SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 23v5
"You prepare a banquet for me where all my enemies can see me; You welcome me as as honored guest and fill my cup to the brim." (GNT)
In life we all have people, things or situations that work against our progress. These are the enemies David speaks of in this psalm. There may be something or someone that makes you take 3 steps backwards after taking 2 forward. These may result in frustration or a heart that sees God as being unfair. It is in these times that we have to learn to understand Paul's words in Romans 8v28; that in all these things, God is working out the master plan that'll see us getting good out of the situation; or as David puts it, a banquet in the midst of my tribulations.
Such times come to all of us in our daily walk with Christ, as 1 Corinthian 10v13; but I like that this verse continues to say God ALWAYS makes a way out of all these. That is so comforting; knowing that God is always nearby to see that we have only that which we can bear and not more; then from then on He takes the load off of our shoulders.
So, let us be encouraged and know that, in the midst of our situations; in spite of our opposing forces, there is a banquet prepared for us with cups that are overflowing with the goodness that God works out as a way out. We are blessed right in the midst of the storm; we are anointed with oil (affirmed as better than before the trial, confirmed as victorious, graduated to a higher dimension of faith).
Be strong. There is a blessing in spite of the trials. There is a greater life ahead amidst the tribulation.
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank You for always looking over me; I now see and know that You're always in control, making me a better person, if only I give You a complete YES. I say yes to Your will. Do as You will. May Your Name be always glorified with who I am. This I ask believing, with thanksgiving, in Jesus' Name. AMEN
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Monday, 12 November 2012
SHAME REVERSED
SCRIPTURE READING:
ZEPHANIAH 3v14-20
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice, ......The King of Israel, even the Lord [Himself], is in the midst of you; ......The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; ......Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you; I will save the limping [ones] and gather the outcasts and will make them a praise and a name in every land of their shame. At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the nations of the earth when I reverse your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord. (AMP)
The prophet, Zephaniah, proclaims, herein, a message from The Lord for the remnant of the house of Israel. It's a message of hope and love. He opens by saying, sing, shout, rejoice... The promise has not been delivered yet, but go ahead, sing, shout, rejoice... Why? Because, He who is giving the promise never goes back on His Word (see 2Cor 1v20; Ps 138v2). So, He is trustworthy and therefore we PRAISE AND THANK HIM IN ADVANCE.
The Lord declares that, when He is in their midst, there will be freedom and no fear; He will restore the glory of Israel even in the very cities they were put to shame. Because of His love, He will make no mention of or even remember their past sin. He will rejoice and be satisfied over Israel because they have obeyed His word. His love will keep them calm; He will fight their battles; He will drive all their enemies away; He will restore their misfortunes abundantly for all the nations to see...
How great and calming it is to know that God does such great things for those that seek and obey His counsel. We are the remnant of His glory. We too can partake of all these promises, if we believe and obey. He is able to give us a name in the very places where we were shamed. The very same people who saw our shame will witness the Lord's hand upon mine and your life at work. God will give us a name and glory amongst the same people and the rest of the nations. He will REVERSE OUR SHAME INTO GLORY!!!
Let us return to God. Let us obey His word in all we do. Let us be found in His will at all times.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for loving me, even when I was in a strange land. I now return to You for counsel and direction. May my life bring you great delight and joy. I surrender my will to You. I need Your will for it is better than my best. This I ask believing, thankfully, in Jesus' Name. AMEN
ZEPHANIAH 3v14-20
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice, ......The King of Israel, even the Lord [Himself], is in the midst of you; ......The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; ......Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you; I will save the limping [ones] and gather the outcasts and will make them a praise and a name in every land of their shame. At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the nations of the earth when I reverse your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord. (AMP)
The prophet, Zephaniah, proclaims, herein, a message from The Lord for the remnant of the house of Israel. It's a message of hope and love. He opens by saying, sing, shout, rejoice... The promise has not been delivered yet, but go ahead, sing, shout, rejoice... Why? Because, He who is giving the promise never goes back on His Word (see 2Cor 1v20; Ps 138v2). So, He is trustworthy and therefore we PRAISE AND THANK HIM IN ADVANCE.
The Lord declares that, when He is in their midst, there will be freedom and no fear; He will restore the glory of Israel even in the very cities they were put to shame. Because of His love, He will make no mention of or even remember their past sin. He will rejoice and be satisfied over Israel because they have obeyed His word. His love will keep them calm; He will fight their battles; He will drive all their enemies away; He will restore their misfortunes abundantly for all the nations to see...
How great and calming it is to know that God does such great things for those that seek and obey His counsel. We are the remnant of His glory. We too can partake of all these promises, if we believe and obey. He is able to give us a name in the very places where we were shamed. The very same people who saw our shame will witness the Lord's hand upon mine and your life at work. God will give us a name and glory amongst the same people and the rest of the nations. He will REVERSE OUR SHAME INTO GLORY!!!
Let us return to God. Let us obey His word in all we do. Let us be found in His will at all times.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for loving me, even when I was in a strange land. I now return to You for counsel and direction. May my life bring you great delight and joy. I surrender my will to You. I need Your will for it is better than my best. This I ask believing, thankfully, in Jesus' Name. AMEN
Restored For Glory
SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 23v3 - "He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake."
RESTORE : bring back to original state, form or position; reestablish; give back; reinstate
LEAD : show the way by going in advance; guide; direct; inspire the conduct of
In this psalm, as we all know (or should know), the writer (David) acknowledges the goodness of God as the shepherd. He opens the psalm by saying that, having God as a shepherd is sufficient for him. Then he goes on to say that God restores his soul; this is the verse I want us to look at, deeper.
The word David uses, 'restore' means all that is written above. The original Hebrew word used for 'restore' is 'yeshoveiv' which means 'to return'; it also is the root word for the Hebrew word, teshuvah, which means 'returning to God in repentance'. So in essence, what David is saying is,
"the Lord brings me back to original state, form and position, gives me back my soul and reestablishes me when I repent".... Wow! Wow! Wow!
So, He gives me a clean slate to re-write my life! Not only does He end there...
He then leads me in the paths of righteousness... Are you kidding me?! He does what?! God goes ahead of me, guides me, directs me and inspires my whole conduct! And He does this not just in any path; the path of righteousness, because I am the righteousness of God when I repent (2 Cor. 5v21).
Why does God do all this for me, a sinner?!? "...for His Name's sake".
He does it because He is jealous of the work He created. He does this because we carry His Name, His image His identity. But because of sin we are separated from Him; but there still is in us something that is of God, which makes Him want us back in His courts. So in repentance, we are reconciled to Him and He is glorified when we live in righteousness.
God restores and directs our souls, if we repent, so that His Name may be glorified in us.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You still give me a way back to Your presence though I'm undeserving. I repent and allow You to restore and lead me from today onwards. Let my life bring you glory. This I ask believing in the name Jesus, AMEN.
Psalm 23v3 - "He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake."
RESTORE : bring back to original state, form or position; reestablish; give back; reinstate
LEAD : show the way by going in advance; guide; direct; inspire the conduct of
In this psalm, as we all know (or should know), the writer (David) acknowledges the goodness of God as the shepherd. He opens the psalm by saying that, having God as a shepherd is sufficient for him. Then he goes on to say that God restores his soul; this is the verse I want us to look at, deeper.
The word David uses, 'restore' means all that is written above. The original Hebrew word used for 'restore' is 'yeshoveiv' which means 'to return'; it also is the root word for the Hebrew word, teshuvah, which means 'returning to God in repentance'. So in essence, what David is saying is,
"the Lord brings me back to original state, form and position, gives me back my soul and reestablishes me when I repent".... Wow! Wow! Wow!
So, He gives me a clean slate to re-write my life! Not only does He end there...
He then leads me in the paths of righteousness... Are you kidding me?! He does what?! God goes ahead of me, guides me, directs me and inspires my whole conduct! And He does this not just in any path; the path of righteousness, because I am the righteousness of God when I repent (2 Cor. 5v21).
Why does God do all this for me, a sinner?!? "...for His Name's sake".
He does it because He is jealous of the work He created. He does this because we carry His Name, His image His identity. But because of sin we are separated from Him; but there still is in us something that is of God, which makes Him want us back in His courts. So in repentance, we are reconciled to Him and He is glorified when we live in righteousness.
God restores and directs our souls, if we repent, so that His Name may be glorified in us.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You still give me a way back to Your presence though I'm undeserving. I repent and allow You to restore and lead me from today onwards. Let my life bring you glory. This I ask believing in the name Jesus, AMEN.
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