Guarding Against Pride

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24)

Pride is the most dangerous of sins because it is blind to itself. It is a bold affront to God, and we are all guilty of it; yet it is so subtle that we rarely detect it or confess it. We may ask forgiveness for many things we say and do, but rarely for the pride behind those things.

 

Pride plans, acts, and thinks independently of the Lord, even in ministry. Pride distorts our self-concept, props us up, puffs us up, and makes us believe things about ourselves and others that are not true. It makes us consider ourselves first and last, it takes and demands more credit than it deserves, and it thinks about itself more than it should. The prideful person does not respond to correction very well. Now, I am sure each of us can at once point to at least one person who fits this description. The proof that we are prideful is we did not point to ourselves.

 

Pride always insists on being right. Only God is good, only God is wise, only God is right, and we do well to remember that. If we stand on our principles, our doctrines, and our knowledge, we will miss the heart of God every time. His is a heart of love and humility.

 

God is not at all impressed with rightness, but righteousness — and the Bible makes it clear that we have no righteousness of our own to stand on. Only in Jesus Christ do we find moral perfection, and He expressed that perfection through service and sacrifice, not by being right or superior to others.

 

Remember, we are born again into a life that follows His example of humility, love, service, and sacrifice. That is where our pride dies, and Christ comes alive in us, and that is what it means to walk in the "way everlasting." Search us and lead us, Lord. Amen.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, forgive me for the sin of pride. I am guilty of thinking more of myself and less of others. Please help me to walk in the humility of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

A Good Testimony

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. (Hebrews 11:1, 2)

Our faith is the shield that armors us against the storms of spiritual attacks. It steadies us when sorrows crush our emotions and when disappointments threaten to steal our hope. Faith assures us of God's care and presence when the winds and rain threaten to destroy our possessions, unsettle our minds, and steal our peace.  Faith keeps us walking righteously, and we trust in God when others fall into despair and sin. Thank God for faith!

 

Every difficulty is an opportunity to believe God and exercising our faith in Him is the greatest work of all. Even a mustard seed of faith is greater than mighty works, and a small measure of faith is greater than a lifetime of labor. God sent His Son, that He might become the center of our hope and joy, and that we might put all our trust in His love and power. That was and will always be the Father's will, that we trust in Jesus as if our lives depend on it. In truth, our lives do depend on it; for true and new life come from faith in Jesus alone.

 

All that God wants from us is faith, and faith always comes to God and believes God. Therein lies our good testimony. Is your testimony a good one?

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of faith. I will keep the faith in the face of every challenge. I believe in You, Lord, more each day! Amen.

Pray and Forgive

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26)

To be sure, there will be many offenses, slights, hurts, and attacks sent our way by the enemy of our souls. They are meant to plant a seed of bitterness and mistrust in our hearts which causes us to withhold love, and we can become cold toward others without even realizing it. But God trusts us with these trials to give us the opportunity to forgive and love others, just as He has done for us. When we pass the test of forgiving and loving those who hurt us, our hearts are perfected in His love, and He is well pleased.

 

If I am honest, I have no desire or intention to forgive those who hurt me, and even if I try, I simply do not find the strength to do so. My resentment and distrust are real and justified in my mind, and each time I am reminded of particular people or experiences, I find my thoughts awash in ill-will and anger. Jesus knows and understands. However, He has come to help me in those moments, encouraging me to forgive, just as I have been forgiven.

 

Since He has removed me from the power and penalty of sin, I must be willing to do the same for others and release them (and myself) from the prison of judgment and condemnation. Apart from Jesus, this is impossible; but with God, all things are possible — even forgiving those who hurt me.

 

May we all forgive and move forward. Our freedom awaits. 

 

Let's Pray - Lord, help me forgive others, just as You have forgiven me. I release everyone who has ever offended me from the prison of my bitterness. Thank You for my new-found freedom. Amen.

He Who Comes

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith simply believes God. It believes He cares even though we experience distressing times, it believes He heals even when we are sick, that He saves though people around us are lost in sin, and that He is with us even when we feel alone. Faith will not give up due to any of these circumstances, because it is rooted in our eternal God, not our temporary plight. Faith looks at Jesus and refuses to look for another answer, another Savior. That is why faith alone pleases God. 

 

When God is pleased with us, we can ask, and it will be done for us. That is because faith is rooted in relationship, and that relationship brings us to a point of being one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that is where we find complete agreement between all parties involved. The Lord is bringing us to the place where our concerns and prayers are identical to those of Jesus, who lives to intercede for us. Then, my prayer life becomes a fountain of blessing through which the Lord moves mountains and crushes the works of the devil. That is faith's reward — those who diligently seek God will find Him and abide with Him, and that is where our new and abundant life truly begins.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I will be one who continually comes to You by faith, and I know that You will reward me for seeking You. In fact, You are my great reward! Thank You. Amen.

Increase Our Faith

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5) 

Beware of a romanticized view of faith. Faith is not a tool to get what we want from God, but a means for God to get what He wants from us! Faith teaches us to wait, pray, and obey, while never imagining that God is anything but completely trustworthy, and that He will keep us and His promises to us. It is a partnership whereby we give ourselves to God, believing and walking with Him toward a future we cannot yet see and promises we do not yet have. But what we do have is most important, and that is a life hidden with God in Christ.

 

To increase our faith is to exercise our belief in God, so that it becomes the useful and powerful tool He intended. Everything He permits in our lives, whether blessing or hardship, is to make us more like Jesus. He was tested and tempted, yet He stayed faithful. The same will be true of us if we abide in His love and heed His counsel.

 

May our lives take on the sweetness of a faith-building adventure — joyful, and expectant; and may the Lord enrich and increase our faith, as we abide in Him daily.

 

Let's Pray - Father, may we not miss the opportunities You give us to increase our faith. May challenging times cause us to seek You more, and to worship You on a deeper level than ever before. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Test of Faith

But Sarai was barren; she had no child. (Genesis 11:30)

Our difficulties are not difficult at all to God, even though they can frustrate us greatly and make us wonder if He is even aware of what we are facing down here! I believe the Lord tests us all at one point or another, just to teach us to believe in the power of His Word over the limits of our flesh.

 

Abram and Sarai could not conceive a child, yet God was going to call them to be the father and mother of a holy nation, Israel. They would eventually become a man and woman of faith, and they would learn to walk with the Lord and wait on Him — but it was not going to be easy; and it is not going to be easy for us, either.

 

It is a snare to believe that faith leads to a smooth and trouble-free life — quite the opposite is true. Overcoming faith leads us to God, and it will bring us to a deep and abiding dependence on Him. Faith is the beginning and the end of our relationship with God, and it is generated and kept in that relationship alone; therefore, it is impossible to approach the Lord on any other basis. There is no other way to please Him than to trust and obey Him at His Word. That is what faith is and does; it is our trust in God, and it always trusts in God.

 

Do you always trust in God? Do you have faith?

 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

 

Let’s Pray – Lord, I learn through Abraham and Sarah that I can trust You with my life and the desires of my heart. I have come to believe that You keep Your promises, and nothing is impossible for You.  Thank You, Father. Amen.

Who May Abide?

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)

Honesty is an essential trait of God’s children, and God can only reveal Himself to those of us who recognize and speak the truth. When we entertain any deception or dishonesty, we may see Jesus, but not accurately, and certainly not as Lord and King. The longer we refuse to accept the truth about ourselves or anything else, the longer it takes for us to recognize what Jesus Christ has come to do in our lives.

 

We will never find our identity in what others say about us, or even what we say about ourselves. But at once when the Lord speaks the truth and we receive it, we are set free to see Him for who He is, and to see ourselves for who we truly are.

 

And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me, I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’” (Leviticus 10:3)

 

The Holy Spirit searches our hearts with the intention of making us aware of anything that is an offense to Him. Drawing near to the Lord is not a frivolous thing, and those who come to Him must do so with pure intentions. Oh, that more of those who call themselves ministers would realize this; that the Lord is holy, and He will not partner with anyone or anything unholy.

 

Let those who serve the Lord remember, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . . (Proverbs 9:10). Take heed, men and women of God!

 

Let's Pray - Father God, please teach me to hallow Your presence, and may I always serve You humbly and acceptably. I tremble before Your Word. In Jesus, Amen.

Pure in Heart

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:47-49)

How is it that Nathanael received the truth about Jesus so readily, when all Israel did not recognize their Messiah? It was because Nathanael had integrity, which Jesus at once recognized and acknowledged — “. . . an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” This was a man who was honest with himself and others, a man who kept his word, a straight-shooter, one who meant what he said and said what he meant. Jesus commended him for his truthfulness, because it made the way for him to see the Messiah. People with integrity see the truth — they see Jesus.

 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

 

The Lord is willing to share life and truth with us if we are honest. The moment we lie to God, or ourselves, or refuse to acknowledge the truth, we grieve the Holy Spirit away.

 

Integrity is a non-negotiable in the Kingdom, and the Lord will never partner with lies or liars. Never.

 

There are those who believe they can get away with something less than uprightness, but the Word makes it clear that is not so — Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

 

May we all, like Nathanael, be guileless, open-hearted, and prepared to receive the truth when God presents it. And remember, Jesus is the truth.

 

Let's Pray- Father, bless me with purity of heart today. I want to see You more clearly than ever before. In Jesus alone, Amen.

The Good Fight

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

There are many fights in life, but only one good fight. The good fight is the battle we wage to be sure God is glorified in all we do. One question matters — “Is God honored in this?”  

 

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14)

 

The Word reminds and encourages us to show up every day and fight the spiritual battles set before us, to finish the course, and to keep the faith delivered to us once and for all by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

So, be encouraged today. Ignite the flame within you with the Word of God and stand with the saints like never before. Lift your hands through the clouds and darkness all around you and be the conqueror God says you are. Put on the full armor of God, get in the fight, take back all Satan and sin have stolen from you, and magnify the Lord in all you do.

 

Most importantly, know this — you have the victory in Christ Jesus. And remember, the only spiritual battle you can lose is the one you choose not to fight! 

 

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, make me a soldier in Your army, and deploy me on the mission to give you glory and bring many souls to glory. Amen.

Husband and Wife

Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.” So, it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. (Genesis 12:13-15)

So many men have lost, damaged, or delayed the promises of God because they did not esteem the importance of oneness with their wives. That which God promised to Abram was to come through Sarai. Yet, we see him behaving like a man who had no relationship with and no confidence in God. Abram surrendered to his fears, and his marriage was the casualty. 

But, God . . .

 

Sometimes, the Lord must keep His promises to us despite our weaknesses. Thankfully, He is patient, and He is determined to bring us into a life of blessing and fullness.

 

The Lord would rectify the situation and remove Sarai from Pharaoh's grip — but unfortunately, Abram would fail this test again (Genesis 20:2). He and Sarai would eventually learn to rely on the Lord to protect them and show Himself strong on their behalf, but it was a slow and painful process.

 

Abram and Sarai would mature, and God would fulfill His promises — but now, the Lord was teaching them all it meant to be husband and wife. May every married couple take heed to this valuable lesson and learn to live together by faith.

 

Let's Pray – Dear Lord, may every married man learn to appreciate the gift he has in his wife. May he see her as the greatest gift the Lord will ever give him, and may his actions reflect that truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go Make Disciples

Put on the whole armor of God . . . (Ephesians 6:11)

Spiritual life involves a tremendous amount of warfare, and the only uncertainty is whether those enlisted will show up for battle. Truly, there seems to be a multitude of legitimate reasons for dodging the draft. “My family needs me” . . . “I have important business to tend to” . . . “My hands are full already” . . . “Isn’t spiritual warfare for professional ministers anyway?” All too often, it is all about us! How sad that we spend so much energy considering the price we pay to serve God, while forgetting the price Jesus paid to save us.

 

The call to “go” is answered by the chosen few willing to strap on the full armor of God and fight the good fight of faith, knowing the battle is the Lord’s and the victory is nigh. The armor is only for those who will fight; it is cumbersome and useless for saints who refuse to go to war.

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . . (Matthew 28:19)

 

We rejoice over those who believe and receive salvation, and we should! However, the work has just begun for that convert, and many arduous days and battles lay ahead for the saint coming into the fullness of Christ. That is why our Lord instructed the apostles to go and make disciples, not just converts. God uses His disciples to come alongside His children and lead them into the beauty of the spiritual life. Disciples are His most effective servants, and they have chosen to follow Jesus closely and glorify Him wherever they are sent.

 

Satan does not fear converts — he fears disciples!

 

It is God's job to save souls, and it is ours to make disciples — disciples of Jesus, not of us or our way of thinking. This is the work God has given us to do. May we do it without complaint and without fail.

 

Let's Pray - Father, I gladly put on the full armor, which is Christ. I am, therefore, girded up and prepared for every battle. In Him, I am victorious. Amen.

The Words I Speak

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:62-63)

 

Jesus is not speaking to our common sense or human nature when He speaks, but to the new man and woman who walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in us teaches us to hear the words of Jesus as they really are — spirit and life! We who have come alive in the Spirit, who worship in the Spirit, who pray in the Spirit, and who walk in the Spirit hear the Word of God in the Spirit, and we hear Him clearly.

 

Jesus gives us the power to do what He commands every time, as we yield to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. God’s words make perfect spiritual sense to us now; and as we understand them, we will confidently embrace His commands — even the impossible ones. 

 

"I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

If we make up our mind up on any subject, God cannot speak to us there, and we are left to our own wisdom and devices. That is where darkness begins to encroach and take hold. Our beliefs and convictions may be sincere and even scholarly, but they are an affront to the Holy Spirit; and if not dealt with, they will grieve Him away.

 

The Kingdom has come to rule in our hearts, and we must let nothing or no one compete. So, let God's word penetrate, search, and convict. That is what it means to be honest with God.

Let's Pray - Lord, may we learn to hear what You are honestly saying to us. You are not speaking to our intellect or our emotions, but to our spirits. Speak, Lord. We are listening. Amen.

Kill and Eat

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. (Acts10: 13-16a)

God works in us in ways we cannot foresee. If we are spirit-filled, we are responding to His call to go where we would not have gone, love those we once cared nothing for, forgive those who hurt us most, and give what we would keep. That is when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us. God was sending Peter, a Jew, to a place would never have gone, and to minister the Gospel to people he did not think God even cared for. Peter’s obedience would make a way for those lost in ignorance and sin to enter the Kingdom of God, because he obeyed God in the Spirit.

 

I encourage you to trust God like Peter did. He did not resist the Holy Spirit — he simply said, “Yes.” You, too, must obey Him, even when He presents you with new and uncomfortable challenges. He is an exceedingly gracious God who will perfect and prepare you for those challenges.

 

The lesson Peter learned is this — if you obey God's voice, He will take you beyond your present and your prejudices, and He will use you to glorify His Son. May we all learn this lesson.

 

Let's Pray - Lord, help me to trust You, even when I do not understand Your directions. I am willing to go where You send me and do as You command. Lead me, Lord. Amen.