Category: Devotionals

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2

Dieting. The word rarely elicits warm fuzzy thoughts. Instead, dieting conjures up those cold pricklies of deprivation, starvation, and suffering. That is probably one reason that many weight loss programs make statements such as, “It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle” or “Don’t call it a diet, call it a change of habits.” However, any way you look at it, it’s a diet. The word “diet” simply refers to the foods that an individual eats, and there are many kinds of diets. There is the vegetarian diet, the lactose-intolerant diet, the low-carbohydrate diet, etc. There’s even a spiritual diet! In fact, there are two kinds of spiritual diets.

The first spiritual diet consists of the “sincere milk of the Word.” When we first become Christians, we are like babies who must be fed mother’s milk. You wouldn’t feed steak and potatoes to a newborn child, nor would you bombard a newly saved person with the more complex doctrines of the Bible. Just as the baby could not digest the meatier foods, the new Christian would have a very difficult time understanding the deeper things of God.

However, as the baby grows, hardier foods are introduced into his or her diet, and the child thrives. Similarly, as Christians mature, they can delve more in the Scriptures and grow in their faith as the Holy Spirit works in their lives, illuminating them to the Word of God. This is the second type of spiritual diet – the “meat of the Word” (1 Corinthians 3:2). It is the diet that helps Christians grow stronger and more confident in their walk with the Lord. It is the diet that enables the followers of Christ to do great things for Him. It is the diet that satisfies souls and fills hearts with the joy of the Lord. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)

Sometimes in physical diets, a person stops following the prescribed regimen, and their forward progress stops. Sometimes it even regresses. That can happen with one’s spiritual diet as well. If I don’t continue to feed myself from the Word of God, my spiritual growth will be stunted. Unlike cheating on a physical diet, if I deprive myself of the nourishment from the Scriptures, I will become spiritually emaciated. I have to keep a healthy intake of the Word of God to progress in my spiritual life, moving from the milk to the meat.

Another issue is cravings. When I’ve been on a particular diet for a while, I begin to crave the foods that have been omitted from my food plan. Sometimes the craving is so strong that I will search and search through cupboards, hoping to find any morsel that remotely resembles the food I want to eat. If I experience a physical craving, it is telling my body that it desires something from which it has been deprived. Spiritual cravings also indicate the need for spiritual nourishment!  Our souls are desperate for the Word of God! “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

I long for the moments when I crave the Word of God and search through the Scriptures for those satisfying morsels. In those times when I cry out, “Fill my cup, Lord,” I know He will!

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

(from “Fill My Cup, Lord” by Richard Blanchard)

“Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.” Proverbs 7:15

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Only a diet of God’s Word and His saving grace can satisfy the longing of a hungry soul!

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

I worry about things. Not obsessively, but I do worry. Most people do. Worries are referred to as “cares” in the Bible. Some cares are rather mundane, like paying the bills or dealing with the aches and pains of growing older, but others are more serious. Regardless of the severity of the “cares,” God tells us to give them to Him because He wants to handle them for us. He loves us and cares about our well-being. But giving our worries to God requires something that I hadn’t ever realized. It requires a humble spirit to “cast one’s cares” upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:6).

To be humble means to have a low esteem of one’s importance. It is the humble spirit that seeks God because in Him is their only hope. The humble man realizes he is powerless to deal with so many things, and he needs help from an all-powerful and loving God. A prideful person doesn’t want God to handle their cares because they believe they can handle things themselves. When individuals have an excessively high opinion of themselves, they no longer see any need for God in their lives.

However, with a spirit of humility, one realizes their need God every moment of every day. He is the one who supplies all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). He is the one who gives us life (Job 33:4), and He is the one who protects and helps us in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Today, there are a myriad of problems that confront each of us, and God is the only one in whom there can be permanent and lasting solutions, but we must bow before Him in all humility when we seek His help. When we do, God will respond.

The Bible tell us…

• God hears the prayer of the humble: “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.” – 2 Kings 22:19
• God gives grace to the humble: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6
• God delivers the humble: “And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.” 2 Chronicles 12:7
• God lifts up the humble: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:10
• God exalts the humble: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” – Luke 14:11
• God heals the dwelling place of the humble: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

When we approach the Lord as humbly as we know how, seeking His forgiveness on bended knee and with a penitent heart, He will hear from heaven and take care of us as only a loving Father can!

If thou wouldst have the dear Savior from heaven
Walk by thy side from the morn till the even,
There is a rule that each day you must follow:
Humble thyself to walk with God.

Just as the Lord, in the world’s early ages,
Walked and communed with the prophets and sages,
He will come now if you meet the conditions:
Humble thyself to walk with God.

Just as the stream finds a bed that is lowly,
So Jesus walks with the pure and the holy;
Cast out thy pride, and in heartfelt contrition
Humble thyself to walk with God.

Humble thyself and the Lord will draw near thee,
Humble thyself and His presence shall cheer thee;
He will not walk with the proud or the scornful,
Humble thyself to walk with God.

(from “Humble Thyself to Walk with God” by Johnson Oatman)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:6

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“He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride; He that is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide.” – John Bunyan

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” – John 6:27

I admit I am driven my numbers when it comes to physical health. Today, when I got on the scale, I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw! As I thought about the validation I received for my physical work, I began to think about how I could measure success spiritually. In my physical health journey, I can get on the scale each week or take my body’s measurements to know how successful I have been with that aspect of my heath, but I have no scale to measure my spiritual health progress. Do I measure my spiritual success by how often I read my Bible or how often I pray? Do I measure it by the times or ways that I serve God? No, I don’t believe these are the best ways to measure my spiritual health. I need a standard of measure that is consistent and sure.

The only way to measure my spiritual health is by measuring it against the standard set by the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 6:40 states, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” The more I am like Jesus, the healthier my spiritual life. But exactly how do I achieve that?

As always, the answers are in the Scriptures themselves! Here are some guidelines I found by which I can measure by spiritual health.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice evermore.”
  • Do I live a life of rejoicing? Do I rejoice in my salvation? When a situation is difficult or heartbreaking, do I rejoice that God remains in control, knows about it, and will deliver me from it?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
  • Are my prayers as natural to me as breathing? Are my prayers given in the spirit of worship and thanksgiving, or only asked out of need? Which kinds of prayer do I offer to God? How often do I pray? How much thought goes into them?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
  • Do I give thanks to God in the bad times as well as the good? Do I remember that God is in all things in my life? Though I may not see how or understand the whys, do I rejoice and give thanks that He is in my life, and His reasons for allowing things in my life demonstrate His love and care for me, and have a divine purpose?
• I Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit.”
  • Do I often ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit? When He reminds me to read the Word, do I listen and obey? Do I fail to heed Him?
• I Thessalonians 5:20 – “Despise not prophesyings.”
  • Do I respect the preaching of the Word of God? Do I value it? Do I apply it to my life?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
  • Do I search the Scriptures for understanding, comparing what I hear and think to what God’s Word says about it? Do I use the Bible as my ultimate source of wisdom and guidance? Do I adhere to its precepts in my life?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
  • Do I look like the world? Speak like the world? Act like the world? Do I take an active stand against ungodliness, or do I compromise?

This is not an all-inclusive list, but it is a very good place to start. In each of these verses, I can clearly see these attributes in Jesus’ life, therefore they are excellent standards for me to strive to attain in my own life.

The Bible says we should “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)  How close am I to Christ? Not as close as I would like. I have a long way to go, but with His help, I will get there!

More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.

More like the Master I would live and grow;
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be.

Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart, and make it all Thine own;
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.

(from “More Like the Master” by Charles H. Gabriel)

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

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Can others see Jesus in you?

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” – Romans 5:5

My track record is pretty dismal when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I know I’m not alone in that, but that’s not very comforting. Is there a way to change this? I think so… I hope so!

I chose to start with some personal reflection, which yielded some uncomfortable results.  I realize my previous health journeys have been laced with pride, selfishness, and laziness (ouch!), but this time I am implementing a different mindset. I am choosing to step outside my comfort zone by blogging about my health journey. This makes me very vulnerable to others, and this is extremely difficult for me. I have past issues (don’t we all?) that compound this, but holding on to my pride is not something I want to do. As Pastor Jackson said in one of his recent Sunday school lessons, pride is the root of all sin, and it should not be a part of my life. My health journey has to begin with a humble spirit. Clearly, this journey will be two-fold for me: physical and spiritual.

In order to move forward, I first must ask the Lord to forgive me for my pride, selfishness, and laziness, which have all contributed to a very unhealthy lifestyle. It is never easy for a prideful person to admit they have a problem with humility, but it is vital to do so in order to have the right relationship with God. I really am clinging to 1 John 1:9, which states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

My next step is to be more pro-active in my health journey. I have started a program to help with the physical part, and I am working to improve my spiritual being. No longer will I be on my own or put the entire responsibility elsewhere. I am trying to do my part, while depending on God to do His part. As I improve physically (my part), I will trust Him to help me “get in shape” spiritually (His part).

Isaiah 12:2-5 states, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.”

The Scriptures promise that the Lord will never leave nor forsake His children (Deuteronomy 31:6).  He is our strength and our salvation.  He is MY strength and MY salvation. God knows my deepest fears, even those I don’t want to put into print. I have failed so many times, and it scares me to think that I might fail again, but looking back, I see that I either left Him out of the picture completely and tried to be successful without Him (prideful, selfish), or I put the entire burden on Him with me doing nothing (lazy). These choices led to failure. I now realize that if I continue to do the same things, there is no way the results will be different. Something has to change!

This time, I realize that I must work with God. I need to do my part, and trust Him to do His part, but I must be involved. My prayer is that God will help me be strong in Him and trust Him; help me depend on Him, and not lean on my own understandings. I must allow God to direct my paths to success in this health journey, as well as all the other areas of my life and do what He directs me to do (Proverbs 3:5-6). If I am faithful to trust and obey, He will be faithful to His part. He always has been; He always will be. I pray He will keep me on the right track, trusting and believing in the outcome – a body that is healthy and better fit to be a temple for His Holy Spirit. I know the saying is “failure is not an option,” but it has always been an option for me. Today, I am changing my mindset because frankly, “failure is not an option with God.” It is time for me to soar on the wings of eagles with the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail
One still loves and cares for you, One who will not fail.

In life’s dark and bitter hour, love will still prevail
Trust His everlasting pow’r, Jesus will not fail

Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails
Heav’n and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails

(from “Jesus Never Fails” by Arthur Luther)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

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If the Lord brings me to mind, please pray for me, that I will be humble in spirit and faithful to His leading in this journey. Thank you!

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” – Jeremiah 33:3

If you had Aladdin’s magic lamp, what would be your three wishes? Would you ask for money? Love? Health? Fame? Maybe you would be a bit more noble and ask for world peace or the end of global warming. Some might even ask for extra wishes, but of course, that’s not allowed in the world of wishing!

In some ways, wishing is akin to praying. Wishing means to have a strong desire for something that is not easily accessible. Similarly, praying is defined as strongly hoping for something or a particular outcome. Yet, while they may have some similarities, there are definite differences between the two.

When I wish for something, it is an arbitrary thought for which I really have no basis to expect it to come to fruition. A wish is like a whisper on the wind. It is a thought that is there one moment, then gone the next. There is no tangible destination for a wish. When I blow out my birthday candles and make a wish, it simply vanishes into thin air. Likewise, when I see a falling star and make a wish, I have no real expectation of that wish coming true.

On the other hand, prayer is a specifically directed thought aimed toward the heart of God, and the expectation is for Him to answer. When people pray, God listens, and when He listens, He acts. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Prayer is also limitless. The Bible reminds us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Unlike wishes, we are not restricted to only three prayers. God wants us to share everything on our hearts with Him. Why? Because He loves us, and He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

God promises that if we pray, He will show us great and mighty things. Through answered prayer, God’s power and glory is displayed. “I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:” (Job 5:8-9)

When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn in half, giving us access to the throne of God, so we can pray in confidence. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” and again in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The only caveat is that we ask in faith, according to God’s will (1 John 5:14), and then we can know that He will answer, and it will be in the manner that is best for those concerned.

We don’t need an Aladdin’s lamp; we have God. All we need is a humble spirit, a trusting heart, and a prayer of faith to see the great and mighty things of the Lord!

I must tell Jesus all of my trials,
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me,
He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

(from “I Must Tell Jesus) by Elisha A. Hoffman)

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” – Jeremiah 29:12

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“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God.” – John Bunyan

“O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” – Psalm 30:2

I was thinking about the changes that I need to make to have a healthier lifestyle, and one of these is to incorporate more water into my diet. While water is not usually my first “go-to” when thirsty, I know it is better for me than soda or coffee or even… sweet tea! (I know my southern friends are shuddering at that thought right now!) I am supposed to drink 6-8 cups of water each day (48-64 ounces), and while that seems like a lot, it’s becoming easier for me since I’ve chosen to give up soda for now.

According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. Our skin, muscles, and kidneys are each more than 60% water, and even our bones are approximately 30% eater! As a whole, our bodies are approximately 60% water, so it makes sense that water is an important part of healthy living.

Water helps our bodies get rid of poisonous substances. When these toxins accumulate, the tissues in our bodies begin to break down and die. Water helps flush out these harmful substances so our bodies can continue functioning as they should.

Water is important spiritually as well. In John 4, Jesus talks about our need for “living water.” He tells the Samaritan woman in reference to the well water she is drawing, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;” (John 4:13-14)

Similar to toxins that invade our physical bodies, sin attacks us spiritually. When our spiritual lives are polluted by sin, it can also lead to death. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23, that “The wages of sin is death.” In order to rid ourselves of sin and its consequences, we must avail ourselves of the living water that Jesus offers. Just as water cleanses our physical bodies of poisonous substances, the living water that Christ offers cleanses us of the spiritual toxin of sin.

Jesus said, “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.” (John 4:14)

How does one obtain this “living water”? Simply put your faith in Jesus. Ask Him to forgive your sins and become your Saviour. Once you are saved, you will have a bountiful supply of His living water springing up from within your heart… enough that you will be able to share it with others!

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,
And nothing satisfying there I found;
But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came,
Where springs of living water did abound.

How sweet the living water from the hills of God,
It makes me glad and happy all the way;
Now glory, grace and blessing mark the path I’ve trod,
I’m shouting “Hallelujah” every day.

Drinking at the springs of living water,
Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;
Drinking at the springs of living water,
O wonderful and bountiful supply.

(from “Springs of Living Water” by John W. Peterson)

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

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Open your Bible and have a cup of living water today!

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

There is a wonderful serenity in knowing the Lord’s got me in His hand. In the midst of all the uncertainty of today, God is certain. He is and always will be. He is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow. There is no changing with Him. Knowing this relieves any anxiety I have about this virus.

Yes, it’s inconvenient having to “shelter-in-place.” I admit I was a bit taken aback for a moment when I heard that if a person was 65+ or had underlying health issues that would make the high risk, they were to remain under the “shelter-in-place” order until the middle of June. I was looking forward to rejoining my church family on Mother’s Day, but for me that will not be happening. As I pondered this, I was reminded that God’s got it all under control. My responsibility is to trust Him in all things. So, I will.

I will continue my worship privately with my family and with my “livestreamers,” rejoicing that I have a God who wasn’t caught by surprise with covid-19. His plan for me goes on, and I am excited to see where He is taking me!

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead

Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

(from “I Don’t Know About Tomorrow” by Ira F. Stanphill)

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…” Matthew 6:34

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If you find yourself becoming anxious, take a look at where you are. Are you following Jesus or leading Him?

“I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:4

Have you ever really looked at the natural world around you? Have you noticed the mountain peaks? Their peaks point upward to God! Look at the trees. Their branches point upward to God! See the flowers? Their blossoms and leaves reach upward to the Lord! Why? I believe they are praising the Lord for He is worthy of worship and praise! He is worthy because He is God!

What Does the Bible Say About Nature’s Worship?

• Isaiah 55:12 states, “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
• Luke 19:37-40 records, “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
• Isaiah 35:1-2 reads, “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing…”
• Psalm 69:34 confirms that all of God’s creation praises Him. “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.”

Why Should We Praise and Worship God?

• He is our Creator – “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:3-4)
• He commands us to praise Him – “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6)
• He has unending mercy – “Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118:28-29)
• He is great – “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:3)
• He provides salvation – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

What Does Praising God Accomplish?

• Praise removes our focus from ourselves, and puts it on God. It’s important to remember that life is not all about us. We were made to worship God and have fellowship with Him.
  • “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” (Psalm 150:2)
  • “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” (Psalm 48:1)
• Praise keeps us in the right place. We need to remember that God is our Creator. He sustains us; He saves us. We are dependent upon Him. Praise helps us understand that it is God that meets our needs.
  • “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:2-3)
• Praise protects us from the enemy. Satan will do anything he can to destroy our relationship with God. He will do anything to stop us from serving God.
  • “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (II Samuel 22:3-4)
• Praise allows God’s power to be displayed.
  • “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26)
• Praise prepares us to approach the throne of God.
  • “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4)
• Praise elicits God’s blessings.
  • “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3)
• Praise elicits God’s presence in our lives.
  • “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!

(from “Praise Him, Praise Him” by Fanny Crosby”

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 150:6

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When was the last time your prayer to the Lord was only an offering of praise and worship? Perhaps now would be a good time to do just that!

“And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” – Exodus 23:25

Journeys to better health always begin with food. As I think about improving my health status, I know I must make food choices based upon what is beneficial to attaining my goal, not upon what I happen to be craving at the moment. I must choose lean meats and vegetables and nutritionally balanced meals over fast food lunches, sweets, and “empty-calorie” snacks. As I incorporate wiser choices in my food, my heart and lungs will become more efficient, my muscles will become stronger, and I will have more energy!  Over time, I hope to establish healthier habits when it comes to choosing and preparing my food, leading to a healthier lifestyle.

My spiritual life is much the same as my physical life. If I want my mind and my soul to be at their best, I must be wise about how I “feed” them. If I spend my time inputting ungodly materials into my mind, the results will be a soul that is starving for the things of God. John 6:35 records Jesus saying, “…  I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” When I take the time to nourish my soul with the Word of God, my faith will grow strong. If I should neglect my time of Bible study and prayer, my soul will suffer. I will lack the strength I need to do what God desires of me, and I will be easily waylaid by sin and the world’s temptations. I won’t have the ability to “stand against the wiles of the devil” or “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:11,16) With a sound spiritual diet of godly habits, I will develop the faith I need to “…take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)

As I incorporate healthy servings of Bible study, prayer, and personal worship into my life each day, my faith in God will grow strong and healthy. I will have the spiritual energy I need to run the race set before me (Hebrews 12:1), and to run it well.

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

(from “Break Thou the Bread of Life” by Mary A. Lathbury and Alexander Groves)

“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” – John 6:33

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Need a coach in your corner? Jesus is right there, waiting to help you in every aspect of becoming healthier in body and soul!

“God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.” – 2 Samuel 22:33

I have noticed some serious changes in me during this quarantine. One that is particularly distressing is that I have become even more sedentary than before this virus, and unfortunately I have regained some weight, lost muscle strength, and found that fatigue is a constant “friend.” I’d like to blame it on my age, or the virus, or the fact that the gyms are still closed, but the bottom line is that I have chosen to partake in an unhealthy lifestyle.

I’ve had lots of ups and downs when it comes to dieting and weight loss. One thing I have realized is that I have a tendency to do things the same way (the easy way), but I expect different results. That doesn’t work. To get different results, I must do different things. I am not referring just to a particular program because the fact is that weight loss is mathematically simple. Output must be more than input to lose weight. Unfortunately, being mathematically simple does not make it physically, mentally, or emotionally easy to accomplish that because there is so much more to being healthy than being attentive to what one eats or doesn’t eat.

There is a very famous poem entitled, “Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Fishback Powers. It speaks of the footprints made in the sand when walking with God along the beach. Sometimes there are two sets of prints, and at other times, there is only one set of footprints. The one set initially seems to indicate God has left the person alone, but as you read on, it is revealed that those times are actually when God is carrying the person through the most difficult times of their life.

Like many others, I have had some serious troubles in life, and God has carried me through them all. Cancer, financial struggles, family issues… He has always been faithful to see me through each situation; He has never abandoned me. Even in this newest journey on which I am embarking, I know He will be with me because He said He would never leave me. When I falter (and I will), He will be faithful to carry me. When I am overwhelmed (and I will be), He will encourage me through His Word. When I can’t go on (and I will feel like it), He will give me His strength, and when I want to quit (and I will want to), His Spirit will whisper in my ear, “You can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you.” (Philippians 4:13)

I cannot say that I am not scared of the challenges ahead of me, for I have started this journey many times in the past, and I have never been successful. Today, I begin this health journey with the acute awareness that God walks with me. I know when I stumble, He will lift me up as He has always done, and when I am too tired to go on, He will carry me. When fears come, I will remember that I am not alone. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)

In myself I failed the Lord, then was afraid to try once more
That fire in my soul had fled, that’s when Jesus came and said
My spirit, gives the strength you need, to raise you up and to succeed
And for vision in the night, to you I’ll give these words of light

He said my child don’t look behind, discouragement is all you’ll find
Don’t watch the waves that roll the sea, just focus your eyes on me
And I will make you strong and then your shattered courage I will mend
And if you fall and should get hurt, remember these eternal words

Fear not my child, I’m with you always
I feel every pain and every tear I see
Fear not my child, I’m with you always
I know how to care for what belongs to me

(from “Fear Not, My Child” by Carman D. Licciardello)

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” – Jeremiah 32:27

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If you have a certain journey you must walk, invite God to come along with you. You’ll be so glad you did!