I Samuel 1:27-2:2
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” Hannah sets an example for us in our prayer lives. She had a situation that she knew only God could resolve. She asked. She pleaded. Then she promised that if God would give her a son she would give him back to the Lord. Have you ever prayed for something for a long time and seemed to never get an answer? Maybe you even questioned if God heard your request at all. Hannah most likely felt this way; but she never complained. She just took the matter to the One that she knew could help her. She petitioned the Lord for her need, and the Lord granted her request. The Lord always answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is a direct yes or no, and sometimes He allows us to wait. The waiting period can be some of the most trying, most difficult times of our lives. But God allows the waiting so that we may learn to trust Him. Hannah waited; then she rejoiced. She prayed with thanksgiving and exaltation to the Lord giving Him the praise for what He had done. All of us have experienced a waiting period in our life. For Hannah, it was a child. For others it might be a job, a spouse, a clear direction of God’s will, a specific need, a love one’s salvation, a healing, or maybe all of the above. God knows your need today. He knows what you’ve asked for and that you are waiting for the clarity of His will to unfold. Keep asking for God’s direction and His provision in your need today. He will answer in His timing, and in a way that will make the waiting period worth the pain and struggle. God gave Hannah sufficient grace through her waiting, and then blessed her after she gave Samuel to the Lord with five more children. He exceeded her expectations, and He can do exceeding abundantly above for you as well. Don’t doubt God in the times of waiting. He wants to use this time to strengthen you and to prepare you for what He has in store. Let Him mold you into a vessel of honor that can be used for His service. If you’ve just come out of a waiting period…Praise the Lord for what He has done. Rejoice in His provision. Thank Him for being your Rock in the midst of the storm. There is no one else like Him! Bible Reading: Judges 7-8 | Acts 22 | Psalm 80
0 Comments
I Thessalonians 5:24
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” Do you ever doubt what God’s purpose is for your life? Maybe you do not have a clear direction on what God’s Will is for your life. It can easily become frustrating. Being unsure of what God wants is the perfect condition for God to do something miraculous in your life. If you find yourself unsure where to go or what to do next, stand still. Ask the Lord to guide you. Acknowledge Him and ask Him to direct your paths. Then…wait. Wait on Him to show you. Wait on Him to make a way where right now you see no way. Our verse today reminds us that when God orchestrates something, He will bring it to pass. When He calls someone, He will equip them to carry out the task. God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Why? Because He wants us to depend on Him to carry us through whatever He has called us to do so that we can give Him the glory He deserves. He is Faithful. “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” Deuteronomy 7:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” I Corinthians 1:9 He has called you for a purpose. “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.” Romans 8:28 “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” II Thessalonians 1:11-12 He will enable you to fulfill your calling, because He is Faithful. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” I Corinthians 1:25-27 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” II Timothy 1:9 If the Lord is directing you toward something that seems impossible and overwhelming, remind yourself today that He is Faithful. When He calls you to do something, He will make a way when there is no way. The Lord does not want our ability. He wants our availability. Make yourself available to be used by Him, and watch Him use you in ways you never thought possible. Where He guides, He provides. Where He leads, He precedes. Where He directs, He protects. Bible Reading: Judges 5-6 | Acts 21 | Psalm 79 2 Timothy 2:19
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Despite the unbelief, the persecution, and the turmoil we face in this world, if our foundation is built upon the Lord Jesus Christ we cannot fail. Christian, be encouraged today that you stand upon the Rock of Ages! Our foundation in Him will always keep us safe regardless of our circumstances. Though some may choose not to believe in the Truth of God’s Word, their unbelief does not make the Scriptures untrue. God does not need the approval of men. Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is THE TRUTH regardless if men choose to believe in Him or not. The context of our text today deals with facing situations where those around us question our faith or they may not believe at all. Look at the first word of our verse, “Nevertheless”. God wants us to press on despite the opinions and disbelief of those around us. We are sealed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Why is that? Because we trusted in Jesus, and He knows our name! The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, and He calls us by name. Sometimes our faith may waver, but the foundation of God standeth sure! Our feet are on the Solid Rock, and because we rest ourselves in Him we can stand sure that He will always do what is best for us. Stand sure today regardless of the storm. God has you right where you are for a reason. He knows the strength of the winds that are raging and the waves that are tossing you to and fro. He is able to speak peace to the storm you are facing. Trust Him today. Stand sure in the foundation that He does all things well for our good and His glory! Bible Reading: Judges 3-4 | Acts 20 | Psalm 78 Luke 6:45
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:33-35 “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Not only do our actions come from our hearts, but our heart determines our words as well. If our hearts are filled with good things, we display good treasure. If we fill our hearts with that which is evil, we will not have a good testimony for our Saviour. What is your heart saying today? The issues of our life are determined by the condition of our hearts. That’s why we would consciously guard our hearts from anything that displeases our Lord. We are known by the fruit we produce. If there is no fruit, we have our answer as to the condition of our hearts. A corrupt heart cannot bring forth fruit. This fruit is not produced by planting a tree or a garden, but by the example we allow our lives to set. Are you producing fruit today? Are you reaching others with the Gospel? Are you supporting others in their endeavor to proclaim the Gospel? Are you shining your Light in the darkness of this world? Are you teaching and training others to spread the Word? Are you living a righteous example for others to follow? If we are not doing these things, we are not producing the fruit that the Lord desires. Examine your life today and see if you are a fruit bearer. Dig in the Word and see how you can bare fruit that will remain to give our Saviour the glory He deserves. Bible Reading: Judges 1-2 | Acts 19 | Psalm 77 Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” If we want the Lord to lead us in the way everlasting, we must first ask Him to search our hearts and our thoughts. We must cleanse out the wickedness that lives within us. Our hearts are deceitful. They are desperately wicked. And if we are honest with ourselves, we know that it is true. The Lord is willing and able to lead us. Be thankful for this promise. The Psalmist, David, knowing the condition of his wicked heart, asks the Lord to find any wicked way in him. He wanted the Lord to purge out even the sin that was unbeknownst to David. What would God do in our lives if we prayed this prayer and followed the Lord’s leading in removing the iniquity from our hearts? Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” We must guard our hearts. We must watch over everything we allow in our hearts. Our actions come from our hearts. We must keep our eyes, our ears, our mouths, our hands and our feet, but above all, we must keep our hearts. Ask the Lord to search your heart today. Ask Him to try your thoughts. He will reveal things you have forgotten about, or maybe even never considered to be a problem. That’s how the Lord works. He knows everything about us, and yet…He still loves us. Isn’t that amazing? Bible Reading: Joshua 23-24 | Acts 18 | Psalm 76 2 Corinthians 9:6
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” In the spring, many people prepare gardens in hopes of yielding great fruit when the harvest comes. If the gardener seeks to have a great bounty, they must plan and plant accordingly. If only a few seeds are planted, only a little fruit will be produced, and the planter is sure to be disappointed. As Christians, we can learn from these principles. If we plant the Seed of the Word of God sparingly, we will reap little. And likewise, if we sow bountifully to our flesh, we will reap corruption. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:7-9 The activity in which we sow resolves what we shall reap. The approach in which we sow determines how we will reap. The amount in which we sow is proportionate to that which we will reap. If we desire to reap more, we must sow more. Sow the Word today, and tomorrow reap the fruit that remains. Bible Reading: Joshua 21-22 | Acts 17 | Psalm 75 Isaiah 57:15
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Our God is high and lofty. There is no creature like Him. No one can even be compared to Him. He even tells us this repeatedly in Isaiah. Isaiah 45:5-6 “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me…there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end 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:” He declares the end from the beginning. He inhabits eternity. He sees tomorrow. When we don’t know what tomorrow holds, we can rest in knowing the One Who holds tomorrow…and the next day, and the day after that. God does not view time like we do, for there is none like Him. Since He dwells in eternity… When He was with Moses and the children of Israel, He saw you. When He was with David as he slew Goliath, He saw you. When He was with Daniel in the lion’s den, He saw you. When He was with Ruth as she gleaned from Boaz’s field, He saw you. When He was with Elijah as he prayed fire down from Heaven, He saw you. When He was with Esther as she risked her life for her people, He saw you. When He was with the Widow of Zarephath as she made what she thought was her last meal, He saw you. When He was with Peter walking on the water, He saw you. When He was with Paul on his missionary journeys, He saw you. When He was hanging on the cross at Calvary, He saw you. As He dwells in His high and lofty place, He sees those that are of a contrite and humble spirit. He wants to revive our hearts today, if only we will humble ourselves and be of a contrite spirit. Our God sees your today, and He sees your tomorrow. Ask Him to guide you. Yield to His leading. Follow His direction. Obey Him. Bible Reading: Joshua 19-20 | Acts 16 | Psalm 74 Hebrews 13:15-16
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” How often should we praise God? Continually. John Butler said, “It is easy to praise God when things are going well, but in the midst of troubles, we are still to praise Him.” How true that is. Much like we are to pray without ceasing, we are to praise Him continually. Our lips are to give thanks to His Name. When we thank God, we praise Him. The objective of our entire lives should be to please God. In this passage He shows us some ways in which we can please Him. God wants us to share what we have with others. Benevolence and communication are the foundation of friendship – finding common ground with others. We cannot find that common ground if we are not doing good unto them and communicating. When we share what we have, not only are we blessing the recipient, but also we ourselves are blessed and God is pleased. He wants us to yield ourselves to Him so that He may use us to bless others. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes of how he was blessed by them and their giving. “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” Philippians 4:18 Remember the context…missions giving. The church of Philippi had given sacrificially to Paul’s ministry because they desired for him to bear fruit. He reminded them that God would supply all their need because of their gift of love and their desire for fruit as well. Paul’s friends provided for him so that he could serve where God had sent him. God wants us to do more than praise Him with our lips. He tells us that we should not forget to do good and communicate with others. We please the Lord when we sacrifice our time and service to bless those around us. If you have godly friends in your life, praise the Lord for them today. He has crossed your paths so that you may be a blessing to each other. Bible Reading: Joshua 17-18 | Acts 15 | Psalm 73 Acts 16:9-10
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” It is because of Paul’s obedience to the Holy Spirit that we in America have the Gospel. What if Paul had disobeyed? The Scripture tells us that Paul went immediately. He didn’t run the other way like Jonah…he endeavoured to go. Where is the Lord calling you? The Lord had called Paul to preach the Gospel unto the Macedonians. Who has He called you to preach the Gospel to? There is somebody out there that needs you to share the Gospel with them. It’s up to you to reach them. Somebody is waiting. Somebody is calling. Will you answer the call? Or will you disobey? Will you endeavor to go to them? Or will you sit in the pew? Will you go immediately? Or will you make excuses and head another direction? What if the person who shared the Gospel with you had not answered the call to do so? Think about it. Endeavor to go to someone today. A family member. A friend. A co-worker. A stranger. God has called us to proclaim the Gospel to those who are without. Will you answer that call today? Bible Reading: Joshua 15-16 | Acts 14 | Psalm 72 Psalm 107:8
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” This verse is repeated 4 times in Psalm 107 in verses 8, 15, 21 and 31. Four times God used these Words to plead that people would see the enormity of His goodness and His wonderful works. Every Word of God is important, but the passages that God inspired to be pinned more than once should make us take more time to study them and apply them to our lives. Where would we be without the goodness of God? His goodness led us to see ourselves as sinners in need of a Saviour. Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” His goodness fills our hungry souls. Psalm 107:9 “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” His goodness gives us strength. Psalm 27:13 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” His goodness endures forever. Psalm 52:1 “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.” His goodness allows us to see all of the wonderful works that He has done in our lives. Take some time today to focus on how good He has been to you. As you do, He will reveal more of how His goodness has changed your life. God’s been good in my life I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night Though I’ve had my share of hard times, I wouldn’t change them if I could ‘Cause through it all, God’s been good. Sue and Belinda Smith Bible Reading: Joshua 13-14 | Acts 13 | Psalm 71 |
Archives
January 2021
Philippians 4:17Copyright © 2020
Delight Thyself Design Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. |