Category: Daily Word

Good Morning,

     "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose and the autumn crocus.  It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing.  The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellency of Mt. Carmel and the plain of Sharon.  They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty and splendor and excellency of our God.  And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing and everlasting joy shall shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."  (Is. 35:1-2; vs.10)

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     Today I was thinking on all of the latest fires of trials that the children of God are encountering.  I remembered a lesson that I taught about going through the fire and coming forth as pure gold.  I have probably taught that lesson at least twice in the years that I have been ministering, God reminded me that it was not just a good teaching, but as with all of His Word it is something that we must live out.  "But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it].  When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]". (Job 23:10)  I will start by reminding you to stay in the covenant with God, don't leave Him.  "If you faint in the day of adversity, then your strength is small".  (Prov. 24:10) "So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.  Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong". (Hebrews 12:12) Faint means to pass out from weakness or lose consciousness, it means to lack clarity or distinctness, to become dull, blurred, feeble; to be unclear, vague or stifled, to slacken, cease or abate; (because of adversities).  Adversities mean tightness of trouble, affliction, anguish, distress and tribulation.  I know we all know that we will have some troubles, for even Jesus said; "In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world..".  Yet, when they come, most of us seem unprepared, or we want to ask God, why us?  Instead of realizing that most of all we go through the fires of adversities to burn from our own hearts, impurities that hinder us from being 'pure gold.'  We usually ignore or blur the verses that refer to troubles, trials, and tribulations.  What do we do with this verse; "Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations." (James 1:2)?  Well, I can honestly say that I  ave been enveloped by trials of every sort and kind, still learning to consider them joyfully.  In order to do that we must exercise foresight, to see the value and the worth of God working out any immediate troubles and bringing out the good in us and for us.  But I have learned to do one thing well as a Christian, especially as of late, and that is to cast.  "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully". (I Peter 5:7)  Casting means to throw aside and to place upon; to boot and impel.  I learned to do this, by God asking me this simple question, every time I try to handle the trials and troubles with my worrying and carrying them.  Here it is: "What can you do about it, Debra?"  Nine times out of ten, the answer is nothing.   So, since it is out of my scope of fixing, repairing, restoring or straightening out, I turn it over to God and pray.  Wow, that has made my life of faith and trusting God, so much easier.  Now, I am not telling you that the enemy quit trying.  You know how he is, he just keeps coming up with more twisted ideas to try and destroy.  The only way to break this rut is to consistently keep casting over and over again, until it becomes more real to you than the problems.  Keep booting the cares out and away from you.  Don't you know that the enemy desires to use the trials to kill, steal, and destroy us, using the cares of this world to hinder our growth.  Don't come under, arise over circumstances by letting God be your God.  Remember, "this to shall pass."  Utilize your faith and hone your confessions.  "Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all". (Psa.34:19) God will defend, recover, rescue, and will do it without fail.

     In order to succeed in the next year, 2011, we must stay with God's Word and not quit.  Get up if you fall, and start running again.  "So let us hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgment of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His Word." (Hebrews 10:23)

Pastor D.

  

Good Morning,

     "Behold, the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him (who revere and worship Him with awe), who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our inner selves wait (earnestly) for the Lord, He is our Shield.  For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name, Let Your mercy and loving-kindness O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You". (Psalms 33:18-22)  We need to continue to hope in mercy, being confident with expecting while we wait, trust and anticipate God's kindness, favor, goodness, deeds, pity, and deliverance.  As we do our hope will continue to stretch and enlarge and God will establish us and fortify us, hardening us against difficulties.  While all this is being carried out in our God-nature we will be supported and blessed by our Father God.  "For surely there is a latter end (a future and a reward) and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off". (Prov. 23:18) What a promise, our expectation shall not be cut off (destroyed, consumed, utterly perish, or be chewed off).  What are you expecting or hoping from the Lord?  Some of the synonyms for expecting are believe strongly; anticipate; count on; foresee; imagine; look ahead to; look forward to; take; wait for and to watch for.  Have you imagined yourself with what you have hoped for?  Have you seen it, are you looking forward to it?  Are you waiting and watching for it?  God is looking for His children who are expecting Him to do what He said.  Do not quit or lay aside your expectation or hope.  God is faithful, He will do what He has promised.  I encourage you to renew your expectation of God and His promises.  "My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.  He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.  With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God!  Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times.." (Psalms 62:5-8) With God rests my salvation [liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety, and saving] and my glory [weight of honor].  As we imagine and look forward to what has been promised, we will receive such liberty or freedom into our deliverance, prosperity, and safety, our protection.  As we enter the New Year, there is great anticipation of seeing new beginnings in our lives, but especially to see the fulfillment of God.  Give God something to work with, keep your hopes and expectations high, they will not be cut off.

     This is what the Lord was speaking to me as I was waking up and this is why I am talking about hope and expectation once again.  "I will bless the Lord Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.  I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also shall rest in hope". (Psalm 16:7-9) I know that Father God is telling me to learn to rest [to reside or permanently stay; abide; continue to dwell, inhabit, remain, and set up] in hope.  Hope being assurance, [in God and His Word, a place of refuge]; boldly, confidently, surely, securely and care-less.  I am learning daily how to stay bold and confident in the truth that God will do for me exactly as He has spoken.  My expectations are being fueled for the best that God has for me.  I hope that you are doing the same!

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     How do we abound in thanksgiving?  Is it by saying 'thank you' over and over again until we feel like we have abounded?  I have of late been thinking on what it means to me to abound in thanksgiving.  I want to make the countenance of our Father's face to smile when He thinks of me.  Don't you?

     The usual for our family's Thanksgiving dinner is a litany of what we are thankful for.  This year I have been in deep introspection, and as I examine myself I realize that at times I am not as thankful as I should be.  Sometimes we can become so ambitious for 'getting' more, that we neglect to be thankful for what we already have.  I am not only talking about material things, for they are the lowest on God's totem pole of what we should be thankful for.  Even though the world around us, tells us that 'things' are what we should be desirous of.  I am thinking about the relationships that we have and those whose lives have affected ours and those whose lives we have affected for good.  Thanksgiving is giving an offering of gratefulness; to throw out confessions of thanks; to give praise to.  It also means to bless, to show appreciation and gratitude.  I want to abound in showing appreciation and gratitude to My Father and all His people that He has ingenuously placed in my sphere.  Abound simply means to be in excess, to be superfluous; to exceed, excel, and increase in our thanks, both in deeds and in words.  "Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish or sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness to God" (IIThess.5:4)  Voice your thankfulness to God, hmm, we must continue to put words to our thankfulness, as well as show Him how much we appreciate Him and those who He has put in our lives.  Paul consistently gave thanks for the people of God, here is one of those occasion; "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." (Ephes. 1:15-16)

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     We are breaking barriers with the river from within!  John 7:38 – "He that believeth on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters".  Belly, here is the innermost being, the womb, the matrix, cavity, or heart, where life (the river) is formed and produced.  To flow means to run consistently; constant changes and to move along.  Rivers mean currents, streams, and floods; running verses being stagnant (still, motionless, not circulating or flowing).  Rivers are abundant and plentiful waters.  Living waters verses dead, represents water that is growing, thriving, and moving.  Issuing continually, quickening, and producing.  Water is one of the most abundant and most necessary for living beings with the exception of air.  Water pushed beyond its confinements will change and alter the world around it for good or bad.  We have a flowing, living current of great power within our heart, or as the scripture says, "out of his belly".  This river can continue running and springing up to clean us with its powerful force to wash stains, dirty issues, and to purify from iniquities and sin, to work in us as well as those around us.  Waters issue forth in inexhaustible quantities from springs which form rivers, streams, seas, and oceans.  We have springs of waters springing up all the time.

     We are God's temple and we carry the living waters, and they are building and rising up on the inside of us.  As we continue to pursue holiness, the love of God, and His character being formed in our lives, this powerful anointed river will break forth from every orifice to change us, our families, neighborhoods, countries and our nations.  Listen to these verse; "THEN HE [my guide] brought me again to the door of the house [of the Lord–the temple], and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple was toward the east; and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the temple, on the south side of the altar.  Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around outside to the outer gate by the way that faces east, and behold, waters were running out on the right side.  And when the man went on eastward with the measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were ankle deep.  Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the knees.  Again he measured a thousand cubits and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that reached to the loins.  Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through.  And he said to me, Son of man, have you seen this?  Then he led me and caused me to return to the bank of the river.  Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.  Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea.  And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh.  And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live.  And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes.  The fishermen shall stand on [the banks of the Dead Sea]; from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a place to spread nets; their fish shall be of very many kinds, as the fish of the Great or Mediterranean Sea.  But its swamps and marshes will not become wholesome for animal life; they shall [as the river subsides] be left encrusted with salt and given over to it." (Ezekiel 47:1-11)  This river is breaking forth from the temple  or sanctuary, that's us (remember we are the temple of Holy Spirit).  As the river leaves the boundaries it rises and changes the world.  It affects everything that is motionless and not running and circulating.  Everything that is, except swamps or marshes.  This living flowing river flows with healing, delivering, restoring and redeeming power, to all, except the swamps and marshes.  What are swamps and marshes?  Tracts of low lying land that is wet, moist, and soft and spongy.  Usually unfit for cultivation and poorly drained.  They have a 'form of the river, but deny the power of it'.  It also says that the swamps and marshes are left encrusted.  Encrusted means a hard coating, synonyms are dirty, stained, spotted, defiled, contaminated, and corrupted, to name a few.  The swamp and marsh area has become hard and resistant to the river, they have allowed themselves to become tainted and contaminated with the world,or because of trials or bitterness, etc.  Let's make sure that we are the river and not the swamps or the marshes.  Let's not be found only soaking up like spongy land, and having a poor drainage system, taking, but rarely giving.  In other words, whatever we receive of the Lord we should, like a river, flow to others the God-likeness that we have and be changed and always affecting changes to our Judea, Jerusalem, and the uttermost parts of the world!  We'll talk more about us being boundary breakers.

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     We who are being discerning and sensitive to God and Holy Spirit recognize the season that we are in.  We tend to forget that in order to build our spiritual muscles, there must be opposing forces (trials, tests and tribulations), pressure from without, in order for us to apply pressure upon the Word of God that we have hidden in our heart.  Listen to the Words of Jesus that He spoke to His disciples before He was severely tested; "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but (except for the fact) be of good cheer (take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted!)  For I have overcome the world. (I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.") (John 16:33)  Peace means freedom from internal commotion, disturbance, agitated passions, anxiety, or fear; quiet of conscience, tranquility (a calm inner stability that results in the ability to conduct oneself with wholeness, even in the midst of circumstances or outward pressures that would be normally traumatic or upsetting.  This kind of peace is supernatural and can only be produced by you yielding to Holy spirit.  This kind of 'peace' strongly suggests the rule of order in the place of chaos.  "Peace I leave you: My own peace I now give and bequeath to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid, (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)." (John 14:27) From the words, "do not let your hearts be troubled", we understand that 'we' can choose between being in peace or allowing ourselves to become troubled, agitated, fearful, cowardly or intimidated.  The word 'let' means to permit, to allow, to give leave or power to; grant possession or permission.  We are told, do not let, do not permit; do not allow; do not give leave or power to fear, intimidation, agitated passions,or distresses.  We are to prevent, withhold and restrain ourselves from becoming anxious, fearful, distressed and disturbed by staying 'in Him; and keeping our minds stayed on the Word.  Hey, we possess the power to say, no!  No, to being unsettled and troubled, right in the midst of the storms of life, where the pressure is being applied.

     Galatians 5:22 – "But the fruit of the Holy Spirit (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is love, joy, peace etc.," The Spirit is working within us and accomplishing peace in us.  We can allow freedom from internal commotion, disturbances, agitating passions, fear and anxiety.  Then you and I can have stability that will result in our ability to conduct ourselves with confidence, certainty, courage, and not be dismayed.  Jesus said,  "so that in Me you may have perfect peace."   "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace  whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You." (Is.26:3)  This perfect peace includes everything that concerns our life; it includes safety, prosperity, health, welfare, and completeness.  The condition of this peace is that our minds are stayed on Him.  Mind here means frame, thing framed, imagination; comes from to mold into form, or squeeze into shape.  Imagination is the power or faculty of the mind by which it conceives and forms ideas or what is communicated.  In other words we must keep a form' or a picture' or an image' of God and His Word imprinted or tattooed in 'our mind', where our thoughts, intents and emotions are being formed.  Tattooing represents something that is more than skin deep and is not easily removed.  It is consistently deep, as the Word should be in our hearts or minds.  This is how we overcome (subdue, prevail, get the victory) or get the better of obstacles or difficulties, distresses, fears, agitations, trials, tribulations and tests.  For the Word promises this; "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6)  Keeping our minds stayed on His Word is spiritually minded, which will work peace in us.  So as pressure comes from without you apply pressure back with the Word that you have received and you will begin to develop stronger spiritual muscles of peace.  Keep the peace!!

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     Now more than ever before in our lives as 'believers that believe', we must be ever diligent about doing the Word.  There is a great divide taking place in the 'so-called' church, and it is the separation of the wheat and the tare.  It will happen and we need to make sure that we are standing on the Lord's side when the smoke clears.  The lovers of God that have served Him faithfully, will be holy still.  "For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching].  And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous).  For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.  Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?" (I John 5:4-5)  Victory means a conquest; the defeat of an enemy in battle; a gaining of the superiority in war or combat.  Victory denotes a winner; getting the success, achievement, advantage, or the triumph.  No matter how the enemy pushes his tactics, to try and discourage, disguise and deceive, we must remember the key to our victory is keeping our mind on God and His Word, being mindful of His precepts and doing them.  We must not allow the difficulties of this age to dissuade us from our goal.  "If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth." (Col. 3:1-2)  I know that each one of us are experiencing an onslaught from the enemy, for he knows that his time is running short.  We as soldiers must be wise and discerning that our enemy is not going to quietly surrender or go back to hell without taking as many captive as he can.  He diverts our minds to the temporary problems while deceiving us into thinking that what we are experiencing will last forever.  We must overcome this thought pattern by keeping our mind on the eternal treasures thus making everything else temporary.  We must be more than conquerors.  Conquer means to subdue, to reduce by force till resistance is no longer made; to gain by force, to take possession by whatever means necessary; to overcome and gain dominion.  We are the overcomers that must subdue and reduce the enemy by any means and take possession and gain dominion over his lying tactics.  The devil is a liar if he thinks that we are going to surrender to him any of our territory or our loved ones, or our salvation.  We must declare to the devil, resistance is futile!  Arise saints of God and remember your first love and do not let down your spiritual guard, the Word is your safe haven.  Not one jot or tittle of God's Word will ever change or fail.  Do not surrender your mind, which is the battleground where the enemy's attack takes place initially.

     God knows the times that we are living in and that the remnant (which means, the part left after the greater part has been cut away), will and must be separated and cut away from those 'who are on the broad way.'  We are consecrated, separated from the ordinary.  This is what we who revere and love the Lord enough to keep His precepts must do; "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.  Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour.   Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—-rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world." (I Peter 5:7-9)  Now listen to the synonyms that define vigilant, which is what we as soldiers of the end times should be.  Vigilant means to be cautious, watchful, attentive, alert, aware, keen, circumspect, to be on the look-out.  We can not become complacent or be sleepwalkers through these changing times.  We are overcomers and we gain the surpassing victory!  Overcomers will eat from the tree of life, they will not be hurt by the second death, they will have power over the nations; they will be clothed in white garments, their name will be written in the book of life, their name will be confessed before the Father and the angels; they will be made a pillar in the temple of God; the name of God, the name of the city of God and the new name of Jesus will be written upon them; they will be granted to sit with Him in His throne.  Victorious ones, he that overcomes shall inherit all things! (Rev. 2:7,1,17,26;[3:5,12,21;] 21:7) Hear and be attentive to what the Spirit is saying.

 

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     At our church, we have had a systematic teaching of 'heaven', 'hell' and now we are on the 'signs of the last days'.  What we are honing in on are the signs of the church in the last days, good and bad.  Our focus has not been primarily the world at large, but the church.  Previously I have referred to the most important fact for us as Christians, is that we love one another.  Love begins in the house, especially God's house.  We are great at trying to act like we love sinners, or the people of the world, while we feel we can let it all hang out at home.  In the Father's house, we backbite, slander, lie, gossip, walk in unforgiveness, offend with our mouth, and a lot of other things that we shouldn't do.  Let me reiterate this very important verse; "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?" And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you." (Mtt. 24:3-4) Jesus gives many things that will be happening at the last days, look at what will affect the church, and take heed that you are not deceived.  "And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred.  And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error.  And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity." (Mtt.24:10-12) You notice how this is speaking to the Body of Christ.  We must not let lack of love and offenses keep us from heaven.  Why would I say that?  Let's look at another verse which I hope will quicken your spirit man to walk in love no matter what people do or say to you.  "Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him". (I John3:15) So if you hate your brother in Christ then you are a murderer and no murderer will be found in heaven.  Is any offense, hurt, anybody that may be used by the enemy to bring offenses, worth you losing your place in heaven?  No, a thousand times no.  You must grow up in the love of God.  The devil is trying to trip you up in order to make you bitter, and you know that the root of bitterness chokes the Word from your heart, and you end up not doing the Word, and it is what will cause you to be the head.  "Rather let our lives lovingly express truth (in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly,living truly).  Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him who is the Head even Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One." (Ephes.4:15) Love is what will cause each of us in the Body of Christ to grow up.  The deception of the enemy is to stifle our growth and keep us immature, thereby preventing us from working to our highest potential as the Body of Christ.   For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by joints and ligaments with which it is supplied (our lack of love affects the rest of the body; because we are knitted and joined together) when each part (with power adapted to its need) is working properly (in all its functions) grows to full maturity, building itself up in love." (Ephes. 4:16) Just imagine the Church working properly, because every part is adapted with the power that it needs, in order to fulfill it's function.  That sounds like we would be looking like and doing what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit does.  The rest of that verse says love will cause us to grow to full maturity, that is being God-like, being One with Him.  Building each member of the Body up in love.  "The whole point of what we're urging is simply love — love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God." ( I Tim. 1:5)  Since we are knited together let's not pursue hatred, but let us pursue doing good and loving the household of faith, and be the overcoming church that we are.

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

     I was asked today, what was my favorite scripture?  Honestly it is the one that God was dealing with me at that time to minister to me.  Today I would like to give you the verse that is helping me to run on towards the goal, and keep my eyes on God and His Word, even while others may be looking all around for other gods to help.  "For the Lord God helps me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded.  Therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be put to shame." (Is. 50:7)  Because our help is God we will not have feelings of shame, be distressed, or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness or disgrace.  We will not be perplexed, confused or bewildered.  As long as our help is the lord and not another idol god.  Let me read some more of this verse.  "Who is among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor [in his heart]?  Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean on and be supported by his God." (Is. 50:10) As we fear God, by walking in His Word, being obedient to Him, it doesn't matter how dark situations may get in our lives, it is never as dark as it could be, if we were trying to walk this life without God.  Even when we have deep trouble in our hearts, we must rely on our Light, because even darkness is light to Him. (Ps. 139:11-12) Remember that lean means to incline in our opinions, feelings, and actions upon God.  As we lean on His ways and thoughts, that's how we build our confidence [assurance; reliance, hope, and trust] in Him.  If we don't draw our hope and assurance from Him, then we would be pulled into trusting 'idol' gods, including ourselves.  Listen to the rest of the verse, "Behold all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame! —– walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]!  But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and torment." (Is. 50:11) Don't try and be the god of your life by making your plan and purpose come to pass, for then you have to attempt to keep the fires burning.  Notice how many times the words,' you', 'yourself' or 'your own selves'.  How bright and strong can your flame be for you to walk by?  How far ahead in the future can you see?  Most of us struggle to see the next moment, let alone to see beyond tomorrow.  God says, "Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.." (Is.46:10)  His fire lights our way all the way until His pleasure and purpose is done in our lives, and He is never confused about how to get us there.  He has perfect vision and sees and knows everything concerning our lives.  His advisement and counsel will stand!  Once again I encourage you to hope, trust and have your assurance in the Lord and His Word, just as the Psalmist did; "My soul languishes and grows faint for your salvation, but (except for the fact) I hope in Your Word. (Ps. 119:81) Keep your hope alive it feeds your faith!

 

Pastor D.