Get in Position

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

If we will be still and wait on Jesus, He will fight our battles, and no enemy will be too strong for us. We must lay aside our own agenda, get into the posture of prayer and intercession, and let the Lord lead us to victory. When we are fully trusting in Jesus Christ, we will pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That is the prayer of a saint who is surrendered to God and positioned for victory.

 

There are two types of battles in the Christian life, earthly and heavenly ones. Jesus was taken up with heaven's issues, and so must it be with us. While there are an endless number of things we could be concerned with, the Lord teaches His children to focus on spiritual things and that which aligns us with Him. Our position for warfare is down on our knees, and no saint has ever lost a single battle from that posture!

 

Remember, our God is a Man of War, and He wins every battle He fights! So position yourself, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.

 

Let’s Pray- Lord, I lay down my ways and wisdom, and I take up Your armor, which is Christ. I will humble myself and be still. The battle is the Lord's, and the victory is nigh! In Jesus alone, Amen.

An Eternal Perspective

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

If we will be still, God will show us what He sees. To “mount up” means we get a heavenly perspective, then we are refreshed and encouraged by the things He reveals. It is certain the Lord has the whole world in His hands, and nothing escapes His notice and interest. The saint who understands this goes about life with the energy of the Spirit, the Lord’s vitality, and joy. That is the blessed assurance that marks those who have learned to wait on God.

 

Waiting on God is not putting our feet up until the Lord makes His next move. It is the choice to believe He will bring all good things to pass in their time; and in the meantime, we serve Him with vigor. Waiting on God is not like waiting on anyone or anything else. It means carefully and patiently working out our salvation while He completes and perfects His work in us.

 

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

(James 1:4)

 

 We are to do what only we can do, while He does what only He can do. That is what it means to wait on God. When He returns, let Him find us watching and waiting.

 

Let’s Pray – Father, I desire to see all things and people as You see them. I will wait on Your Word, Your wisdom, and Your direction. Thank You for renewing of my strength, my joy, and my hope today. Amen.

Honor Your Parents

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)

Before we ever learn to honor our Heavenly Father, we must first make the decision to honor our earthly parents; and it is a decision. Honor is an action word, and it must display solemn reverence, godly fear, and heartfelt affection. Regardless of how you feel about your upbringing or your relationship with your parents, the decision to honor them is as beneficial as any you will ever make. Long life and blessing are promised to you, as you honor them. God always keeps His word, so be sure to take the Lord up on His commandment and His promise.

 

We should honor our parents' memory, even if they are no longer living; and if they are still with us, we should show them respect as the Lord commands. We must be sure to model this type of behavior for our children, for they will follow our example, and we will reap what we sow. Everyone I know wants to be blessed and live a long and prosperous life; so, let's start with this simple instruction to treat our parents respectfully, and receive the life and prosperity God promises us.

 

Let’s Pray – Dear Lord, I will gladly honor my parents in word and deed. Thank You for their many sacrifices, and may my conduct bring them joy and peace while they live. In Jesus, Amen.

A Thankful Heart

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits . . .  (Psalms 103:2)

Could it be that the angst we often experience is related to being ungrateful? It is a good practice to recount the things and people for whom we are thankful, and to do so often. When we express heartfelt thanks, we will always find it to be a relief to our souls. I defy you to be worried and unhappy after you spend just a few minutes remembering the many the ways the Lord is blessing you. Start with the fact that your heart is beating today without interruption and go from there. Read Psalm 103 and begin to count all His benefits in your life. Lift your hands and bless the Lord right now. I encourage you!

 

A grateful heart is a healthy one, and it is keenly aware of God's goodness, no matter the circumstance. We all could afford to say, "Thank You, Jesus," more often. It shows that we recognize the Lord's exquisite care and His loving attention to every detail of our lives. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we are also fearfully and wonderfully kept!

 

So, be sure to thank God often for His amazing grace and unfailing love. Thank Him, most of all, for His Son and His Spirit.

 

Let’s Pray – Precious Lord, I bring to remembrance the love You displayed toward me before I cared anything at all about You. Day after day You bless and keep me, and that my soul knows very well. Please receive my thanks and praise, and I will recall Your love and blessings every day. Amen.

 

You Are His Temple

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Solomon’s temple was an architectural, artistic, engineering wonder, and the Lord blessed it with His glorious presence. Yet, one Spirit-filled saint is more magnificent and significant than Solomon's ancient temple. When we are saved, we become the temple of the Holy Spirit; and we, likewise, are blessed with God’s glorious presence in a way a building could never be. If the ancient temple was set apart for worship and praise to God, how much more your body and mine? Since we have freely received the Holy Spirit, let Him freely use us to glorify our Father for all to see.

 

Once we are saved, we no longer belong to ourselves, but to God. We are saved to glorify Him by living according to the Spirit given to us when we believed. The Spirit of God is after one thing only, and that is the life of Jesus Christ working in us and through us. When the Lord is having His way, it is no longer a struggle to live uprightly and obey His Word, but it is an honor and a privilege.

 

Remember, your body is a house of worship, and may the Lord always be glad to abide there.

 

Let’s Pray – Lord, I thank You for the awesome pleasure of providing a dwelling place for Your Holy Spirit. I belong to You, and You have set me apart for good works. Be pleased and get the glory You so richly deserve from me. Amen.

Fear the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

When we truly fear the Lord, it is impossible to fear anyone or anything else. As our faith grows, we find peace and safety through a strict and unwavering respect, reverence, and obedience to every word He speaks to our hearts. Once we receive God on those terms, we live with the sweet assurance that comes from our faith in His love and sovereignty. Now we can begin to live wisely, and the wise saint fears God, and God alone.

 

So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?” 

(Hebrews 13:6)

 

To know God is to trust Him. Once we draw close to Him, our confidence will increase, as His peace pervades the atmosphere around us. He pours out spiritual wisdom when we seek Him and ask for it, and we begin to receive and share His perspective on things.

 

We should begin every day with an expression of reverence for our God. That is what it means to be wise and understanding in His eyes. That is true wisdom.

 

Let’s Pray – Lord, I receive your love and care for me, and I set my mind on You alone. Jesus is my blessed assurance, so I will walk and speak boldly. I trust you and worship You. Amen.

Hide the Word

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11)

The Psalmist tells us he has hidden the scriptures in the deepest recesses of his heart and mind. Therefore, when he reaches into the essence of his being, he will find grace and faith in God and His Word, and that is a firm foundation! That is a life built on the Rock of ages, and the Word tells us that saint can never be moved. What is your life built on? Have you hidden God’s Word in your heart?

 

The life founded on God's Word is one that will withstand the storms that are sure to come. Every temptation and trick of the devil will fail miserably when our response is scripture — chapter and verse!

 

It is imperative that we take the work of reading, memorizing, and obeying God's Word more seriously, because the Word will strengthen and uphold us when we are tested. May we be prepared to pass every test, because we hide God's Word in our hearts.

 

Let’s Pray - Father, thank You for sowing the seed of Your word in the soil of my being. I am deeply grateful to have the scriptures to stand on in this evil day. You are the solid ground on which I stand, and I know that every word You have spoken is, was, and will be true. In Jesus, Amen.