Devo Update

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I am having some computer issues.  Should be back soon.

Knowing God - There is None Like Him

Ex 8:10

And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.

There is None Like Unto the Lord Our God

Moses is answering Pharaoh in this verse and letting Pharaoh know that God will lift the plague of the frogs off according to Pharaoh’s words for a reason.  The reason is that Pharaoh would know that there is none like unto the Lord, the Israelites’ God.  Pharaoh was most certainly an unbeliever.  He refused to let God’s people go and worship God and was arrogant, high-minded and stubborn.  Pharaoh had a prayer request and Moses and Aaron prayed on his behalf.  The answered prayer was intended to reveal God to Pharaoh.  God will answer the prayers of the unbeliever in order to reveal Himself to them.  We can ask those we love who have yet to surrender to Christ for their prayer requests and intercede for them praying that the Lord will use the answer to make them know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.  God uses answered to prayer to make his self known.  Let’s intercede on behalf of those who are in trouble even because of their own stubbornness, praying that the Lord will use those answered prayers to make His presence known.

Proverbs - Don't Believe Everything

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believeth every word:

but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

When we watch television or find ourselves in a conversation there has to be a bit of caution when receiving information.  If we want to be that prudent wife, we will be women who exercise caution when reading or listening to anything or anyone.  We would do well to be women who have our critical thinking skills developed.  When our children come to us with their side of the story, we should be ‘loving enough’ to listen and care and yet wise enough to search out the matter to discover the most accurate portrayal of their difficulty.  Everyone has filters and perspectives that most definitely affect the way they perceive things.  If we are going to be wise women we must take these things into account and be sensitive that there may be a missing fact or perhaps an emotional response coming out in the details.  The Lord is truth and He will help us grow in our ability to look well to our going.  Even reading a devotional like this, or a Christian book, should involve a certain amount of caution and not believing every word.  If we do this our paths will be much clearer and built on truth rather than the course of man’s words and conclusions.

Knowing God - God Does Not Answer Us

Job 33:13

 Why dost thou strive against him?

for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

God Does Not Answer to Us

The word ‘strive’ here means ‘contend’.  We are being questioned as to why we argue with God about His actions and think He has to give us an answer that satisfies our criteria.  God does not give an account of any of his matters to anyone.  God is God and God does all things well.  He is over all and He created all and He is the wise God who is holy and righteous in all of His ways.  When we lack understanding about God and His ways we had best move with caution and not approach Him with contention or demands.  He is a good God and we can approach Him with humble questions or bring our confusion about what He is doing before Him as long as we understand that He IS doing things right whether we understand or not.  We must approach our God with great reverence and seek answers with hearts that desire to know Him and NEVER to rebuke or correct Him.  He does not give account of any of His matters.

Proverbs - Ascending

Proverbs 14:4

The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:

and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

It is interesting to note that the Lord is dealing with backslidings in heart.  Our heart represents our focus and affection.  To protect ourselves from being filled with our own ways of backsliding we must be sure that our hearts are going towards the upward call of God in Christ.  Our affection must be set on the things above and our value system should reflect the worth of eternal pursuits and judgments.  In our hearts we must hide His Word and in our hearts we must be making a melody to Him.

This will protect us from sliding back, in our hearts.

If we were to be roller skating up a hill we would slide back under two conditions:

·        If we were not skating upward, leaning into the hill

-or-

·        Standing passively on the incline not moving at all

We need to be women who are ascending to the hill of the Lord.  We need to be people who lean into the ascent.  This approach not only prevents us from sliding back, but lends itself to progress and growth.  Ladies, let us be women who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness knowing that, if we have Him before us, we will always be heading in the right direction.

Knowing God - The Lord Will Not Be Judged

Ezek 18:25

Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

The Lord Will Not Be Judged

The Lord is letting us know that our conclusions about His ways are often wrong and our understanding of our own ways is incorrect as well.  He points out that we often discuss God’s ways and decide in studies or discussions or even denominational councils whether we think God’s ways are fair.  How dare we?!  The Lord is telling us to get our analysis and conclusions off of His ways and begin to be evaluated by Him as to whether our ways are fair or right.  Sometimes, people love to discuss scriptural truths, debate and think they are Grecian philosophers on Mars Hill in order to escape the conviction of the Holy Spirit in their own lives.  They are evaluating God so much that they don’t have to look at their own lives.  The Lord is firm about this.  He tells us that it is our ways that are to be weighed and they are to be weighed by His ways.  The Lord will challenge us when we become the ones who judge Him rather than the ones who are to be judged.

Proverbs - Laughter Can Be Deceiving

Proverbs 14:13

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;

and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Oftentimes we see people around us appearing to be having a good time.  They may laugh or look like they are in the midst of an enjoyable time.  These people may be in a restaurant we visit, in line behind us at a department store or next to us in our workplace.  This appearance can trick us into thinking that they are happy and content.  The Lord warns us that even when someone is laughing, their heart may, in fact, be full of sorrow.  Sometimes people even laugh harder to avoid being perceived as hurting as they might be.  When we are around people, believers or non-believers, we need to remain observant and sensitive to their hearts.  We need to listen to the Holy Spirit if He illuminates someone in the room and draws our hearts towards them.  We cannot take their laughter at face value.  Listen to their words for hints of some sort of pain or sorrow that the Lord might want to use us to minister to them.  This is not to be a witch hunt for pain, but rather an exhortation for us to not go along with the climate of a conversation without being open to a person’s pain or burden.  The next time everyone is laughing, remember that someone in that group could in fact be full of sorrow and heaviness.  Don’t allow the group dynamics to hide the needs of the individual.

Knowing God - He Holds Our Hand

Isa 42:6

 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness,

and will hold thine hand, ….

What a precious truth!  God doesn’t just call us, He promises to hold our hands!  He doesn’t just lead in front of us.  He holds our hands.  He doesn’t just tell us what to do.  He holds our hands.  He doesn’t stand behind us and push us.  He holds our hands.  He doesn’t just stand next to us.  He holds our hands.  What a wonderful Father our God is.  He is holding our hands.  He is with us and He gives a great promise to hold our hands.  This means if we fall, He will pick us up.  If we grow fearful, He will reassure us of His presence.  If we feel lonely, His touch will speak to us of His commitment to us.  How sweet of our God to tell us that He will hold our hands.  If He said, He means it.  Let us walk in this day knowing that we have fellowship with God and He has promised to hold our hands.

Proverbs - Don't Trust What SEEMS Right

Proverbs 14:12

 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of death.

We must not be women who trust our own judgment. 

Things can seem one way but in fact be cloaked with a deceptive covering.   Way back in the Garden of Eden we see Eve looking at the forbidden fruit and evaluating whether she should eat it.  She analyzed, she evaluated and she came to a conclusion that seemed right to her.  Sisters, in humility of mind, we must seek the Lord and acknowledge Him in all of our ways so that He might direct our paths.  We may be influenced by all kinds of things to distort our discretion and judgment. 

The Lord does not necessarily call us to go in a way that seems right to us.  He calls us to go in the way that He says is right for us.  Here we see that the end of certain decisions is death.  The beginning of the road seems right but at its ultimate destination is death.  That is why we seek the God who is and was and is to come.  He will tell us not to go in a certain direction because He knows where it will take us.  We must trust Him and His ability and love to guide our lives.  Just because something appears good does not make it good.  If the Lord says, “No’ we must submit trusting our futures to Him.

Knowing God - His Face Cannot be Seen

Ex 33:20

 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: 

for there shall no man see me, and live.

The Lord’s Face Cannot Be Seen

When the Lord was speaking to Moses, He explained that a human could not see His face and live.  Was this really an appearance of Jesus in His heavenly form before the incarnation and thus in a state that flesh could not behold?  Was this the Father and Moses was being told He could not see His face?  Was this speaking about the Godhead and showing that no human visual of God in His triune nature could be seen by a human without his or her glorified body?  I am not sure.  I just look at God’s statement and realize how incredibly different in nature and substance are we than Him.  Even the angelic beings in Isaiah six have their wings covering their eyes as they worship the Lord.  This statement that the Lord makes about Himself reveals that, although fellowship with God is available through Jesus Christ, we ought always to remember that He is God and we are human.  Let’s sanctify the Lord and approach Him not only with the sense that He is our Father but in awesome reverence for His nature and being.

Proverbs - Flourishing

Proverbs 14:11

 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown:

but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Our dwelling places are directly impacted by how we are living.  If we are women who are walking uprightly we are contributing to a flourishing environment for our children, husbands and those who live with us.  We help water and maintain a place where people feel safe and are not caught by surprise because of secret sins and hidden compromise.  Our homes will be flourishing and we will be a part of that.  Sure, our husbands might be doing wickedly and will definitely impact our homes, but, if we focus on living for the Lord, the destruction will be met with life and seeds will be planted in our children’s hearts and flourish.  Ladies, do you desire to have your dwelling place a place that is rich and fruitful?  Take heed to yourself first and watch the trickle effect your devotion to Christ will have on all those living with you.

Knowing God - The Earth is Filled with His Glory

Isa 6:3

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

The Earth is Filled with His Glory

These were angelic beings crying out these statements in front of the Lord as He sat on His throne.  They state an amazing truth.  “The whole earth is full of his glory”.  There are two strong words here; whole and full.  The whole earth is full of His glory.  I am confident that these angelic beings were telling the truth so this earth we are living on MUST be filled with His glory.  He has chosen to fill this earth with His glory.  Do we see it?  Are we blind to it?  This is such a great truth and should humble us to the point that we look around with an expectation to see things, situations and events that proclaim the glory of the Lord.  He has told us here in Isaiah that this is true and wants us to know this.  He wants us to behold things that show His glory, His truths, His weightiness and like those angels, resound with praise for them.   Lord, we believe you.  This earth, the one on which we dwell, is full of your glory.  Show us your glory today!

Proverbs - Bitterness

Prov 14:10

The heart knoweth his own bitterness;

and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

What is deep within us - is deep within us.  Our hearts have feelings and experience that no one is able to connect with on a human level.  When we go through things we often realize that no matter how much someone loves us they cannot be the companion we need in our hearts.  If we are having bitterness or sorrow, we so wish someone could come in and help us carry such weight.  We can find ourselves feeling isolated from and disappointed with those who surround us.  When we have joy and excitement deep within our souls, we can find ourselves amazed that others don’t join us with the same joy and passion we ourselves are experiencing.  Ladies, our hearts know our own bitterness and a stranger does not get involved in the heart’s joy.  This is only found in someone who can come into our hearts and experience such highs and lows with us – Jesus Christ.  In Ephesians 3:17, Paul prays for the believers, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,” He is with us and He is able to:

·        Have His peace rule and reign in our hearts when they are troubled.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts , to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. KJV

·        Comfort our hearts when they are hurting.

2 Thess 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts , and stablish you in every good word and work. KJV

·        Direct our hearts into His love when others might not be loving us.

2 Thess 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. KJV

·        Search our hearts when we are confused.

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men,… KJV

We must not allow ourselves to have expectations on human relationships that only the presence of the Lord Jesus can consistently meet as well as exceed. 

                                                          

Lord, thank You that You are that friend that sticks closer than a brother and You dwell in my heart by faith.  I need that kind of companionship.

Knowing God - He is Our Sanctuary

Isa 8:13-14

 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; ….

The Lord Is a Sanctuary

The Lord promises us in this verse that He will be to us a sanctuary.  He puts a condition here though.  He says that He needs to be set apart in our lives.  He needs to be above everything and everyone and deserves to be focused on apart from life and its dealings.  He tells us that we need to fear Him and be concerned about His opinions, judgments and decrees concerning our lives and the choices we make.  He then promises to be that hiding place, refuge and safety that we need as we so often face storms, warfare and threats of attack.  He wants to be for us a sanctuary.  We need to run into Him.  We need to see Him as stronger than anything coming against us.  Our awe of Him must far exceed the intimidation factor of any opposition.  He shall be for a sanctuary to those who set Him apart and concern themselves with pleasing Him alone.

Proverbs - Who Surrounds Us?

Proverbs 14:7-9

 Go from the presence of a foolish man,

when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way:

but the folly of fools is deceit.

 Fools make a mock at sin:

but among the righteous there is favour.

Here we are being instructed about foolish people.  One thing the Lord is telling us is to not continue in the presence of one who is speaking foolishly.  The next two verses give us a definition of foolish speaking.  One criterion would be deceit and the other is mocking sin. 

If we are around those who are deceived or are comfortable with deceiving others, we are not in a good place.  These kinds of friendships will contribute to confusion and cloud our ability to understand our way.  Deception can cross over and darken the plainness of the path of the righteous.  Wise friends will help us seek the Lord and understand what the Lord wants us to do.  We need the Lord to give us perception with those whom we spend time.  He instructs us to be the ones to go from their presence.

Secondly, mocking sin is evidence of a foolish person.  I heard some people on a radio station the other day laughing about someone being in a rehab center for alcoholism and challenging another young person to catch up and get to that point soon.  They were mocking the sin of drunkenness and they are fools.  At that point, the station should be changed or you or I should leave the presence of such dialogue if we were in a store or someone’s home.  We need righteous companionship – the kind of friendships that promote favor with God.  We need people in our lives that seek to please God and do what He deems right.  Go from the presence of a foolish person when you perceive not the lips of knowledge.

Knowing God - The Lord Speaks Strongly

Isa 8:11

For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

The Lord Speaks Strongly

The Lord was speaking to Isaiah in a very strong and authoritative way.  Our God is God.  He has the right to make a stand and speak as One who has authority because He is the One from whom all authority is given.   Isaiah was being warned to not go along with all of the people who were deciding to align themselves with pagan nations to protect themselves against marauding forces.  God spoke strongly to Isaiah and warned him NOT to follow the cultural pattern.  When most people around us are choosing something other than trusting and living for God, God will speak strongly to His people to come out from among them and be separate.  This weighty word is meant to press on us with greater weight than the weight of peer or cultural pressure.  Don’t be afraid of the weighty words of the Lord.  Receive them.  God will speak and it is a privilege to hear Him.  Let the weight of His warnings speak great love and care to you and OBEY!

Proverbs - Knowledge and Understanding

Proverbs 14:6

 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not:

but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

When we are disciplining our children we can find ourselves lacking the understanding in certain conflict resolutions.  Sometimes when we find one of our little ones in the midst of trouble we can often jump the gun and begin down the road of handing out consequences and words that might not be appropriate for the offense.  If we find ourselves scorning or talking down to anyone we won’t be able to hear the truth of the situation and might prolong or contribute to the problem.  The word ‘understand’ is made up of two words – ‘under’ and ‘stand’.  We must place ourselves in a standing position under the situation. We have to be able to gain perspective on a problem by removing ourselves from the emotional side and looking beneath the surface.  If we are mocking or scorning, we will not find His answers.  The next time we are in a situation where we need understanding, don’t react so emotionally.  Stop and ask the Lord for understanding.

Knowing God - He Divides

Isa 19:2

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

The Lord is at work even among those who have set him at a distance and have decided to run their own lives.  He will set person against person to manifest the confusion and division present within their lives.  The unity we all love and seek can only come through the Holy Spirit and submission to the head of the body; Jesus Christ.  When people decide to do what is right in their own eyes, agreement and unity is virtually impossible.  They may walk agreed for a short time but the unraveling of agreement is inevitable.  God will intervene and God will set one against another with the hope of repentance and submission towards Him.  He is the One who is intricately involved in the affairs of man and it is His purposes that He brings about.  Our God is not just the God of unity but the God of division when hand joins with hand to bring about wickedness or the oppression of His people.

Proverbs - Truth and Faithulness

Proverbs 14:5

 A faithful witness will not lie:

but a false witness will utter lies.

Truth is the mark of integrity.  Our children need to know that their moms are truthful.  We represent authority to our children and truth creates a secure environment that our children can learn to interpret and respond in.  When we lie or misrepresent the truth to our children their ability to process their environment gets confused and clouded.  When they can’t trust authority the precious faith that the Lord has put in them begins to weaken and their hearts can be vulnerable to suspicion and insecurity.  We are His witnesses and it is important that we are women who seek to be honest and accurate in all of our dealings.  To every man is given a measure of faith.  Our children’s measure should be guarded and their hearts handled with great care.  Truth, no matter how difficult it may be, is something that can be faced and dealt with.  Lies create mistrust and confusion.  If there is a truth we sense that our children are not ready for we are not forced to lie.  We explain to them that we don’t feel it is the right time to give them that information.  That is still speaking the truth.  The devil is father of ALL lies and we don’t want him to birth anything in our lives.  If you sense the Spirit of Truth bringing to your mind someone you lied to, ask Him how you might get things right.  Consider what you are telling your children concerning legends and perhaps holiday traditions.  We want to be faithful witnesses.

Knowing God - He Restricts to Protect

Zech 2:5

For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

The Lord will be a wall of fire around us and the glory in the midst of us.  He will blind us from the enemy’s eyes and will outshine the darkest plots of our adversary.  He is powerful and mighty and is not worthy to be equated with the influence and understood strategies of our enemy.  We are not match for our enemies but He is like a wall of fire around us.  He will be our boundaries and He will often cause us to be limited in movement to protect us from the snares of the wicked one.  He loves us and His love is a militant love.  Let’s enjoy His presence, enjoy any sort of restricted seasons and trust He is that wall that protects us from going beyond certain boundaries and prevents that which would seek us harm from coming in.

Proverbs - People Vs. Things

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean:

 but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A crib is another name for a manger or barn.  This verse is telling us that if there are no oxen in the manger the manger is really clean.  There is no hay to be stored, no flies associated with their presence, no waste on the ground and the dirt doesn't get disturbed – a smooth, clean surface to walk in and admire.  Having a clean barn is not supposed to be the goal of someone who owns such a facility.  If we were to visit a farmer/cattle rancher and found his facilities sparkling clean and quiet without traces of livestock, we would wonder what sort of farmer he was. We would wonder how he plows his fields or gathers his harvest.  Although things would look nice, they would seem strange and the barn would not only be empty of messes, but the grain itself would be missing or minimal.  Sisters, we have been given facilities by the Lord – our homes, cars, and material goods.  Sometimes in seeking to take care of our goods and keep our homes in order we can miss His purposes in giving them to us.  Our ‘oxen’ are often people that fill our homes and lives and often create a bit of a mess and cause us to have to clean and maintain because of their presence.  Our children, husbands, roommates, friends and family all fill our lives and homes and as a result things aren't always as clean as we might like them to be. But, there is much increase through the strength of the ox.  The people in our lives are placed there by the Lord to bring about an increase in our lives, to plow and harvest all that the Lord wants to grow in us.  When we have messes as a result of our children or having others over in our homes, we must remember God’s truth more than our fleshly perspectives.  We are supposed to work willingly with our hands and thank Him for all He is doing in our lives through those around us.

Knowing God - He Draws Near to the Wounded

Ps 34:18

 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

When our hearts are broken we can feel very alone in our pain.  The Lord lets us know that He is near to those who have a broken heart.  He draws extra close when we are the most vulnerable and wounded.  He wants us to know that when we are very broken and when we are very sorry, He comes close with comfort and deliverance.  The brokenness here is most likely associated with bad choices we have made and the regret we may find ourselves having.  Our adversary points at us and tells us we are isolated and that the Lord is far.  His Word expresses otherwise.  He is near and in the brokenness of heart and contrition of spirit we can trust He is near to us and will bring us through.  There is no need to prove anything to God in order to have Him come close; rather we must admit our self induced wounds and genuine regret and sorrow over the sinful or foolish choices we have made.  If we come to Him, He will in no wise cast us out.

Proverbs - Foolish Words Come From Pride

Proverbs 14:3

                                                 

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride:

but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

The Lord warns us earlier in this chapter that the foolish woman will tear down her home with her own hands.  Here we see that when we speak foolishly we have pride at the very core of our motivation.  Words can tear down a house, a marriage, a parent-child relationship.  We must remember that words are very powerful.  They can bring life and they can bring death.  When our words are foolish and they are rooted in some sort of self focus.  When we are focused on self, we are not aware of others’ needs and feelings.  For some reason, the rod of pride banishes the interests and feelings of others.  This rod of pride is stubborn and judgmental.  It is swung with disregard to all those in its path.  Ladies, the Lord wants our lips to speak wise things.  Wise words grace all those who hear them.  Wise words are rooted in love and concern for honoring God and loving others.  When we are wise women our words will preserve us.  They will protect us from unnecessary conflict.  These wise words will nurture our relationships and preserve them from decay.  When we find words that are strong in judgment and harsh in delivery, we should stop, perhaps go into the restroom or backyard and confess the rod of pride.  Ask the Lord for humility and meekness.  Wisdom is associated with meekness and consideration.  When words are wise they don’t have to prove themselves right.  They ARE right.  Lord, give us the ability to stop in the midst of foolish words and confess self focus.  Help us have a meekness about us that seeks to build up our homes and consider others as more important than ourselves.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Proverbs - Walking in the Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 14:2

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD:

but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

When we fear the Lord our steps will prove it.  Those who fear the Lord are making choices and taking steps that honor Him because His eyes are upon them.  If we are women who conduct ourselves in some sort of hidden manner, we do not fear Him nor consider His presence in our lives.  Our lives must be open and vulnerable to His judgments and evaluation.  We must trust Him to send to us His conclusion of the steps we are taking. If we do certain things in haste and try hard not hear Him, we despise Him and show that we think we know better than Him.  Ladies, do not allow the temptation of secret sin to diminish your perspective of our great and mighty God.  He sees it all and He will deal with us as any good Father would.  He will discipline us and there is nothing hidden from Him.  Trust Him.  Put those things that you are ashamed of in the light of His x-ray vision and allow Him to diagnose and treat the broken fellowship you have with Him.  Walk consistently today knowing He is worthy to be obeyed and feared.  Your life will be so much less complicated and your path so much plainer.

Knowing God - He is Present Help

Ps 46:1

 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

God is a Present Help

When we need help, we need it now.  God is revealing to us that He Himself is our refuge and strength.  He wants us to know that we can hide in Him and draw strength from Him.  He wants us to know that His presence promises help.  He is our helper.  We need help.  God is always ready to provide the help we need because He is present with us at all times.  We can still our anxious hearts and become aware that Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.  We can cease our anxious thoughts because we have the mind of Christ.  We can humble ourselves in those times where we find ourselves overwhelmed knowing He can lead us to a rock that is higher than ourselves.  We can stop looking to money to be our help because God is our provider.  We can stop putting expectations on others to help because our expectation comes from God!  We can stop growing weary in our trials because He has promised to be our strength.  We can hide in Him and gain the much needed protection and peace we may need in the midst of trouble.  The Lord is a very present help in time of trouble.  He is not far.  He is near.

Knowing God - He Weighs Our Actions

1 Sam 2:3

 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

God Weighs Our Actions

This was a part of a prayer that Hannah prayed when she gave Samuel to the Lord’s service in the temple.  She had prayed for this son and now she was giving him back.  She knew her God; and God was more important to her than the gifts He had given her.  We learn here that our God is a God of knowledge and He weighs our actions.  When we are doing something to please the Lord, He is weighing our actions.  The Lord ponders what we are doing and He considers our motives and sincerity of heart.  It is the heart that He desires to be clean and upright when giving anything to Him.  He wants us to prepare our hearts and be in a place where our words or actions are not the measurement but the heart behind those words and actions.  Our God knows why we are doing what we are doing.  Sometimes we don’t even know that there are hidden agendas or fleshly reasons for spiritual actions.  It is a good thing to pray quietly before the Lord, like Hannah, and ask the God of knowledge to weigh our actions and create in us clean hearts.  Ask Him to unite your heart to fear His name.  Ask Him to cause your offerings to be sincere and motivated only by your love for Him.

Proverbs - Building and Dilapidation

Proverbs 14:1

 Every wise woman buildeth her house:

but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

There is a contrast here of what a wise woman is doing with her life and home versus a foolish woman.  The wise woman is building her house and the foolish one is plucking it down with her hands.  A wise woman is not just maintaining her home but building it.  Building implies new- construction, materials brought in from outside, a design or plan that is followed and labor. 

We should always be looking to the Master Architect for what kind of extreme makeover He wants to do.  He sees potential and problems that need repair and upgrades.  Relationships in the home, priorities and attitudes are all things He loves to come in and inspect.  He knows that the day to day living we do will cause our homes to naturally dilapidate and that our home needs His constant care and plan.  The materials we need come from Him.  We seek Him to show us, as women, what He knows needs to be done.  We listen in bible studies, personal times with Him and throughout our days for His suggestions and when He delivers some great truth to build into the structure and layout of our lives and homes.  We cooperate with Him and know that, according to this verse we are His laborers and we build our homes.  He loves us and knows what we have need of.  Are you seeking Him for His ideas and input?  Do you understand that the infrastructure of your home is very much a women’s responsibility?  Do you take this seriously and look to Him for new ways to build up those within your home and keep the climate constantly open to Him?

Ladies, if we pluck down our home, we are foolish women and when you see all the sorrow a fool has, you don’t want to do this.  Plucking is a term that is not related to major demolition.  It is almost like a termite that is slowly nibbling away at the structure resulting in hidden, yet devastating damage that could make the whole structure unstable and unsafe.  The words we say, the thoughts we think, the choices we make, could, little by little, tear down our homes and before we know it, our families and lives have fallen apart.  Seek to build, repent of the tearing down and rest knowing that your home will withstand the elements because you are actively cooperating with the Master Builder.

Knowing God - He is the Olive Tree

Zech 4:2-3

 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

God Is the Olive Tree

This vision that Zechariah had was speaking the truth found in verse six; not by might, nor by power, but my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. We often stand on this truth to remind us to not put our confidence in any other source than God’s Spirit Himself.  This vision helps us understand this.  The vessels that were burning were burning not because of the gold or the shape of the vessels, but because of the oil within the vessels.  This oil was being continually renewed by living olive trees on either side with pipes coming from them permanently attached to the lamps, supplying oil needed for the lamps to shine and fulfill their purpose.  God is our olive tree and it is abiding in Him we get a constant filling and fuel for all He has designed us to do.  He is right there and without Him we cannot do what He wants in the way He desires it to be done.   When Jesus left this earth He promised to send the Holy Spirit to comfort, lead and show us what to do.  Let’s be those lamps today firmly abiding in the Lord and having His Spirit flow into our lives and supply the fuel that will make us shine in a way that NO one would think it was just us!

Proverbs - Satisfaction

Proverbs 13:25

 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul:

but the belly of the wicked shall want.

When we are right with God we are settled and content.  We find ourselves able to recognize and enjoy the blessings the Lord has given us.  When we live wickedly our lives become so complicated that we can’t see beyond the mess that we got ourselves in.  The Lord is good and has done so much for us.  Choosing to obey Him and focus on doing what He says is right will enable to us to savor and taste that the Lord is good.  Our adversary is desperately trying to blind us to the goodness of God and create in us a sense of dissatisfaction.  This results in a wrong understanding of God. We can begin to see Him as not thorough, not caring and distant.  No!  The Lord our God is good and good to His children.  Deep inside of us is a hunger that only He can satisfy.  When we wake up in the morning and sit before Him and cry out seeking to honor Him in our lives, everything takes on clarity and beauty and the satisfaction of what we take in becomes a reality.  Ladies, let us seek first His kingdom and His righteousness – His priorities for our lives and families.  We will then be satisfied and not led down the road of thirst rooted in choices He has asked us to avoid.  Lord, may we be women who richly enjoy all good things bringing You the honor as a good Father and Shepherd of our soul.

Knowing God - God Redeems Out of All Our Troubles

Ps 25:22

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

God Redeems Out of ALL Our Troubles

God is the One who is to be called on in our troubles.  He sees us in our troubles and He is a God who is able, willing and will deliver His people out of ALL his troubles.  It is important for us to realize that our troubles are not to be hidden from the Lord but brought before Him.  He is to be trusted and sought in times of trouble.   It doesn’t matter if it trouble we deserve because of our own poor, foolish or sinful choices or if it is trouble brought on by others’ sin or foolishness.   God is to be called on to redeem and get us through and out of those troubling times.  Our God is a redeemer and our troubles do not intimidate Him.  They are not a challenge to Him.  Nothing is too difficult for God.  NOTHING!  

Proverbs - Parenting

Proverbs 13:24

He that spareth his rod hateth his son:

but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The rod represents instruction and training.  A rod would be used not only to strike something but as a measurement in building things.  As moms, we can often fall into a terrible pattern of indifference to what our children are doing or are not doing.  We fail to bring them before the Lord and ask Him what we could do to help lift a standard in their lives or bring about consequences that will help them trust the Lord in matters of life.  Whenever we are lazy in these things, we do not love our children.  When we use correction, whether it involve a physical consequence in a controlled, non-angry way, or situational consequence, we are, in fact, loving our children.  We must not grow weary in well doing.   In due season, we shall reap if we don’t give up.  Our rod is a consistent standard rooted in eternal truths and we will conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the calling we have received as moms.  We are not to look at a situation with our children through the eyes of how it will affect us, but how can I train them in the way they should go.  Consistency and attentiveness to their character and choices will result in children who will understand love rooted in truth and commitment. 

If we find ourselves inconsistent and lazy, holding back the ‘rod’, we must cry out to the Lord for the perseverance and consistency that He has with us.  We must not believe our adversary who desires us to back down and seek first our own kingdom.  If the Lord has given you children, He has given you this calling.  We are responsible to hold high the Lord’s standard and implement those measures that will help our children understand consequences before they leave home and experience consequences far beyond the pain of loving discipline.  We are loved by a God who is consistent and His laws hold true.  He is perfecting that which concerns us.  May we know His heart towards our children and seek to reflect the same commitment and love. If you do not have children of your own, pray for those dearest to you who have such a great responsibility.

Knowing God - He Created It All

Ps 104:19

He appointed the moon for seasons:

 the sun knoweth his going down.

He Created It All

The Lord is the Creator.  He has created everything we study about in school.  Many a science class begins by telling everyone that God did NOT create what they are about to discover.  This is SO sad.  Our intelligent God designed and created all we learn about in science.  The geographical, astronomical, biological and psychological sciences are here because our Creator made the earth, universe, life and personalities of all we study.  When we realize He made it all, the study of science becomes one where the awe and reverence of God is heightened because of the absolute incredible interworking of cellular bodies, organs, planets, orbits, systems and various types of life.  When we watch a documentary or consider an angle of creation, we should realize that He has appointed these things and we are indeed under the care of an intelligent and complex Creator.  He designed seasons for reasons.  He appointed things to be where they are supposed to be.  He has put into things design and purpose.  We can be quite secure knowing that the One who now dwells in our hearts by faith, created all we see and has distinct purposes and plans for everything that was created by Him and for Him.