Holy Comfort

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Matthew 5:4

There comes a time in life when we will all mourn.  The King James Version Dictionary defines mourning as expressing grief or sorrow.  When you face a time of mourning, what or who will you turn to for comfort?  Material possessions, activities, and people may be able to offer you comfort for a while, but the only comfort that is completely satisfying is “holy comfort.”  Jesus is the only one capable of offering us this “holy comfort.”  Have you turned to Jesus for comfort or are you seeking comfort in other ways?  God promises in His Word that He will provide the comfort we need. 

God lovingly sends people in our lives during seasons of mourning to offer comfort, but along with this comfort God desires to offer us His “holy comfort.”  This “holy comfort” brings with it unexplainable peace and rest for the weary soul.  No words can truly describe this “holy comfort.”  You just know when you have experienced “holy comfort” and you desire for others to experience it also.  If you are in a season of mourning, choose to lay your mourning on God’s altar and allow Him to provide you with His divine comfort.  After we accept this divine comfort from our Savior and LORD, we are able to enter into the promise land of God’s healing. 

God provides us with “holy comfort” and desires for us to comfort others.  When we provide comfort to others, we need to always point them to the “God of all comfort.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, and who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  To receive “holy comfort” we must turn to our LORD. 

When we experience “holy comfort,” God provides us with strength, encouragement, and hope, which will ultimately lead us toward our promise land of healing.  In addition, as we begin to experience “holy comfort,” we are often able to see God’s hands on the events in our life. 

Life is filled with much uncertainty, but Jesus desires to offer us eternal comfort.  Are you willing to turn to Him and accept this comfort today?  Jesus is the one who is capable of refreshing our souls.  Allow Jesus to touch your heart in a personal way and to provide the “holy comfort” you so desperately need.   Allow Jesus to refresh your soul and spirit.  Psalm 23:3-4 – He (The LORD) refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

There will come a time of mourning.  Turn to Jesus for “holy comfort.”

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing us with your divine comfort.  I pray Father, during seasons of mourning we will turn to You.  I pray we will place our mourning upon Your altar and rest in Your soothing grace and mercy.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

A Renewed Spiritual Desire

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Matthews 5:6

If you were to measure your spiritual desire, would you be lacking in a hunger and a thirst for righteousness?  Do you desire a more intimate relationship with your Savior and LORD or have you allowed the things of this temporal world to overshadow your relationship with God?  Prayerfully ask God for a renewed spiritual desire.  Fall deeper in love with Jesus and allow him to fill your heart.  When our hearts are filled with the love of our Savior and LORD, it can’t help but to spill out on to those we come in contact with each day. 

Our LORD offers that which feeds the soul.  When we neglect our relationship with our LORD, we are left spiritually hungry and thirsty.  Often we attempt to feed our souls with temporal things from this world that will never truly satisfy.  They may satisfy for a season, but there will come a time when you will be spiritually weary and your heart will be spiritually dry.  Come to the only one who can satisfy your spiritual hunger and your thirst for righteousness – Almighty God.  “Come all you who are thirsty, come to the water; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare” – Isaiah 5:1-2.  God promises in His Word when we come to him, we will be filled. 

Maybe you are in a season of your life and you do not even realize you are missing a hunger and a thirst for things of God.  Now is the time to allow the Holy Spirit to examine your spiritual condition and come to a place of surrender and recommitment to your Savior and LORD.  Having a passionate love for God and a thirst and hunger for righteousness is satisfying beyond measure.  God is the spring of living water.  He is our hope.  Prayerfully ask God to place in you a hunger and a thirst for righteousness.  He is faithful and will answer your prayers.  We must seek to restore our relationship with our LORD.  Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, our lives depend upon God.  Psalm 42:1-2 – As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  My soul thirst for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?  God desires for us to commit our lives to Him and for us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.  We will never hunger and thirst for righteousness without surrendering to our LORD. 

Throughout God’s Word, He refers to Himself as the spring of living water.  Come today to the spring of living water.  The spring of living water which will provide you with eternal life.  John 4:13-14 – Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   Allow Jesus to place in your heart, His desires.  Allow Christ to change you from the inside out.  He desires to bless you.  Nothing will completely satisfy, other than Jesus Christ. 

Dear Heavenly Father, place a desire for righteousness in our hearts.  Help us to hunger and thirst for godly living, instead of worldly living.  Place in our hearts a love for You, a hunger and thirst for a more intimate relationship with You.  Fill our hearts with Your desires.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

 

 

Place Your Burden in the Hands of Almighty God

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.  Psalm 55:22

Do you have a burden today?  What will you choose to do with your burden?  You can drag it around with you and allow it to weigh you down physically and spiritually or you can give it to the one who truly cares for you – Jesus Christ, your Savior and LORD. 

There may be many reasons that you choose not to release your burden into the hands of Almighty God.  You may have trust issues, control issues, or issues with pride.  You are missing Heavenly blessings when you choose not to release your burdens into the hands of Jesus.  In addition, you are forfeiting a sense of relief and peace when not allowing your Savior and LORD to take your burden upon Himself. 

When we refuse to give our burdens to our LORD, we are ultimately saying that we do not trust Him with our lives and the circumstances in our lives.  We can verbally proclaim our trust in Jesus, but do we demonstrate our trust with our actions?  It takes humility to admit that we have a burden which is weighing heavily on our souls.  Carry your burdens – your worries, stresses, and struggles – to the Savior of your soul.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you – 1 Peter 5:7.  How much does Jesus care for you?  He gave His life so that you can have eternal life, if you accept His gift of salvation. 

Another reason why we may find it difficult to release our burdens to our LORD is because we question His love for us.  God demonstrated His love for us.  But God demonstrates his love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us – Romans 5:8.  God loved us even before we turned to Him and accepted Him as our Savior and LORD.  God promises us in His Word that He will always love us.  Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you – Isaiah 54:10.  Read God’s Word an allow His loving words to reassure your questioning soul.  God reveals His love to us every day.  As children of God, we must open our spiritual eyes and see the demonstration of our Heavenly Father’s love for us. 

Releasing our burdens into the hands of our Heavenly Father does not mean that we will not encounter difficulties.  It does mean that God will provide us with His comfort, peace, and direction as we continue on our journey toward our Heavenly home.  God will provide us with hope which will empower us to persevere. 

When we release our burdens into the hands of Almighty God, we can rest in Him and trust in Him.  No matter how large or small your burden, release it to your Heavenly Father and trust Him completely.  We find true rest, in the shadow of the Almighty, when we completely trust our LORD.  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:1-2.  Release your burden to the LORD and rest in His soothing grace.  Entrusting your burden to God demonstrates that you have complete faith in knowing that He is in control.  Choose to believe God is who He says He is and choose to believe that He loves you and desires to bless you.  It is you that must make the decision to place your burden into the hands of Almighty God.  No one is capable of making the decision for you.  I encourage you today to put your burden down and rest in the LORD. 

Trust in God’s faithfulness and the love He has for you.  Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” – Lamentations 3:22-23.

Dear Heavenly Father, increase our faith in You.  Help us to release our burden into Your mighty hands, gracious LORD.  Thank You for Your mercy and grace which You bestow upon us.  Please forgive our lack of faith and trust.  In Jesus Holy Name I Pray…..Amen. 

 

 

All for the Glory of God

For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen.  Romans 11:36.

Do you recognize the glory of God?  Do you honor and praise God’s glory?  Does your life reflect His glory?  God is the creator of all things; therefore He deserves all honor, glory, and praise.  “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” – Revelation 4:11.  God created us; therefore He deserves us to honor and praise Him.  We are the created.  God is our sustainer.  Every breath we take is made possible because our Heavenly Father wills it. 

How would you explain the glory of God to someone?  In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren describes the glory of God as who God is.  “It is the essence of His nature, the weight of His importance, the radiance of His splendor, the demonstration of His power, and the atmosphere of His presence.  God’s glory is the expression of His goodness and all His other intrinsic, eternal qualities.” 

Take the time to look around you at all our Heavenly Father has created - the beautiful clouds, the stars, the moon, and the sun.  None of this is by happenstance.  All this was created by the hand of our Almighty God.  Never take for granted the magnificent beauty of the handiwork of God.  Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Study God’s Word and you will discover God revealed His glory to His people.  God revealed His glory in the Garden of Eden, to Moses, in the tabernacle, and the temple.  His glory was displayed in a consuming fire, a cloud, thunder, smoke, and a brilliant light.  God revealed His glory through His son, Jesus Christ.  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven – Hebrews 1:3.  Our Savior – Jesus Christ is the complete expression of Almighty God in a human body. 

God’s Word reveals that we were created for God’s glory.  Isaiah 43:7 – Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.  If you are not living your life for God’s glory, allow Him to do a mighty work in your heart.  God can turn the hearts of His children back to Himself.  Surrender to the hand of your LORD.  Prayerfully ask God to renew your desire to bring honor, glory, and praise to your Savior and LORD.  Allow God’s Word to speak to you and guide you into offering your life as a beautiful sacrifice to Him.  Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. 

It is wonderful to know that we are not left to our own devices in trying to live our lives to honor and glorify our LORD.   God provides the divine power we need to be obedient to His calling and to live a life to glorify Him.  His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us, by his own glory and goodness – 2 Peter 1:3.  Call upon the LORD today and ask Him to help you live your life to honor and glorify Him.  So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God – 1 Corinthians 10:31. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that we will live a life which brings you honor, glory, and praise.  LORD provide us with Your divine power as we glorify you.  Help us to always remember You are our creator and know what is best for us.  Let us never forget to recognize your glory all around.  In Jesus Holy Name I Pray…..Amen. 

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Matthew 5:9

Our world is filled with conflict.  We have conflict in our homes, at our jobs, and in our churches.  I encourage you to become a person who desires peace.  Become a peacemaker.  Become a peacemaker in your home, at work, and in your church.  A peacemaker is someone who brings about peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree.  Choose to be the voice of wisdom.  Allow God and His Word to direct your speech and your relationship with others.  Let the light of Christ shine through your life.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven – Matthew 5:16. 

 God’s love must permeate our motives.  As we attempt to live our lives as peacemakers, we must seek to make sure our actions and our speech honor and glorify our Heavenly Father.  Prayerfully ask Jesus to reveal if you have a heart of a peacemaker or a heart of someone who is an initiator of conflict.  In our churches, many conflicts occur because of personal preferences rather than doctrinal issues.  This is sad and alarming because while Christians are arguing over preferences, people are dying and going to hell. 

A peacemaker is someone who is able to overlook an insult.  They recognize that retaliation solves nothing and only encourages more conflict.  God’s Word describes them as prudent.  Do you desire to be prudent?  With the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit you and I can be known as a peacemaker.  Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult – Proverbs 12:16.  When dealing with conflict, our choice of words and how they are delivered is very important.  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger – Proverbs 15:1.  Most people find it difficult to argue with someone who is speaking to them in a gentle tone.  It isn’t uncommon to see children have a temper tantrum, but it is sad to see adults have temper tantrums, especially Christians.  Calmness is an important tool that a mature Christian will strive to use during a conflict.  The peacemaker will attempt to be calm instead of being dragged into a verbally explosive conflict.  Ecclesiastes 10:4 – If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.   

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we must remember we are all working to lead the lost to Christ.  Peacemakers will encourage fellow Christians to show each other respect and the importance of holding each other in highest regard.  In God’s kingdom, one person is not greater than another.  1 Thessalonians 5:13 – Hold them in highest regard in love because of their work.  Live in peace with each other. 

A peacemaker will encourage forgiveness.  Forgive and move forward.  God has forgiven us so much.  When we reflect on how much God has forgiven us, it will not be difficult for us to forgive others.  God commands us to forgive and then move forward.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone – Colossians 3:13.

God reveals in His Word that a peacemaker must have godly wisdom.  God’s wisdom and ways are much different than the worlds.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness – James 3:17-18.  God will provide the peacemaker the wisdom needed to handle any situation.  Ask God for wisdom today.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  Choose today to sow peace.  Live your life as a peacemaker. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many blessings.  Father, I pray You will provide us with godly wisdom.  Help us to live our lives as a peacemaker, instead of one that participates in conflict.  Wash over us with Your love that we may demonstrate it to others.  In Jesus Holy Name I Pray…..Amen.

Stones of Remembrance

“A powerful motivation for believing God in our present is intentionally remembering how He’s worked in our past.”  Beth Moore

Throughout God’s Word we are able to see a demonstration of God’s faithfulness.  If we take the time to examine our lives, we will see God’s faithfulness and His fingerprints all over our lives.  Take the times today to reflect over your life and how Almighty God has been faithful to you.  Memory is an important part of the faith building process, so take the time to remember and reflect upon God’s faithfulness.  Never forget to thank God for His faithfulness which He has demonstrated to you. 

In Joshua 4 we see that the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River.  The LORD instructed Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe, to pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River.  These twelve stones were to be a sign, a memorial, to the people of God’s faithfulness.  Joshua 4:7 – tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.  When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.  These stones are be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. 

The Israelites went up from the Jordan River and set up camp at Gilgal.  It is here where Joshua set up the twelve memorial stones taken from the Jordan River.  These stones of remembrance were to be a reminder to the Israelites and their children that they crossed the Jordan on dry ground.  The children would see the stones and hear the stories of God’s faithfulness and power that allowed them to cross the Jordan River on dry ground.  Joshua 4:20-24 – And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.  He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’  tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’  For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over.  The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.  He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God. 

I encourage you to reflect upon your stones of remembrance and share with your children and others how God has demonstrated His faithfulness to you during your life.  We must intentionally strive to keep memoires of God’s faithfulness alive in our families.  Psalm 77:11-12 – I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will consider all your works and mediate on all your mighty deeds.  Memories of God’s faithfulness are able to sustain us during difficult seasons and will strengthen our faith. 

We serve a mighty God, a God who is faithful and powerful.  Share this with others.  Speak out.  Give glory, honor, and praise to our Savior and LORD for His faithfulness.  The faithfulness of our LORD is never ending.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations – Psalm 100:4-5. 

There are times in life where we seem faithless but we can be confident in knowing that our Savior and LORD is always faithful.  Our LORD is always faithful to his promises.  Do you know the promises of God?  Read His Holy Word and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the faithful promises of Jesus.  If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself – 2 Timothy 2:13. 

Our God never changes.  He has been faithful to us in the past and will continue to remain faithful.  I the LORD do not change.  So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed – Malachi 3:6.  Continue to gather your stones of remembrance to share with other.  To God be the glory. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to never forget your faithfulness.  I pray we will continue to give you all honor, glory, and praise.  Strengthen our faith in you, Almighty God.  In Jesus Name I Pray……Amen.

 

 

 

A Complaining Spirit

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  Philippians 4:11-12

It happens quickly.  You are with friends visiting and someone starts complaining.  Then someone else has a complaint and so on.  It seems as if complaining is contagious.  How do we discern if we have a complaining spirit?  Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you today if you have a complaining spirit and then seek the LORD’s help in eradicating this complaining spirit from your life. 

People complain about many different things – jobs, families, life circumstances, school, church, etc.  You can add to the list.  We must realize that complaining is harmful and often can cause dissention.  When we exhibit a complaining spirit, the power of Christ is not evident in our lives.  Philippians 2:14 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing.  Allow the power of Christ to enable you to live your life without complaining and arguing with others.  When we complain and argue with others, our LORD is not receiving honor and glory.  Our actions must point others to Jesus Christ. 

God considers complaining as unwholesome talk.  When we complain to others, it definitely does not encourage them.  God’s Word is clear - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen – Ephesians 4:29.  Prayerfully ask the LORD to search your heart and reveal to you whether you speak words of encouragement or words of discouragement to others.  As Christians, we should have the desire to never grieve God with our actions or our words.  A complaining spirit grieves our Heavenly Father.  The person who does not have a complaining spirit but offers others encouragement is like good medicine.  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones – Proverbs 17:22.  Exchange your complaining spirit for one which looks at the positive aspects of life.  Exchange your complaining spirit for a thankful spirit. 

When we shift our attention from what we have, to what we don’t have, we often begin to complain and grumble.  We must intentionally notice what God has done for us and what God is doing for us.  God has blessed us beyond measure.  In Numbers 21:5-6, we notice the Israelites complaining and grumbling.  They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  There is no bread!  There is no water!  And we detest this miserable food!”  Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them: they bit the people and many Israelites died.  The Israelites refused to recognize and thank God for what He had done for them and was doing for them.  God was setting them free from bondage in Egypt, He was making them into a nation, and giving them a new land.  Their focus was on the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind when they were led from slavery.  We must guard our hearts so that we don’t begin to complain and focus on our unfulfilled desires.  1 Corinthians 10:9-10  tells us – We should not test Christ, as some of them did – and were killed by snakes.  And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel. 

As Christians, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit.  God’s Word tells us we should keep in step with the Spirit.  When we complain and grumble we are not keeping in step the Spirit.  Galatians 6:25 – Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  If we are keeping in step with the leading power of the Holy Spirit, we will not be complaining and grumbling.  Live by the Holy Spirit’s power and allow Him to remove your complaining spirit. 

Refocus your mind on what is true, noble, and right.  When we do this, we will not find anything to complain about.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things – Philippians 4:8.  When we are praising our Savior and LORD and giving Him thanks, we will not be able to complain.  Never forget your blessings that your Heavenly Father has bestowed upon you.  Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Ephesians 5:20. 

Dear Heavenly Father, reveal to us if we have a complaining spirit.  I pray that we will refocus our hearts and minds and recognize the blessings you have provided us with.  Thank you for salvation.  Help us to focus on what is true, noble, and right.  Help us to speak words of praise and encouragement.  In Jesus Precious Name I Pray…..Amen.