Psalm 108: 7-9

God has spoken in His sanctuary: “I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth. Gilead is Mine. Mannaseh is Mine and Ephraim is My helmet; Judah is My scepter. Moab is My wash basin; on Edom I throw My sandal. Over Philistia I shout in Triumph.”

To understand exactly what God is saying here, we need to understand the Hebrew meaning of these cities and what significance they held. While it is obvious God is proclaiming victory, just what does such victory look like, and what can we expect when God shouts in triumph?

Shechem means, “ridge; the neck (place of burdens). It can also be seen as “between the shoulders.” We see the implication of someone carrying a large burden. The Message Bible states, “I will make a present of your burdens.” Effectively, God’s promise here is to make what we carry as a burden a gift to us. While it may seem difficult to carry at times, our burden will be a gift that opens doors and brings blessing to us. Hallelujah! Shechem was a main settlement in Samaria, where Jesus encountered the woman at the well. It is the only place of beauty in the region. Our burdens can become a place of beauty, where we encounter Jesus!

The Valley of Succoth is the place where Jacob went after his encounter with Esau at Padan-Aram and settled for a while. Succoth means “booths,” which is what Jacob built to house his cattle. Booths could also mean “hut or lair.” We see the implication of temporary dwelling places. God promises to give the Valley of Succoth as a gift. He will measure or appoint them to us. God will give us shelter in the midst of our storms or trials.

Gilead comes from a word meaning, “heap of testimony.” Gilead is a mountainous region east of the Jordan River where Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh settled. The Message Bible states, “Gilead is in my pocket,” or the hill of testimony is in my pocket. Granted, our testimonies belong to Him. He helps us overcome every mountain we must cross. Our testimonies are often hidden but waiting for us to experience or realize in retrospection.

Manasseh means “causing to forget.” Joseph named his first son Manasseh, indicating that God had blessed him so much, He caused him to forget all the pain he had experienced in slavery while in Egypt. God has a Manasseh for the trials He calls us to endure. Hallelujah!

Ephraim was Joseph’s second son. The name means, “double fruit.” God proclaims that double fruit is His helmet. God blesses us with double fruit as a shield against the enemy’s attack to our head, which may be attacks on our thoughts or attacks to our authority.

Judah means, “praise.” Praise is God’s scepter or His hammer. He uses praise to crush the enemy.

Moab means, “incest or from her mother’s father.” The Message Bible illustrates that God will mop the floor with Moab. Edom, which means, “red or ruddy,” is an example of the craving of the flesh over what is sacred. God will throw His sandal on Edom or spit on it, according to the Message Bible.

Philistia means, “rolling; migratory.” It gives the implication of rolling in the dust or wallowing in self. God brings us out of the grip of Philistia and shouts in triumph over us.

 When God is on your side, you will triumph in victory! There is no burden you can’t carry that will not ultimately bless you and no mountain you cannot overcome. God will make you forget the pain of your past and give you double fruit in your land of promise. He will give you a testimony of His glory and mop the floor with your past. He will triumph in your life, and you will see His victory!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 67:1-2

May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor so that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

The psalmist calls for God to smile upon His people in this passage. He asks for a distinction of favor and blessing to be made upon God’s people so the world will come to recognize God and follow Him. Without the blessing of God upon us, we have no evidence of His existence to give to the world.

The Message Bible explains this further:

God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! The whole country will see how you work, all the godless nations see how you save.

Without God’s blessing – His favor, His approval, – we are no different than the rest of the world, and eventually, we will act no differently. We need the approval of our heavenly Father. We cannot earn it; His favor is an act of grace. Without His blessing, we cannot function. With it, however, we have the power to influence others and to draw people to Christ.

The end of this psalm gives us great promise in verses 6-7:

The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.

If you belong to Christ, you can be assured of God’s blessing on your life. He doesn’t promise we will never encounter trials or difficult times, but He does promise to bless us through it all and to work it all out for our good in the long run. He is a good, good Father who gives good gifts to His children, and we can count on His goodness today. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and He withholds no good thing from us. Look for something good to happen today because you serve a good God. Praise Him in His house today, and thank Him for His goodness toward you!

Have a blessed day!

Ephesians 1:20-23

He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens – far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given; not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

I hope you see what I see here. Christ is supreme! There is no authority here or in heaven greater than He is, nor will there ever be! Praise God! If Christ is for you, who can be against you? He can open doors no man can shut because He is in charge.

God has put everything under the feet of Jesus. Those words are bold in my Bible, which means God made a strong statement in saying it. If everything is under the feet of Jesus, shouldn’t we turn there for answers? If anything is under His feet, it is subject to His authority, and He has dominion over it. No weapon formed against you shall prosper because ultimately, He has control over that weapon. That doesn’t mean the enemy won’t try to attack or challenge Jesus’s authority, but it will eventually have to bow to Him and accomplish good for you instead of evil.

Christ is head over everything for the church, which is His body. God made Him the head for our sake. He doesn’t intend for the Devil to devour us; His plan has always been for us to be triumphant over him, and He placed Christ in charge of everything to insure our victory. In fact, we should face our battles from the standpoint of victory, knowing that God has gone before us and given us sure success. Rejoice in your victory today, and give God the glory for the great things He has done!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 3:1-4

LORD, how my foes increase! There are many who attack me. Many say about me, “There is no help for him in God.” (Selah) But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head. I cry out to the LORD, and He answers me from His holy mountain. (Selah)

A Selah is a pause. Read this passage again, and pause on each Selah. David’s focus before the first Selah was on the attacks from his enemies as he described their increasing threats upon him and their belief that God was not great enough to save him from their fierce onslaught. Then, he paused.

David needed a minute to re-focus, and we need to do the same thing. During that first Selah, David turned his attention to his God, who was greater than any enemy he faced, was with him in battle, and could deliver him completely or strengthen him for victory. When David paused and turned to God, he saw God as a shield around him, glorified in purpose, and lifting his head in encouragement to move forward. David cried out to God, fully expecting an answer, and he always got one.

What we need most when the cares of the world come crashing in on us is a big old Selah – a time just to pause and turn our attention to God. Changing our perspective is the first step in changing our situation. A Selah – time to pause and re-focus – can give us that new perspective we need to see God as greater than any circumstance we face and to depend upon Him.

If everything seems to be working against you today, stop and Selah. God knows your enemies, and they are not big enough to handle Him! He can make them flee or move you to a better place to achieve His purpose. Take some time to change your perspective, and receive the help you need from a God who loves you, is with you, and has promised to never leave you. Selah!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 85:6

Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You?

We serve a loving God who will not allow us to suffer forever. He will revive His people so we may praise Him for His faithful love, which endures forever and ever. He has promised to work all things for our good and His glory so that we may sing His praises. He does not get glory in our suffering, and we should never think it is God’s ultimate will for us. Suffering has a season, but revival follows.

This Psalm was written by the sons of Korah, who led Judah in praise. Jehoshaphat invited the Korathites to praise and form a choir when they went out to face their oppressors. The moment they began praising, God set an ambush against their enemies, causing them to turn on each other in confusion. Praise confuses the works of the enemy and disrupts his plan. Anytime you feel crushed or defeated by the Devil, simply begin to praise God with a sacrifice of praise, and it will send your enemy running.

Do you feel the weight of oppression upon you? Are you feeling depressed? Do you feel hopeless for your future? If so, simply begin to praise God today. Find something for which to be thankful, and boldly declare His goodness, power, and grace. Believe in His great love for you, and shout it to the Devil in defiance. Your great God will revive you again so you may rejoice in Him. He glories in your victory and not your suffering. Revival is on its way!

Have a blessed day!

Exodus 15:15-16

The LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to break camp. As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

As soon as the Israelites left the bondage of Egypt, Pharaoh decided he wanted them back and sent an army after them. Caught between the Red Sea and a vicious army on a mission, the Israelites complained to Moses, who assured them God would fight for them. Moses cried out to God on their behalf, but God would work as Moses moved forward. He instructed Moses to lift his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea to divide it. God would work as Moses used what God had given him.

At times, we may find ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place and crying out to God. When the hard place doesn’t move, we must do what God instructed Moses to do – use what He has given us and trust Him to work a miracle through it. He has equipped each one of us with a gift in which His power can move, and unless we learn to use it in the impossible places, we will never see the power or glory of God.

What rod – gift – has God given you? What difficult place do you face? Lift your gift, and watch God work. His plan is to use you and work through you. Walk forth in faith, and see the salvation of the LORD. Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 54:15, 17

If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever attacks you will fall before you. No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me. This is the LORD’s declaration.

Satan often attacks and tries to convince us that God is punishing us or judging us. We must remember that God has already poured out His righteous anger and wrath upon Jesus at the cross. While He will allow us to be tested, He will not harm us. He will, instead, use any bad thing the Devil uses against us to promote us and bring good to us.

Always remember that we serve a God who wants to bring good to us. He is a good, good Father who gives good gifts to His children. Satan, however, does all he can to try to convince us otherwise because if we believe God wants to harm us, we will lose faith and seek to protect ourselves. In doing so, we will lose sight of the things God wants us to do and the blessings He has in store for us. Every day we spend thinking God is against us is a day we spend distracted from His purpose for us, which is to glorify Him and defeat the enemy.

When you feel under attack, simply keep your eyes on Jesus and His instruction to you. Let God handle the matter. He has promised that no weapon formed against you will succeed, and He has the power to diminish its blow. Remain faithful and know He has equipped you to do the good works He has ordained for you. You can’t fight an enemy you can’t see, and God sees everything. Trust Him to use whatever weapon is formed for your good and His glory. He is God, and He has declared it!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 147:2-3

The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; He gathers Israel’s exiled people. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

From this verse, we clearly see that God rebuilds the broken. Hallelujah! He is a restoring God who builds and develops His people. The only reason He would allow us to be torn down is to rebuild us into something better, as was the case when Judah went into Babylonian captivity as described here. The exile the people experienced was a type of cleansing. God eventually gathered them back together, healed their wounds, and rebuilt Jerusalem.

Before we can be rebuilt, we must first encounter a healing. Loss leaves deep wounds, and unless these are healed, we cannot move forward in life. We will, instead, repeat the grief cycle and go right back into destructive habits that confine us and prevent us from advancing. God heals those wounds if we will simply turn to Him and allow Him to invade what we want to avoid. Once healed, we may have a scar, but God will begin to rebuild and restore what is left of our life so we can experience the wonderful blessings of His kingdom and be a living, breathing, walking example of His grace and His glory.

Verse 11 of that same chapter tells us that “the LORD values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.” Put your hope firmly in the love God has for you, especially if you are hurting from deeply cut wounds today. You are valuable to God, and He doesn’t want to waste your heart when He can rebuild it and turn it into something grand and glorious that will shine for Him. Trust Him to heal and rebuild you. You are no longer an exile; you are a valuable part of His grand kingdom.

Have a blessed day!

Genesis 32:24

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

While there is much speculation as to the identity of the man who wrestled with Jacob, Bible scholars agree that this mystery man was God’s own representative. While many believe he was a pre-incarnate Jesus, others believe he was an Angel of the Lord. In either regard, he represented the power and truth of God’s Word.

God came to Jacob while he was alone. Indeed, many of our personal struggles are fought in private, where others cannot see the pain we feel or the internal fight we face. When we are left alone with our emotions, negative thoughts, or feelings of a guilty conscience, we struggle with God on a level others cannot see, but we are fully aware of the battle. Through such internal conflict, we come face to face with the holiness of God and the frailty of our human nature as we realize He has complete power to consume us but doesn’t for some reason. His grace is greater than the battle, and we are made stronger from it.

I’ve often heard the saying, “Private victory comes before public recognition.”  We know we have struggled and overcome by God’s grace before others see the evidence. Unless the private victories happen, nothing public can be seen.

We all struggle with private issues, and God comes to us while we are alone to wrestle with us on these matters. We can wrestle with God without turning from Him. His grace keeps us in fellowship with Him while helping us overcome the things that try to destroy us. Your private struggles are there to help you grow and fully reach the destiny into which God has called you. Don’t rebel and turn away. Endure the struggle, and grow from it. God’s grace is greater than your weakness, and He will help you overcome.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 42:5-6

Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore, I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Mount Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

We can learn to control our emotions or allow our emotions to control us. In order to overcome a sense of despair, the psalmist practiced something we can all learn to do – the art of remembering. He remembered the goodness and faithfulness of God from different stages in his past.

Jordan means, “descending.” It refers to a lower region. The psalmist chose to remember God’s faithfulness through lowly times. Throughout life, as in earth’s geography, we will travel through low places and high places. We choose where we will dwell. Without doubt, God has lifted each of us from low places in the past, and He is ready to lift us again. There is no limit to the times He is able to lift us! We can be in a low place physically, yet reside in a higher place spiritually and emotionally. Eventually, our physical circumstances with catch up to the rest of our being.

Hermon means, “liberty, freedom.” The psalmist remembered the joys of liberty as he worshiped God. Perhaps, once held captive or restrained, he experienced the joy of being set free. Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin, and all who follow Him can relate to such freedom. He saved us from sin upon our conversion, and He continues to save us when we stumble, fall, or stray from Him and find ourselves held captive again. He paid the price for our freedom on the cross, and whom the Son has set free is free indeed!

Mizar means, “petty or small.” God is good and faithful to us, even in the places we think are too small to concern Him. If something matters to us, it matters to Him. If He gave His only Son to die for us, would He not surely care for smaller matters? Nothing is too great or too small to bring before Him. Remembering how he has been good to us in smaller things gives us hope and faith to believe for bigger things.

Don’t allow depression to control you. Take charge of it today by remembering God’s faithfulness to you in the past. He has led you through low places, peaks of victory, and in small matters that seemed too petty for His concern. Put your hope in God, and praise Him where you are. As you learn to depend totally upon His grace, you will find yourself praising Him for victory once again.

Have a blessed day!