Wisdom and Understanding

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

~Proverbs 9:10, KJV

Who doesn't want to be wise and have understanding? I certainly do. It's interesting to note that the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom - we can't have true wisdom without first having the fear of the Lord. Having knowledge of the holy is having understanding, being able to understand and comprehend things. So how many of those out in the world do we listen to and seek guidance from that don't have wisdom or understand because they have no knowledge of the holy or fear of the Lord? Be careful who you seek assistance from on how to live your life. Make sure they have the basics down first.

He Will Do What He Has Promised

"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"

~Numbers 23:19

 I feel that so often we hold God up to standards conceived by us as men. Standards that we perceive to be good based on what we know has humans. As if we forget that God is not a human. As if we forget that His standards and abilities are measured by a different quotient as He is not a man. He created us, why would we think He is bound by our rules? It's hard for our minds to comprehend something that is all powerful but that's what He is. 

If He promises us something we can have faith that He will bring it to pass because He is all powerful. He doesn't lie and if He said He will do something for you that means He will do it. He will never accidentally fail to provide what He said He will provide. He is able to do all things and He has and will continue to fulfill all His promises.

Do Good To Them That Hate You

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He taketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

~Matthew 5:44-45, KJV

This is an extremely difficult verse to follow. Bless those that curse you? But it lets God take vengeance on them and you can step out of the way. Do good to them that hate you? That's quite difficult but then you are blameless. Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute? You never know what the power of prayer can do!

Sometimes doing what the Bible said can be difficult but it's always worth it because what matters is what comes after this life.

Power, Love, and a Sound Mind

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

~2 Timothy 1:7, KJV

Don't be afraid. We have power and love through Christ. Even when the world is in turmoil or things seem bad do not be afraid. The spirit of fear for your circumstances is from the devil, not the Lord. The Lord will not forsake you and He has you in his hand. Be of a sound mind and know that you have the power of the Lord on your side!

Fornication

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, the ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:"

~Thessalonians 4:1-5, KJV

This is for anyone that wonders if the Bible actually does talk about fornication or sex outside of marriage. It clearly does talk about it and it states that ye should abstain, or that you should not do it. It's not a cultural thing either as some people say that it is, it is a commandment given by the Lord in the new testament. It's not outdated and it's not a suggestion.

The Lord does not want you to have sex outside of marriage - why? Because it's healthier for you emotionally (and physically). Sex doesn't make love as the world suggests today, love makes sex. Going from person to person falling in love and having sex is just going to tear you up and leave a part of you with each individual until there is nothing less. You can't go around giving up pieces of your soul and expect not to be affected.

Tribulation

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
~John 16:33, KJV

This verse is really encouraging during times of struggle when everything seems to be going wrong. This hits home for me because a few months ago my husband and I lost our jobs and I have this verse on a plaque in my house. It was a good reminder that we didn't need to fear the world because God would take us where He wanted us and the world couldn't stop it.

We were never promised that in life we wouldn't have trouble, this verse is actually saying the opposite, it is saying that we will have tribulation. Yet we shouldn't walk around in fear or depression but we should be of good cheer because we are in God's hands and God has overcome the world. Since we lost our jobs God has moved us to where He wants us to be and our lives are so much better. We are so happy and are where we want to be. We had okay lives before by now every day feels like an adventure and a blessing.

God is awesome!

He Hears You

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask an thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

~1 John 5:14-15, KJV

How wonderful it is for us that we can know that He hears us. You are never alone.

That's the sort of confidence that gives me comfort, to know that the God of the universe hears my prayers. That He hears what I ask of Him. That if what I'm asking is within His will I know that I have that which I asked for. What a wonderful comfort. 

Just Ask

"Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that sketch receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom is his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

~Matthew 7:7-11, KJV

I wonder how much we don't have as Christian at times just because we don't ask the Lord. I can't begin to remember all the times that I struggled with something day by day to find a simple prayer could make each day so much easier and the burden lighter. 

It's not always easy to remember but it's so easy to ask the Father. Sometimes I need a gentle reminder from my husband that I should just pray about it and when I do it is better. Yeah, life can still be difficult but prayer helps put it in perspective and sometimes the Father just says, "Yes" and who can beat that? Sometimes it's a different answer then you are expecting or wanting but it's always better when God is in your life and the situation and you invite Him there. 

Do you really want or need something? Are you struggling to obtain something? Ask the Lord. 

Faith Standing in the Power of God

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

-1 Corinthians 2:4-5, KJV

So many people, not just today but for ages, try to entice people into believing their religion. They try to act as if they have more knowledge and special revalations in their denominations than in others. And people are tricked into believing in the religions without even realizing that they are believing in the men and what they say and not in God. They also end up believing in the men's wisdom and their own wisdom instead of God and what He can do.   

When Ye Fast

"Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and was thy face. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."

~Matthew 6:16-18

Don't put on a show. This isn't about looking good in front of others or your pastor, it's about looking good in front of God.

Fasting is not a show for other people, it's between you and your heavenly Father. If you put on a show, then you already have your reward by all the people looking. If you do it for the right reasons just between you and God in secret then you shall be rewarded openly.

I know the Father's gifts will be much greater than any praise or recognition or reward that man could give me.

Vengeance Belongs To The Lord

"Be of the same mind one toward another. mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as leith in you, live peaceably with all men.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

~Romans 12:16-21, KJV

Provide things HONEST in the sight of ALL men. 

Avenge not yourself, but give place unto God's wrath. If you want revenge do not rush out and get in the way of the Lord. Rather, let Him deal with it and He will repay. We are His children and if we lash out then it will get in the way of Him dealing with those who trespass against us. It is like us humans with children, if our children reacts and does something petty if they are wronged then it makes it hard to discipline the one who wronged them because they themselves need discipline.

Do not get caught up in vengeance and evil so much that you do evil yourself. Do not let evil overcome you but do good so you can overcome it and let the Lord deal with those who hurt you.

Professing Themselves To Be Wise

"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"

~Romans 1:20-22, KJV

They are without excuse because they glorified Him not as God when they knew God. How many today especially glorify Him not and neither are they thankful but they have become vain in their imaginations? And even more how many profess and declare that they are so wise and know so much and in so doing become fools? 

Oh, the plight of man! I wish they would all hear and listen to and accept the truth!

Who Is Righteous?

"There is none righteous, no not one:"
~Romans 3:10, KJV

Don't forget your life and who brought you out of the mire. Your sins are forgiven and forgotten but you are precious and pure only because of His blood. Don't forget and remember that you are not righteous because of what you do but because of what the Lord has done in and for you.

Do Not Forget

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord or lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name."

-Deuteronomy 10:17-20

Oh, is not the Lord wonderful, and great, and mighty? Do not forget who you serve! Do not forget who it is that is behind the spinning of the earth, and the rising and setting of the sun! Do not forget who it is that sent His son to die for your sins!

And do not forget who you are. Do not forget that you have sinned. Do not forget that you are human and need a savior. Do not forget that we are all foreigners and as Christians, our homes are not here on this Earth but that we will one day be going to our heavenly homes!

Watch and Pray

"And He cometh unto the disciples, and fainted them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

-Matthew 26:40-41, KJV

Sometimes as Christians we want to do good. We try to do good but yet how often is it we can't even make it an hour?

Perhaps the disciples aren't so alone in this story, I can't say I haven't been in the same place. Wake up early to pray? A whole hour? Even an hour after work. It can be difficult but nothing compared to what Christ gave.

Indeed the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We need to watch and pray! So we do not enter into temptation.

To Gain The World

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

-Matthew 16:24-26, KJV

If you could have everything, the entire world and everything the whole world can give you. All the wealth, knowledge, power, and fame that the world can offer. If you could have everything on this earth and even the earth itself, what would it profit?

It would profit nothing except an emptiness and a yearning for more. Even then it is only to be followed by eternal damnation. Isn't it far greater to lose your life on this earth and inherit all the riches of heaven?

I Know My Redeemer Liveth

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"

-Job 19:25, KJV

I'm not sure what more I can say about this than what the Bible has already said.

I know He liveth! 

He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth!

That Which Is Just And Equal

"Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."

-Colossians 4:1, KJV

Be fair in what you do and how you treat others. If you are a business owner or employ others in any way, be just and equal. 

Do not play favorites and do not let injustice stand. This means to discipline as well as to reward and to do it equally.

Ways Of A Man

"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. Commit they works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."

-Proverbs 16:2-3

Your ways may be clean in your own eyes, but commit your works unto the Lord. If your ways are clean in the Lord's eyes, then they are clean. If they are clean in your eyes that does not mean they are clean; they are not unless they agree with the Lord's ways. 

He Deserves The Glory

"And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy For, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God."

-Deuteronomy 8:17-20, KJV

The Lord demands the glory He deserves. Do not forget who has given you the blessings you have. Do not forget who has the mighty hand. Do not forget who deserves the glory. 

He is the Lord and He is the reason for His children's successes and blessings.