Simple Thoughts On Promises

Simple Thoughts On Promises- 196

Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:16)

Indeed, God has prepared a city for all of us who believe in and live for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says this about Abraham & Co. who obeyed the call of God Almighty and believed in him:
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age - and Sarah herself was barren - was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one.....(Hebrews 11:11-16)

Are you looking for a country of your own ones?; are you longing for a better country- a heavenly one as Abraham, Isaac and Israel did? Blessed are you if you are.

There are people who have vast lands in their names while they live on earth, but who live without any hope for the hereafter. What's the point? Jesus said,
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:25)

Our attitude should be like Abraham of whom the author of the book of Hebrews says,
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

New Jerusalem should be our final destination. The promise is for you and me who have accepted Jesus as our Savior.
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

Praise the Lord. Hallelujah.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 197

For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (1 Peter 2:6)
As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - (1 Peter 2:4)

We read here of Jesus who is the chosen and precious cornerstone and also the living stone. The Apostle Peter says that he was chosen by God and precious to him.
Also to us who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone and "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."

Peter emphazises what was written in the Old Testament:The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.
If Jesus is precious to us who believe, we are precious to him too. That's what Peter explains in his epistle.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:8,10)

Every earthly honor and exaltation pales in comparison with the call of God upon your life. So consider the call of God upon your life as precious. The God who called Abraham, Moses, Samuel and many others is the one who has called you to serve him.

Always think of the call of God in your life as the greatest privilege that you can ever have. Serve him faithfully. He will surely reward you with riches eternal and blessings supernal. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 198

Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

The return of Jesus Christ is not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Aircrafts can be put on autopilot mode to run a charted course. Sadly, there is no autowaiting mode for the believer to run the course from here to eternity for there are constant battles to deal with. The flesh, the world and satan, one at a time or in any combination has to be dealt with constantly till the end comes, either when one joins Christ at his coming or when one breathes the last breath here on earth and joins Christ.

Waiting is a difficult period to deal with for whatever be the end result. Waiting can be taxing to the mind as well as the body. People wait to give life (birth), to live (recover from an illness/accident) and there are some who also wait to die(terminal illnesses).

Waiting cannot be escaped from at many stages of our life. Why do we have to wait?
Maturity is one answer. In the case of a child growing in the womb, the period of becoming mature enough to live on birth is vital. Maturity brings on ripening as in the case of fruits and they deliver a luscious taste than when they are immature and unripe. Also, for the believer, God does things with his perfect timing and in the process of waiting he effects a lot of changes in the person concerned.

Have you been waiting for something positive to happen? Is it taxing your mind a lot?
The Bible has simple assurances to deal with that.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:6,7)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
And let it be so in the lives of all who read this.Amen.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 199

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. (Psalm 102:17)

2 key words in the above promise are "will respond" and "not despise".
Often we despair regarding lost oppurtunities. It could have worked out but it didn't. Perhaps it was our fault. So does there remain any hope?
Prayer is a weapon that can be used to sort out umpteen problems that surface in our lives because of personal carelessness or unwise decisions.

Yes, prayer brings renewed hope because as the above promise says, "God does not despise" and "he will respond" if we come back to him asking for forgiveness and renewal.

The Bible says,
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

God can and will work out better things for us if we humble ourselves, confess our sins and unrighteousness and ask for his help in turning our failures into success.
He is Almighty and can turn things around in a moment.

Are you brokenhearted? Are you crushed in your spirit?
Jesus will not despise your prayers but instead will repond favorably to your pleas. Trust in him. He is your Savior. He loves you.
God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-200

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." (Genesis 8:20-22)

Off to a fresh start. Noah and his family were beginning anew after the flood. They all must have had their own share of stories to tell their children and grand children later on. Stories of 'before the flood' and stories of their sojourn in the ark.

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and desire to begin anew or desire a change. If you are praying for a fresh beginning, perhaps a new job, a change of place to live or any other thing, it's good to place the matter at the Lord's feet and seek his guidance. And when he gives the go ahead, it's time to step out in faith.

There's no point in wasting time placing still another fleece in the presence of the Lord when he has already spoken twice or thrice. It's time to act. The Lord is always willing to help us with fresh beginnings.

God strengthened Noah by giving him and his family promises for a wonderful future. His promises to you are also on similar lines. To sum it all up, here's a verse from the book of Jeremiah.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Believe it. Step out in faith. And may Jesus bless you always.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-201

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3,4)

Why has God so graciously given us great and precious promises?
There are 2 reasons for that:
1. To participate in his divine nature.
2. To escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

People of this world who do not know Christ cannot participate in the divine nature of God. They fall easily for the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Even as believer's we know how difficult it is to stand firm in the face of temptations. Yet because of the Holy Spirit of God who from within us keeps constantly convicting us of sin and unrighteousness, we are constantly alerted.

Participating in God's divine nature is such a privilege. Jesus said,
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

The power and holy attributes of God manifests in the lives of believer's who submit to God and are obedient to his Word. The only way to live a powerful christian life is to live in submission to God and his Holy Word and the power of the Holy Spirit manifests in the lives of those who do this.

The promise for today's devotional states that:
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Are you part-taking of this glorious privilege? It's once in a lifetime offer.
To escape the corruption in the world, God invites everyone to participate in his divine nature. Will you accept his invitation? If you have already accepted his invitation, will you take a firm decision to stay true to your Savior?
He will surely bless you.
Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-202

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isaiah 49:15,16)

God gave this promise to the nation of Israel which thought that God had forsaken and forgotten her. Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." (Isaiah 49:14)

Do you feel the same this day?
Moses obeyed God and went into Pharaoh's presence and declared to him what the Lord had said. The Bible says,
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.'"
Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5:1, 2)

Pharaoh showed that he didn't care and increased his atrocities on the Israelites. He told the slave masters not to give the Israelites straw for making bricks. The Israelites were angry and poured out their ire on Moses and Aaron.
Moses was depressed. He returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." (Exodus 5:22,23)

God did rescue the Israelites from Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but in his time and according to his plan. Moses, Aaron and the Israelites had to wait. But finally the time came when they saw the last of Egypt.

Circumstances will change dear friend. Be watchful in prayer. Wait for God. Remember,
God has engraved you on the palms of his hands. He will not let the enemy win. Trust and hope in Jesus. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-203

This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life. (Jeremiah 21:8,9)

Strange but perfect are the ways of God. Here he asks Jeremiah the prophet to tell the Israelites that if they wanted to remain alive, they must surrender to their enemies, the Babylonians. Staying in the city or in own their homes would lead to their death.

God knows what's best for us and where we can be secure. Surrendering to the enemy was not going to be a pleasant life, but they could remain alive and come back to their homes at God's appointed time.

Long back during the time of Abraham, the Bible says,
So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me." "Your servant is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. (Genesis 16:3-6)

Hagar decided enough was enough and ran away into the desert.
The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." (Genesis 16:7-9)

God knew that it was in her best interest to be with Abraham at this period of her life. She was pregnant and God had a plan for her and her son. God gave her promises and sent her back.

Believe me when I say, God knows which place is best for you and your family. Move ahead only as the Spirit of God guides you. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-204

For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. (Psalm 9:12)

Do you feel that people ignore you?; That they don't give you much importance?
Do your requests fall on deaf ears? Well I have good news for you. People may ignore your cry, but God doesn't. He hears even the groans that comes from the depths of your heart.

David once cried to the Lord: Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. (Psalm 55:1-5)

I guess none of us would want to be in his shoes. David was desperate. He just wanted out. That's why he said,
"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest - I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." (Psalm 55:6-8)

When people near and dear to us hurt us, the pain is overwhelming, but as the promise for today says,"he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted." So there's hope for you who are afflicted.

David found strength in his God and so he said,
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. (Psalm 55:16-18)

Be strengthened this day, with these wonderful promises dear friend and always make it a point to cast your cares on the LORD. He will sustain you; he will never let you down. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-205

From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. (Psalm 3:8)

During the three and a half years of Jesus' ministry, we read of him bringing deliverance to many people who were afflicted by demons. One of the foremost among them was the deliverance that he wrought for the demon possessed man at Gerasenes.

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." (Mark 5:1-9)

That morning Jesus had sat in a boat and taught the people speaking to them in parables. And when it was evening he expressed his desire to go to the other side of the lake with his disciples. They had to face a furious storm while they were rowing to the other side. The disciples were frightened and they woke up Jesus who was sleeping on a cushion in the stern. They said, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"(Mark 4:38). Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and everything was calm again.

Jesus had come crossing the lake to Gerasenes just to bring deliverance to this one demon afflicted man. We don't read of him doing any other work there. The people there didn't want him to stay. So he crossed the lake again.

Every person is important to Jesus. As a child of God, you are even more important to him. The Bible says that his love for you is everlasting. So do not despair, even if other people don't give you much importance. You are precious to Jesus. Live for him and bring glory to his name. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-206

The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. (Genesis 25:23, 24)

Rebecca had questions for the Lord when she got pregnant. The Bible says,
The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. (Genesis 25:22)
What we read above was God's reply to her and in the fullness of time, what the Lord said came into being.

Rebecca remembered the Lord's words, "the older will serve the younger." Later on as her sons grew up she planned on her own to bring into effect the Lord's plan, but that was a disaster. She made Jacob, the younger son, deceive his almost blind father to receive the blessings due his elder brother Esau. Jacob had to go away from home and returned only after 20 years.

When God gives us a promise, he will guide us by his Holy Spirit to accomplish what he has planned or decided. Making our own plans to fulfil God's promise may eventually result in chaos and sorrow for the persons involved.

God is able to fulfil his plans for our lives. All we need to do is to be receptive to his voice and guidance and walk and act on his counsel. Then his plans will be fulfilled at the right time. Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-207

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

The time is coming soon when this promise will be fulfilled. The curtains are going to fall on this present world. God has promised a new heaven and a new earth.
Isaiah prophesied it long ago.
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17)

John the Apostle saw it in visions.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)

It will come into being soon.
The present earth has been reserved for fire and no one can change it's fate.
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7)

When Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18), he meant it and soon, as we read in the title verse today,
he will destroy all wicked dominion, authority and power. He will finally hand over the kingdom to God the Father.

Is your future secure in the hands of Jesus? If not, please take a moment and consider what your read just now. Submit your life into the loving hands of Jesus, the Savior of the world. It has great implications regarding your future life.

The Bible says,
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
May that blessed promise come true in your life. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-208

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. (Psalm 41:1)

Great promise for "he/she who has regard for the weak"
In Psalm 41, David speaks of 5 great promises for/blessings that come upon them who have mercy on the weak (NIV) / poor (KJV).
1.The LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
2.The LORD will protect him and preserve his life.
3.The LORD will bless him in the land.
4.The LORD will not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
5.The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.

God desires his children to be merciful. That's why Jesus said,
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Jesus once rebuked the teachers of the law and Pharisees for the duplicity regarding their faith. He said,
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matthew 23:23)

Justice, mercy and faithfulness are important in the God's sight. A judgemental attitude often spoils our relationship with people and with God.
Jesus was merciful to the weak and poor. So should we be. The promises that are outlined above comes true in the life of them that show mercy.

May the Holy Spirit of God help all of us to be merciful as Jesus was. That would bring us great blessings. Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-209

"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals. Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:27, 28)

Israel and Judah lay desolate because of the massive invasions by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Both men and animals suffered the devastations wrought by this Gentile king. And God says he was watching over this destruction. He had decided to uproot, tear and overthrow his own people because of their rebellion. Yet, he promised them that as he watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so he will also watch over them to build and to plant when their time of punishment was over. He said he was going to plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals.

Are you suffering the Lord's wrath for the sins and rebellion in your life? Perhaps you have repented and still are suffering and you ask why? Hang in there friend. Very soon the Lord's appointed time for release from your punishment will come.
He will build you up again. He will restore you what you lost in the period of your punishment.

He has this to say to you:
"For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,".(Isaiah 54:7,8)

The Lord will build you up. The Lord will restore to you what you lost. The Lord will shower his great blessings once again on your life. So, Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-210

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:3)

Have you been desiring an in-depth relationship with the Lord? It's possible, if you have the thirst for such a relationship. The thirst that the psalmists had for God stands out in their psalms.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1, 2)(Sons of Korah)
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)(David)

The Apostle James gives us some advice regarding this:
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

God desires to have a close fellowship with each one of us, but on his terms. We can always approach him with a repentant and contrite heart and he will guide us each day of our lives with his Holy Spirit, till his return or till the day we breathe our last breath here on earth and join him in eternity.

Spending quality time in prayer, praise and worship, meditating his Word and bearing fruit as a Christian will bring about a greater presence of the Almighty in our lives.

When Job underwent intense trials in his life, he remembered the intimacy he had with God earlier.
"How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness! Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, (Job 29:2-4)

This intimacy with God is possible in our lives too. Abraham experienced it, Moses did, Samuel did; you too can. Praise the Lord.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-211

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

Things seem to linger sometimes in our lives. Situations don't seem to be changing. We have the promise but there's no real action taking place. A sort of inert state even though we have been praying and worshipping and fasting and claiming the promises. So what's God upto?

Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah was to be prophet after Elijah. God told Elijah to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. We read in 1 Kings 19-
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. (1 Kings 19:19-21)

There was not much for Elisha to do for quite a few years. In fact, long after Elijah's time and after Elisha was established as prophet, once when the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom to fight against the king of Moab and they couldn't find any water for themselves or their animals, Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?" An officer of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. " (2 Kings 3:11)

The last sentence gives us a hint as to what Elisha used to do when Elijah was prophet in Israel- He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. Not very exciting, especially if you are in the ministry.

But in the fulness of God's time, Elisha had double the anointing power as that of Elijah. In fact, the first miracle that Elisha did when God's power was on him was the same as the last miracle that Elijah did, before he was taken up into heaven- the parting of the waters of the Jordan river.

If you have been waiting for God to use you powerfully in the ministry, this is the message for you. In a little while from now, in the fullness of God's divine time, he will use you mightily. Till then, stay calm, stay focussed and keep doing what the Lord wants you to do now.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-212

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

In Psalm 91 we read of some of the deadly weapons that the devil forges against believer's.
...fowler's snare and the deadly pestilence. (Psalm 91:3)
...the terror of night and the arrow that flies by day. (Psalm 91:5)
...the pestilence that stalks in the darkness and the plague that destroys at midday. (Psalm 91:6)

But God says that none of these weapons will prevail. How & why can these weapons be forged against us and yet not prevail. The answer is given in the same psalm.
If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the LORD, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:9-12)

As believers we must remember that God is our refuge and fortress; that we dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Because we love God and acknowledge his name, he says,
"I will rescue you and I will protect you..... (Psalm 91:14)
Whan we call upon him, he will answer us; he will be with us in trouble, he will deliver us and honor himself.

God assures you this day through his Word that if you dwell in his shelter and live a life pleasing to him, "No weapon forged against you will prevail."God bless you.
 
Simple Thoughts On Promises-213

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

"Truth" is so very important in the life of every believer. But only each one of us know how much truth there really is in us. Lying blatantly may not be a habit but speaking half-truths which are also half-lies can be a habit. Let's look at someone who specializes both in lying as well as speaking half truths or half lies. And many are deceived by him.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5)

The serpent said,"You will not surely die"- which is half truth and half lie in that they didn't immediately die bodily, but there happened a death of their perfect relationship with God and also brought about bodily death later on.

The serpent said,"you will be like God"- which was far from the truth.

Speaking of the devil, Jesus said,
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

David realized what God desired in his life after sinning and then repenting on being reprimanded and so he said,
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. (Psalm 51:6)

Jesus loves us and expects us to speak "the truth" in love. The promise for today says, "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."(Psalm 145:18)
So let us take this advice given by the psalmist, for, that has a great bearing on our prayers being answered by God. Praise the Lord.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top