Surrendering to the Sovereignty of Almighty God

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.

  Psalm 103:19

 

Have you forgotten that Almighty God is in complete control?  Knowing that our LORD is in complete control - sovereign - should give us a sense of comfort.  God has supreme, independent authority over all things, situations, and circumstances.  When we embrace the sovereignty of God, we are able to experience divine inner comfort and peace.

 

For Almighty God to be sovereign, means that He has unlimited command of all things.  But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body - Philippians 3:20-21.  God is in authority over EVERYTHING.  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.....Hebrews 1:3.  God works out everything according to His plan and purpose.  He brings all things under His mighty lordship and he sustains all things.

 

Therefore whatever situation or circumstance you are facing, know deep in your soul that Almighty God will work it out.  He will bring it under His control and authority and He will sustain you through the difficult season.  If Jesus is your Savior and LORD, take comfort in knowing that your life is under the authority of a loving, eternal God.

 

When we place our faith in God's control - sovereignty - we will not waiver through unbelief.  We will be strengthened in our faith.  We will give glory to our LORD and we will know deep in our souls that God has the power to fulfill His promises.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised - Romans 4:20-21.

 

Rest in the sovereignty of God today.  Take comfort in knowing He always keeps His promises and He will always stay true to His character.  Hannah Whitall Smith wrote these beautiful words, "Divine comfort does not come to us in any mysterious or arbitrary way.  It comes as the result of a divine method.  The indwelling Comforter brings to our remembrance comforting things concerning our Lord.  If we believe them, we are comforted by them."

 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to accept Your sovereignty.  LORD, provide us with comfort and peace as we journey towards our Heavenly home.  Strengthen our faith dear LORD.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

God's Silence

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  Isaiah 40:28

Have you ever experienced the silence of God?  We all at one time or

another have experienced the silence of our LORD.  What are we to do?  Hang on to the promises of Almighty God, even when He is silent. 

When we read Psalm 22, it is evident that David experienced the silence of God but he chose to exercise his faith.  You and I must do the same.  When God is silent, choose to hang on to how faithful God has been to you in the past.  He will again prove faithful to you in the present and the future. 

During the times when God is silent, remember that He is Holy.  Yet you (Almighty God) are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises - Psalm 22:3.  Knowing God is the creator of all and He provides us with the very air we breathe should give us comfort when God is silent.  God created the universe by speaking it into existence.  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible - Hebrews 11:3.  Even when God is silent, He is still in complete control.  We can trust in our creator. 

Throughout Scripture we read of God's faithfulness.  Because of the faithfulness of Almighty God, we can stand firm when He is silent.  Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments - Deuteronomy 7:9.  We can reflect on how faithful God has been to us in the past and place our hope in Him knowing that He will continue to be faithful even when He is silent. 

Scripture reveals to us that our LORD is compassionate and gracious to His children.  He loves us more than we can comprehend.  When God is silent, know that He never stops loving His children.  But you LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness - Psalm 87:15. 

Even when God is silent, we can know that God is with us and will never forsake us.  God will provide us with strength and courage and will uphold us with His righteous hand.  Trust in Him.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand - Isaiah 41:10. 

Dear Heavenly Father, during times of silence I prayer that we will continue to seek You through Your Holy Word.  Thank You LORD for Your faithfulness,Your love, and Your grace.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

I Will Share the Gospel Message

He said:  "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day." 

Ezekiel 2:3

 

A call to share the Gospel has been placed upon our lives.  Are you being obedient to your calling?  God called Ezekiel to prophecy to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.  God's Word reveals that the Jewish exiles did not take the message delivered to them to heart.  Those that we carry the Gospel Message to may not take the message to heart but we are still called to deliver the message and be obedient to our LORD. 

 

God chooses to work His divine will on earth through His children.  He will provide us with the power, the strength, and the courage to serve Him when we respond to His calling to share the Gospel Message.  We do not have to depend on our own abilities.  God will equip us to do whatever it is He is calling us to do.  So do not fear, for I am with you; and do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand – Isaiah 41:10.  God knows our heart.  He saw Ezekiel's open and obedient attitude and provided him with the power and strength to deliver the message to the Jewish exiles.  God doesn't expect us to understand everything about His character, His nature, and His ways but He does expect us to be willing and obedient.  When Almighty God sees your heart, does He see a child of His that is willing and obedient? 

 

Ezekiel was called to give God's message to the people whether they listened or not.  We are called to carry the Gospel Message to the people - our family, friends, co-workers, etc. - whether they listen or not.  Ezekiel's success was not measured on how the Jewish exiles responded but on his obedience to his LORD.  Our success is not determined on how people respond when we present them with the Gospel Message but on our commitment and obedience to our Savior and LORD. 

 

Ezekiel had a difficult responsibility.  He was carrying God's message to ungrateful and abusive people.  Ezekiel 2:4 tells us they were "obstinate and stubborn."  We too will come in contact with ungrateful an unkind people but that does not negate the calling to carry the Gospel Message to this lost and dying world.  Remember, we can rely upon our LORD to provide us with courage and strength to carry out the calling He has placed upon our lives. 

 

Choose to be a godly example and share your faith with all people.  Share your faith with kindness and love.  Because we are blessed with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can lay aside our fear of rejection and our fear of ridicule.  How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" - Isaiah 52:7.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, provide us with the courage and strength to carry your Gospel Message to all people.  Take away our fear of mistreatment and ridicule.  Place love for the unsaved in our hearts.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

 

Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Falsehood

Dear friends do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  1 John 4:1

 

We live in a world with many false teachings.  Are you able to discern when confronted with a message that does not align with the Word of God?  We shouldn't believe everything we hear just because someone's method of delivery is smooth and flowery and they say it is a message from God.  Our world is filled with men and women claiming they have a message from God.  Pray and ask God to bless you with spiritual discernment. 

 

First and foremost to identify if a message is inspired by Almighty God, the message must align with the Word of God.  Any teaching that is different from what God has revealed to us in His Word is not inspired by our LORD.  It is imperative that you and I immerse ourselves in God's Word so that we will not be deceived when we encounter false teachings. 

 

Other ways to identify that our teachers are inspired and led by Almighty God is to view their commitment to the body of believers - the church - the bride of Christ.  An anointed teacher will not only teach God's Word but will be committed to the body of believers.  They will work collectively with other believers to see the Gospel Message carried to the ends of the world. 

 

The fruit of the Spirit will be evident in an anointed teacher’s life.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - Galatians 5:22.  The fruit of the Spirit is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  When a teacher of the Word of God has surrendered to the leading of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit will be manifested not only in their teaching but in the way they relate to others. 

 

False teachers are popular in our world today because they tell people what they want to hear.  For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear - 2 Timothy 4:3.  We must seek the TRUTH which is found only in God’s Word. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, lead and guide us to the TRUTH found only in Your Holy Word.  Place in our hearts a desire for TRUTH.  LORD, help us to not be deceived by the false teachers that surround us.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

 

 

 

 

To Love is to Obey

In fact, this is love for God:  to keep his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome. 

1 John 5:3

 

We demonstrate our love for our Savior and LORD by being obedient to His calling and His commands.  Are you walking in obedience to your LORD?  We are blessed to have God's Word to lead, guide, and direct our walk of obedience.  God did not leave us in the dark.  Be intentional about reading God's Word and allowing Him to direct your walk of obedience.  Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes and reveal wondrous things from His Holy Word.  Psalm 119:18 - Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 

 

God clearly tells us in His Word that His commands are not burdensome.  His commands are not heavy in weight, severe, or cruel.  God never places upon us a burdensome or a grievous load of legalism.  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light - Matthew 11:28-30.  Dallas Willard once stated, "One of the lies about the spiritual life is that it is hard.  No, no.  It is not hard.  It is the easy way.  What's hard is the other way, and that is what you see when you look at the world." 

 

If we love God, we will obey Him.  God will provide us the strength and the ability to walk in obedience.  Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  The power we receive in union with Jesus Christ is sufficient to do His will.  Prayerfully ask Jesus to help you walk in obedience to His will and His ways.  We are incapable of walking in obedience in our own strength.  Call upon Jesus.  His grace is sufficient.  My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me - 2 Corinthians 12:9. 

 

Choose today to walk in complete obedience to Almighty God.  If we love God, we will desire to demonstrate our love through our obedience.  Choose today to live as Jesus lived.  Obey God's teaching found in His Holy Word and follow Jesus Christ's example of complete obedience to God.  1 John 2:5-6 - But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.  This is how we know we are in him.  Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 

 

Run in the path of God's commands today.  Psalm 119:32 - I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, we desire to walk in Your will and Your ways.  We love You.  Help us to walk in obedience to Your calling upon our lives.  Lead and guide us as we read and study Your Holy Word.  Allow us to hear Your Word clearly.  In Jesus Name I Pray.....Amen.

 

 

 

 

Steadfast Faith

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

How do we remain steadfast in our faith?  A study of Scripture reveals many that remained steadfast in their faith.  They endured faithfully.  They had a heavenly perspective and we must do the same.  Turn your eyes toward heaven and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has won the ultimate victory.  We must continue to serve the LORD faithfully, even when we do not see good results from our efforts.  Continue to serve your Savior and LORD with a steadfast faith in the work He has called you to do.  Any and everything we do for our Savior and LORD will have eternal results. 

Scripture reveals Noah exhibited steadfast faith.  God commanded Noah to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land and although God’s command seemed foolish to the human eye, Noah chose to obey God.  He experienced taunts and rejection from his neighbors but remained steadfast in his calling by Almighty God.  Your obedience to God’s will make other’s disobedience to God stand out.  You may even face taunts and rejection as Noah did but remain steadfast and allow God to empower you to carry out the calling He has placed upon your life. 

In Daniel 3 we read about three men, when faced with being thrown into a blazing furnace they remained steadfast in their faith.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego committed to serve no other gods other than the One True God.  They were pressured to deny God but remained steadfast in their faith.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to remain faithful regardless of the consequences.  “If we (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” – Daniel 3:17-18.  Choose today to remain steadfast in your faith no matter the consequences.  The eternal rewards will be worth any suffering we may endure upon this earth. 

In the Book of Genesis we read about Joseph and how he remained steadfast in his faith even though his life was filled with difficult circumstances and events.  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually sold again to the official of the Pharaoh of Egypt.  He was accused of committing a crime he did not commit and placed in prison.  Because of Joseph’s steadfast faith in Almighty God, he was given a top-ranking position in Egypt that eventually saved the lives of his family.  Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”  When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you”- Genesis 45: 4-5.  Joseph remained steadfast in his faith even when his brothers attempted to get rid of him.  God used the evil actions of Joseph’s brothers to fulfill His ultimate plan.  Joseph came to realize that God had sent him to Egypt, to at a later time, save the lives of his family, the people of Egypt, and to prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel.  Will you choose to be like Joseph and remain steadfast in your faith, even under difficult circumstances?  With empowerment from Almighty God, we will be able to remain steadfast in our faith. 

In 2 Timothy 4:7-8  we read these words written by Paul – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  As Paul neared the end of his life, he could confidently say that he had been faithful to his call.  My prayer is that we too will be able to say we have been faithful to the call our LORD has placed upon our life.  Continue to walk steadfast in the faith. 

Dear Heavenly Father, enable us to walk in steadfast faith.  Thank You for the calling You have placed upon our lives.  Fill us sweet Jesus with everlasting faith.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

 

Embrace Your Place

Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them…..1 Corinthians 7:17

God has called us to a mighty work.  As His children, we are called to carry the Gospel Message to those we meet each and every day.  Reflect a moment on the place where Almighty God has placed you.  Have you embraced your place?  Are you serving your LORD with gladness and in His power and His strength?  God has equipped each of us to serve him in a specific place for a specific season.  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens – Ecclesiastes 3:1.  To live at peace in the place God has assigned us, we must come to accept and appreciate God’s timing.  If we choose not to embrace our place and accept God’s perfect timing, we might fall into despair and choose rebellion by stepping out of our assigned place.   It is time for us to stop comparing the work our LORD has called us to with the work of other Christians.  God has a unique position only you can fill.  I encourage you today to embrace your place. 

God chooses where He places us.  He is always preparing us for the future and for future service.  If we choose not to fully embrace our place and the molding from the hand of our Father, we will not be prepared to step into future service which our LORD has specifically planned for us.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do – Ephesians 2:10.  Author Christine Caine states in her book Unstoppable, “To embrace your place means that wherever you are in life, no matter what season you are in or what circumstances you face, you see yourself as an important member of God’s divine relay, and you accept and do God’s will today in light of his plan for all eternity.” 

As children of Almighty God, we are members of the body of Christ.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it – 1 Corinthians 12:27.  You and I are the visible representation of an invisible God to our family, our friends, our neighbors, and the world.  Are you representing your Savior and LORD well?  Do others see Jesus Christ in your life?  The place where you currently are serving might be difficult but we are still called to be faithful to our calling, and to do that we must embrace our place.  We must remember God has a specific purpose and place for us to serve and often it is for a season.  Seasons change and God will move us in His perfect timing.  If we leave our place - our position - before God moves us, we forfeit many blessings from our Heavenly Father.  We must also remember God is always preparing us for our next assignment, our next season.  Embrace your place.  Stay faithful in your pursuit of Almighty God an allow Him to work in and through you. 

You are not here in this place and at this time by accident.  Embrace your place and choose to give God your time, your gifts, your resources, and your talents and He will use them to have an impact on this world.  No matter your place, when you surrender to Almighty God you will impact this lost and dying world.  Embrace your place and allow God to prepare you and train you for your next season, your next place.  Our here and now is God’s preparation for our future.  Remain faithful, committed, and loyal to your Savior and LORD even when you can’t see the outcome.  Often God will require our obedience before our understanding.  Choose to be obedient to Almighty God today.  Trust God, because His timing is perfect. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to embrace our place.  Lead and guide us to be faithful servants.  LORD we recognize life is brief, help us to impact our world in a godly way.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.