Knowing God - He Has Heard You

Ps 120:1

 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

In our distresses we really need to be heard.  Others go on with their lives and we are in a place of distress and trouble that others just can’t always seem to connect with.  When we are in distress, having a listening ear is such comfort.  It is so important that we cry unto the Lord in our distresses.  He hears us.  We are being listened to.  Our God cares about us and wants our cares put upon Him.  When we finish praying in our distresses it would be good to thank Him that He has heard us.  This will protect us from believing the enemy’s lies that the Lord does not care about us and that we are alone in our distresses.  In your distress, cry unto the Lord, He will hear you.  

Proverbs - Crooked Paths

Proverbs 2:13 – 15

             Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

            Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

             Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

                        People laugh at evil things in the name of entertainment.  These shows rejoice to do evil and people delight in the more perverse and bizarre the scenarios are.

                        The paths of uprightness are safe.  Sure they can seem a little boring at times but are we here for excitement or to experience dwelling safely?   The Lord says in Jer 32:37b, “..., and I will cause them to dwell safely: “  Do we really enjoy crooked paths?  We can’t even enjoy the journey when we have to keep looking down to be sure we are even on the path.  Wisdom will deliver us from this sort of life and we will dwell safely and enjoy the journey!

Knowing God - He Reveals Himself

1 Sam 3:21

 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

The Lord reveals Himself by His Word.  We have been born in a time where the written scriptures have been completed, the Spirit of God has been promised to each believer and most of us are able to read.  This means that the availability to know God as He reveals Himself through the written Word is extremely accessible and within our reach.  Sometimes we try to get a revelation of God through prophetic words or situations that align themselves up to display God’s dealings in our live and end up frustrated trying to discern His presence.  The Lord always reveals Himself in His Word.  If we find ourselves a bit distanced from His presence, it would behoove us to take a promise from His Word and mull over it today.  Meditate on the truth within it and cherish the Words of God.  We will find ourselves drawing near to Him and then discover He has drawn near to us.

Proverbs - Wisdom and Discretion

Proverbs 2:10- 12

 When wisdom entereth into thine heart,

and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;     

Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man,

 from the man that speaketh froward things;

                        Wisdom must do more than be admired and espoused.  Wisdom must enter our hearts and we must delight to do the right things.  If we don’t really want to do things God’s way and talk ourselves right back to our own understanding or laziness, wisdom will not deliver us.  Just like a life preserver left on display next to the pool’s edge it won’t save one who is drowning unless it is received by the person who needs it.

                        Discretion is an attribute we don’t hear too much about these days.  We need to be able to have this.  The ability to assess things based on wisdom versus foolishness.  How we use our time, our tongue or money etc.  We need to have discretion.  It will preserve us and guard us from so much unnecessary conflict and wounding.

                        We need to be delivered from people who speak the wrong thing.  People who teach and deliver philosophies contrary to the Lord are labeled ‘evil’ in this text.  Do we see this or do we admire the actors and actresses who act out sinful scenarios and entertain us with those very things that Christ died for on Calvary? 

Knowing God - When, When, When

Deut 20:1

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

WHEN we go out to battle; WHEN we see horses; WHEN we see chariots; WHEN we see a people more than us; DON’T be afraid of any of them.  Our lack of fear is to be rooted in the Lord our God who is with us.  Our God desires His presence to be our power.  He is not just watching down from heaven observing our battles and occasionally sending strength and strategy.  Our God is with us.  He wants us to know that He is with us and wants us to know that His presence should be our confidence.  When we go to battle, don’t be afraid He is with us.  When we see those horses, don’t be afraid, He is with us.  When we see those chariots, don’t be afraid, He is with us.  When we see that the people are more than us, don’t be afraid, He is with us.  It is amazing how many times the Lord reminds us in His Word that – HE IS WITH US!  That MUST mean we tend to forget that He is with us and that many of our fears might very well be rooted in a lack of perception that He is with us.  Thank You Lord that You are with us!  We will not be afraid!

Proverbs - Bank Account of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:6-9

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:

he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Then shalt thou understand righteousness,

and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

                        The Lord has an account filled with wisdom for us and when we approach Him for wisdom we can be confident that we are going to the right source and He has plenty to give.  The Lord tells us in James 1:5, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

                        He is guarding the paths of judgment and His standards don’t change.  He is preserving our paths and wanting to lead us in the right way.

                        When we go to the Lord for His judgment on a matter we will understand what is right and fair and what a good life really is according to the One who created life in the first place.  He knows us, loves us and has the clear cut wisest choice in every matter settled and ready to be revealed to us.

Knowing God - He is Greater Than All

Ex 18:11

 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, made this statement after Moses came and told him all that the Lord had done in delivering His people from Egypt.  After hearing Moses’ report, Jethro begins to realize how great God was.  Egypt was a powerful nation and Pharaoh was greatly esteemed.  We learn here that the Lord is greater than anything esteemed by this world as powerful, wise or mighty.  They dealt proudly with God’s people and God dealt with them.  Our God is above the highest ranking authority and desires to reveal Himself in this way.  We mustn’t fear what is revered on this earth.  We must realize that our God is greater than all that are considered ‘gods’ on this earth.  Worship Him today.  Realize that whatever is mightily affecting you today, He is mightier still.  Whatever is powerfully oppressing you, He is more powerful still.  Whatever is pursuing to overtake you, He is stronger still.  Our God is greater than ALL gods and no matter how proudly someone is acting, He is above him still.