A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Friday, October 9, 2026

Oh Where Oh Where Do Your Thoughts Go

by David Brenneman

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:4-9.

My Dear Reader...where do you allow your thoughts to go? Do you control them or do they control you?

There are times when learning discipline is easy other times its painful. But in the Lord discipline is always a good thing. We may not understand it but there's never been nor ever will be any bad lessons from the Lord in our lives.

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:11.

This combined 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, tends to change your way of thinking towards what honors your walk with Jesus.

Do you indeed wish to give your absolute best towards your walk with Jesus? I sure hope you do.

How seriously are you taking it that you're going to be giving an account of your life before Jesus? The level of detail in that account is down to our very thoughts and intentions we had during our lives here on Earth.

Are you now considering your ways as the Scriptures also say to us in Haggai 1:5 &7, Lamentations 3:40, Psalms 119:59, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 6:4, Proverbs 4:26?

Think that God's Word is telling us something about it? Looking at the prideful, arrogant, history of Israel we see that they were so full of themselves that they didn't.

Look at Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”.

For sure, pray this particular prayer "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.

The battlefield has not changed since Adam and Eve.

It's within.

It's the heart, the mind with the goal being the soul.

Are you going to draw a line in the sand in your mind and heart? Doing what is right in the sight of your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ to the exclusion of all else?

Taking it seriously this account we are GOING to be giving and it's depth into our hearts should shake us to the core of our being.

There's no good defense when we face the One who knows more about us than we do.

Pray for yourself with regards to taking back your battlefield in your mind and heart.

Pray for your thoughts and intentions to be right in the sight of our God. Leave off the love of the things of this world, the love of money or anything this world has to offer.

Be sure you're living the life that God desires for you and not your own selfish ambitions.

Oh where oh where do your thoughts go...are they towards the righteous life that God desires for you or away from it?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Prayer in Progress

by David Brenneman

I don't know if the saying "a prayer in progress" is being coined by me but it's how I described someone to someone else who's a Believer last night.

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”” Luke 18:1-8.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 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 12:10-21.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; ” Colossians 4:2.

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, ” Ephesians 6:18.

All who are alive today really are the result of someone else's prayers. All who are alive were, at some point, standing on the shoulders of someone's prayers.

The only point where prayer should stop is when such people are no longer breathing. Until that point there's always hope in the Lord for these wandering souls to see the light and come to Christ.

Truly...who really wants to use an excuse before Jesus of things or situations as to why they gave up on someone who eventually did come to Christ for salvation?

If things done to us stop us from being the light of Jesus Christ...then we need to review the Gospel accounts concerning all that Jesus went through, all He suffered, before going to the cross.

Nothing done towards us stacks up to that.

Praying within ceasing. How we are to treat those who persecute us. How we're to be the exemplary standard of Ambassadors for Christ in how we conduct ourselves in the world.

I have family who are a prayer in progress. Situations happened and they no longer speak to us. I have people whom I have not seen in days, months and years whom are on my mind...these are a prayer in progress. I go through life like all who were granted a today from the Lord do. I run across all sorts of people. These too should be a prayer in progress.

We, as part of denying ourselves to follow Jesus, must not put our feelings or emotions ahead of what we are commanded to do in the Lord.

We don't get to choose who's deserving of God's grace and mercy. We don't get to choose who's worthy of second chances. We don't get to decide who is worth praying for and who isn't.

The rules for prayer are rather easy and simple.

If God's allowing someone to at all, in any way, be involved with your life...then add them to your prayer list.

So what as to how they've possibly treated you badly. Your mission is to obey God in all your ways.

I am not a betting man but in this particular case I would easily win a wager that the Apostles prayed for those whom they encountered. Whether from persecution or from praise they prayed for those whom God brought into their lives.

Someone prayed for you and that's how you came to Christ for salvation. To someone else for that you were a prayer in progress. After coming to Christ for salvation you, hopefully, continued to be a prayer in progress to grow with respect to your salvation. To become more like Jesus Christ.

Christians who hold grudges aren't representing Christ. Christians who aren't practicing prayer daily are not obeying Christ.

Out treasure in Heaven is people. The harvest Jesus spoke of are people.

Jesus came to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life, die a horrific death on a cross, rise 3 days later conquering sin, death and the grave, only because of people.

People in your life should be a prayer in progress for you.

Jesus prayed for you in this.

Let go of whatever it is that's causing you to not pray for those who've possibly done you wrong.

Whatever your reasons they won't be acceptable when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life.

Let those whom God has brought you be a prayer in progress for you to be praying for.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Representatives We Are

by David Brenneman

Yesterday was an exercise in trying to do the right thing more than I thought at the time.

Let's just say there was an incident whereby I truly believed that my Wife was being disrespected by employees of a business. I could have easily went off the handle and yelled, but, I didn't. Called the company and calmly explained what my Wife had said had happened. The nice secretary took notes, called the Supervisor and he later called me. We met later and had an extremely civil conversation. Those responsible were dealt with appropriately. On behalf of himself and his company he apologized to my Wife.

Scripture tells us several things in dealing with others. There's days I get it right, there's days that I don't. This just happened to be the day I am pretty sure that I got it right.

We're representing Christ wherever we go and in whatever we do. We aren't here to defend our rights as we see them. We always already have an Advocate in the Lord. We are never out of His sight nor are ever off His mind.

This incident is in sharp contrast to the various calls that I have had with another business who's procedures are frustrating me to no end. They claim one thing, assured me of it, and almost every 60 days claiming something else. Sadly, I haven't been no where near as calm with them at this point.

We, including me, can easily forget that there's no situation we will face that Jesus isn't already keenly aware of every thought and intention thereof.

In this moment I am reminded of how I felt after being very unceremoniously let go from an employer last year. My first reaction was to pray. My second was in making various phone calls to trusted men in the Lord.

We can either seek Him first or find ourselves wishing that we had.

Either way He is still one conversation away from being involved as He would have been beforehand.

Thing is that we're going to have situations to face that are more than us. More than we can handle. It's an extreme fallacy to believe that by simply coming to Christ for salvation means those go away.

We become "enemies of the state" that is of this current world system, when we come to Christ for salvation. Jesus said through Paul, wheras it be it all possible be at peace with all men. Which gives rise to the notion that there will be times when it's not possible. But we are to give it our best shot with all due diligence to represent Jesus in all things.

While the world is set against us, Jesus promises to work all things for our own good and His glory for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

We may not figure out how He will but that's not for us to know most of if not all of the time. That would be us leaning on our own understanding.

So going into today we go into another day of possibilities. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it as the Scriptures say to us.

Represent the Lord Jesus Christ well today my Dear Reader.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

His Work in You

by David Brenneman

In reading the study notes of the last chapter of the book of John...of how Jesus met with the Disciples, more specifically with Peter to restore him in his relationship with Jesus...right in the midst of that was yet another probable miracle.

A few study Bibles point to Jesus just miraculously having the fire already going, the fish already cooking, the bread already made. But then there's a little thing that Jesus told them to do...bring some of the fish they just caught to be cooked too.

This morning I was reading in Psalms and Proverbs. Proverbs I am making a habit of reading 1 a day of and my reading plan for the Old Testament has me in Psalms.

Some words that I read took my mind to another passage "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Psalms 55:22.

Jesus intentionally made sure to have distractions removed. He made sure that they had a part of their final earthly days together. He made sure to provide so that nobody would leave to get anything needed to eat together.

He did not want them to be shaken but rather to be fully right there in the moment with Him.

If a minor miracle was needed He did it. If there was something they had the ability to do rather than an extension of His miracle He provided for that.

We can often pray for a miracle and quite often Jesus provides one...but too we must remember and realize that we too must be prepared to contribute.

Quite a different way of thinking.

Remembering that Jesus knows what we're capable of whether we believe we can or not.

Jesus also made a point to all in this moment to get it across to all who believe...You follow Me!

In my point of understanding Peter's passion is what got him into the trouble he was in and Jesus restored that and gave him the right outlet for it...the right direction.

So what's the point of this post?

Jesus is more aware of your needs better than you and your understanding of what you think you need. He indeed is going to provide as He promised but be prepared to put up some sweat equity yourself. He is redirecting your wants, needs and desires towards Kingdom thinking. Even your supposed failures are useful for His work in your life.

Recoiling from walking with Jesus is never the right thing to do.

Jesus never wants you to pull back from your walk with Him..

He certainly doesn't want you dwelling on what you perceive you did wrong. He wants you to come back to Him, trust Him, and to not lean on your own understanding.

Jesus is still Jesus. The same yesterday, today and forever.

He is still in the business of the restoration of relationships with Himself.

You can never be so far away that Jesus won't come to you.

You can never be in so much perceived trouble that Jesus can't get involved.

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.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, October 5, 2026

Think on These Things

by David Brenneman

“My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.” Proverbs 5:1-2.

“For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.” Proverbs 5:21.

“And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)” Mark 6:31.

“After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”

Matthew 14:23.

“In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. ” Mark 1:35.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Romans 12:1.

“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.

Whether you realize it or not...you have a daily divine appointment with Jesus. If you're pursuing Him more and more...you'll find those appointments increasing throughout your day.

This thought of a day or so ago concerning setting no worthless thing before my eyes...where do we expect to learn what God says is worthless unless we are intentionally taking the time to be with Jesus to learn what that looks like?

Jesus, as the Scriptures say was His practice, often got away to pray. To spend time with His Father.

He often saw His Disciples need to remove themselves from the world and directed them to follow Him away from the crowds.

Some of our greatest mistakes as Believer's in Christ is to take our own word for it as to what constitutes as worthless things as well as how much time we daily spend with Jesus. Or, heaven forbid, whether we treat spending time with Jesus as optional.

You who still have a sin nature that is within you...should you ever trust you with regards to Spiritual things?

The only answer is: absolutely not.

There's a plethora of examples in the Old Testament as to why trusting oneself is a terrible idea.

Now consider the Word of God when we are told that we WILL have our personal time of testimony before Jesus, giving an account of our lives whether good or bad.

One of our own personal worst moments in this physical life is when we are cornered and yet have it demanded of us to explain ourselves and we have no rational explanation.

My Dear Reader...the Scriptures instruct us to consider our ways.

We are instructed to stand firm in the Lord.

We are taught to follow Jesus in what we do, say, and think.

Just like in school...we shouldn't be talking when our Teacher is talking.

We should take in His instruction and obey in what we're doing, saying or thinking.

Seek the Lord while He may be found. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Renew your mind in the Lord. Ask Him what shouldn't be a part of your life that He says are worthless things and obey in removing them. Don't participate in anything that degrades others for any reason. Don't feed your mind with worthless things.

We're Ambassadors for Christ. We represent Him wherever we go and in what we do.

Think on these things...

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Would We Dare?

by David Brenneman

“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” Psalms 101:3.

“Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:13-15, 20-27.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” Psalms 119:9-11.

“I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.” Psalms 119:30.

“Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways.” Psalms 119:34-37.

“Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.” Psalms 119:73.

“I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.” Psalms 119:101.

“Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live.” Psalms 119:144.

“Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word.” Psalms 119:169.

This first passage "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” Psalms 101:3 hit me yesterday among my moments of mild distraction in getting some things done around the house and in our garage.

In a somewhat related story by Dr. Charles Stanley whereas his church was taking up a collection for a need, God directed him to give up something incredibly personal to him. His camera collection. As Dr. Stanley tells it, he struggled greatly with this, this command from the Lord to give up something he loved to use.

He did obey and it hurt. Later, after his obedience was made complete, God saw fit to return all his equipment however going forward he never looked at them the same way again.

Have we set worthless things before us?

Would we dare to ask our Holy, Righteous, All-knowing, Loving, Creator-God, if there be any hurtful way in me?

Would we ask if there's something we're engaged in or give an inordinate amount of time with that He would have us separate from?

It's a seriously challenging question. One that there's some days I think I am struggling with more than others.

What about you? I didn't seek out the supporting passages. Those came from where I happened to be in the Scriptures this morning.

How important is seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness to us?

Are we telling ourselves what's good and ok to be in our lives or have we actually asked God first?

Have we decided what's good and safe and acceptable without ever asking Jesus first?

To paraphrase the response from the Disciples, they said they gave up everything to follow Jesus.

Do you and I really understand what that sentence means?

Say you love various types of books or movies. If you had asked Jesus, had you looked to God's Word first, would you pursue such to be a part of your life? Would it see this much devotion from you?

Say you love sports. I know this is a touchy subject for a lot of people. If you had asked Jesus, had you looked to God's Word first, would you pursue such to be a part of your life? Would it see this much devotion from you?

Here's one that hits me where I am.

Jusr surfing the internet. Watching videos.

Whatever it is that you allow to take up your time.

What if you dare to ask Jesus and He says that thing is something worthless that you have set up before your eyes that's actually coming between you and Him?

It's certainly not a feel good question.

It's certainly not a question we really would easily consider asking because we just might not like the answer.

Would we dare to pray that prayer?

In God's work in Dr. Stanley's life concerning just his camera equipment...he shared what that was and what that meant to him before, during it being taken away, and after it's return.

What if whatever is set before your eyes is something that's not going to be returning? Would you still dare to pray that prayer?

We, more often than not, don't ask what's to us the hard questions of our Lord Jesus Christ because we already know the answer.

We often go with "its easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission" approach.

This opening passage sits exactly at the center of what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10.

Do we dare to ask?

Do we consider what obedience looks like in Christ?

A personal observation about myself and countless others who say we're Christians is this: we, in most cases, we absolutely do not represent Christ to the best of our ability when the things we set before us without His permission are there. Thoughts and words, attitudes, displayed make us extremely poor examples of Christ to this lost world. People see us and don't see Jesus.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Saturday, October 3, 2026

In Your Mind

by David Brenneman

Where does your mind often go?

Focus of thought is probably the most prolific problem to mankind today.

Between the natural, the medicinal, and the chemically induced reasons for it our thoughts are pushed towards the useless rather than the useful in our daily lives.

We have to be intentional in developing good thinking habits. We have to make ourselves aware of our surroundings in order to recognize the traps.

Oh and there are traps. The saying has been "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions".

Jesus said it another way “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

My biggest struggle in my morning and evening times that I dedicate to study and writing are all surrounded by thoughts that drift or invasive thoughts trying to grab my attention away from the purpose for which I am engaged...the study of God's Word.

What countless trillions of people don't get daily is how much the sin nature they are born with is absolutely against the learning that the Spirit is teaching them. They don't connect the dots. They don't see the Spiritual Picture. They don't believe there is a connection.

What does the Scriptures say?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ” Ephesians 6:12.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. ” 2 Corinthians 10:3-7.

It was an epiphany and a half to understand even a small portion of this battle within me. In my younger years I was heavily into science fiction, more specifically, Star Trek novels. Without ever once considering the connection, I could not figure out why I had novels mostly memorized of those stories but almost always fell flat on my face when it came to memorized Scripture. Still struggle with it. But I now understand far more deeply that the same Scriptures above explains why.

My sin nature wants nothing to do with the very Scriptures that have already signed its death warrant.

It's a war within the mind to take every thought captive.

It's a war every single Believer faces.

It's a war the unbelieving don't even recognize they're on the losing side of. To them it's the same as breathing. Without the light of Jesus Christ they see nothing, know nothing, and won't acknowledge anything that clashes with what they know to be their truth.

Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth?".

It's a very sad thing when most of the people of the world wouldn't recognize truth if it walked up and introduced itself.

We who are in Christ are in a spiritual war. We need to dig, fight, clawing our way some days more than others to stand firm in the Lord.

We also need to be learning to be more aware of the battle. What it is, what the weapons of the enemy look like. Most Christians have no idea what Satan's schemes are or what they are made to resemble.

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2.

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ” Colossians 3:2.

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

Suit up with the whole armor of God...because the battle is already past your doorstep...it's within your heart and mind.

Recognize it, go to God in prayer because of it. Be mindful of it.

Prepare for it.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org