James 1:5
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” King Solomon loved the Lord. He was given the opportunity to ask the Lord for anything he wanted. I Kings 3:5 “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” Can you imagine? This was not some genie in a bottle that wanted to grant him three wishes. This was the very Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God. Would you have the mental capacity to make such a wise request as Solomon did? He had wisdom before he even asked for it. I Kings 3:9 “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s request. He gave him the wisdom he asked for…and so much more. Just like Solomon, God will give us wisdom if we only ask for it. He will not withhold it, but will give it liberally not just to some, but to all who ask in faith. Wisdom and discernment go hand in hand, and the two are severely lacking in our day. Why? Because we have not asked for them. Christian, you need wisdom in order to endure and learn from the trial you are facing. Ask the Lord to give you an understanding heart through your trial. Ask Him to help you discern how to make the right decisions. “We should not pray so much for the removal of an affliction as for wisdom to make a right use of it.” – Matthew Henry Bible Reading: II Chronicles 27-28 | Titus 2 | Proverbs 22
0 Comments
James 1:4
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” No one likes it when we are taught how to have patience. In today’s modern society it seems as though hardly anyone has any patience at all. We have coined the terms “rush hour” and “drive thru” because of our lack of want to wait. But when God makes us wait…He always has a reason that far exceeds our own plan at the time. We want the wait to be over, and get from point A to point B just as soon as we possibly can. Wonder what we miss sometimes because we refuse to wait? “But let patience…” Allow patience to do the work God intended. Waiting allows us to learn something. Waiting allows us to do something else in the mean time. Waiting allows us to avoid an otherwise catastrophe. Waiting allows us to increase our dependence and trust in God. There is purpose in patience. When we rush our patience we limit the purpose God has us to wait for in the first place, we miss the full effect of His plan. We lessen the effects of the waiting, and limit what God had planned. In order not to limit His plans, we must rejoice in our trials! James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” Sometimes trials are what it takes to begin to see God’s plan unfolding. We will not see His plan for our lives fully developed if we go ahead of His timing. Waiting allows God to work in ways that only He can which always leads to results that can only bring the glory to Him. It’s worth the wait. Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Bible Reading: II Chronicles 25-26 | Titus 1 | Proverbs 21 Psalm 37:24
“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Some people are blessed with the gift of clumsiness where there are days when they can’t seem to stay on their own two feet. Can you relate? When we trip and fall, we have a choice…to get up or to stay down. Falling Is Inevitable. “Though he fall…” The Book of James not only warns us that it is not if but “when” we will be in a trial, but remember the wording of that verse… James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” Falling is to be expected. We may fall because of a choice we made, or because of someone else’s choice that affects us. When our faith is tried we have an opportunity to grow, but we must first return to our feet. Falling Is Part Of Our Sin Nature. Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden is called “The Fall” for a reason. They stumbled and fell into sin through their disobedience. We have inherited sin because of their fall. Despite their sin, God did not leave them in the Garden of Eden. Likewise, when we fall He does not cast us aside to fend for ourselves. “he shall not be utterly cast down” We are not cast out of our relationship with the Lord. We may be cast down, but we are not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” Falling Is Temporary. Why are we not destroyed when we fall? Because He holds us in His hand! “for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” In the previous verse we are told that our steps are ordered by the Lord. If He orders our steps, then our falls are appointments that He allows. Our stumbles are not permanent when ordained by God the Father. He uses our falls and disappointments to teach us and point us to Him, and while doing so we are supported by the very hand of God. There is no safer place to fall! Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Falling Is Not Failure. Sometimes our falls seem like failures to us, but in God’s eyes they are not failures at all. When our flesh gets in the way and we desire something contrary to what God has for us, we may get disappointed…but it is for our good. He has something better in store! We do not fail until we fail to get back up. Proverbs 24:16 “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…” Bible Reading: II Chronicles 23-24 | II Timothy 4 | Proverbs 20 Psalm 46:2-3
“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” “though the earth be removed” When the ground beneath your feet seems to have disappeared, and you feel as if you are falling with no end in sight… Have no fear. “though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” When the protection around you seems to be destroyed, and you feel vulnerable at where the next attack may come from… Have no fear. “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled” When the storm raging around you makes your surroundings seems disoriented, and you feel unsteady and off balance… Have no fear. “though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof” When your plan is shattered, the details become dismantled, and you are shaking in your core… Have no fear. Why didn’t they fear? "Therefore..." Verse one has the answer: Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Make God your refuge and strength! He is a very present help in time of trouble. Remember there is comfort in knowing that He is there to help right here and now. “a very present help in trouble” Have no fear today, Christian. Bible Reading: II Chronicles 21-22 | II Timothy 3 | Proverbs 19 Micah 3:11
“…yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.” When an injured or disabled person uses a cane or crutch to help them walk they must lean on the object for assistance and stability. They have confidence that the cane will bear their weight and balance them so that they can take the next step. The Lord should in no way be viewed as a cane or crutch, but there is a principle here that we can learn from and apply to our daily walk with Him. We in our own ability can do nothing without Christ. He tells us this Himself in John 15, “for without me ye can do nothing.” How true that is! Have you ever had to be reminded that you are nothing without Him? When our pride gets in the way, He has a way of reminding us of this Truth while still supporting and guiding us at the same time as we lean on and acknowledge Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Thankfully, we can also be reminded by the confidence Paul had when he pinned, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We are nothing without Christ, but through Him and His strength we can accomplish all things in His will. We have the Lord on our side! Why should we be afraid of anything? Psalm 118:6 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Hebrews 13:6 “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Remind yourself today of the confidence we can have if we will lean on the Lord. He is on our side. He is our helper. Seek Him for guidance and direction on how to address the situation you are facing. He will calm your fears. Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” When we lean on Him our fears will subside and be replaced by a confidence that only comes from knowing He is on our side. Hebrews 10:35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms; I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Iris DeMent Bible Reading: II Chronicles 19-20 | II Timothy 2 | Proverbs 18 Psalm 91:3-4
“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” When we are caught off guard by the traps of our enemies, we can seek shelter under the wings of our Saviour. We can trust that He will protect us, He will shield us from the wiles of the devil and the people who seek to do us harm. Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” David speaks from experience. He knew what it was like to feel caught in the trap of his enemies’ snare. He knew how it felt to be the prey that his enemy sought after, but he also knew what deliverance felt like. He understood the shelter and comfort that is available under the Lord’s wings. He had the feathers of His wings intertwining around him to provide safety and security. Can you relate with David? If we will but ask the Lord to cover us with the feathers of His mighty wings He will deliver. Trust in His wings today. Psalm 61:4 “I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.” Bible Reading: II Chronicles 17-18 | II Timothy 1 | Proverbs 17 Psalm 91:1-2
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Do you ever wish you could just hide away for a little bit? Rowdy children, a stressful co-worker, or just from people in general can make us want to hide. Everyone needs a break every once and awhile. Have you found a secret place you can always go to get away? There is a secret place that is always available and never too crowded. We are always welcome to abide under the shadow of the Almighty God. He is Our Shelter. Psalm 61:3 “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Even in the good times where the sun is shining bright, shelter is needed. When the storms rush in and the winds are too hard to bear, we can seek shelter in Him. Psalm 27:5 “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” He is Our Refuge. Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” We not only find shelter but also strength in Him. Though trouble may abound, He is always there as a present help. He has helped in the past, and will help in the future, but there is such a comfort in knowing that He is a help right here and now. “a very present help in trouble” Psalm 61:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” He is Our Fortress. Psalm 71:3 “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.” We are secure in Him! He will not only shelter us and give us strength, but He provides security like no other. When our enemies seem to prevail, He is our stronghold. We can come to Him continually for help. He desires for us to rest in Him. “whereunto I may continually resort” The shelter, strength, and security that we find in Him bring us to the Truth of “in him will I trust.” Find that secret place today. Allow Him to be your hiding place. Psalm 32:7 “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Bible Reading: II Chronicles 15-16 | I Timothy 6 | Proverbs 16 Psalm 34:19
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” We are only righteous because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ has been imputed to us. His afflictions were many. He bore the weight of our sin, enduring the wrath of God for us. He was scourged and crucified; experiencing nearly every bodily wound suffered pain and agony beyond description. He was forsaken by God the Father because of our sin, yet despite all these afflictions…”the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Christ rose from the grave victorious, defeating every affliction He had suffered. This is yet another example to us that God can deliver us from any affliction that we suffer. We can cry to Him, and He will not only hear us, but He will deliver us! Psalm 34:17-22 “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” When we trust in Christ’s finished work on Calvary as payment for our sin, we have His righteousness imputed on us, or put to our account. Just as our sin was imputed onto Him when He took our punishment, we are imputed with His righteousness. Notice how in verse 19 it speaks of “the LORD delivereth him out of them all”, then in verse 22 it is turned to plural – “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” We are redeemed and delivered because of our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! Our afflictions in this life may be many, but we can claim to this promise: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Dwell in His presence today, and thank Him for imputing His righteousness upon you. No matter what trouble you face today, you can have peace because He has promised to deliver you! In His presence I will dwell, Where it is well. It is well! There is peace in my despair; Knowing God will hear my prayer; And I will cling to the promise that He brings. Even death will have no sting, no power in hell. In His presence I will dwell, where it is well! The Isaacs Bible Reading: II Chronicles 13-14 | I Timothy 5 | Proverbs 15 Colossians 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” We externalize our feelings and actions in only two ways – by what we say, or what we do, in word or deed. Each time we express ourselves it is an opportunity to give thanks and glory to God. Paul admonishes the church of Colosse of this Truth. When we are asked to do something, regardless of what it is, we have an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord! Whether it is to speak before a vast audience or pick up trash when no one is watching, we can glorify the One Who has given us the ability to do the task in the first place. If we seek to do all things in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will become more aware of our reactions. Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” This is one of the most difficult verses in the Bible to apply to our lives, yet just as inspired as “For God so loved the world”. It is difficult to go an entire day, or maybe even an hour without going against this verse isn’t it? We cannot “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” if we are murmuring or disputing. Convicting thought. It is possible to do all things without murmuring or disputing. How? Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Seek to use every opportunity today. Do all things in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Name above all names! Bible Reading: II Chronicles 11-12 | I Timothy 4 | Proverbs 14 Isaiah 42:11-12
“Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.” Whether we are in the middle of a wilderness, a big city, a village, or an island, we can give glory unto the Lord and declare His praise unto all those around us. He is Worthy to be Praised. II Samuel 22:4 “I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised” He is worthy to be Greatly Praised. I Chronicles 16:25 “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” Praise Him for His Mercy. II Chronicles 20:21 “Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Praise Him for His Righteousness. Psalm 7:17 “I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.” Praise Him for His Word. Psalm 56:10 “In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.” Praise His Name. Psalm 148:13 “Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” Praise Him All The Time! Hebrews 13:16 “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.” Wherever we are, we can praise Him. Whenever, we can praise Him. Praise the Lord for His mercy, His righteousness, His Word, and above all, His Name! Declare His praise to those around you today. Bible Reading: II Chronicles 9-10 | I Timothy 3 | Proverbs 13 |
Archives
January 2021
Philippians 4:17Copyright © 2020
Delight Thyself Design Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. |