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

A Long Way

God gives us eternal life when we ask. Today as I was thinking about that, it seemed like a really long time. That may sound silly, but when I think of forever, I cannot quite grasp what that will mean. For me, I tend to live life toward a goal, or a variety of goals, all of which have an end point. What will we live eternity for – since there is no end? What will be the reason? I think I may have a suggestion.

Psalms 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

It would appear that the goal is to be at rest with God. How many adventures will there be hanging out with Him? We will be able to travel the universe, take care of the earth, and in general be with God physically. Now that will be amazing! Who would want that to end?!

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High. You alone are worthy to be praised. You will be with us forever. Let us taste of Your kingdom today Father. Send Your kingdom today. We need You. Send us overwhelming provision today. Forgive us. Heal and deliver us. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Flood Waters

In a dream I had last night we were in a house on a cliff forty or fifty feet above the ocean. There was a staircase down to the garage that was down at road level. A warning came in suddenly over the air that a flood wave was coming we were at street level with many people and the police and city were trying to barricade the homes with dirt shoved from edges of yards. we went up the stairs to the house and a number of people joined us. We watched as one and then another wave crashed into the cliff just below the edge of the cliff. I said, “Our car will be under water now,” and we watched as the waves subsided. There were fishing boats trying to ride the waves and one of them capsized with the smaller follow up waves. The man on board jumped in the water, and was picked up by another boat as the waves stopped pounding the shores. Then I woke up.

I do not know if the dream has any spiritual meaning. What I do know is that God is on our side. He keeps us safe from the storms of life.

Isaiah 59:19 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.
20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.

Today, if you face a flood, God will turn the tide if you ask Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy. Send us Your kingdom. Give us abundant provision today. Forgive us when we make mistakes. Deliver us and heal us. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.