Set Your Mind, Don't Believe Your Eyes

Set Your Mind, Don't Believe Your Eyes
by David Brenneman

"Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you." Proverbs 20:22.

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:14-21.

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3.

"The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?" Psalms 118:6.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Of the things that have been among the amazing and perhaps even the miraculous in my life, I think the times that my Savior stepped in and saved me from unscrupulous people is the most memorable. 

It's not always easy to face extremely difficult people and keep my thoughts where they should be and to remember that paybacks don't profit me any unless it's through what my Savior does.

I've had my share of honesty dirty lowdown rotten scoundrels in my life.  A few brought me to the brink of a nervous breakdown.  Yet in spite of their tauntings, their outright evil behavior, my Savior stood before me. 

I grew up being taught to defend myself if necessary.  An if the necessary presented itself then I was to be the one to walk away from the confrontation as the winner thereof.  Fighting wasn't to be the first thing for me to do.  Probably learned that before I ever knew of the passage in Romans that we read earlier.

Our lives in Christ are not our own. We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We're going to face difficult and sometimes impossible people.  Jesus said that if they hated Him they would hate us too.

The stories I could tell of what my Savior has done to those who've wronged me probably would make a best seller list.  What He did certainly was beyond whatever plans my sin nature could have come up with.  Because, face it, our minds can get incredibly creative when it comes to thoughts on revenge.

Many years ago Kenny Roger's song "Coward of the County" was extremely popular and I could relate to parts of it. Arron Tippin's "You've Got to Stand for Something" also was and still is a sort of anthem song to a few generations.

The truth is...revenge is a sword that, unless it's wielded by the Lord Jesus Christ is going to cut the person holding it as well as the one receiving it.

It does us no good to dwell on what we'd like to do to people.  Scripture is clear on how we're to be towards those whom are of these unsavory types who come after us.  Scripture doesn't say it will be easy, Scripture just says what we're to do. 

Praying for those who persecute you.  Praying for your enemies.  Behaving with them as Christ would be doing.  Keeping our eyes on Christ the Author and perfecter of our faith.  Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness in the face of such people.  Remembering that our lives are hidden in Christ.  Remembering that we are in His hands at all times.  Remembering that He died even for these kinds of people too.  His words towards those ones who were crucifying Him were to His Father to forgive them for they knew not what they were doing.

Sometimes walking away isn't possible.  I get that and so does Jesus.  Way more than I do.  We don't know what Jesus knows about these people we face each day.  We don't know who's close to salvation in Christ and who isn't. 

We do know that God's Word says that the world watches those who are in Christ.  Those in Satan's grip would love to see Believer's falter and collapse in their faith.

Don't let the things of this world take your mind off of your relationship with Jesus.  Don't be afraid to cry out to Him.  Don't be afraid to tell Him exactly how you feel. 

Consider:

"Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalms 27:14.

:Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.  For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb.  Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.   Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.  For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.  Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.  But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.  The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.  The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming.  The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slay those who are upright in conduct.  Their sword will enter their own heart, And their bows will be broken.  Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked.  For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the Lord sustains the righteous." Psalms 37:1-17.

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,  and do not give the devil an opportunity." Ephesians 4:26-27.

It may not be in this life, it may be at the Final Judgment, but nobody gets away with anything in their lives.  All things are open and laid bare before whom we have to do. 

It can and probably will hurt for a time, but don't let such people rob you of your faith in Christ.  That's their aim.  Get away from whatever you can, when you can.  Pray for deliverance and delivered you will be in His timing...which is always perfect.

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit.  Love your neighbor as yourself.

You are in His hands.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Getting Life Done Right

Getting Life Done Right
by David Brenneman

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39.

"Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand." Proverbs 19:21.

There's a specific, special, personal,  plan for for the life of a child of God after they come to Christ for salvation. 

Until a person realizes their spiritual state and does come to Christ for salvation, whereby Jesus becomes the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives...the only path before such a person is the path that leads to destruction or better known as Hell.

Not only here in Matthew do we read what Jesus said of what the love of a follower of Jesus Christ ought to be like, but we can read it in Mark 8:34-38 "And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”". As well as in the gospel of Luke "And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.  For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26.

Think on these passages and then add this "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1.

To know what path to take towards fulfilling what we're here to be doing, while growing in Christ, has to begin with where our love is to first be...and who is receiving it...the Lord Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior. 

What are you doing to discover your God-given path for your life in Christ, if indeed you're claiming the Name above all names, Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?

What is occupying your thoughts, your intentions, your actions?

Are you SHOWING your commitment to a life given to Christ for His purposes by prayer and time in His Word?

My Dear Reader, as the Scriptures say, first be sure of your salvation, then live like it's true. 

Do you commit to daily time in the Word of God? 

Do you pray from your heart and not just empty repetition?

How deep is your love for Jesus who saved you? 

Of these plans you have for your today, where all does Jesus fit into them?  How will you show your love towards Him in it? 

This post is as much for all who read it as it is for me. 

I made a commitment to be in the Word almost a decade ago, both morning and evening, and unless I was direly ill I never have missed a day.  The amazing thing to me is what began to happen which is how  things of this world became less and less important to me.  We don't have televisions in our house.  Have no need for them.  It's incredibly rare that I look for a movie to watch on a laptop.  They no longer hold my interest.  Science fiction used to be one solid thing in my life.  While I do occasionally look up this or that in science fiction I don't buy books or have any collections anymore.  My biggest book collection these days is books that have been helping me to grow in Christ.  Study Bibles.  Seeking out the teaching from the Spirit of God who set me in the body of Christ as He saw fit.

The same Spirit sets all Believers within the body of Christ as He sees fit, that's what the Word of God says.  We become His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  AKA that we might discover our purpose that within His plan for us and live towards that end.

If you're claiming the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and aren't living a committed life honoring Him for all He did to save you...I implore you to change your ways.  We also read in the same Bible that we get all other Scriptures from that we give an account of our lives before Him. Our lives lived for Him will produce a crown of righteousness that we will offer back to Jesus in appreciation for all He's done. 

Will you even have enough to form a crown?  Will your life's work show that living for Jesus was your ultimate aim in your life?

Use multiple methods to discover the spiritual gifts given to you.  Then get in the Word of God daily, both morning and evening.  Radically improve your prayer time by being fully honest with yourself and listen for whatever it is that the Spirit has in mind for you to be doing then do it, leaving all the consequences to Him.  It's going to mean giving up things in our lives to make room for God's will for us.

I don't miss what I have been lead to remove from my life.  I do feel pained when I neglect being on time with meeting with Jesus.  While I no longer have close friends that I share life with as I used to have, I most certainly have a friend who sticks closer than a brother, my friend Jesus.

Are you developing your relationship with Jesus or have you let it become stagnant and not as important as it used to be?  Will your life's work burn up completely when He tests it with fire?

You have the opportunity to do better starting today.  Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Here to be Taught, Here to Do

Here to be Taught, Here to Do

by David Brenneman 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

Psalms 32:8

     Today, here are three things you need to know as you wait on the Lord's direction. First, God will show you His will. He desires that you walk according to His plan and assumes responsibility for teaching you how to do so. It is, however, your responsibility to obey what He

leads you to do.

     Second, the Father is committed to your success. From the time you were born, God has been working through the circumstances of your life to train you for His purposes. So commit yourself to following wherever the Lord leads you with confidence that He will equip and empower you to accomplish whatever He's planned for you to do.

     Third, God will redirect you when you make a wrong turn. So do not fear going forward when He calls. No matter how badly you mess up, the Father will take the broken pieces of your life and with the glue of His unconditional love, put it back together. He will take you where you are and help you get back on the right track with His wisdom and strength.

Jesus, thank You for teaching, leading, equipping, and redirecting me because of Your great love. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today. 

There is a divine purpose under Heaven for each and every single Believer in Jesus Christ...yes...even for you...yes you...if you do have Jesus Christ as the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. 

You're not still here just to use up your years of physical life that you have left. You were given spiritual gifts from the Spirit as He saw fit. You were given a divine purpose under Heaven to both grow in Christ and to be a light in this present dark world. 

You weren't given an empty toolbox. You were given the abilities necessary to search out the things of God that make for the righteous life that God desires for you.  

You were given His Word to search diligently. You were granted full access to the Throne Room of God.  

You became His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that you might walk in them.  

So what are you doing with what you've been given? Is it gathering dust? Wrapped up and buried in a hole in the ground? Are you afraid to pursue what the Spirit is leading you to? Are you putting self ahead of what you're to be doing in Christ?

Even Christians break their commitments to others for worldly reasons. Sometimes even selfish or self-centered reasons.  

Even Christians are tempted to put aside the will of God. Essentially that's one of the biggest schemes of the devil. He can't do anything about your being saved but he can make things of this world and selfish desires, selfish choices, more appealing than obeying the voice of God. 

How frequently are you in God's Word? If you're not in it daily, let alone more than once a day, why aren't you? There's no worldly excuse that is acceptable for neglecting being in the Word of God. None. 

How frequently are you talking to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ? How frequently are you talking to your Father in Heaven?

These things are among those that are the will of God for us in Christ.

Give up whatever you need to in order to obey God. It's rather simple.

You might not be facing heavy spiritual battles for a very good reason: You're already where the enemy of God wants you. You're already lukewarm where he wants you and Jesus does not (read Revelation's letters to the Churches). When there's no reason to attack you, Satan's minions go somewhere else. You could be right where they want you. 

Look to what King David said "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:23-24. 

King David prayed that prayer. We can too. 

Do we really want to stand before Jesus ashamed of the truth of our lives we lived?  

You who are in Christ have are to be transformed, trained in righteousness, to be adequate, equipped for every good work of God. That's sort of paraphrasing several passages but it's the truth in their meaning for the will of God for us in Christ...our sanctification. 

Give up whatever you must to be living the righteous life that God desires for you. Be it movies, games, sports, reading, television, streaming videos, traveling, whatever isn't allowing you to grow in Christ as the Spirit is charged with doing in your life.  

It's been a difficult, complicated, road at times to truly understand the depth of what Paul was saying when he said "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7. And again with "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:8-12.

Repeatedly in the Scriptures we read "Consider your ways".

My Dear Reader it's infinitely more beneficial to do so now when we can do something about it than when we stand before Jesus. 

Seek the Lord while He may be found. Obey in whatever you're being directed to do. Learn all you can about living the righteous life that God desires for you. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Don't Panic, Pray!

Don't Panic, Pray!

by David Brenneman 

As we place our dependence

upon God, an incredible

freedom and peace will begin

to rest in our hearts. And

reaching that point in our lives

makes every setback worth it.

To You they cried out and

were delivered; in You they

trusted and were not

disappointed.

-PSALM 22:5

God created everything with

a plan, and He has principles

that govern all He does. The

Lord always operates with a

sense of direction and purpose

in mind-not only for us as

individuals, but also to achieve

His universal, eternal goals.

O LORD, You are my God,

I will exalt You, I will give

thanks to Your name;

for You have worked

wonders, plans formed

long ago, with

perfect faithfulness.

-ISAIAH 25:1

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

"Why is this happening to me!?!?"

"I can't take it anymore!?!"

"I have no idea WHAT to do!"

You're in the right place. 

Rejoice and be glad in it. 

"Huh?!?" you might respond with. "My world is falling apart! You want me to be happy about it!?!".

Not me...God's Word says that in everything give thanks. Even the things that aren't going well as far as our perceptions go.

Go deeper with "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

You, hopefully, did come to Christ for salvation at some point in your life. If you did, all the hope that's available in the power of the resurrection of Christ is within your grasp. If you have not, you're pretty much on your own. 

Someone was there to pray me towards salvation in Christ. My prayer for all who read these posts who haven't come to Christ for salvation yet is that they would. 

For those here who have come to Christ but are struggling with their 'world' falling apart...why are you trying to go it alone?  

In Christ means just that...you're following Him, obeying in what He says, following His direction. Sometimes we get ahead of Him and end up in some unique circumstances. He's still there to pull us through. Jesus said, in His model prayer, "your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven". 

If you're still trying to get your will to be done instead of His, you're creating a problem for you.  

You may think your situation is dire, insurmountable, impossible even.  

Fantastic! Jesus also said "And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”" Matthew 19:26.

And think on this: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." 1 Peter 4:12-13.

My Dear Reader...if indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus...you are held safely in His hands. 

Several times Jesus rebuked His Disciples for their lack of faith. They should have known and understood that the Father wouldn't allow anything or anyone to thwart the plans of God for Jesus while Jesus was living for the will of His Father to be completed. 

We, for ten months, could have panicked because of the circumstances of my unemployment. Wondering where was God in all this...truth was He was all over it. He provided every dollar we needed every single month. On top of this He provided food for us and our cats. He kept the lights on and gas in the vehicle's. Kept me busy with odd jobs, learning, restoring my confidence. My mind kept wondering if I was facing age discrimination in the application process. No, it was that I was back in school learning. The new job for me wasn't ready yet. 

You, my Dear Reader, need to re-read Luke 10:38-42 about Mary and Martha.  

As a great hymn says "Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer; Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.".

Turn your eyes from your circumstances and towards your Savior. Take whatever is on your heart to the Lord in prayer. Quit trying to figure out what He's already figured out. 

"Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31-34.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Looking to God for Your Why

Looking to God for Your Why

by David Brenneman 

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:28-30.

"Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27.

Every Christian eventually has an experience that seems totally inconsistent in the life of a child of a loving God. It may involve health, finances, relationships, career, property, or family. Whatever the experience, you will come through it with one nagging question: "Why, Lord?"

     That question is acceptable to God; He is not angered by our desire for answers.- Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah. 

When you encounter a difficult situation in life that looks impossible, what is the first thing you think? For most people, it is, "Oh Lord, what am I going to do?" But that's the wrong question. Instead, the right thing to ask is, "Lord, what are You going to do?" Because, as we are well aware, He is all-powerful, and nothing is too challenging for Him.

     Of course, all of us know that in our minds. But often, when our back is against the wall and we don't know where to turn, we become gripped by the immensity of our predicaments and the disconcerting details that accompany them. It's natural

for us to immediately envision the worst-case scenarios and how helpless we are with our limited resources We become trapped by what we see and hear rather than recall who comes to our aid.

     This is why We must train ourselves to look to the Lord rather than our circumstances. Because when we invite the supernatural, powerful presence of the living God to take hold of our situation, He deals with our difficulties in ways far beyond our imagination. He can get us to the right solution regardless of what we face.- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley. 

A year ago I had been a month into what would be a 10 month hiatus from gainful employment. It certainly would be a time of learning and a time for questioning things in my life.  

Only in some respects was it rough. What it did was to draw me closer to my Savior.

I was hit with some certainly unexpected financial news in recent weeks. Was already having a difficult time with one place, and another comes along that's much bigger than the first. It's medical bills. Evidently the person owing is to pay up as soon as possible yet those doing the billing have 6 years to bill you.  

It's an easy situation where you want to cry out "Why?!?". It's been these same two devotionals that I continue to read through and it's always amazing that God brings the right things to read at the right time. 

We are going to face why moments. 

We are not always going to understand the why's behind the things that the Lord chooses to allow in our lives...no more than Job.  

Yet we are allowed to ask the question and to seek out His wisdom and guidance to deal with what we face. 

Disappointments are inevitable, but discouragement is a choice is one of Dr. Stanley's Life Principles. 

We can choose to mope and have a pity party, do the old woe is me, or we can pray with all honesty to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and expect God to help.

It's really sad to me when people show their entire lack of hope in their lives. They lay claim to believing in God, even in Jesus, yet there's no fruit to show they ever came to Christ for salvation. 

Trillions of people are in Hell who believed that Jesus was real, and some even believed everything the Bible said about Him.  

Without actually coming to Christ for salvation, without asking Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...you will die in your sins.  

This is at the core of living a life that's dependent upon Christ for dealing with these difficult times and situations. Without a right relationship with Jesus, without knowing Him as your Lord and Savior, you're fooling yourself. 

I know these things are going to be resolved. I know that nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He was already in today before I got here. 

Scripture says He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is not just my Savior, He's the Creator. He's the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. He is over everything that is and what will be. 

He got us through many incredibly big and difficult times and these situations are no different. Satan's minion's aim was to draw us away from God to wallow in self pity, but the reality is God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He allows things because these things draw us to Him. 

These medical bills are just another unknown on top of others but slowly things are getting worked out. Sometimes God answers through others, some of the times He has us pick up a shovel to start the digging to move the mountain before He steps in. 

We do ourselves much harm by constantly whining, griping and endlessly complaining because we are showing we aren't relying on Christ. 

Daily we pray, daily we await His response. Daily we do whatever it is for us to do and daily we thank Him for all He's done and is still doing. Thankful that we do have a Savior who cares intimately about everything to do with us.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

We will be tempted to go it alone and to try in our own strength and understanding. The wise thing to do is take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Look for God in your situation and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

In Your Heart

In Your Heart
by David Brenneman

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

"Trust and Obey"
Author: John H. Sammis (1887)

We walk into an unknown-to-us world every morning we are granted a new day to breathe.

For those who are among the saved in Christ Jesus...things are supposed to be different for us.

The world is going to be nipping at our heels to get our hearts to indeed lean on our own understanding.  Satan's going to push...in whatever his minions and he are allowed...to cause us troubles in our lives. 

The Scriptures point us to the truths  about being persecuted.  About the troubles that the world will try to cause those in Christ. 

Then we have that passage where it says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Praying and prayer cannot be stressed enough for the Believer.  In no way should prayer ever be a second or third thought when travails come upon us.  Before they do, while they're present, and afterwards prayer should be our first priority.

The world that Satan's running is the opposite of what it means to trust and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am usually more fond of these older hymns than the modern music being created because these songs of what modern man calls the early Church were far more rooted in Scripture.

Songs that made the person singing stop and consider the message within.  The words sticking with them after they've been sung.

There's always good reasons why these older songs of the faith go so deep.  Many were born of personal tragedy or great losses suffered. 

If ever you want a true spiritual musical history lesson go look up the stories behind some famous hymns.

Sometimes when spiritual battles come my way, hymns are what the Spirit brings to sooth me.  It's funny how it's mostly never the new songs that I have heard in Church. 

When pain and sorrow are what's on my heart...leaning on such wonderful hymns is like a balm.

When uncertainty is knocking on the door, a good hymn helps right the ship n gets me in a better place.

When loneliness grips me, which is more often than most everyone knows about, hymns bring my mind back to my relationship with my Savior. 

It's rather appropriate that my mind went to Trust and Obey this morning because of our current financial situation.  Satan's minions would love it if we fell to pieces because of something we weren't expecting hits us.  As another good song goes "count your blessings name them one by one, see what all the Lord has done".

These times in which we live aren't going to get better.  Biblical truths about these last days before Jesus returns point to things proceeding from bad to worse.  Hymns of the faith are among the things we're directed to focus on during times like this.

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Ephesians 5:19-20.

Which, by what this passage explicitly points to, means we're not to be going it alone in Christ.  You can't speak to one another if you're by yourself.

An apt song this morning as well is "This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!".

Today is a day that the Lord created...rejoice and be glad in it...that He's already here before you got here.  He's already working things for your good.  Give up worrying about what's in front of you.  Jesus isn't.  He promised to never leave you or forsake you.  Rejoice in that too.

Pray on, pray over, pray through.
Singing, making melody in your heart towards God.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Plugged into the Power

Plugged into The Power 

By David Brenneman 

"Keep watching and þraying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," Matthew 26:41

     Do you realize that when you fail to pray, you cut off the power, wisdom, strength, and blessings you could be enjoying. Perhaps you are noticing the effects of prayerlessness in your life today. Maybe you're experiencing the weight of your sin, or you just can't shake sense of confusion. It's also possible you're feeling unusually discouraged, weak, or depressed. That's what happens when you don't spend time with God.

     So why does failing to pray make you feel this way? Understand that the Lord isn't intentionally making you feel bad; rather, this is the natural outcome of being disconnected from Him. This is because prayer is like a powerline that plugs you into the Source. Through it, you're given His wisdom and guidance, His identity and purpose, His strength and peace, His love and acceptance. Prayer is the conduit through which you receive all of it. And that's why when you cut it off, you've got a problem.

     So don't quit praying when things don't go your way or according to your time schedule. Stay connected because you need the presence and power of God in your life.

Jesus, help me to keep praying and seeking You in every season. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

Drained is sometimes more than just a physical tiredness.  

Drained can be emotional as well. 

Drained, more importantly than those two, can be spiritual.

We really should put more importance on what time we spend in prayer. I will be the first to admit that I don't spend enough time in prayer.  

What Dr. Stanley said in this devotional rings oh so true. Stay unplugged, stay drained. 

Right now I ought to be even more in prayer with some of these heavily complicated situations going on in my life.

I am reminding myself that my Savior and my Lord Jesus Christ got us through 10 months of unemployment, quite often by miraculous means, so these things hitting us now shouldn't be rattling me.

It really does come down to prayer.

It's these things that are allowed that are meant to draw us closer to Himself. 

It's these things that are meant to grow us in Christ, to show us what needs to change in our lives.

Nothing of a malicious intent is behind such permitted things in our lives.  

Satan's minions, I say it that way because I never believe that with all that's going on in the world that I ever will be important enough for Satan himself to come after me, are not pulling a fast one on God and have somehow managed to get at me while He wasn't looking.

Sometimes that's probably how many people feel. That our God wasn't paying attention and the enemy got through. This is never the case.  

He wants us to stay plugged into the power of God in Christ Jesus. 

He wants us to keep our communication lines open between us and His Throne. 

He wants us to rely on Him and not our own understanding. 

We can, and often do, get lulled into a false sense of security by the peaceful moments that come in life. 

My prayer life directly impacts my physical life. It certainly impacts my mental health. Same goes with everyone.  

We cannot live the righteous life that God desires without being spiritually fed. Unlike physical food, we can never over eat spiritual nourishment.  

I would ask all of you to pray concerning my needs as I pray for yours.  

Just as we can't out-give God, we likewise cannot out-commune with Him. 

He never gets tired of hearing from me or you. We can never wear out our welcome. No matter when or where He's always ready for us.

Confessing sin fully opens that door of communication an unconfessed tends to hinder and start to close it. We must forgive if we want to be forgiven.  

Think about how different your approach to life would be should you really consider the Biblical truth that you're always walking side-by-side with Jesus.   

Pray on, pray over, pray through whatever you're facing. My prayers are for this blog to either draw people to Jesus or show people how to find Him again. My daily morning prayers are for my Wife, my Spiritual Dad and his Wife. For my local Church and its leadership. Safety of workers on site there. For unsaved people I work with now and those whom I used to. For the unsaved in my family. There's always someone you can talk to Jesus about helping either with regards to salvation or health or anything else. I include the guys in the Saturday Morning Group that I attend as well as our Sunday Evening Group. The health of family and friends. Those in authority over me, both at work and the country. These are but examples of what is important to our Savior to hear from us about.

Keep plugged into Him through prayer...you'll always be the better for doing so. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org