Spiritual Famine? Yes...it is...

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11 

One way God communicates is through silence. The Israelites blatantly ignored and rejected God's Word to them, and God responded by sending a famine. This famine was far more severe than a shortage of food and water. Instead, they were deprived of His words of life. God's silence may be hardly noticeable at first. You may still remember times when God spoke to you, but you gradually realize you’ve not heard His voice for a long time. If you realize you are in a “drought,” immediately seek God and ask Him what adjustments your life requires so you can once again enjoy fellowship with Him. It may be that you disobeyed His last instructions to you and that He is waiting on your obedience before giving you a new direction. It may be that there is unconfessed sin in your life or that you have a damaged relationship (Isa. 1:15; 1 Pet. 3:7). It is possible that you have done too much talking in your prayer times and that He wants you to listen. God's silences can be powerful times for Him to communicate with you. God is God! Because He is God, when He speaks He expects a listening ear and an eager response. He will not be mocked! (Gal. 6:7). When we ignore Him, He may withhold His voice until we repent and get right with Him. The prophet Isaiah assured King Asa, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

What has happened to the United States? In but a few decades the Gospel has been watered down, believers have scattered away from Churches, believers have ran away from political offices.  There is little to no one standing in the breech between sinful man and woman and their destination: Hell.

Jesus looked to this future time and asked the question: "Will I find the faith when I return?".

People are being taught by the millions to 'trust the experts'. Experts that honestly have been bought and paid for to say a whole lot of what they do.

Churches are repeatedly trying to stir up revival.  People are hard of hearing due to all the noise generated by our ever sloping culture towards death and destruction. 

Is there hope? Is there going to be a revival?  Is there going to be an end to these riots and protests?  Is this virus going to force a path that is irreversible?

Well before we all become hermits with a penchant for internet only activities...go to the Bible. 

Regardless of what is said inside the professing Church and outside of it by way of every voice of evil....God's Will WILL be done.  The Scriptures must be fulfilled. Nothing is going to change that fact. Nothing is going to hinder it nor prolong it.

We can't make something happen outside the will of God anymore than the unbelievers of this world or demons. 

Jesus never promised that we would skate by in this life. He never said that we wouldn't suffer for following Him. He never said we would be trouble free. 

We are entering the last stages of the way life is, right before the return of Christ.  If you at all read your Bible, look at Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, Revelation, Thessalonians.  What's happening in those pages is being played out right in front of you and you aren't seeing it. The whole world is being blinded by the god of this world in an effort to keep people from Heaven!

Is there hope? Yes!  Something that really occurred to me in recent months isn't to just go to work.  But to put that effort under a microscope.  Let each task I am given be received as if from God to be done.  All a workday is to me anymore is an 8 hour span of individual tasks that I get paid to do, and am to do as unto the Lord.  I am to be in the Word of God, I am to be praying.  I am to be doing my best as unto the Lord.  It may not be glamorous work. It may be menial.  It may be cleaning toilets. But it's something that I get to do to glorify God.  The Apostles were flogged and beaten for obeying God by the Jewish leaders.  They counted it all joy.  

If the Churches aren't going to prepare men and women to go into politics to guide people towards Christian principles, then we have either a problem or an opportunity.  We have, as a Church, been decimated by 'you shouldn't judge'. It's began destroying centuries of solid teaching of the Word of God.  It's left a door open of opportunity for Satan to sway people to inaction.  

Today, look at your life.  At your level of obedience. Are you self-chained to a chair by lies and misconceptions of God's Word?  Are you really inactive on the bench of life because of you or your circumstances?  Have you not stood up and done something out of fear of man vs fear of God?

I have to look in the mirror on this too. Fear of losing in this age seems to be the greatest crippling disease of all. 

Pray for your walk with Jesus.  Don't assume anything about it.

Pray for our troops, our leaders, Don't assume anything about it. 

Pray for family, friends and acquaintances. Don't assume anything about it. 

Get off the sidelines.  Quit living for yourself, with your head in the sand.  God saved you to change you to be more like Him.  Not to give you a ticket to go live as you please until you die or He returns. 

You have a mission in this life. It's not called retirement.  Nobody in Christ is retired until God calls them home. 

So the answer is No, now what?

Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Acts 12:2–3a 

Can you accept God's will when His answer is no? If you are praying in God's will, He will always answer you when you pray (Jer. 33:3). However, sometimes His answer will be no. King Herod arrested Peter and prepared to have him executed. During the night, as his church prayed, Peter's life was spared when an angel freed him. God miraculously answered the prayers of His people that night. Yet not long before, James, too, had been arrested by Herod. James, however, was executed. Surely the church had prayed for James as fervently as they did for Peter, yet that time God's answer had been no. Did God love Peter more than James? Of course not. James had been one of Jesus’ closest friends. Yet God allowed James to die while He continued to use Peter in His service. The church in Jerusalem did not become bitter toward God. They accepted His answer because they trusted His love and wisdom. There are times when God wants us to persist in our praying until He has completed His work in us (Luke 11:5–8; 18:1–6). However, when God's answer is no, it is futile to continue pleading for a yes. Some refuse to take no for an answer, insisting that if you pray long enough and hard enough, God will ultimately grant any request you make. It is an affront to your Lord to continue pleading with Him when He has clearly said no. The purpose of prayer is not to conform God to our will but to adjust our will to God. We must learn to trust God so that if He says no, we accept that His will is best. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

So after praying and praying it seems that the answer is not just no, but NO.  When to persist?  

There was an incident recently in my life when I thought, an believe me I was 100% convinced, that I was about to be promoted at work.  The situation when I left the company years ago my perception of things was that I was avoiding the role and responsibility presented to me by God. That I was running from God's will for me. 

Years later the impossible happened and in ways that I could scarcely believe possible, God made it possible for me to return to to the scene of my 'crime'.

In a years time things were astoundingly different. God was enabling me to do so much under the management that was now there.  Yet when this situation of promotion came, I really really believed it was my second chance to do what I ran away from.  But then I didn't get it.  I was as perplexed as I could be.  The evidence was there the numbers were there showing all sorts of evidence that even as a backup doing a larger role...it went to someone else.  

I didn't understand.  So I questioned it and questioned it until management gave an answer.  Suffice to say the answer really didn't hold water but it was what they are sticking to.  The answer from God, in other words was a resounding NO.  I had gotten my answer an needed to move on.  The real evidence is that I was missing was that my role as a highly successful fill in Lead is going to be a stepping stone to something else.  Something else is what God has in mind for me.  My job is to do the will of the one who sent me to work where I do, to the best of my ability, as unto the Lord. As you read in the book of Esther, and cross referencing with Daniel, in due time, God raises up people and establishes whom He wishes at the right time. 

A no today might not be a forever no. It's God's plans that are being worked out in this world, not our every whim.  If my desires, even as a Christian, were always met by God, to be truthful, brutally truthful, I would be the most miserable of people.  Because it would always be my idea of what's best for me, not God's idea of what's best not just for me but those in whom He's working on and with that are around me.  

Think about your prayer requests.  Is there elements of selfishness to them?  Hey, be truthful, many of mine are. Nobody likes pain, suffering, on any level.  Nobody is going to ask for more because they just can't get enough.  But we do often ask with wrong motives. Jesus spoke to this fact. 

Praying, at its heart, is to be filled with honesty.  Truth. Not sugar coated. Just truth.  Not couched in a lengthy convincing argument.  Truth. Jesus defines Truth. The Holy Spirit defines Truth.  God the Father defines Truth. Children always try to sway the parent to their idea of it. When examined in the light of truth then a parent will act. 

Pray unceasingly is what Scripture says.  It's to be like breathing.  You unceasingly breathe. You unceasingly take in nourishment at regular intervals.  You unceasingly move when awake.  

You may indeed get a no from God, but it's not the end of the world.  Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. 

I didn't get promoted. Am still filling in as a type of Coordinator.  But what God has still required of me is to do my best.  Regardless.  Not pouting, not grumbling.  My best is what's required by God.  He He Himself will affirm and establish me in what He has in mind in due time.  

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

Praying without Believing

But they said to her, “ You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Acts 12:15 

You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart. At times God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison, scheduled for execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to free him, so they prayed. When God released Peter, their reaction revealed the doubt in their hearts. They argued that Peter could not possibly be free, even as he stood outside knocking on the door! Is it possible to be a “person of prayer” and yet not have faith ? Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that because you ask God for help, you have faith in His ability to meet your needs? Is your faith so weak that you are surprised when God answers your prayer? As a child of God, you ought to expect God to answer your prayers. Do you ask God to do something without adjusting your life to what you are praying? If you are praying for revival, how are you preparing for its coming? If you are praying for forgiveness, are you still living with guilt? If you have asked God to provide for your needs, do you remain worried and anxious? Ask God to increase your faith, and then begin living a life that reflects absolute trust in Him. Out of His grace, God may choose to respond to your requests despite your lack of faith, but you will miss the joy of praying in faith. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

I was lead to borrow even the title of today's post from Blackaby.  People look around for evidence they often want to see and not the evidence God presents and then dismiss an answer to prayer!

Look at that wording again.  Evidence they want to see.  

God doesn't always answer with a yes or a no. He does often answer with not right now....it's not time yet.  Or, lastly, He answers with...just wait...I have something better in mind. 

The children of Israel as a whole in the wilderness are prime examples of that which people individually exhibit today. 

Regardless of who you are there's a part of you who thinks you should SEE the answer to prayer you ask for soon after you pray it. If it doesn't happen you start to either dismiss it as a no, you get upset at God, or you start reexamining your life to see if there's some reason why there was an apparent no given. 

Read in Daniel.  The Angel of the Lord apologized for His delay in coming.  Could Daniel have sunk into self-incrimination and doubt?  After all he had been through with God and now He wasn't answering, what did he do wrong? No, he persisted in prayer.  

Jesus taught us to keep praying.  Why? Why not just answer?  Because sometimes our prayers really need reworded. Sometimes they need repealed. Sometimes we ourselves need more convincing of the importance of what it is we ask.  We need the doubt removed from our lives.  Not to mention what Daniel experienced is what the New Testament tells us.  We battle not against flesh and blood.  Look, you need to really get this, there's a war going on.  It's a war being fought over the souls of people.  While people are in their physical bodies the war is fought as to who controls the mind.  Your mind and mine.  

Distractions and temptation are everywhere.  Doubt is easy. It's why we are told to set our minds on things above not on things down here. It's why we are to fill our hearts with Heavenly things and thoughts.  It's why there's armor mentioned in Ephesians 6.  

Interestingly, in the science fiction world of the X-Men, Magneto wears a special kind of helmet.  It isn't for protection from bullets or other things.  In this fictional world he easily deflects them. The purpose is to keep others who can mess with his mind from doing so. 

In our REAL world, the helmet of Salvation is what protects our mind from doubts and influences of the world. But we must be wearing it to make use of it! 

Look at your prayer life today.  I know that I do.  What thoughts are we thinking when we aren't praying? Are they God centered or self centered? Can only be one of the two if you are saved.  Those not saved yet are influenced by the world of demons or of God or themselves. Those not of Christ can be possessed by demons.  Those in Christ cannot be.  But even those in Christ can be influenced by demons if they aren't wearing their armor!  

Examine the reasons for your prayers before you start wondering if God's going to answer them.  If it's spiritually important enough you won't stop until an answer comes.  If it isn't then maybe you need to rethink it or reword it.  Maybe also you have sin in the way of your prayers.  Unconfessed sin prevents prayer.  Why?

Well why would any child be rewarded with good things when they are disobedient?

Before any sacrifices were accepted prayers were made for cleansing of sin so that the prayer would be accepted.  Now we aren't into the sacrifice thing, but we are told to boldly come and ask for cleansing of sin through Christ alone. 

Before you start reacting on God, look at yourself first. Before you doubt, look to see if you gave yourself reason for an unanswered prayer.  Daniel was right before God.  He had been through a lot and knew to be patient.  The explanation from the Angel of the Lord was for your benefit and mine. 

Which way DO we Go?

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16:25 

Things are not always what they seem. Proverbs warns that we can be deceived into believing we are going down the right path and yet be heading toward death, the opposite direction from God's will. People do not naturally seek God or pursue righteousness (Rom. 3:10–18). Only as the Spirit awakens our hearts to the Person of Christ are we able to desire God's will. If we make decisions apart from the guidance of the Spirit of God, we will be like a ship trying to sail without a compass. We will do what makes the most sense, based on our own wisdom. But what looks attractive may actually lead to sin, ultimately destroying what is precious to us, for our most profound human thinking is mere foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:18–20). Only God knows the way that leads to life, and He wants to lead us to walk in it (Matt. 7:13–14). Don’t assume every opportunity that arises is from God. Satan will disguise himself as an “angel of light,” and his invitations will seem to be in your best interest (2 Cor. 11:14). Yet his way leads only to death (John 8:44). The Word of God will be like a light to your path, guiding you in the ways of righteousness (Ps. 119:105). It can be perilous to follow a path that seems right without first consulting the Holy Spirit for guidance (John 16:13). Take time to seek the Holy Spirit's direction when you face decisions. He knows the full ramifications of your choices. The Holy Spirit will assist you to understand truth and to experience abundant life. Trust Him as He leads you. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

It blows my mind that for over a year now, every day, God keeps bringing me here to write.  It matters not if 1 or a thousand read it, I know that I am to obey in doing it.  God should get any glory and honor if anyone who reads and has their lives changed by it. I write what I am directed to write. 

Today's has something to do with how I got here today.  Long ago I thought I understood and had figured out where God wanted me to go and how to get there.  I was so excited!  This was going to be epic!

Only I was off by a few dozen years.  My getting ahead of God with His Plan, got my some extremely rough years. Delving into areas of sin that I was convinced I was going to be immune from because I was convinced I was going where God wanted me to go to reach others!  To be honest, I am still not fully recovered from those experiences.  I am often reminded of those disastrous years. My mind goes to the vague memory of names, to people that I honestly did nothing to bring them closer to Christ.  

As the verse that opens this said so well the way there seemed so right to me. In over my head really doesn't come close. 

Thankfully, mercifully, Jesus never left me, as He has never left you.  He still had a Plan for me.  Just as He didn't give up on The wandering people of Israel after they had left Egypt.  Took 80 years but they got to the Promised Land. 

There's a song that I grew up hearing.  In it it says there's a highway that leads to Glory, but it's no easy ride. You'll find all kinds of exits, to throw you off your stride. Some will lead to fortune some will lead to fame, some will lead you so far off, you won't return again. 

As a book by John MacArthur was titled, so it is for all of us. "12 Ordinary Men". He later had another titled "12 Ordinary Women".  Look at the Disciples. Look at the women mentioned in the Gospels and later books.  There's no scholarly people required as a prerequisite to being a Christian.  Divinity school isn't a requirement. Christian Colleges and Universities are not a requirement. Nor are they necessary.  Living for Jesus is what's necessary. 

It does not read "Take up your cross, go to school, and follow Me.".

It doesn't read that we need a formal education to follow Christ.  The KEY is what Jesus said of it. He praised the Father for HIS choice in the ones who became Apostles.  The Disciples were picked by the Father.  Ordinary people. From all walks of life. 

My walk with Jesus isn't going to be your walk with Jesus.  My burdens are not necessarily going to be your burdens.  My vices won't necessarily be yours.  My sins to overcome won't be yours.  

How does that verse read? "...and encouraging each other all the more as the day draws near..." Hebrews 10:24-25.

This passage fits with not forsaking the assembly.  To encourage means more than Zoom, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and anything else. It's the personal touch that the writer's of the Bible knew well.

Look at what drives you today.  HAVE you gotten off on an exit on your way to Heaven?  Stop, ask Jesus for help getting back.  Quit trying to get back on your own.  Admit you are lost. Jesus knows the way because He IS the Way. 

Is what's going on in the world more important than your relationship with Jesus?  Is your time spent worrying about what's in the news rather than on your conversations with God?

As I mentioned to my Wife on a few occasions, I honestly believe Noah, his wife, his Sons and their wives, were probably where the modern day Amish started.  I am convinced they had higher technology than we have today yet, Noah thought more of his walk with God than that of the world.  

People talk about unplugging from social media.  They do, then come right back.  Is social media necessary? No. It's done wonders in destroying lives, neighborhoods and countries.  It, like all tools, has a good side and a bad. It's what's going on in the heart of man that determines how a tool is used.  Social media has its good stuff too. In recovering lost relationships and people.  In reuniting people we have lost touch with.  

But it shouldn't replace relationships.  Most today have no idea what's going on with their neighbors.  They have no relationship to speak of with them. 

Stop.

Stop what you are doing and look at your life.  Where are you standing?

Is it God honoring? Is God glorified?

Will He be?  Where do your thoughts and intentions take you?  Are you consumed with you?

Maybe it's time to really stop and ask Jesus for directions.

HELP

Help, LORD. Psalm 12:1 

This is a remarkable prayer, for its brevity, timeliness, pointedness, and poignancy. David mourned how few faithful men he could find, so he lifted up his heart in prayer—when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. David apparently felt his own weakness, or else he wouldn’t have cried for help, but at the same time he intended to honestly exert himself for the cause of truth—since the word help doesn’t apply when we ourselves do nothing. In this two-word prayer, there is much that is direct, clear in its perception, and distinct in its style—much more, in fact, than in the long, rambling prayers of some professing Christians. The psalmist ran straight to his God with a well-considered prayer—he knew what he was seeking and where to look for it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner. We have frequent occasions for the use of this prayer. In the afflictions that God allows into our lives, this is a suitable prayer for believers who find all other helpers failing them. Students of the Word, facing doctrinal difficulties, can receive help by lifting up this cry of Help, LORD to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors battling inner conflicts may call to God’s throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Those doing heavenly labor can use this prayer to obtain grace in time of need. Sinners seeing God, in their doubts and fears, can offer up the same weighty words—in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve the purposes of needy souls. Help, LORD will suit us living and dying, suffering or laboring, rejoicing or sorrowing. Our help is found in Him, so let no one hesitate to cry out to Him. If this prayer is sincerely offered through Jesus, its answer is certain. The Lord’s character assures us that He will not leave His people. His relationship as Father and Husband guarantees us His aid. The gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing, and God’s sure promise stands: “Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13). C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening. 

Was talking of this the other day. Bullet prayers, arrow prayers.  The reference was out of Nehemiah. He was an exile from Jerusalem. In the days after King Nebuchadnezzar had conquered the city. He lived in that timeframe of the tail end of the 70 year judgment from the Lord.  Nehemiah had noticed that time and was praying for his people and wanted to do something. He was cupbearer to the King.  Meaning he was THE most trusted man in the Kingdom.  Everything that the King drank wasn't drank unless Nehemiah approved and had tasted himself.  He was needing to ask the King for time to go and rebuild.  This wasn't for a month. If you read the book it was over 12 years.  That's no small favor.  Yet in the midst of asking he 'shoots' a prayer up.

Oh if I only knew how many times I myself have done so.  Both in the times of my knowing that I did and in the intention of my heart.  There's just times when you don't have the time to utter the words. 

Eloquent speeches or fancy speeches do not impress Jesus.  High society doesn't impress Jesus.  The rich and powerful do not impress Jesus.  Read of His interactions with those who were.  Read what He said to the rich young ruler.  

God doesn't NEED our help but He DOES help us.  God is able to do anything according to His Will.  He isn't capable of doing things against His Word.  Movies have been made showing someone with 'God's power' granting any wish that anyone had. Sinful or not.  This is an abomination towards God. He cannot and will not empower anyone to sin, the very reason His Son came to Earth.  The very reason He was put to death. 

So God will not 'help those who help themselves'. He is not in favor of an eye for an eye.  Forgiveness is what He brings when we come to Christ. Cleansing from all unrighteous. 

Help in our time of need.  It matters not how big or small the request.  Jesus CAN help.  The question really is whether or not what we ask is in His Will to happen.  To the contrary, not everything is. 

He's not willing that any should perish but that all would be saved.  Yet in great numbers people are constantly showing up at the gates of Hell. 

He's not willing that we should suffer but He says if the world hates you, the believer, remember it hated Him first. 

He promised never to leave us nor forsake us.  This He keeps.  It may not feel like it, but He does.  I was mentioning to a friend yesterday that yesterday felt like Jesus was squeezing me through a chasm, between some harsh things happening at work.  He was leading me as He promised, even though the valley of the shadow of death if need be.

Our requests to God for help should reflect our walk with Jesus.  Requests for understanding of God, of His Word. To help us to serve in what we do with the right heart attitude. Not requests to hit the lottery, be given a $50,000 car or a home in the Bahamas. Not requests for grand sums of money to be frivolous spent on ourselves.  God does, according to the Bible, own the cattle on a thousand hills.  He owns everything.  

Our requests for help can have to do with health.  But our narrow world view thinks of only a restored physical life as a true healing.  God considers death to be a healing.  We can be very selfish in our requests for His help in healing someone to keep them here.  Why should we pray, in all reality, for someone on their deathbed, to be here and not be allowed to be in the presence of Jesus?  If they are a believer then isn't that the greater prayer? To usher them into His arms?  They might not be saved you say.  Well, realize it was God who brought them to this bed of sickness. If indeed it ends in death, remember that the Bible says everyone will be without excuse before Him. Prayers can be made while breath remains with them for the Spirit to work. He can go where we cannot. I have seen this happen in more ways than I can tell you. God may not remove the reason for their health problems but He can save their soul.  God has visited people in their dreams before.  It's in the Bible. 

We who are in Christ are Children of God. Adopted in with all access to the Father through the Son of God, by way of the Spirit of God.  

Build your relationship with Jesus today so that when the time comes your prayers will indeed be within the scope of the Will of God.  You may not see the answers right now but He promised to answer. It's usually yes, no, not now, or wait, I have something better in mind. 

Doubts and Fears

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” John 10:28 ESV 

Christians should never think or speak lightly of unbelief. For children of God to mistrust His love, His truth, or His faithfulness must be greatly displeasing to Him. How can we ever grieve God by doubting His upholding grace? Oh, Christian—it is contrary to every promise of God’s precious Word that you would ever be forgotten or left to perish. If that were possible, how could we trust the One who has said, “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15 NLT). What would be the value of this promise: “‘The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10 ESV). Where would be the truth of Christ’s words, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29 NLT). Where would the doctrine of grace be? It would be disproved if one child of God would perish. Where would the truthfulness of God be, or His honor, His power, His grace, His covenant, His oath, if any of those for whom Christ died—and who have put their trust in Him—would somehow be cast away? Banish the unbelieving fear that dishonors God. Get up, shake the dust off yourself, and put on your beautiful garments. Remember, it is sinful to doubt God’s Word, in which He has promised that you will “never perish.” Let the eternal life inside you express itself in confident rejoicing: The gospel bears my spirit up; A faithful and unchanging God Lays the foundation for my hope, In oaths, and promises, and blood. “How Oft Have Sin and Satan Strove,” Isaac Watts (18th century) - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening 

Doubts and fears...of mankind's intentions yes...of God, may it never be!

Jesus said to Himself on at least one occasion that He knew the heart of man and would not entrust Himself to him.

That wasn't doubt. That was the knowledge of the Holy Spirit.  Sinful man, in himself has but one direction in life...selfishness and a need to boast of that.

The world before the flood, I believe, was far superior technology-wise than we are today.  We have unearthed many finds that we cannot explain.  Transistors form a great deal of the foundation of electronics.  Some have been dug up that are thousands of years old.  

This world believes it can solve its problems through knowledge and technology.  Through all means at its fingertips.  Yet the answer to all the world's problems rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  While mankind strives with the wind to find success, in Christ "it is FINISHED!".

Doubts and fears are the most used tools in Satan's toolbox.  Nobody's immune to their use.  Everyone from Christ Himself to you today have felt their effects.  Misdirection is another of his more famous tools.  Look over here while I do something over there.  

Read in Nehemiah of the various forms of attack that happened while they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.  

Doubts and fears are used to try to forestall people from coming to Christ and after those who do, from living for Jesus. 

We all laugh at the joke about dogs. Their attention span is so short that in the split second between focusing on you, a squirrel goes by and off they go.  We as humans have that problem.  Confidence in ourselves is our biggest fault.  Peter was fine on the water as long as his confidence was focused on Christ. When he had a minor 'wow, look at me' moment he began to sink.

Having a mind set on Christ helps to eliminate doubts and fears. Regardless of what you see.  Remember Elijah and his servant.  He asked God to open his eyes to see the truth of who was with them.  We don't see those who are with us. Yet we should remember they are there.  

Who is 'those'? They are Angels of God as well as sometimes Jesus Himself.  Angels are not Male and Female.  Only the creations on Earth are those. I do not believe in those in Heaven seen our plight here on Earth.  That would cause Heaven to weep uncontrollably.  That's not what Heaven is like.  Those who are there have entered into Christ's rest. The true definition of peace.  They are at rest, no longer encumbered by the cares of this life. They are with Jesus! He who wipes away every tear. 

When you go through your day today remember to stop your racing thoughts and just 'be' with Jesus.  You don't have to speak.  Just be with Him.  Speak if your heart is burdened.  Sing if it's within you to do so.  Soon you will  find the peace that passes all understanding that's found only in Christ Jesus. 

Doubts and fears will always try to assail us but in Christ we have an answer to it.

Be a living testimony and if necessary use words to tell of what Jesus has done in your life. 

Does your Light shine?

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” Genesis 7:1 

The children of Noah faced a significant decision. They lived in a world where everyone blatantly disregarded God. Wickedness was the norm. No one would have condemned Noah's sons for living evil lives like the rest of society—no one except their father. In a world rampant with ungodly attitudes and every form of wicked behavior, they were fortunate to be Noah's sons. When their father invited them to spend the next hundred years building an ark in obedience to a word from God, Noah's sons had to choose whether to believe those around them or to trust their father. They chose to join their father. What a wonderful testimony of Noah's godly influence in his home! How fortunate for Shem, Ham, and Japheth that their father refused to compromise his integrity, even though everyone else in his society had done so. Your life has an influence on those around you as well. Your spouse and your children are profoundly affected by your choices. Your co-workers, your neighbors, and your friends will all be impacted by your life. As the world tries to persuade people to follow its standard, your life should stand in stark contrast as an example of a righteous person. Your life should convince those around you of the wisdom of following God. Do not underestimate the positive effect that your obedience will have upon those close to you. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Influence. Influencing. Influenced. 

You are one of those. You are either being influenced or you are influencing others. 

Then there's those in this world who firmly believe it's their job to influence you. 

The only one whom should be influencing you is the Spirit of God.  A discerning person would be in such fellowship with Jesus to understand what is of God and what is not. 

Prayer is not only a necessary part of your life as a child of God, it's as necessary as breathing is to your body. 

Prayer isn't just about food and forgiveness.  It's about the worries and concerns you have in life.  

Prayer has many levels and certainly has challenges at times.  Storms of life stretch us in ways that beforehand we thought would break us.

Prayer shows mercy and grace even when we might not understand it as such.  The thing that I have learned in my walk with Jesus in recent years is that I don't need to complicate Christianity.  Jesus meant it to be so that a Child could understand it.

Re-looking at some of those healed by Jesus reveals that very idea.  The 'educated' in the Temple couldn't understand the simple.  The 'uneducated' were kicked out for truly understanding the work and Word of God. 

There's even times that I wonder about some of today's and those in recent decades, 'big names' in Christianity of whether or not they have also overcomplicated the message.  Jesus meant for anyone to understand the message of the Gospel. 

Our light, if there is one, influences those around us.  Be it good or bad it's still an influence.  I don't need much to be reminded of where I was a negative influence.  I still pray for those whom I had a negative influence on. That God might fix where I messed up. 

Even those in darkness of sin influence others.  Before the flood all mankind was influenced by sin to the extent only Noah, his wife, his son's and their wives were to be saved. 

From then until now we as a world went from 8 people to near 8 billion. We don't know how many were here before the flood. But it was probably in the billions too. 

Our choices influence in both subtle and not so subtle ways.  In our words and actions and our lack of words and actions. Even inaction is an action in and of itself. 

Which is why you ARE either a believer in Jesus or you are not.  You are either saved or you are not.  The description by Jesus in Revelation says you are either among the wheat or among the tares.  You are in the book of Life or you are not.  For those who do not believe in absolutes those are indeed absolutes.  

You are either growing in Christ or you are not.  You are either being influenced to grow in Christ or not.  The things of God are either important to you or they are not. 

Jesus deals in absolutes. Salvation is free. You either accept it and are saved, bound for Heaven or reject it, are not saved, and are bound for Hell. 

Your life is full of influences to try to direct you one way or the other way.  Towards Christ or away from Him.  When Peter's eyes were towards Christ on the water he was fine.  Took them away from Him and he sank.  Notice there was no in between. 

Consider your thoughts and actions today.  Consider if they lead you to a closer walk with Jesus or farther away.  

You WILL be going one way or the other.