Psalm 81:7

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

God answers from the storm – the place where the thunder hides. Hallelujah! He hears our cries and answers in our distress! We can be assured of this for one main reason – He is with us.

God often tests us in our lack. Will we grumble and complain, or will we trust and continue to praise Him? While in the wilderness, the people complained to Moses because they had no water. They questioned if he had led them out there to die. Was God really in their journey, or had he abandoned them? Did they take a wrong turn somewhere, or was God leading them to a place to destroy them?

When we experience the storms or the dry places of life, we are tempted to ask the same questions. What got me to this place? Where is God in all of this? After Moses took the matter before God, He told Moses to go to the rock at Horeb. There, God would be with him. He was to strike the rock, and water would flow from it. Moses did as God commanded, and two fountains formed. He named one of them “Massah” and the other “Meribah.” The water flowed from the rock not because Moses struck it but because God was with Him.

“Massah” means “testing place,” and “Meribah” means “striving or argument.” They were named such so that the Israelites would remember, “This is where we were tested, and this is where we argued, grumbled, and complained.” These fountains were signs of God’s goodness in the midst of bad behavior, and they were given to draw the people to repentance.

Are you in lack today? God is with you. Are you struggling today? God is with you. Are you hurting today? God is with you. Trust that where He is leading you is good, and He will provide. Stop your grumbling and complaining, and give Him some praise!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 27:4-5

I have asked one thing from the LORD; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the LORD and seeking Him in His temple. For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock.

David sought God as His hiding place. When his enemies threatened him and the world crumbled around him, he always cried out to God. His desire was to dwell in God’s house, where he felt safe and secure from harm.

The Message Bible has a beautiful illustration of verses 4b and 5:

I’ll contemplate His beauty; I’ll study at His feet. That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noise world, the perfect get-away, far from the buzz of traffic.

David found peace at the feet of Jesus, and so can we. When life becomes too difficult or confusing, the safest place for us is in a quiet place in our home with our Bibles open. As we read and study His word, He will speak life to us.

When we gaze upon His beauty and turn our face from the ugliness of this world, God hides us in the truth of His word. He conceals us from the adversity that threatens us and sets us high upon a rock so no harm can come to us.

Turn off the news and lay aside the bad reports you’ve been given. Avoid the complaining and drama of friends, family, and neighbors. Turn your focus from the stress that has you in knots, and gaze upon the beauty of the Savior this morning. He has it all under control, and He will hide you under the cover of His feet as you learn from Him. Open your Bible, and meditate on the words He gives you. Find beauty, rest, and peace as He hides you from the threat of the enemy. He wants to be your hiding place – the one thing you desire.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 32:2

How happy is the man the LORD does not charge with sin, and in whose spirit is no deceit!

Sin weighs us down and leaves us in a pit, where we cannot move further. Sin ensnares us in shame, taunting us with self-destructive lies of worthlessness and insignificance. Confession and repentance, however, destroys the work of shame when we accept the loving forgiveness of our heavenly Father. Denying sin, trying to fix things ourselves, or hiding it altogether only drives us further into a pit. Only when we are completely honest with God can we be forgiven and released from the debilitating effects sin leaves on us.

David understood this truth and encouraged others to confess their sins to God. When God forgives us and does not charge us with sin, we are able to live without the fear of judgment and can extend His grace to others, thereby reflecting the image of Christ.

The Message Bible states this verse beautifully:

Count yourself lucky –

God holds nothing against you, and you’re holding nothing back from him.

When we hold nothing back from God, He holds nothing back from us. Psalm 31:19 in The Message Bible tells us just what will happen when we hold nothing back from God:

What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you,

Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world.

If you are facing an unkind world today, run to God, confessing everything in your heart. Hold nothing back, whether it be hurt, shame, guilt, or fear. He will not reject you or judge you. He has already judged your sin at the cross and offers you grace in the form of forgiveness. He has more for you, too; He has blessings stored up for you when you are ready to admit your fault and move on with your life. So, what are you waiting for? Run to Him today, and be free to enjoy all He has for you!

Have a blessed day!

Judges 4:15-16

The LORD threw Sisera, all his chariots, and all his army into confusion with the sword before Barak. Sisera left his chariot and fled on foot. Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth of the Nations, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.

God gave Barak the victory, just as He had promised when He instructed Barak to go up Mt. Tabor – the Mountain of Fear. God always has victory waiting for us when we follow His instructions and face our own mountains of fear. There is a reason why Barak had to go up the mountain, and it is the same reason we must climb our own mountains at times. As long as the men of Israel stayed in the valley, they were destined for defeat. The valley was enemy territory, and they ruled it through intimidating iron chariots. There was no hope for escape in the valley. Barak and his men could climb the mountain on foot, but chariots couldn’t perform well on rugged mountain slopes. They were made for the smooth terrain of the valley. If we are to ever gain victory over the enemy in our own lives, we have to leave his territory and go where it is hard for him to follow! As long as we stay on his turf, he has a stronghold over us.

We need to stay away from places where we are tempted. I can promise you that it helps to stay away from the candy isle and the bakery at the grocery store!  If you don’t go to those sections, you won’t purchase their goods. If you spend more time in the produce section, you can kick that sweet tooth and become healthier in the process. You have to practice discipline in staying away from the places that tempt you and focusing where you know you should be. That is why it is so important we stay active in church and in fellowship with other strong believers. If the devil can isolate us on his turf, he can gain victory over us in some area. You defeat him by concentrating on your own territory and moving to higher ground!

Know today that God wants you to have victory in your life, but you will find it only if you are willing to abandon those areas where you are tempted to sin and are willing to climb the mountains God has set before you. The higher ground of studying His word and remaining in Christian fellowship can defeat enemy strongholds instantly! Depression, self-pity, hopelessness, and a defeated mentality are all iron chariots that run on smooth ground. If you will only climb that mountain terrain that looks impossible, you will find victory by moving out of enemy territory! Climb your mountain of pain today. Dig deeply into God’s word, and connect with other strong believers. You have an army to defeat, and it can’t function when you climb higher!

Have a blessed day!

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.

As widows or singles, this verse can seem very hard. While we may feel alone, these words may only magnify loneliness or the void of not having a partner in life. Certainly two are better than one, so why am I alone?

While the context here can apply to the relationship of a husband and wife, it does not necessarily indicate that type of relationship. It also mentions son or brother in verse 8. The passage is really addressing isolation. We are all more productive and happier when we operate within community and relationship with others. Having close connections and companions with whom you can share life makes it much more enjoyable because we can help each other, defend one another, and accomplish more together than we ever could alone.

When God calls someone to do something, He never calls that person to do it alone. He graciously brings others along to help and work within the boundaries of community or family. Often, our independent natures fail where the interdependence of other companions is needed.

So, what is the widow, the single person, or the divorced person to do? Make some friends! Embrace those God sends your way to help you. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and God sends people our way who can contribute in our areas of lack. Everyone has something to give, and we need to appreciate the strengths in others because we can learn from them. We also need to use our gifts to help those who are not strong in that area. As we work together, God creates something meaningful and lasting from it. He has placed greatness in each of us, and He brings it forth when we work together. Most importantly, however, He gets the glory because we couldn’t do it on our own.

By yourself, you won’t accomplish much. You need connections to help you get where you need to be, and others need you to help them. When we work together in fellowship, God gets the glory. Find some friends. Appreciate and embrace people God sends to help you. Don’t isolate yourself because you feel uncomfortable with others. Spread the love, and joy will be multiplied back to you. Two are better than one because you can accomplish more and add to each other’s life. Stop comparing yourself and competing with others. Give, and it will be given back to you. God isn’t keeping anything from you; He’s trying to use you. Participate with Him, and enjoy the fellowship along the way.

Have a blessed day!

Genesis 16:3-4

So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.

Ten years had passed since Abram had received the promise to be the father of a great nation, and Sarai could not bear children. Something just did not seem right with all of this, so Sarai decided to give her slave, Hagar, to Abram to try to make the promise come to pass. After all, she was increasing in years and her child bearing years were gone. What else could she do except to give Abram every possible option for his promise to come true. As was the custom of the day, she gave him her maidservant, and he complied.

Hagar became a second wife to Abram, and this did not sit well with Sarai. Although it was her idea, she really did not want Abram to have a child through another woman. When Hagar became pregnant, she looked down upon her mistress in an attempt to take the position of wife. Sarai’s idea was never to become less of a wife to Abram, and she certainly wasn’t going to allow a maidservant to run her household. To Sarai, Hagar was to be nothing more than a surrogate to Abram. To Hagar, however, he was the father of her child, and she wanted to be respected as a wife. Such a scenario is definitely a cat-fight in the making!

Nothing threatens our position as a lack of faith. When we don’t have the faith to lay hold of what God has promised, we stand to lose our footing to the very thing upon which we relied to accommodate us. Sarai thought she was disqualified from God’s blessing, so she used Hagar to try to provide the promise. Hagar was never meant to be God’s provision. As a result, Hagar – false provision – threatened Sarai’s God-given position as wife.

Don’t allow your false provisions to replace you! God is your power, your source, and every provision you will ever need. Rely completely upon Him to fulfill all promises to you, and don’t let a maidservant rule your house. Take charge of those things God has entrusted to you, and be an accountable steward. Although Hagar had Abram’s child, she had no benefits nor birthrights by him. The Devil may have stolen from you, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to keep it or to take any more! Claim the territory God has given you, and stand firm on His promises. This is your land, and the only way someone else can take it away is if you give it up. Refuse to compromise, and wait upon the Lord. He is your great reward, and He will reward you greatly!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Most of us have probably sung this verse in a song at a worship gathering. When I’ve sung it, I’ve always pictured it as a verse to thank God for the current day and to rejoice and be glad in what He has prepared for us in the day we are facing. While this has some meaning to it, the verse is really held in context to a specific day the LORD has made that should keep us rejoicing every day.

This verse ends a group of verses within this psalm, which is considered a thanksgiving psalm of victory. The first verse of this section – verse 19 – states, “Open the gates of righteousness for me;” We have no righteousness of our own merit. As a believer, our righteousness comes from Christ and the sacrifice He made on the cross. His righteousness is imputed to us. Yet, we see here there are gates – plural – of righteousness that open to us.

The first gate of righteousness we should recognize is the cross. We must all come to the cross and receive His blood for the atonement of sin. The next gate is the resurrection, which proves God accepted Christ’s sacrifice for us. The fact that Jesus died and rose again are the gates through which we receive righteousness to enter God’s presence. Jesus is the stone the builders rejected and is now our cornerstone of faith, according to verse 22. This is the day – the day of resurrection – that the LORD has made for us to rejoice and be glad in knowing that our sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ. Every day we have now points back to the resurrection and the new day – new covenant – that began that day.  Because of that day, we have hope. We have promise. We have power. We have joy.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today means more because of that great day of resurrection. Don’t miss your opportunity to worship Him and praise Him for that day and today.

Have a blessed day!

1 Samuel 1:1-3

There was a man from Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, and Ephraimite. He had two wives, the first named Hannah and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. This man would go up from his town every year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the LORD’s priests.

While these verses begin a story, they also tell us much about this man, Eli. He was a godly man who honored the LORD. Eli lived geographically as an Ephraimite, but genealogically, he was a Levite, which explains why his sons were priests. His first wife, Hannah, had no children. Since Eli was a godly man, the social stigma for Hannah would have been very difficult. What was wrong with her? Why could she have no children?

The fact that there was a second wife brings questions. Did Eli take another wife in order to have children? Would he have ever married Peninnah if Hannah had sons? Society would have seen Peninnah as the better woman, and later verses reveal she thought so, as well. We can easily see how Hannah would have led a miserable life as a barren woman and wife of a godly, respectable man. Her confidence and self-worth could easily have been shattered with a fruitful and haughty second wife with whom she tolerated daily.

“What is wrong with me?” Hannah must have asked herself this question a multitude of times, and many of us have, too. Just why can’t we do or have the things that come so easily for others? Why does everything I touch seem to fall apart? Why can I not accomplish my dreams? If we find ourselves asking these questions, we are looking at ourselves and not to God. Somehow, we think the answer to getting what we want lies within, and achieving the difficult things will prove us a better person.  Our hope is found by turning to God in complete dependence upon His grace to accomplish what we cannot for ourselves. Instead of seeing how imperfect and ineffective we are, we need to see how great and mighty our God is. We need to look in a new direction.

Consider the places in your life where you feel you aren’t reaching your full potential, and turn them over to God. This is His work in you, and you are woman enough to do whatever He has called you to do. You will not be a better person if you can achieve more. You will become a better person by surrendering your life fully to God and submitting to His plan. When you do, He will work in you and through you. You don’t need to prove anything to Him or to anyone else. Just bring Him your void, and trust that He will fill it. 

Have a blessed day!

1 John 4:2-3

This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.

We certainly live in a day when tolerance of all religions is preached on our political front. While these verses make it very clear that Jesus is God’s Son and has already come in the flesh, there are many who teach another way. The Bible warns us that these false teachers will come. But, what does it mean to confess Jesus Christ?

If we confess Jesus Christ, we state that our faith is in Him. If we truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God and has already come in the flesh, our faith is in His righteousness and dependent upon His grace. While we are called to good works, our works do not make us righteous. If we are depending upon our works or any type of spiritual success to grant us a right standing with God, we are not confessing Jesus Christ. We are trying to follow the law, which was given before Christ came. In other words, we are acting as if Jesus Christ has not yet come in the flesh. Our own works cannot save us nor compensate for sin. Only the grace of God through confession in Jesus Christ can do that.

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have been forgiven through grace because of His righteousness. If you have sin in your life that hinders your walk with Christ, you cannot compensate for it in any way. You must come back to the cross and surrender that to Christ. When you do, you receive grace to overcome sin, and that sin no longer has dominion over you. Christ died once for all sin in our lives, and we cannot pay for it ourselves. Neither does our spiritual success in one area grant us permission to sin in another.  If we are trying to pay for our own sins in any way, we are being influenced by a spirit that is anti-Christian. Confess your faith in Jesus Christ and walk free!

Have a blessed day!

Judges 13:15-16

“Please stay here,” Manoah told Him, “and we will prepare a young goat for You.” The Angel of the LORD said to him, “If I stay, I won’t eat your food. But if you want to prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD. For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the LORD.

Manoah wanted more details on this son and to learn more about this strange man who promised his wife her life-long dream. He offered the man a meal, not knowing he was addressing the Angel of the LORD. The Angel refused his hospitality but encouraged him to make a burnt offering to the LORD. The appropriate response to God’s grace is worship.

The Angel had told the couple all He intended to tell them. They would now have to walk in faith and obedience. When God gives a promise, we must do the same. While we may want more details, our only option at times is to simply live by faith and obedience to His command. When we do, we will see His promise fulfilled.

If God has you in a place where He’s given you a promise but you have no idea how or when it will take place, simply worship Him and walk in faith and obedience. Trust Him to work His plan in you. He has a greater purpose in mind and is allowing you to participate. You will be blessed, and He will be glorified when you simply trust Him.

Have a blessed day!