Stand Strong

So, Judges 3:1-6 just blew me away.

These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites 

who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 

He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites 

who had no experience in battle. 

Judges 3:1, 2

God purposefully left enemy nations around Israel to teach them warfare. That right there made me pause and think for a moment.

Could it be that that person, that situation, that circumstance that just won't move is actually there on purpose to teach me how to battle? Could the Lord be training me for something I have no experience in?

See, at this point in Judges, the Israelites were experiencing a time of peace. Joshua and his generation had fought the good fight to obtain God's promises, and now their children were reaping the benefits. This generation didn't know anything about fighting. They didn't know anything about war.

So God strategically kept some enemies around to keep His people strong and to make sure that they would stay true to His will.

These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses. 

So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and they intermarried with them. 

Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.

Judges 3:4-6

The Israelites were tested both physically and spiritually. And they failed both tests.

Instead of pushing out those who directly opposed their God, they married them. Instead of clinging to the one true God who had brought them into their current prosperity, they betrayed Him and began worshipping idols.

Your momma's faith, your daddy's faith, and grandma's faith may have gotten you to your place of peace and prosperity. But God still wants to make sure that you are a strong and faithful warrior for His Kingdom.

Has God left any 'Canaanites' in your territory? Is God trying to train you for battle? Are you being challenged in your beliefs? Have you been tested in your faith?

Don't be like the Israelites and fail the test! As a result of their disobedience, they went from being rulers to servants again. (Judges 3:8)

Hold on to your faith. Stand strong in the face of adversity. Pull out your spiritual weapons and fight the good fight of faith. Don't allow all that you've gained to be lost. Become the strong warrior that God is setting you up to be.

Ask And You'll Receive

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name,
 he will give it you.

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive,
 that your joy may be full.

John 16:23, 24

 

Asked anything of the Lord lately?

 

God is ready, willing and able to fulfill your request. He doesn't want you to lack any good thing. The Bible says that when we ask according to God's will, we can be confident that the Lord will not only hear but answer our request.

 

Are you lacking full joy? Maybe it's because you have yet to ask of God what you really need. Often we make our own (selfish) requests to the Lord for what we want, but we neglect to petition Him for what we need.

 

Today, I want to challenge you to take some time and go before the Lord. Settle into His presence and examine your life. Look at what is missing. Look at what is lacking. What do you need? Ask of your Heavenly Father what you need. Ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to fill out what is missing so that your joy may be full.

 

Jesus came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. Are you living that abundant life? Maybe it's because you did not ask the Lord for what you need.

 

Verse of the Day: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:15, 16

The Lord's Prayer (Part One)

I've been meditating on the Lord's prayer lately. Working at a Catholic school, it's almost like the 'default' prayer for people to say. Yet, when you sit and think about it, this prayer is pretty powerful.

When His disciples came asking Jesus how to pray, Jesus responded with this model for them to follow. If we go along with this example as well, we will find our prayer lives prospering.

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name...

 

Jesus opens His prayer with worship. He begins by acknowledging how holy and sovereign God is. This not only shows the Lord respect, but it gives us the opportunity to remind ourselves of the great One that we have been privileged to talk to one-on-one.

 

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven...

 

After acknowledging the greatness of the Lord, who else's will would suffice? Nothing can trump God's awesome power, infinite wisdom, and omniscient wisdom. Opening ourselves up to the Lord's heavenly will allows us to walk out His kingdom desires on the earth. Isn't it amazing that God trusts us with the privilege of carrying out His plans in our daily lives?

 

In your prayer time today, start off in worship to the Lord. Remind yourself of how great He is. Meditate on His grand splendor. Then, open yourself up to His great will. Relinquish your plans to Him, and allow your Heavenly Father to orchestrate your day.

 

Verse of the Day: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9,10

Give It Up!

One day, a man came to Jesus looking for the key to eternal life. This man was a person who followed after the Law from when he was a child. The Bible points out that he was rich and he had the status of a ruler among the community. This man was wise enough to see that Jesus had insight that other leaders of the day had not attained.

However, Jesus expertly tapped into the young man's weak spot:

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. Luke 18:22, 23

 

This young man could not give up everything to follow after Jesus. Even though he recognized the wisdom and power Jesus had, he could not give Jesus full reign of his life. He could not give up his title, his money, and he possessions for the eternal life that Jesus had for him.

 

What do you have in life that is precious to you? It may be your job, your car, your status in your church, or your beautiful home. Can you honestly say that those things aren't more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? If He asked, would you freely give it all up for Him?

 

Today, check your heart. Are you holding on to something that God is asking you to let go of? Are you placing something of this world as your first priority instead of your Savior?

 

Don't miss out on your eternal blessings for the temporary things this world has to offer! Allow yourself to put Jesus first, so you can reap the heavenly rewards that never expire. No matter how dearly you held the things you give up, they can never match what the Lord will give you in return.

 

Verse of the Day: And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Luke 18:29, 30

 

 

Recognizing God's Will

David and Jonathan had one of the most celebrated friendships in the Bible. Yet, the two of them had just cause to hate each other. Jonathan was the son of King Saul, the man who was literally doing everything in his power to hunt down and kill David. David stood as the one man who would take over King Saul's throne - a throne that by right belonged to Jonathan.

However the two men were closer than brothers. They loved and looked out for one another. They recognized the honor and grace that each of them had inside and respected one another. They didn't allow outside circumstances or inward envy or selfishness to taint their views of the other. Because they were able to remain humble, they were able to experience a friendship that was beyond comparison.

Both of them respected the Lord in their friendship. David refused kill King Saul because He respected how the Lord had chosen Saul to be King. Even when he had every reason to take out his enemy, David chose to honor the Lord's will.

Jonathan respected God's call on David's life. He did not become bitter or envious when he realized that David would one day reign as king over Israel. Instead, Jonathan honored the Lord and did his best to protect the future king.

Do you recognize and respect the will of God for those around you? When you see other people, are you looking with the eyes of the spirit? Or, are you looking at things in a selfish or envious light?

We must make strides to always remain humble and remember that God's will far outweighs our own. We must not look with resentment on someone whom God has placed in a position, even when they may be abusing their place. We can't become bitter when God chooses someone else to take on a task that we might have thought belonged to ourselves.

In all things we must recognize God's omniscient control. In all things we must remind ourselves that His will is what's best. With everything, we should choose to follow after Him because it will all work together for our good in the long run.

Verse of the Day: At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the LORD’s name. The LORD is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” 1 Samuel 20:42a

Are You Up to Date?

Yesterday I in my personal meditation, I was thinking about being in the Lord's will. I was mulling over being up to date and current with God's will for my life.

When you're up to date or current on your bills, it means you don't owe anything. You're not behind, you're not getting penalties, and you're not being charged late fees. All is well between you and the creditor.

And last night I was considering whether everything was well between me and my Lord.

When you think about it this way, it emphasizes the importance of being current in the will of God. Who would want to be behind and facing penalties with God?

It shows how King Saul lost his throne. It underscores why Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. It clarifies why David and Bathsheba's child was taken away.

In all of those instances, the people of God were out of His will. They had put off obedience. They had chosen their own path. They had delayed a right response to the Lord.

So they had to face the consequences.

Are you reaping penalties for not being up to date or current with God's will for your life? Are you considering putting off obedience for your own way?

Be wise and take note of the examples we have before us. Don't allow your temporary feelings to block you from eternal blessings. As long as you allow God to be in control, you will reap the benefits. But if you want to take control... you'll reap the outcome of that as well.

Verse of the Day: Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10