Remembering Why

Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!

Psalm 111:1-2a NLT

How often do we forget the good deeds of the Lord toward us? Oh, we thank Him for salvation, for mercy and grace. For going to the Cross and laying down His life for ours. And we should - ALWAYS!

But how often do we give Him thanks for breath and life and the day-to-day of it? The encouraging word from a friend or even a stranger. The favorite song coming on just exactly when you needed to hear it. For sleep. For bread... You get the picture. We need to remember why we should praise Him. And we should in ALL things.

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.

Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people
by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever! Psalm 111 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You seems so inadequate and yet we are so grateful for all You do and have done and will do. We cannot fully express our thanks to equal the magnanimity of You and what You have given. We want to grow in Your wisdom and grace, O God! Help us to be like You - just and good and trustworthy, forever true. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?
Psalm 77:8-9 NIV

Following her recent trip to Israel, my friend, Hope, sent me a book titled Footprints, Scripture with Reflections inspired by the poem of the same name. I just want to share something from it that has spoken to me today.

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When faced with bewildering circumstances, we are tempted to ask "Why?". But a better question to ask is "What?... What do You have in mind now, Lord?"

Hosea 6:3 NIV
3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.

Psalm 55:22 NIV
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."

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Prayer:

Father, 

           We certainly don't always understand, but Your Word assures us that You are faithful and trustworthy and full of grace and mercy. We pray believing according to Your Word in Proverbs 3:5-6, that we will trust in You Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding; In all our ways we will acknowledge You, and You shall direct our paths. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Weapon

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.
Ephesians 6:13-17 The Message

We might not always be aware of it, but we're in a battle of some kind every day. The enemy of our souls is a relentless foe. He doesn't care if you're tired or busy or sick. He doesn't even care if you don't want to fight; that's not going to stop him from fighting you. That just makes his life easier.

The most important thing we have to realize is we cannot fight a war with no weapon. And according to 2nd Corinthians 10, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. We must take up the sword which is the word of God! 

It also frees us from the wage of sin in our lives. For by the Word, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. And we need the Holy Spirit to do exactly that. If someone says "God said..." then it had better line up with Scripture. if it does not. Recognize it for what it is and move on. 

Just like we will never find a soldier going into battle without his weapon, we cannot do life without the Word of God. 

Know your weapon!!

Prayer:

Father,
          Open Your Word to us for understanding. Let us discern Your Truth and Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

God Can't

Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18b-19

Lots of people are quick to tell you what God CAN do, what He promises to do, and what He's already done. And all of what He has done is so great that oftentimes, we cannot find words to properly express all we feel about it! It's wonderful! Truly wonderful!

However, there are also those I have met in my life who will throw down the gauntlet and say, "God can't do everything!" And then they stand there, defiantly waiting for me to contradict them. But I don't. I agree with them that God can't do everything (hear me out!). I tell them I even have Scripture to back it up (wait for it...)

Two things - God CAN'T fail. Hebrews 5:13b, For God has said, “I will never fail you."  And He CAN'T lie!  Hebrews 6:18a, So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. 

And when you think about those two things - REALLY think about them - understanding the Truth contained therein, it's no wonder that we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

Meditate on this. Let it sink deep into your soul and spirit. He CAN'T fail and it's IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie. So that means EVERYTHING He has said to you will come to pass. Selah

Can you dare to believe what God can't do?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your faithfulness to us in spite of our shortcomings and our own failures. Open our eyes and our hearts to see Your unwavering Truth in all You say and do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Starting Position - Reprinting one of my favorites

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.
Psalm 50:14-15 NLT

I've talked many times before about giving thanks in the midst of life's trials. You may remember the story about Does your eyebrow hurt, Mom? Then can we give thanks that your eyebrow doesn't hurt? Well, we often do the same thing when we're struggling with repeated mistakes in our lives. We listen to the lies of satan...

I must not be saved. I always do that. I can't be a Christian and still struggle with that. I'll never get victory over it. I might as well give up... Any of that sound familiar?

How did we learn to walk when we were children? Did we just decide one day that it was time to walk and then up we got and walked our little selves all over the place? No, it was Get up. Fall. Get up, step, fall. Step, step, fall. Get up, fall. Get up, fall. Fall. Fall. Cry. Resolve. Get up... Even if you've never had children, more than likely, you have watched a little one's first steps or attempts at walking.

As children, the first thing we learned was to pull ourselves up on something sturdy to see if our legs would hold us. Then we fought to get balance...and we struggled to keep our balance. Sometimes, we no sooner got that first foot up off the floor, then we found ourselves back on the floor in the starting position. The good news is we eventually learned how to walk, right? You may not remember the process, but your life is the proof.

It's the same principle with our Christian walk. Get up. Fall. Get up, step, fall. Step, step, fall. Get up, fall. Get up, fall. Fall. Fall. Cry. Resolve. Get up... Proverbs 24:16a NLT reads, The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.

So often, we find ourselves focusing on our mistakes rather than giving thanks for what God has made new in us. I would like to point out that the starting position is not UP. The starting point is while you're on your knees or face down on the floor... Don't beat yourself up over it. Jesus was already beat up for it. Use His Cross as the one sturdy thing that you can utilize to pull yourself up. Okay, everyone! Starting positions...

Prayer:

Father,
          Your goodness and mercy and grace overwhelm us. Your Word is a continual lamp for our feet and light for the path You have chosen for us. Help us to walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

 

* We're On Our Way

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
Psalm 25:4-5 NLT  

Abby Tuesday is the day during the week when my youngest granddaughter and I have a play date where we make up songs or she pretends she's the shopkeeper at her own general store (where everything either costs one dollar or 'fifty-six forty') or we snuggle on the sofa and "Let's watch kid movies, Granna!"

Regardless of what we do or what kind of mood she's in, we always sing "We're On Our Way" songs. Our travel music, if you will. To my house, we're on our way to Granna's house and there is the church... and the other landmarks showing the right route to take. When it's time for her to leave, we're on our way to Abby's house with landmarks that clearly define when we're getting close. Both versions always end with "And here we are!"

Yeah. Cute story, but what's it got to do with our Promise for Today? Tonight, I felt like the Lord was reminding me that we're on our way to His house. Our heavenly home. Do we know the right way? Are we following His landmarks? Are we making sure to not lose our way?!?

God gives us His promise a few verses further down in Psalm 25:8-10. From The Message - God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, And leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions.

We're on our way to His house. Are we headed the right way?

Prayer:

Father,
           Show us the right path, O Lord; point out the road for us to follow. We want to be with You in Your house. Correct us and lead us in the paths of Your righteousness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Time is Now

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
Hebrews 12:1-2a The Message

New Year's Day marks the anniversary of the first Promise for Today that I emailed to a handful of friends and family members in 1996. When I first started the Promise, I used other people's devotions from books I had and then later, I purchased more. We went through quite a few over the years. Sometimes, I'd take them directly from a book, but I always let people know what book we were using. And sometimes I would elaborate and add my own comments. Those of you who know me know that written words are my passion... but I started with the works of others.

Then in 2007, my beloved former pastor, Doc (the late Dr. Howard O. Jameson) challenged me to step up, to make it personal and write from my heart about how God's Word affects me, rather than from someone else's heart and perspective. It has been the most challenged commitment of my life.

The Promise for Today started 21 years ago with the following excerpt from Max Lucado's book, When God Whispers Your Name. Almost every year, I send it out as the first Promise of the New Year to remind us of our choices.

Max Lucado writes:
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It's quiet. It's early. The coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose. And so I choose.

I Choose Love ... 

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy ... 

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace ... 

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience ... 

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness ... 

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness ... 

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness ... 

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness ... 

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control ... 

I am a spiritual being ... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
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Prayer:

Father,
           We choose You. Thank You for the power of Your Word to change our lives and our choices for how we live the life You have given us. Give us the courage to walk in the conviction of Your Word. Father, we ask that You guide us in EACH step of life. I pray Your provision and protection over those around the world who You have allowed me to touch with Your Word. Let us be ever mindful of You, Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen