Psalm 34:5

Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.

When we look to Christ, we are depending upon His love for us. Becoming completely engrossed in His love will give us joy. A heart filled with joy will project a radiant face. If we could only focus upon His great love for us every time we encounter failure, disappointment, trouble, or heartache, we would truly shine with a face that radiates joy.

With my recent move, I’ve developed a term I call “leaning.” When I’ve done all I know to do, I pray and release the matter to God, leaning upon Him to do what I can’t. I’ve learned that leaning gives me the opportunity to see Him move in ways I never imagined, and I experience His grace in a whole new way. Leaning deepens my relationship with God because it requires my reliance upon Him. I am learning to lean more and worry less. God has truly filled me with joy as He has unfolded His plan for me in this move! Worry has always caused me to expect and plan for the worst, but leaning has taught me that the very best is found in His presence and in my reliance upon Him.

Take a long look in the mirror this morning and think about what you see. While you might see worry lines, God sees His beloved child who was worth the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. Begin to praise Him and thank Him for His great love for you, and rest in the assurance that He is working all things together for your good. Lean into His love and watch His grace surprise you with joy!

Have a blessed day!

Luke 19:37-40

Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!

Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”

In this picture, we see Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowd is praising Him as King – not just any king, but as the Messiah. They had seen the many miracles He performed and knew He was more than just an ordinary man. He taught with great authority, and they recognized Him as deity.

The very thought that the crowd would recognize Jesus as King disgruntled the teachers of the law. A man who taught the grace of a loving God did not fit their understanding of the law, and they rejected Him as King. In this entrance we see a battle between grace and the law take place.

The teachers of the law demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples, but He would not. He explained that if they did not praise Him, even the rocks would cry out. He was entering the city to become the sacrifice for their sins, and praise was quite appropriate. By demanding His death, the teachers of the law unknowingly played right into God’s plan. While they thought they would get rid of this “King,” they were unwittingly establishing His kingdom. In the battle between the law and grace, grace came out the victor. For this reason, we should all praise Him!

Today, take time to praise Jesus for the grace He has given us, but most importantly, acknowledge Him as King. Pledge your allegiance to the grace that has lifted you from a pit of despair and given you new life. Don’t let a stone out-praise you! The battle between the law and grace has already been won in your favor. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Have a blessed day!

Acts 2:40

And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Peter spoke these words to the Jews at Pentecost who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. These curiosity seekers knew the disciples had experienced something different and listened to hear Peter’s explanation. As Peter gave his testimony of his personal experience, he urged those present to be saved from this corrupt generation. He could see how their culture and traditions had a grasp that held them in bondage from a right relationship with God.

We live in a generation that is even more corrupt, and we often don’t realize we are in bondage. Jesus offers us the ability to live free from the sin that deceives and entices us to live unholy lives, but many times we fail to see our actions as sin. When we act out of emotions, we often feel as if we are meeting a need. In truth, however, we are responding to the deception of sin to fill a void that only Jesus Christ can meet. For that reason, we justify our sin with the lie that God just made us that way, and there is no way to change. The belief that we cannot change is bondage, and Jesus came to set us free from it.

Peter’s plea in this verse was for the people present to be saved – to be set free – from the corruption of that generation. The answer today is the same as it was then, “Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” To repent simply means to change your mind. Stop believing the lie that you cannot change, and ask Jesus to forgive you where you have failed. He will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit to overcome the enticement of sin. Repentance begins with recognizing your sin and being willing to be free from it. Until you want to be set free, you will engage it and justify it. You must come to the place where you hate your sin enough to want to turn from it.

Where are you failing in life? What is holding you back? Where do you have unmet needs? You don’t have to remain in bondage to the corruption of this generation. You can change, and the sin you have befriended is really not meeting your need. Repent – change your mind about the sin – and find forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Sin is not your friend in any form or fashion, and it only serves to hold you back from the real blessings God has for you. Let go of the lack and find fullness in Christ. He will give you the power to overcome and live victoriously. Your wholeness is the very reason He came to die.

Have a blessed day!

Matthew 23:9-10

Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, the Messiah.

The Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’s day liked to be seen as father and master to the people. They relished the titles. They would reciprocate the reverence by laying unrealistic burdens upon the people who looked to them as father and master. Jesus warned His disciples not to look to anyone on earth as father and master because they have one Father and Master in heaven. Anyone who wishes to lead must first become a servant to the people.

When we look to others to fill the role of father and master in our lives, we place them on a pedestal they were not meant to occupy. That pedestal will eventually crumble because no earthly individual can be to us what Jesus is meant to be to us. Through Him we have direct access to the Father and Master in heaven, who can work all things together for our good and do immeasurably more then we could ever imagine. We do our leaders harm when we expect them to be what only God can be to us. Only God can give us the answers we really need, and we must cultivate relationship with Him and give the glory to Him.

Are you expecting anything today that only God can give? If so, turn to Him. He encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. He instructs us to ask Him anything and to bring our burdens to Him. Begin to cultivate a relationship with Him in prayer and watch to see how He responds. Look for little things that show you He hears you and is working on your behalf. The more you turn to Him in prayer, the less you will find yourself depending upon someone else. Make Him your Confidant, and discover His everlasting love for you in a whole new way. His invitation to you is waiting.

Have a blessed day!

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

God is concerned about the sin of His people much more so than the sin of the unbelieving world. In fact, sinners will sin; they can’t help it. Those of us who are called by His name – Christians – are being transformed. When we remain in sin, He will close the sky and consume our land, and withhold blessings from us. Our sin is what offends Him.

If we will humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from our evil ways, He will once again hear from heaven, forgive us, and heal our land. We must adhere to all three commands, and to do so requires a broken spirit. For this reason, God dries up our blessings and our resources in order to bring us to the place of humility where we are willing to change. Once we are on the same page with Him, He will heal our land and bless us again.

We can most certainly apply these verses to our nation and the things that are happening now at such a rapid pace. They also apply to our churches and to us, personally. When we learn to apply these verses personally, we can extend them into our churches and even into our nation for the healing that is desperately needed. I, for one, need my personal land healed, and I know many others who need the same.

I challenge you to take these verses personally today, as I am. Turn to God for healing in your personal life and in your own family or household. As He begins to heal us personally, we can begin to minister this healing to our churches and, eventually, to our nation.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares about you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (The Message Bible)

So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; He’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 16:8-9

I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely.

David wrote this psalm and gave us wise instruction. If we keep the LORD in mind always, we will continually feel His presence. Knowing He is with us prevents us from being shaken because our security is in Him. We can truly rejoice, be glad, and rest in the fact that God is in control and anything we face must first come through the filter of His grace.

Are you experiencing a difficult time? Keep the LORD in mind always. Are you struggling with financial worries or relationship issues? Keep the LORD in mind continually.

Is your health a concern? Keep the LORD in mind because He is at your right hand. You are not alone in your struggle, and He is working for you. While you may not be able to see what He is doing right now, He will eventually unveil a plan and provision He has constructed just for you.

Where is God in your situation? He’s right in the middle of it. Trust Him, and call upon Him. Rejoice in the fact that He is your guide, and rest in the fact that He knows what He is doing. He will inform you when you need to know.

Have a blessed day!

Nehemiah 13:31b

Remember me, my God, with favor.

Nehemiah had responded to a call to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem while serving the King of Persia. His homeland lay in waste with nothing to protect it and vulnerable to attack. Nehemiah grieved over the long history of devastation of the city and desired to do something about it. He returned and rebuilt the wall within 52 days.

Nehemiah’s leadership brought people together to rebuild what the enemy had destroyed in their lives. Much of Nehemiah’s work consisted of appointing others to duty and having them fulfill their appropriate roles. He had the foresight to know what needed to be done and who should do it. He was a very gifted administrator.

The wall of the city had to be rebuilt first before the individual homes could be rebuilt. Unless the wall was in place and guarded, enemies could attack and destroy their work. Multiple threats came while they were rebuilding the wall, and Nehemiah carefully placed guards at every gate, post, and home. He also appointed the Levites to clean and guard the sanctuary and the singers to offer praise and worship to God while the work was being conducted. After the wall was rebuilt and guarded from attack, people could concentrate on building their homes. Likewise, after Nehemiah had finished his mission, he asked for personal favor.

Nehemiah’s order of business focused upon completing the mission God had given him before he gained anything personally. Today, we see too many people concerned about what they can gain personally from something before they are willing to participate. Such an attitude distinguishes a true leader from a follower. A leader moves with passion from a mission placed upon the heart while a follower has no sense of a greater purpose than his/her own need or desire. God honored Nehemiah’s leadership and made him effective. We certainly need more like Nehemiah today!

What mission has God laid upon your heart? Follow through with His command first, and ask for His favor when you have finished. God honors obedience, and He gives His people wisdom and ability to carry out their tasks effectively. Don’t procrastinate or worry about your own needs. Once you have completed the greater mission of building God’s kingdom around you, your own home can be rebuilt while God looks upon you with favor. Don’t wait to follow God until He meets your needs or desires; move out in obedience and trust He will grant you favor when you have completed your mission. His plans for you are good, and His favor is necessary.

Have a blessed day!

I Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez and said, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez called out to the God of Israel: “If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.” And God granted his request.

Jabez prayed and received from God. He is proof that God hears the prayers of His people and answers us. Just what made Jabez’s prayer so powerful? You can read the book if you like, but here are my insights for this morning.

We see Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. This does not mean he was better than them in any way. Honorable here means, “heavy.” Jabez was heavier than his brothers, which explains why his mother experienced such a painful birth. Apparently, she never wanted to forget that pain because she gave her son the name “Pain” to carry for the rest of his life. Perhaps, she was expecting the worst from him.

Jabez, however, did not want pain to characterize his life nor his destiny. He did not want to be associated with pain forever. He could not help the fact that he was heavy at birth, but he could pray to God and ask for something better for his life. God granted his request.

As a widow, you cannot help the fact that your husband has died. Many negative associations are often made with the word, “widow.” They are depicted as lonely, poor, pitied, abandoned, helpless, and even a burden in society. In Christ, however, we don’t have to be any of those things. Like Jabez, we can cry out to God and ask Him to bless us and increase our borders. He will give us influence and bless the work of our hands as we serve others. We don’t have to live as victims when Christ has already won the victory for us! We are more than conquerors in Him, and we can still prosper and be a life-giving resource to others. Don’t let widowhood define you, and don’t be what people expect. Dare to ask God to give you a more abundant life, and expect Him to answer accordingly. He delights to hear a widow with faith!

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 12:1

Help, LORD, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.

This sounds like a response straight from our news headlines. The media shines favorably upon the evil, and those who stand for what is right have become villains. Isaiah 5:20 warns those who call evil good and good evil that judgment is coming. We must remain faithful, even when it appears we stand alone.

The Devil is a master of deceit. What appears to be true is not always the truth. Elijah thought he was the only faithful Hebrew in Israel when Jezebel was queen, yet God still had 70,000 who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Jezebel did not have the power she so greatly craved, and God was still in control. While it may appear that evil has taken charge of our culture, God is still in control in the U.S., as well. What currently reigns is temporary, and the coming King will set all things straight. We want to be found faithful when He returns.

If it looks like the enemy is winning in your own life, know that everything is not always as it appears to be. We have to accept the condition of our situations, but we must leave the conclusions to God. He has the final say. He will either deliver you from your trouble or see you through it. Either way, you become the victor. Don’t believe the lies of the enemy; stand firm in your faith. God’s word is more reliable than man’s, and we must come to the point where we believe Him and not the craziness we see applauded around us. God is still in control, and His word is still true. God is faithful to us, even when no one else is. In fact, He is faithful to us when we are not faithful to Him. Be encouraged in His faithfulness to you in the past, and know He hasn’t stopped being faithful to you.

Have a blessed day!

Ephesians 3:16-19

I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

God wants more for us than we can ever imagine. To capture the fullness of His perfect desire for us requires faith and love, neither of which we can manufacture in our own strength. He must strengthen our inner man with His Spirit and give us faith to believe Him and His love to establish us in Christ. When we can truly believe in His love for us and allow that love to permeate our being, we can begin to walk forth in obedience.

Much of our sin comes from the need to self-protect. As we try diligently to guard ourselves from perceived harm or comfort ourselves from the tensions of the world, we rely upon sources that cannot fully satisfy but give us a false sense of temporary security. These temporary sources are our idols – sin. We need God to strengthen our inner man to believe totally in His love for us and to trust His perfect will in our lives. When we are fully established in His love, we can move forward in faith, believing His word over our feelings. As we walk forth in His word, we receive power from the riches of His glory to shine and be victorious in a dark world.

Resources are not a problem for God. Healing is not a problem for God. Whatever your need may be, you can move forward in faith toward that goal by allowing Him to strengthen your inner man with the power of His Spirit. The bottom line of the matter is that God loves you. He is with you and for you, and He wants you to succeed. As you believe this, He will strengthen your faith to believe His word over your emotions. By choosing to walk according to His word and not by your feelings, you begin to walk in the fullness of what He has for you, and it is certainly worth the change of mind you encounter.

Have a blessed day!