Commit yourself to His care.

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

 Being a Christian does not exempt us from suffering, from disappointments and hardships.  It is possible to be fully following the will of God in your life and come into a place of suffering or hardship.  Often this is a very discouraging and confusing place for a Christian.  We know that God is sovereign, all powerful, the God of all creation.  So why did He allow this?  These questions can cause us to be tempted to quit, or at least back off of a close walk with God.  This passage gives us instruction for such a time:  Commit ourselves to God’s keeping and continue in well doing, in living right, in doing right.  We can commit our keeping to Him because He is faithful, and He is the great Creator.  God is faithful; He can be depended on to do what is right, even if we can’t understand what is happening.  He is the great God, the almighty Creator.  We are perfectly safe in His care.  Trust Him.  Commit yourself to His care.

Be strong and of good courage

Deu 31:7  And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. Deu 31:8  And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

 As God’s children, we can live confidently and courageously. Why? Because we have God. The Lord will be with you.  He will not fail.  He will not forsake. God will not call us where He cannot take us. God will not take us where He cannot keep us. We are safe with the Lord.  Is there anything too difficult for the very living God of all creation? When the fear comes, go to the One who has promised to never leave us or forsake us. When you know the path the God has chosen for you, start down that path confidently.  When fears come, go to Him for your help and strength. Not only will God be with us, He will prepare the way. For God to go before us means that He knows already what the future holds. He knows and He has made provision.  He has already fought and won the battles we will face.  He has already made a path through the confusion we will encounter.  He has broken down the impassable places we will come to.  In these dark days, let’s live like we have a God who can be depended on.   

Walk as He walked

(1 John 2:6 KJV)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 The evidence of the reality of salvation is in the life that we live.  If we claim that we live in Him, and He lives in us, then that reality will be shown in the way we live.  We will live our life like He lived His life, endeavoring to have His attitudes, to talk and act as He would.  If we claim to live in Him, our life should give evidence of His presence with us.    

Striving together for the faith of the gospel

(Phil 1:27 KJV)  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

 Our lives are to be lived in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Part of the life that shows the effect of the gospel is our unity with one another.  We are expected to stand firm in one spirit, with one purpose, with oneness of mind.  We are to be contending for the faith, for the truth of the gospel.  Let’s make sure we walk worthy of the salvation that we have been given.

Seek Him while He is near

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

 There is an accepted time to seek the Lord.  We are to call on God while we have the opportunity.  If you have a need, don’t put off seeking God.  Whatever the need is, seek Him while you have the opportunity.  If we neglect to seek Him when we have opportunity, we don’t have a promise of that opportunity returning.  It is a trick of Satan to get us to procrastinate in seeking God.  But in doing so, we risk missing out on His help.  Whatever the need, seek Him now, while He is near and accessible.      

Feed your faith

(Rom 10:17 KJV)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 God’s Word is vital to our salvation.It is the word of God that awakens us.It is the word of God that shows us God and His great salvation.It is the word of God that convinces and produces faith in our heart to accept the offer of salvation.It is by the word of God that we have faith for the battles and challenges of life. We are privileged to have easy access to God’s Word.Don’t allow your faith to wither for lack of the nourishment of God’s Word

Walk in the light

1 Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1Jn 2:7  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 1Jn 2:8  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

 This passage is very plain and easy to understand.  We cannot be right with God if we don’t obey His commandments.  Love leads to obedience.  Obedience perfects, or completes our love, our love for God and love for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Our claim to have the truth and the light is a false claim if it hasn’t produced love for our fellow believers.  God’s Word is very plain on this subject:  the reality of our claim of salvation can be measured by the love for God and the love for one another that it produces.  Let’s be careful that we maintain our love for God and our love for His children.  Check your attitudes.  Check your words.  Check your actions.  It is vital that we know we are walking in the light at this dark hour.

Life is fragile

Psa 39:4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

 It’s good sometimes to remind ourselves how short and fragile this life is.  I don’t think we ought to think on it in a morbid way that leaves us depressed and causes us to lose our zest for life.  However, it is good to be reminded so that we keep things in proper perspective.  This life is short; a preparation really, for the life to come.  All of this life should be measured in the light of eternity.  The fact that life is so fragile should cause us to cling to our God, to trust Him for everything.  We need His wisdom and His help.  Life is short and fragile.  Keep heaven in view and rely on God for His protection and help. 

Do good

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 This Christian life is not just a life of restraining from doing evil.  This Christian life is also a life of actively seeking to do good.  We do well to refrain from evil, but we also need to do those things which please God.  We are to show compassion, to witness to those around us and work to build and promote the kingdom of God.  Let’s take care that we live a full Christian life, both in the avoidance of evil and also in the promotion of good.

Greater is He that is in you

1 Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 We often forget that we are not alone in the battles of life.  As God’s children, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us.  He is with us in every situation, in every temptation, in every difficulty, giving us the strength and help we need.  Take courage.  God is with you.  In everything we face, remember that the One who is with us is greater than anything that we face.

Pray for one another

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 Prayer is the heartbeat of our Christian life.  It is to be a continual part of our relationship with God.  We are to persevere in prayer and supplication.  Supplication is prayer that holds on, continues to plead with God.  We are to pray for one another.  Prayer binds us to God and to one another.  Let’s make sure we don’t neglect to pray, to hold on to God for what we need, and to pray for one another.

Depend on Him

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

 Prayer shows our dependence on God and our trust in Him.  Prayer is not to show others how spiritual we are.  Prayer is not a religious exercise that the mere performance of moves God.  God knows all about us.  God knows our needs before we ask.  Prayer brings us before God in a right attitude of trust and reliance on Him.  Prayer makes us aware of God’s love and care when we see His response to our prayer.  God wants a real relationship with us.  Prayer is one of the primary means by which that relationship is built.  As we see God’s love demonstrated to us in answer to our prayer, our love for God grows deeper and our trust and faith more full.  Pray.  Prayer is between you and God.  Let Him show you His faithfulness.  

Success

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

 In this passage we find a good prescription for a happy and successful Christian life.  First, rejoice in hope.  We have a hope, a hope of God’s help in this life, a hope of eternal life.  Our hope is of a life without end, without any sorrow or difficulty, in a place without any sin or evil of any kind.  Rejoice! Let your heart be overjoyed!  We have a hope no matter what else is going on.  Next, be patient, persevere in difficulties and trouble.  This present life is a mixture of good and evil.  Bear it patiently, in light of our hope.  Then continue instant, or continually, in prayer.  Bring your burdens and perplexities to God.  Trust Him to guide you safely home.  Come into His presence to find peace and assurance.    

Sincere prayer

Psa 17:1  Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

 Prayer isn’t something we do out of religious duty.Prayer is a sincere call to the almighty God.God is faithful to hear and answer sincere prayer.We are in danger of our prayer becoming just a form, just a religious habit.Let’s stay aware that we are coming into the presence of the very Ruler of the universe.Let’s make sure our words are sincere, from our heart.If they are, we can be certain that our God will hear

The God of my life

Psa 42:8  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

 God is faithful all the time.  His lovingkindness, His compassion, and His mercy is seen both day and night.  His song, His praise can continue with us all the day through.  Let’s lift our prayers to the God of our life.  He is faithful, He is worthy of our trust and confidence. 

Look up

Psa 5:3  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

 It’s a good thing to start the day looking up…looking up to where our help comes from.  It’s good to lift our eyes above the trouble, above our own insufficiency.  Begin the morning talking to God.  Lift your heart and voice to the One who is able to guide, to help and give us what we need for the day ahead.  As the Psalmist, we ought to let God know to expect to hear from us every morning.  Begin the day right…begin the day spending time with God.

Pay careful attention

(Heb 2:1 KJV)  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

 It’s not enough just to hear.  We are to give the more earnest heed to what we have heard, lest they slip away from us.  What does it mean to give earnest heed, pay careful attention?  It means to really consider and make them part of our life.  If we don’t, they will slip from us; not a sudden deliberate decision, but simply slipping away, drifting, unnoticed because of the rush of life and other things.  Pay careful attention to hear and know about God and His ways.  Then, make a conscious effort to make them part of your life.

For our learning

(Rom 15:4 KJV)  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

 God patiently revealed Himself and His ways to us over a period of a few thousand years.  God revealed Himself in His commandments and in His interaction with people during that time.  He finally revealed Himself fully in the coming of Jesus Christ as a human.  All these things have been recorded and preserved by God for our help, strength and instruction.  It is by patient endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures that we have hope and faith.  We live in a time when we need our hope and faith encouraged.  Look to God’s Word for help and hope.  God’s Word is readily available to us, yet many neglect this vital source of help and life.  Look to God’s Word.  Let’s find the comfort, encouragement, instruction and hope that we need. 

Let your thankfulness be known

Psa 69:30  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

I hope you are still experiencing the warm glow of gratitude and thanksgiving for all of God’s goodness.  Let the praise of God well up in your heart.  Show His greatness in your thanksgiving.  As we go through the weekend, continue to cultivate your thankfulness for God’s love and care.  Let your thankfulness be known to God and to those around you.  Show the greatness of God’s love, compassion and goodness.    

Happy Thanksgiving!

.  Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:5  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:6  To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:7  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: Psa 136:8  The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: Psa 136:9  The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 Our God is worthy of our most heartfelt thanks for all He is and all He has done.  He is worthy of thanks because He is good, because He is all powerful, but most of all, because of His great love and mercy.  In the busyness of today, with all the food and fellowship, take some time to thank the One from whom all good things come.   Happy Thanksgiving!