Writing On Eagles Wings

“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

**********

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

**********

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

**********

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

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” – Deuteronomy 4:29

I’ve heard a lot about entitlement lately. It is the belief that a person fundamentally deserves privileges or special treatment. It’s a “give-it-to-me-because-I’m-me” way of thinking, which is a very worldly, prideful way of thinking. This way of thinking leads to individuals who are no longer active, contributing members of society because they believe they no longer should be obligated to earn something by their labors. instead they should receive it simply because “I’m me and I deserve it.”

God doesn’t see it that way. In fact, in His eyes, we are totally unworthy of anything. We do receive from Him because He loves us, but we do not passively receive. I have yet to find anything in the Bible that is passively given… not even salvation. I imagine many of you are shaking your heads as your mind screams, “What? I have to earn my salvation?” NO! That’s impossible for us to do. I simply said it was not randomly tossed out for anyone to grab and claim. So, what is it we have to do? We have to believe and ask. We perform the action, and then God reacts. Acts 2:21 demonstrates this. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord (action) shall be saved.” (reaction)

Throughout the Bible, there are conditional promises God makes to us. This means if we obey His Word, He will fulfill His promise. Take a close look at today’s key verse. If you want to find God, you can’t just sit on your sofa all day and expect Him to appear before you in a puff of smoke. Instead, you must seek Him through prayer and His Word (action), and then you will find Him (reaction). Here are a few other action-reaction verses in the Bible.

• Exodus 20:12 – “Honour thy father and thy mother: (action) that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (reaction)
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; (action) then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (reaction)
• Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: (action) and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (reaction)
• Proverbs 3:5,6 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, (action) and he shall direct thy paths.”(reaction)
• Isaiah 40:31 – “But they that wait upon the LORD (action) shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (reaction)

Get the idea? There is no such thing as an “entitlement” when it comes to being a Christian. We must have an active faith, which will yield results because we have a God who loves us beyond measure and always keeps His promises. When we obey His Word, there is nothing our Father in heaven will withhold from us. All we have to do is put our faith into action, and then wait for God’s reaction!

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

(from “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis)

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Proverbs 37:4

**********

In physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When God reacts to our actions, His reactions are always abundantly more than we could ever imagine!

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6

Today I watched my two granddaughters head out to play a round of golf with their two grandfathers. Pappy, my husband, is from California, and Papa, whose birthday happens to be today, is from Georgia. These two wonderful men are helping shape the lives of these two precious young ladies, and I couldn’t help but feel such great joy in my heart as they drove to the golf course.

Neither my husband nor I was raised in a Christian home, so in a sense we are “first-generation Christians for our families. On the opposite end of the spectrum, my daughter’s in-laws were brought up in homes that have been well-grounded in the faith for generations.

When I look at our grandchildren, I see a blend of social cultures (one from the bustling suburbs of Los Angeles, and one from the quiet countryside of rural Georgia) and ethnic heritages (Scottish-Irish-English-Scandinavian-Japanese).  But there is more to it than just the familial backgrounds of the girls.

I also see the melding of a common faith that has been nurtured and passed on from both sets of grandparents. As our grandchildren grow, I see in them a faith that is developing its own ground, where one day, if the Lord should tarry, they will pass that same faith to their own children and their children’s children!

My husband and I also have a special relationship with our grandchildren’s paternal grandparents. We all worship together in the same church, and often do things together outside of church, like meeting for lunch or celebrating a birthday or holiday as a family. But there is more than our common grandchildren that makes us a family.

We are all part of the family of God. While we do have a physical bond through our grandchildren, we also have an eternal bond through Jesus, God’s Son. Each of us has professed a faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and an acceptance of Him as our Saviour. There is no greater joy in life than to see your children and grandchildren receive Jesus as their personal Saviour. There is no greater responsibility or privilege for a parent or grandparent than to nurture that faith and help each generation grow in their relationship with the Lord.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else could do.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story; ’twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

(from “I Love to Tell the Story” by Kate Hankey and William Fischer)

“We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.” Psalm 78:4

**********

Has Jesus made a difference in your life? Why not tell your grandchildren how He did it?

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;” – Acts 17:24

I heard God today. I heard Him in the early morning songs of the birds around my campsite. I heard Him again when the wind softly blew through the trees, rustling the leaves ever so gently.

I felt God today. I felt Him as the warm rays of the rising sun kissed my face. I felt Him as the breeze swirled around me as I watched the flickering flames of the campfire

I saw God today. I saw Him in the faces of my granddaughters as they sang songs of praise to him this morning around the campfire. I also saw Him in the lifted hands of a woman, who, as she passed by, began to sign the words to “The Old Rugged Cross,” the song we were singing!

I know I can find God everywhere when I earnestly look for Him. His Word tells me, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Isaiah 55:6) Sometimes I don’t even need to actively seek Him; He’s right there. I just need to open my heart to His presence.

In the midst of His children the Lord said He would be.
It doesn’t take very many, it can be just two or three.
And I feel that same sweet spirit that I felt often times before.
Surely I can say I’ve been with the Lord.

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angels wings.
I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

(from “Surely the Presence of the Lord” by Lanny Wolfe)

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Proverbs 8:17

**********

Where do you find God?

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

This morning I read a post from a friend who had reposted someone else’s thoughts. In summary, the original post stated that all the days had become meaningless during this time of “shelter-in-place.” My friend’s response refuted that, giving many reasons as to why these days were a blessing despite the trials and tribulations of being quarantined.

It made me think of a couple of things. First, the original post reminded me of Solomon’s sad discourse in Ecclesiastes, which stated that everything was of no value, empty and useless. However, at the end of the book, Solomon decreed that it is God who gives life meaning. WIthout Him, our existence is futile, but with God, life is glorious! “For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.” (Ecclesiastes 5:20)

Second, I thought of the apostle Paul. His life was fraught with challenges that would cause anyone to doubt the value of life on earth. Yet, despite shipwrecks, imprisonment, and rejection, Paul was completely satisfied with the life he had in Christ. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

Third, I am reminded to keep my eyes on Jesus. When my life is seemingly empty, I have to look to my Saviour. He died to give my life meaning! When I am facing despondency, and I see no hope for the future,  I must remember what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:37, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” The only thing that makes my life pointless is a life without Christ! With Him, my life has purpose regardless of the circumstances surrounding me. Romans 8:28 tells me, “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,” even times of quarantine!  Colossians 3:2 tells me to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” I just need to keep looking up!

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

(from “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel)

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

**********

When your life is filled with Sonshine, every day is meaningful!

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33

Have you ever been confused? I have. When I first moved to Georgia, I had the hardest time figuring out the street system. I could be driving along a particular street when suddenly its name changed! Did I make wrong turn…nope, I was still going the same direction… or was I? When I first turned on the street, the highway sign said I was going east, but now it said west, and I was pretty certain I hadn’t changed directions! Now, I understand why Georgians use landmarks in giving directions. For example, “Take a left at the old red barn with the big oak tree” is so much clearer for me to know where to turn!

Life can also be confusing, often when facing circumstances in which we do not know what to do. Sometimes our minds may recall the above verse, and then situations become even more difficult to discern because the implication is that the confusion comes from Satan, and we feel guilty for the turmoil in our heads. Confusion is not always from the devil. Are there times when it is from Satan? Absolutely, but that doesn’t mean that every time we’re confused, we are under a spiritual attack. Just ask any student taking an algebra test. Confusion between theorems and formulas are rampant, but it’s not from demonic influences!

As humans, our minds are prone to be filled with conflicting information, and it’s the job of the brain to sort these things out. Until then, we may feel a bit confused, and that’s okay, but when we become spiritually confused, we have a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. We need to realize that God is not responsible for spiritual confusion. That type of confusion has two sources: one is our own inability to understand, or two, Satan’s influence invades our thought processes and generates conflicting ideas. If you hear something in a Sunday school class, a worship service, or even a religious podcast or television broadcast that seems confusing, there are ways to deal with it.

First and foremost, you have the Word of God. Within its pages, there are always answers, but sometimes we need help in wither finding or understanding the passages or individual verses of Scripture. That is one reason, God has given us His Holy Spirit. One of His jobs is to help us understand God’s Word and apply it to our lives. Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) Another thing you can do is talk with someone who know the Bible very well, and who has demonstrated a spiritual maturity in the Word of God. Usually, this would be the pastor of your church. He is there to help you understand the Bible. Both the pastor and associate pastor of my church have always taken the time to explain portions of Scripture to me when I don’t understand.

The key to getting rid of spiritual confusion is to ask for help, seek the answers in the Bible, and listen carefully with an open mind. If you sincerely seek the truth of God, it will most definitely be revealed to you through the work of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7:7), and when confusion is removed, it is replaced by the sweet peace of God.

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

(from “Wonderful Peace” by Warren D. Cornell and William G. Cooper)

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” – Psalm 71:1

**********

“The reason why the Christians in this day are at such a loss as to some things is that they are contented with what comes from man’s mouth, without searching and kneeling before God to know of Him the truth of things.” – John Bunyan

“And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” – Mark 4:24

I remember playing the game, Telephone, when I was younger. The game started with one person whispering a story in another’s ear, then that person would whisper the same story into another person’s ear, and so on, until the last person would repeat aloud what was whispered into his ear. The results were often vastly different than the original story!

I wonder how carefully I listen today, and when I do, do I consider the source? There’s a lot of information available to us all, and we can get it at a moment’s notice due to technology. For example, the internet is rampant with articles about the coronavirus. The more grim the story, the more attention it seems to receive. I wonder how many people actually check the sources for credibility.

In Mark 4, Jesus is speaking to a group of His followers, and He warns them to be careful with what they hear. They were instructed by the Lord to be diligent discerners of everything that was told to them. This is important for us as well. However, it becomes critical when listening to Bible-based messages through Sunday school lessons, sermons, ladies’ meetings, radio podcasts, or other means of communication.  We must always consider the source.

Just because someone stands before you, doesn’t mean they are the ultimate authority on the subject. As a Christian, when someone teaches or preaches anything related to the Lord, it is our responsibility to check what they say against the Bible. We need to be like the Bereans, who are commended in Acts 17:11. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Do you ever wonder why faithful pastors include Scripture references in their messages? It encourages us to “check it out,” that is, to compare what is being preached to the Word of God. I once was invited to a church where the person delivering the message never opened a Bible, and never made one single Scripture reference. No one in the congregation had a Bible either. They did not have discerning ears. Instead, they blindly believed everything they heard. This is very dangerous for the hearer because they will never recognize false doctrine when they hear it. 2 Peter 2:1 states, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” We must never let our guard down when it comes to discerning what we hear about God, even if we hear it from our own lips!

I love discussing things I’ve learned from a Sunday school class or sermon with others. It’s enlightening to hear how God illuminates His Word in the hearts of His people, and I learn from these chats, but even my own thoughts should align with the Bible. If I cannot support what I say with Scripture, my thoughts are merely speculation, and I must be careful to identify them as such so as not to mislead anyone.

We learn how to apply concepts in Scripture by speculation and application, but we must always remember that it is the Word of God that is the ultimate authority when it comes to the intent of God. Skewing Scripture to fit one’s own philosophies is never be acceptable; we should alter our own personal beliefs to align with the Bible. This can be very difficult if a person has spent a lifetime believing certain things as “carved in stone,” then discovering that there is no Scripture to back it up. Is that wrong? Not necessarily so, but it also doesn’t make it right. It’s one of those things in the area of speculation. Some speculations make sense to the human mind, but that doesn’t make them the absolute truth.

Only God’s Word is the absolute truth. Measure all you hear against it. As you consistently do this, you will be given even more spiritual illumination and understanding.

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Open my mind, that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

(from “Open My Eyes That I May See” by Clara Scott)

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” – Matthew 13:43

**********

There is no “fake news” in the Bible!

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” – Luke 11:9

Self-examination is never fun for me. If I do it honestly, I find so much that needs improvement.  I struggle with pride, so even when it is me doing the critical evaluating, my illuminations often discomfort me. But properly done, self-examination can be extremely beneficial, especially in one’s spiritual life.

I have a plaque that is a constant reminder to examine my prayer life. It reads “Faith is not knowing that God can, it is believing that God will.” I sometimes live in the “God can…” world. That means that while I know God is perfectly capable of doing anything, I am not always convinced that He will, thus I become passive in my prayer life. Not a good place to be. I have to be reminded frequently that I cannot be double minded in my faith. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) Today’s verse was another gentle reminder of how easily I can return to my “God can..” world.

Do I ask, or do I just hope?

• Hoping means I am crossing my fingers and wishing something will happen.
• Asking means I am praying to my heavenly Father and sharing my desires with Him.
• Hoping is passive; asking is active.

Do I seek, or do I just expect?

• Expecting means I assume something will happen without my intervention.
• Seeking means I am actively involved in getting an answer or solving a problem.
• Expecting is passive; seeking is active.

Do I knock, or do I just wait?

• Waiting means I am doing nothing but anticipating someone to let me in.
• Knocking means I am telling someone that I am present and eager to enter.
• Waiting is passive; knocking is active.

If I want results, I must be actively engaged in my Christian walk. This means that I must have an active prayer life. I must go before my heavenly Father and share all this is on my heart, trusting Him to act. I must not doubt His intervention, but I must know He will answer me. (That doesn’t mean He will answer as I want, but He will answer in the way that is best for all concerned and according to His perfect will. Therefore, I must…

• ASK – “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13
• SEEK – “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
• KNOCK – “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:10

If I never ask, seek, or knock, how can I expect God to answer, reveal, or open?

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu Alleluia

Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and it shall be opened unto you
Allelu Alleluia

(from “Seek Ye First” by Karen Lafferty)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

**********

No where does it say “God might answer” or “you might find” or “it might be opened.” Trust His Word; if He says it will happen, it will happen!