Writing On Eagles Wings

Scripture: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 5:1

Examination of Chapter: Paul writes about the importance of standing firm in the truth that our salvation is not dependent upon the works that we do. He cautions against trusting in traditions from the past or depending on the adherence to the Law of Moses for salvation. He stresses that it is Christ alone who saves, and if we are trusting in works to save us, we are dishonoring the cross of Christ. He explains that we should serve others in our love for Jesus and walk in His Spirit only.  

Application: There have been a plethora of devotions written about the freedom of Americans and relating them to the freedom that Christians have. While they are undeniably different, it is true that for both freedoms, a huge cost was paid.

As an American, I am indebted to all who made sacrifices in their lives to give me my freedom. Whether serving 2-6 years in active duty, or those who signed on and never came home, the decision to serve our country is to be honored. In the War for Independence, it is estimated that 25,000 colonists lost their lives. The US War department estimates a little over 1.2 million military men and women sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom from 1775 until the present time, and in the same amount of time, approximately 42 million Americans have been in the armed services. There are also US agencies that are involved in protecting us that we have no knowledge of how many individuals have been involved due to the sensitive nature of their work. Because of all these courageous individuals, we can enjoy the freedoms that so many people in this world cannot.

Just to name a few, we enjoy the following luxuries of liberty.

• Freedom of speech
  • We can criticize our governmental leaders without fear of imprisonment or execution.
• Freedom of religion
  • We do not need to worship in secrecy. Regardless of one’s faith, in American, we can worship whom we want openly.
• Freedom to vote
  • In free elections, we can cast our vote for the candidate whom we want to represent us.
• Freedom to work
  • I can choose my own career, and then switch occupations if I so desire.
• Freedom to travel
  • I can go wherever I want in this country without requiring permission from any governmental body.

These are just a sample of the numerous freedoms that every American citizen can enjoy. And each one of them was paid for and continuously defended by our hundreds of thousands military individuals, government officials, and thousands of individuals that we will never know about. For that, we should be grateful and celebrate, not only July 4th, but every day of the year.

As a Christian, I am indebted to One individual. The price for my spiritual liberty was paid in full approximately 2,000 years ago on a very cruel Roman cross by the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He chose to sacrifice Himself, so that everyone who desires the assurance of forgiveness of sins and eternity in heaven with Him can have it. Jesus died to give me life, and that life is everlasting.

Jesus sacrificed Himself to save all of mankind. Here is what He gave up to save us.

• His divinity – “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” – Philippians 2:7
• The glory of heaven – “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38
• His unity with the Father – “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46
• His sinless body – “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
• His blood – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” – Ephesians 1:7

Our freedoms, whether from human tyranny for which we celebrate on July 4th or from the tyranny of sin that is celebrated when an individual places their faith and trust in Christ, are bought with an incomprehensible price. As Americans, we celebrate the birthday of our beloved nation. As Christians, let us also celebrate the liberty wherewith Christ has made us truly free and always remember what was selflessly done for all of us.

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, how blessed I am to live in this land. I love my country, and I thank You for allowing me to be born and raised here. But, O God, I thank You even more for the freedom I have in Christ. Thank You, dearest Jesus, for dying on the cross ,and then rising from the grave 3 days later to become the Saviour of the world. Thank You for forgiving all of my sins… past, present, and future, and for the assurance that one beautiful day, I will see You face to face in heaven, where I will spend eternity in Your presence. I love You so much. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture: “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” – Mark 4:39

Examination of Chapter: This chapter is mainly about the parable of the sower and its explanation to the disciples by Jesus. At the end, it focuses on the miracle of Jesus calming the sea simply by speaking.

Application: Wow! Last night was BRUTAL! I don’t know the specific numbers, but it rained buckets! The storm that came through was INTENSE! Of course, rain pounding on the thin metal shell of a camper always sounds exceptionally loud, but last night was the worst I’ve experienced in a long time. It woke me up in the middle of the night with the deafening pounding of the rain on the camper and nearly non-stop lightning and thundering! For about 30 minutes or longer, it bombarded the area, and I could not fall back asleep.

I thought about the folks who were out on a nearby lake in houseboats (although John reassures me they were safe in their small coves), and I remarked to him (the storm woke him as well) that they must be feeling what the disciples felt in their tiny boat on the sea of Galilee during the fierce storm that Jesus eventually calmed.  If I was this apprehensive inside a camper and completely safe, I could only imagine what must it have been like for the disciples… fishermen who were well acquainted with storms on the Sea of Galilee… who were so frightened that they cried, “Lord, save us: we perish.” (Matthew 8:25). Then I thought how amazing that Jesus simply uttered three small words, “Peace be still”, and the rain ceased, and the waves calmed…immediately! Wow!

So laying there, I thought I’ll pray for that as well, not expecting a miracle, but just sharing with God what was on my heart. So I prayed that the storm would cease its ferocity quickly and that no one would be harmed on the lake, in our campground, or on the surrounding roads. Within the next 5 minutes, the storm stopped. I thought it was just a lull, but it never resumed. Again, WOW! Do I believe God responded to my specific prayer? I don’t know, but I do know one thing, He very well could have. And for that I praise Him and thank Him!

Life is full of times when we get fearful. I don’t know about you, but often I think, “Who am I, that God would even pay attention to my prayer? After all, in the overall scheme of things, I am just one of billions… not too significant… yet, the Bible tells me again and again about the unique relationship I have the Lord.

So, here’s what I do know about our relationship:

1. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…” – Jeremiah 1:5

• God thought about me specifically before He created me!

2. “..I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” – Psalm139:14

• When God  did create me, I was made wonderfully and marvelously by Him!

3. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

• Jesus sacrificed Himself for me, a sinner, an enemy of God, yet He loved me even then!

4. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

• God desires to hear everything that concerns me because He cares so much for me!

5. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” – 1 John 5:14

• I know, without a doubt, that God hears AND answers my prayers when they are aligned with His perfect will, and it doesn’t matter how little or big those prayers are!

My relationship with God is special; there is none other like it. So, while I may not know for certain that last night’s storm stopped because I prayed, I choose to believe that my God heard my prayer and acted. Does that make me special? Should I be puffed up with pride? Absolutely not. God is an equal opportunity “listener of prayer” with His children. He listens to each one of us individually as if we were the only ones in the entire world talking to Him. That shows that God is a personal God who cherishes each one of His children and desires to bless us “…exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20). Again, all I can say is “Wow!”

I am grateful that I don’t have to face my fears alone. I know when I cry out to God, He hears me. I know when He answers, it will be what He has deemed best for me, whether it’s what I asked for or not. For that I say, “Wow! Thank You, Jesus!”

By the way, for me, “Wow!” means “Wonder Of Wonders!” My God is truly a God of Wonders!!

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, I am so thankful that I have a living Saviour who cares for me every moment of every day. I am so thankful that when I call out to You, You hear me every single time! I know I am safe in Your arms always. Thank You for the reminder that it is You who control the winds and waves. It is You that watches over me, protects me, and loves me beyond my understanding. I am Your child… WOW! In Jesus’ precious name, amen,

Scripture: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” – Romans 7:15

Examination of Chapter: In this chapter, Paul explains how controlling sin can be. He reminds believers that they are no longer “under the Mosaic law”, but now they are free because of Christ. He explains that sin is constantly a struggle even for Christians because we still are carnal beings living in a sinful world. The law was given to reveal sin and how powerless we are against it. We can only have victory through the empowering Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Application: For the last couple of days, I’ve been riding my bike with my husband. It’s not an easy task for me as I have chronic knee pain that requires steroid shots to minimize the discomfort the bending causes, but I do it for a couple of reasons. One, I love doing things with my husband. Two, I know it’s good for me to get outside and breathe some fresh air, and lastly, I know it’s a great way to get purposeful movement in for my body.

I feel the same way about going to the gym. I’d much rather be home, reading a book or watching a Christmas movie (true confession… I watch them year-round). But, like the biking, going to the gym has a lot of health benefits, both physical and mental. So, I force myself to go… although, not as often as I should.

Paul knew exactly what that was like when he stated in Romans 7 that he knew what he should do, but failed to do it, and then the contrary was true for him as well. What he knew he shouldn’t do, he did. As Christians, we are often like Paul in that sometimes we don’t want to do those things that are critical to do for our spiritual health, and the things that are detrimental to our spiritual life, we do. No one wants to say they don’t want to read the Bible, yet that is often something we postpone doing, and then, frankly, it doesn’t get done. Prayer is another necessity for our spiritual well-being, yet often it is subconsciously viewed as obligatory and rushed, or solely engaged in at mealtime. I am so guilty of this!

Unfortunately, good habits, like eating fresh fruits and vegetables instead of chips and cookies, are not as appealing to our carnal nature. Give me a bowl of ice cream any time, any day, and I’ll happily indulge. The truth is, however, that eating foods rich in fat and sugar intensify joint pain (I apologize to my knees!), compound heart and lung disease, and make for a pretty weak and unhealthy body.

Similarly, neglecting to read my Bible and pray yields a very ineffective spiritual life.  My faith becomes weak and unable to do as Ephesians 6:16 states, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” I become extremely vulnerable to the attacks from Satan and easily fall prey to his temptations. My spiritual defenses are not able to protect me when “… your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8). Reading the Bible and praying strengthen my faith and my walk with God empowering me to “fight the good fight of faith” as Paul calls it (1 Timothy 6:12).

I also cannot defend myself against my own thoughts and sinful ways when I don’t fortify my spiritual being with Scripture and prayer. Jeremiah 17:9 warns that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” I easily fall victim to both my excuses and justifications for sinful behaviors and the world’s rationalizations for wicked actions. As the Spirit of God works to convict me of sin, my carnal self fights just as hard to justify every sinful action! I, like Paul, cry out, ”… for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

All is not lost! The remedy for an unhealthy soul is the same as for an unhealthy body. If I neglect to eat daily, my body will suffer. When I choose to not read my Bible or pray, my spirit also begins to experience the effects of a weakened faith. I must do that which I know is good for healthy growth of my spiritual nature. It is vital to make Bible reading and prayer purposeful on a daily basis, not simply items on a checklist that I get to mark off when done. Make time to read and study the Word of God each day.

The first item that nourishes our souls is reading God’s Word. Joshua 1:8 explains why the Bible is so necessary for our faith. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” In reading the Bible, we learn more about our Lord, more how to live our lives to please Him, and more about how to fight the battle against sin and wickedness in this present world. Titus 2:12 explains the importance of a good foundation in the Scriptures. “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Every verse in the Bible is meaningful for our lives as 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Neglecting the Bible will result in a starving soul.

The second element which feeds our souls is prayer. James 4:8 tells us why prayer is key to our relationship with God. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” That is why the Lord commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Keeping ourselves close to God is key to victory over sin in this world. We communicate to God through prayer, and He communicates to us through His Word. Let’s keep the lines of communication open each and every day!

There is a children’s Sunday school song that speaks to these truths.

Read your Bible and pray everyday, pray everyday, pray everyday.
Read your bible and pray everyday and you'll grow, grow, grow!

Don’t read your Bible, forget to pray, forget to pray, forget to pray.
Don't read your Bible, forget to pray, and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!

There’s a lot of wisdom in those simple lyrics! Let’s grow our faith each day!

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, I cry out to You for wisdom and help. Many times I have chosen my way, not yours, even when I’ve known better. And even though there have been times when I’ve doubted Your forgiveness for sinning against You, You keep reminding me THROUGH YOUR WORD, that You forgive every sin before and after my salvation. I am not perfect, and that is not an excuse to sin, but it is an admission, O God, that I am a broken vessel that still needs You to heal me. I thank You for Philippians 1:6. It is a comfort to know that I  am still Your work in progress. I thank You for 1 John 1:9 that reminds me that You forgives me every time I ask. Help me to be faithful to reading Your Word and praying to You. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture: “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:21

Examination of Chapter: In the chapter, the writer of Hebrews is basically reminding the Christian Jews how they ought to live on a daily basis. By doing such, they are honoring God and bringing glory to His name.

Application: Today I had the opportunity to sign via internet for a deaf lady at a conference for missionaries. It was quite challenging as I was about 900 miles away, and the internet was a bit sketchy at the campground my husband and I stayed at last night. My husband thought it would be best to try and get on the road as the internet is often better on the interstates. As we started out, he noticed a rest area coming up, and the signal on our phones switched to a better connection. He decided to pull in and stay to take advantage of the stronger link. When he drove into the rest area, he saw a cell tower just behind the parking area! Our phones shifted to 5G immediately! With a few minutes to spare, I connected with the class and was able to sign the session. That was all God!

In response, some may say, “God certainly works in mysterious ways!’ However, to say “God works in mysterious ways” is not really accurate because the Bible tells us exactly how God works.

1. God works for His specific purposes.

• “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

2. God works for His pleasure.

• “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13

3. God works for His glory.

• “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” – Isaiah 43:7

When we carefully look for His hand, we will see it actively working in our lives, in our situations, in our families, in our churches. Mysterious? Not really. More like incredibly amazing, and for that, He is to be praised!

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, thank You so much for what You do in my life. You enable me to serve You in the most amazing ways. When I feel I am not making any significant contribution to the cause of Christ in specific areas, You choose that moment in time to show me the value of what You’ve gifted me with to serve You. You are so incredibly good to me. There aren’t enough words to praise You and thank You. Please, O God, help me always to remember that as Your servant, all I do is of You, not me. Keep me humble. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture: “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” – John 4:10

Examination of Chapter: The majority of this chapter is the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. This is the first public announcement by Jesus that He is the Messiah, and the woman, in a sense, the first missionary, as she runs back to the town, shares what she has learned about Jesus and who He is. The end result is that many of the Samaritans in her community believed on Jesus.

Application: When I reflect back on my younger days, I vividly remember drinking from the hose, and that water always tasted good especially on those long hot summer days. In this day and age, we are cautioned to not allow children to quench their thirst from a hose due to the possibility of contracting some horrible disease. So what do we do? We buy water that someone has decided to bottle and label with a fancy name. Who would have ever thought that people would actually pay for something they can get from their tap? I have to ask myself, “Does it really taste better or am I just imagining it?” Regardless, I have convinced myself it does, so I pay the price for my unfounded indulgence.

Today is National Hydration Day. Since our bodies are a little more than 75% water, it’s important to drink water throughout the day whether you drink from a hose, the tap, or a fancy-labeled bottle. Wouldn’t it be nice if our bodies didn’t need a constant replenishment of water?

In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well, and their conversation centered around water. This was the first time He made it known that He was the Messiah. When He asked for a drink from the lady, she questioned Him, asking why He would speak to a Samaritan since He was a Jew. In His answer, He commented that if she knew who He was, she’d ask Him for His water. He went on to state that with His “living water”, she would never thirst again. Puzzled, she continued to question Him and his response in verse 14 states, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” As He continues speaking to her, He reveals for the first time that He is the Messiah for whom all Israel has waited.

The wonderful thing about the living water that Jesus offers is that it never has to be replenished! It is full and overflowing in our lives when we invite Him to be our Saviour. Upon placing our faith and trust in Christ, we immediately receive the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. He is that “living water” of which Jesus speaks of in John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”  

This offer that Jesus makes is for anyone. In John 7:37, He declares, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Jesus is ready to forgive sins and bestow His living water to anyone who seeks it. Once you have His Spirit, your soul will never thirst again!

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your precious gift of salvation and your living water that accompanies it. Use me, O God, to share this living water with those in need of Jesus. Help me to be like the Samaritan woman who ran to tell everyone about the Messiah! May the spiritual fountain within me overflow to others with the reality of who Jesus is, and cause them to desire to know more about Him. In Jesus’ sweet name, I pray. Amen.

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

Examination of Chapter: In this second letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul writes urging them to remember that God’s grace has saved them and will allow them to serve Him regardless of circumstances. He instructs them to associate only with those who are like-minded, that is, to be separate from the carnality of the world and to remember that they are the children of God… He is their Father.

Application: Although Mother’s Day was recognized in the early 1900s, Father’s Day was not made a holiday until 1972. However, it was in 1908 that the first occasion of honoring fathers happened as a result of the dead of hundreds of coal miners in West Virginia. A year later, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington sought to have a day to celebrate fathers. She urged the Spokane Ministerial Association and the local YMCA to do exactly that, and on the third Sunday in June 1910, the first recorded recognition of fathers from the pulpit occurred.

Father’s Day had a hard time becoming a national holiday. It was introduced to Congress in 1913, but did not pass due to opposition from President Wilson. 8 years later, President Coolidge signed a resolution regarding Father’s Day, and in 1962, President Johnson signed an executive order designating the third Sunday in June as the official day of celebrating fathers, but it wasn’t until 1972 that Congress passed it as a national holiday.

While we all have fathers, they are not all worthy of celebrating. While some fathers have been thoughtful and devoted to their children, some fathers are absent from the picture. Some have been uninvolved in their children’s lives intentionally; some have lacked the ability to be loving and caring; some have even been abusive. Some fathers simply don’t know how to show love. But there is one Father who will always love, always care, and never leave His children: God, our Father in heaven.

Our heavenly Father promises to love us eternally as it states in Jeremiah 31:3, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Our heavenly Father promises to care for us. Matthew 6:26 records Jesus’ words, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

Our heavenly Father promises to be with us always. In John 10:30, Jesus states, “I and my Father are one.” He then states in Matthew 28:20, “…lo, I am with you always”, thus the Father will never leave us.

Lastly, when God created man, He did it differently than anything else He had made. All of creation had been spoken into existence, but not Adam. To create him, the Bible records in Genesis 2:7 that God first physically molded man with His hands out of the dust, and then, unlike the animals, to give him life, God breathed into the body He had fashioned. It was, as the Bible records, “the breath of life”… God’s life! “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Each individual who has ever lived has the breath of God within their body. Regardless of one’s relationship with Him, the physicality of God exists in each human being! And then, when an individual places his faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, we are adopted into God’s family, and our heavenly Father’s Spirit comes to dwell within us! 1 John 3:1 declares, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God”.

Regardless of your relationship with your earthly father, your heavenly Father desires a personal relationship with you that began as a thought in His mind and continues for all eternity. Jeremiah 1:5 confirms,“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;” and He sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, to make possible an eternity with Him as stated in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Oh, what a Saviour! Oh, what a Father!

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much. Your Word tells me again and again how precious I am in Your sight. Thank You for your tender loving care, and the promises You have given me, assuring me that You will always be with me, from now until forever. I am so happy to be in the family of God!  In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” – Psalm 118:8

Examination of Chapter: What a wonderful chapter that praises God for His mercy and care of His children. Despite being persecuted by the enemy, God always protects and delivers His own in His time and way. The psalmist rejoiced in God’s salvation and praised Him for His salvation, goodness, and mercy.

Application: Traveling with a cat certainly has its ups and downs. I love having her with me when we go camping, but I’m not sure she feels the same way. She doesn’t seem to mind roaming around our travel trailer when we’ve set up camp, but she is not always a “happy camper” when we’re driving, and she is riding in her carrier. I know she doesn’t understand that it’s for her own safety, but it is, and after several days, she seems to accept her fate when we’re in transit to a new location.

This reminds me of my relationship with God as I travel through life. Many times He keeps me safe in ways in which I am not appreciative, and I grumble about it. It could be as simple as getting a flat tire that detains me or more complex, like not getting a job I wanted.

The Bible reminds me in Isaiah 55:8 that my ways are not the same as God’s ways. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Of course, if someone were to ask me outright if I thought I was smarter than God, I answer with a resounding “No!”, but sometimes I must confess that I do think I know what’s best for me. Same as my cat. She thinks if she could roam free in the truck, all would be well. She is completely unaware of the dangers if she should get underfoot of the brake pedal or bolt out of the door when we stop for gas. I think if God answered my prayer in the way I wanted, my life would be amazingly wonderful! I am totally unaware of the dangers that could present themselves if God answered my prayers exactly as I want. Therefore, I must learn to trust the Lord more than I trust my own instincts.

However, trusting God in every situation takes a concerted effort. I know in my head that I should trust the Lord in every and all circumstances as it states in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I often forget that my understanding is so limited and biased, plus it is often fueled by my sinful nature. Learning to trust God is an ongoing process in my life, but Psalm 37:5 reminds me, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”  As I travel through life, I must continually be reminded by His Spirit to pray and seek His guidance for everything in my life. By doing this, I will cultivate a more trusting relationship with the One who will never lead me astray. In Psalm 32:8, God promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” It is good to know that God will do that which is best for me always if I listen and trust His counsel.

Moments with God: My dearest heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to grab the reins from Your hands! My mind understands that You are all wisdom and all knowing, but my heart, which Jeremiah says is “deceitful and desperately wicked”, wants its own way. Thank You for protecting me from myself. Help me to surrender my will to Yours in all things, and grow a stronger trust in You. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Scripture: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” – Hebrews 6:19

Examination of Chapter: Hebrews 6 is urging believers to move beyond their initial foray into faith and to cultivate a deeper, richer relationship with God. The writer emphasizes that God always keeps His Word; He never lies, and He is the same now as He was when He made the Abrahamic covenant. By developing a more mature faith, the believers will come to understand the promises that God has made and will be able to depend upon them.

Application: I have a flower garden that is blooming quite beautifully right now. Unfortunately, so are the weeds! It is a constant battle keeping them from intruding into the rich fertile soil in which my flowers are thriving. I find that if I catch them early, they are easy to pull from the ground, but if I miss some, and they get anchored into the soil, they often break off, leaving the roots intact and able to grow a new weed. Being anchored with strong roots assures a plant, flower or weed, it won’t be easily removed from its spot.

That’s the same way it is with our faith in Christ. We need to be solidly anchored in the Word of God, so that we don’t become easy prey for Satan and the world to rip us from the fertile path of faith. So, how does one become anchored in their faith?

Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The place to start is with reading the Bible. The more a person reads the Scriptures, the stronger their faith becomes! As we study the Word of God, we become more and more like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. A metaphor for life, the wise man is anchored on a solid rock upon which no storm can destroy. Conversely, the foolish man built his life upon sand, meaning there is no substantial foundation for that in which he chooses to believe. This man would be easily swayed by circumstances, social media, celebrities, etc. (Matthew 7:24-27). He is missing the deep roots of faith to keep him anchored to Jesus in times of trouble or temptations.

Psalm 18:2 states, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” This is the Rock upon which we are anchored when we trust Christ as our Saviour. He is unmovable and unchanging; He is all-powerful and all-knowing; He is our stronghold and our refuge. When I am anchored in Him, I cannot be uprooted. Satan, the world, and my sinful nature constantly wants to uproot me from the garden of my Christian faith.

I become more deeply rooted in my beliefs as God’s Word continually fertilizes my faith with its wisdom, truth, and power, and it grows stronger and more sure. Being anchored in Christ provides security in the knowledge that in Him, I am nurtured and cultivated by the Spirit of God to grow a faith that cannot be uprooted by the temptations of the culture or the lies of the devil. When I am anchored in Jesus, the Solid Rock, I am able to blossom in my Christian walk, and I cannot be uprooted from the saving grace and truth of God’s Word.

Moments with God: Dearest heavenly Father, keep me grounded in Your Word. Help me to not only read it, but study it, meditate upon it, and hide it in my heart that I might not sin against You. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Scripture: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Examination of Chapter: Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, explaining his ministry.  He explains his role as an example, a mentor, and a father to the new believers in the church, and he longs to see them because he rejoices at how they have accepted the truth of God’s Word.

Application: When I was growing up, almost all Christians in the U.S. believed in the Bible.  It was even taught in public elementary schools. Today, less than one-fourth of American Christians believe the Bible is God’s Word. A large percentage of those who do think the Bible is true for the most part, do not feel it is culturally relevant. Only 1 out of every 5 adults believe the Bible is the literal Word of God.

Although I am not a Bible scholar, my faith is grounded firmly in the truth that the Bible is the Word of God. Here are some of the reasons why I believe so strongly in the Scriptures.

The Writers

The Bible was written by over 40 different individuals that included shepherds, scholars, fishermen, prophets, kings, and priests. The writings occurred over a period of 1500 years, and the authors were in total agreement with one another in what they penned.

Additionally, those responsible for copying the Scriptures were very dedicated to their task. The accuracy of their work had several safeguards, including counting the letters in each line and on each page. With the comparison to early texts, the original wording is evident in the copies of the scribes.

History

Comparing the Bible to historical documents and finding no discrepancies validates the Scriptures. Ancient pieces of pottery, coins, and other archaeological items also support the historical accuracy of the Scriptures. One very important comparative find occurred in the mid-twentieth century with the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls. Found in the caves of Qumran, these preserved manuscripts were transcribed portions of Scripture written over several centuries ago. With the exception of the book of Esther, there is a portion of every other book of the Bible, plus the entire 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah! Aside from the scrolls, there are approximately 6000 other surviving manuscripts of the New Testament, which along with the Dead Sea scrolls, help authenticate the truth of the Bible.

Archaeological digs also confirm the truth of places, events, and people recorded in the Bible. Places like Jericho and Ai in the Old Testament have been confirmed through archaeological excavations. In 1961, the Pilate stone was found, which mentions Pontius Pilate by name, the prefect who presided over the trial of Jesus. This supports the involvement of the Roman governor in the crucifixion of the Lord, and again verifies the truth of the Scriptures.

Lastly, ancient non-Christian historians kept careful records of events of the times. Jesus and other prominent New Testament individuals are referred to in various writings. Cornelius Tacitus wrote about Jesus’ execution by the Romans. Flavius Josephus included John the Baptist, Jesus, and Pilate in his writings. Their documentation of “current events” in their time adds to the validation that these were once living individuals as mentioned in the pages of the Scriptures.

Biblical Prophecy

Each time a biblical prophecy is fulfilled, it validates the Scriptures. For example, Micah 5:2 accurately prophesied about the birthplace of Jesus, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  Similarly, Isaiah 53 describes in detail the suffering Jesus would go through to become our Redeemer. Along with many other verses in the Old Testament, this passage is clearly a prophetic reference to the coming Messiah.

There are also prophecies about various earthly empires: Assyrian (Nahum), Babylonian (Isaiah 13-14), Medo-Persian (Daniel 8:20) and Roman (Daniel 2:40). Lastly, Daniel 9 speaks to the  rebuilding of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One of God… namely, Jesus. Many biblical prophecies were fulfilled centuries later, which clearly indicates the truth of the Bible.

Scientific Evidence

The Bible is not considered a book of science, but its writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, accurately recorded natural occurrences that were unknown in their time. For example, the Bible describes the water cycle in Ecclesiastes 1:7: “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.” This was a concept that scientists would not describe until centuries later.

Additionally, Job 26:7 speaks of the Earth being suspended in space hundreds of years before there were telescopes or even the science of astronomy. “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.” While the Bible’s primary purpose is to provide spiritual truths, these scientific references demonstrate that Scripture does not conflict with the natural world, but rather aligns completely with contemporary scientific understandings.

Personal Impact

Perhaps the strongest and best reason I have for believing the Bible is the change that it has made in my life. I accepted Christ as a 12-year-old girl, and for the last 60 years, I have been His “work in progress” (Philippians 1:6). The more I read and study the Bible, the more I see in me those things that need to be changed to be more aligned to what God’s Word says. I am still a sinner who struggles with sin… but I am sinner saved by His grace, and I know His Spirit gives me more and more understanding of His Word each time I read it. It is the manual for my life, and my faith and hope is placed in the truth of every single word in it.

There are many more examples that could be presented in support of the Bible’s integrity, and there will always be arguments against the truth of the Scriptures. It is vital to objectively examine the evidence regarding the authenticity of the Bible before making your decision as to its trustworthiness. Don’t rely on social media, current cultural thinking, or the opinions of others to decide for you. Determining whether or not you believe in the Bible as God’s Word is the most important decision you’ll ever make… for now and forever. So, choose wisely; your soul’s eternal destination depends upon it.

Moments with God:

Dear heavenly Father, help  me to clearly see the truth in Your Word. Help me to not be clouded by the lies of the world, the lies of Satan, and the lies I fabricate in my mind to satisfy my sinful nature. Instead, O God, create in me a clean heart and mind… able to discern the truths of Scripture. Then, empower me by Your Spirit to change my life to be more like that of Jesus, and more aligned to what Your Word says. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Scripture: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” – Galatians 6:14

Examination of Chapter: Paul is writing from Rome to the church in Galatia. He reminds the believers there that we should help others who struggle with sin in their Christian lives. He explains that loving restoration is needed, and brothers and sisters in Christ should reach out and help the struggling Christian through their season of difficulty. He goes on to state that relying on our works or religious traditions is futile; it is faith in the cross of Christ that counts in the lives of believers.

Application: On June 14, 1777, the American flag was adopted as our national banner. Thirteen white stars on a field of blue and thirteen stripes, seven red and six white, represented the original colonies, now the United States of America. The flag is our symbol of national pride and proudly flies to celebrate the liberty we have in our land. Throughout the years, our flag has changed only in the number of stars as new states were added to our country. Today, we pledge our allegiance to a nation of fifty states “under God with liberty and justice for all”.

I love my country and I love its flag, but I am only a temporary citizen of the USA. My eternal citizenship is not of this world, but in a place that shines with the glory of God! My forever home is in heaven with my Saviour; I am only traveling through this one. Philippians 3:20 states, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” (In the Greek, the word “conversation” is translated from the original word meaning “citizenship”).

Similar to the United States with its symbol of patriotism, heaven has its own representation to which I pledge my loyalty. That symbol is the cross upon which Jesus died. While it is the most horrific method of execution imaginable, it has specific meanings to me that fill me with awe, peace, and great gratitude. Speaking of Christ, 1 Peter 2:24 states, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

1) First, the rough rugged splintered timbers, of which the cross is made, speaks to me of the intense agony and suffering my Saviour endured to purchase my salvation.  Isaiah 53:5 reminds me, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

2) Second, in order to construct a cross, a tree must die, and that represents the truth that Jesus died and went into the grave bearing the burden of the most wicked and despicable sins of all mankind, including mine. Isaiah 53:12 prophetically spoke of Jesus, “…because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

3) Thirdly, the cross now stands alone. Jesus’ body is no longer there, and although He was buried, death could not hold Him!  A lone cross and an empty tomb speak to the miracle of the Lord’s resurrection! Matthew 28:6 records the glorious truth spoken of by the angel, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Three days after the death of God’s beloved Son, my precious Jesus rose from the grave and proved to the world and all the powers of hell that He truly is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, and He alone has the power to forgive the sins of anyone and everyone who places their faith and trust in Him!

The cross will forever be my true symbol of liberty. It was there that my sins were forgiven, and my soul became free from the bondage of sin! Galatians 5:1 states, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

At my house, we proudly fly the American flag to honor our country. To honor my Lord and Saviour, I wear a cross around my neck. Both remind me of the price paid for my liberties. One from the tyranny of earthly powers, and one from the powers of sin and death. Hallelujah for the cross!

Moments with God:

Dearest heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation You provided for me. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your beloved Son, for it is by His precious blood, shed on the cross for the sins of all mankind, that my freedom is found. My loyalty, my allegiance is to You forever and always. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.