Knowing God - He Speaks Our Name

Ex 3:4

 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said,

Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

God Speaks Our Name

The Lord saw Moses turn aside to see this bush that burned with fire.  When the Lord saw this, the Lord spoke Moses’ name twice.  The experience changed from a curious investigation of a physical phenomenon to a relational dialogue with God Himself.  The Lord is calling our names today.  When we ‘turn aside to see’, the Lord knows He has our attention and moves us away from what originally caught our attention and towards a place of hearing His voice.  In our busy society we often ‘drive thru’ the presence of God, hoping to chow down our spiritual fast food to hold us over.  This may happen at times, but should not be our regular way of eating.  We must be a people who ‘turn aside’.  Turn aside from the television.  Turn aside from the computer.  Turn aside from our works and quiet ourselves to hear Him say our name too.  “Dolores, Dolores”, He may say.  “Karen, Karen”, He beckons.  “Audree, Audree!” He addresses.  When we hear this, let us be like Moses and say, “Here I am!”

Proverbs - Is Your Mouth a Well?

                                                         Proverbs 10:11

                           The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:

 but violence covereth

 the mouth of the wicked.          

                    A well is something which gets its water source from deep below the surface.  To have this mouth that is like a well we must be ladies who go below the surface of Christian values to the very heart of Christ Himself.  Do you take the time to ponder on His character?  Do you seek Him for His purposes for your life in the things that come your way?  Do you ask Him to open your eyes to His heart on a matter? The Lord Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”  What are you filling up with before you see your husband at the end of the day?  What are you putting into your heart in the morning before the children wake up?  What are you meditating on throughout your day?  You will see a direct link between what you put in and what comes out.

                    People go to a well for refreshment and to quench their thirst.  Can people come to you and receive from your mouth things that their soul is longing for?   Can your children come to you with a frustration, bad attitude or wrong conclusion and your words can wash away the impurities and set them right on track?  In the midst of a conversation polluted with cynicism and judgment do your words well up with gentle rebuke washing away the seeds of division in the body of Christ?  Oh Lord help our mouths to be like wells today.

Knowing God - He Sees Us Spotless

Song 4:7

 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

The Lord Sees You Spotless

                                                                                

Here we learn about the Lord’s love for His bride.  He tells His bride that we are all fair and there is no spot in us.  What matters most is the Lord’s view of us and not ours or anyone else’s view of us.  When we are in Christ, all things are new.  Old things are passed away and we are new creations in Christ.  We have been clothed in His righteousness and when we come into the presence of our God He affirms that we are fair, beautiful and there is not spot in us.  He calls us His love.  Do you know that you are the Lord’s love?  Are you looking for the favor, acceptance or approval of someone other than the Lord?  You will be frustrated, confused and desperate if this is your state.  You can stand on God’s judgment of you if, indeed, you are in Christ.  He says there is NO spot in you.  Walk in His righteousness today.  Enjoy His favor.  Consider His great love and acceptance towards you.  You are fair.  You are His love.  There is NO spot in you.

Proverbs - Fools and Folly

Proverbs 10:10

  He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

                         

         

Oftentimes when a person winks it means that whatever they just said is not absolutely true in itself.  Perhaps it was meant in jest or to tease the other person.  Sometimes when someone winks at another it is to get their attention to see what that person is about to do or so.  Any way you look at it the wink of an eye represents deception.  Here we see the Lord saying that this kind of trickery or jesting causes sorrow.  We should all be warned that teasing another to get a laugh is not the way of a follower of Christ.

                                                                          

A prating fool means a babbling or chattering fool.  The enemy would want us to waste our passion and words on insignificant matters especially those surrounding our own kingdom and righteousness.  May we be ladies whose words are carefully spoken with the purposed intent of building another and/or blessing the Lord.  We don’t want to fall.  We want to stay in an upright position.  Let us choose our words carefully.

Knowing God - God Reminds Us of Our Calling

2 Chron 29:11

 My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.

                                                         

King Hezekiah is instructing the Levites in their place in God’s kingdom.  The Levites had been negligent in their calling and the king called them in to remind them and stir them up in their calling.  He tells them that the Lord had chosen them.  The Lord chose them to stand before Him, to serve Him, minister to Him and burn incense.  Hezekiah was detailed and clear in exhorting the Levites to no longer neglect any or all of what the Lord had called them to do.  The Lord chooses us as well.  He sends reminders when we, like these Levites, begin to become negligent in the positions of influence and responsibility He has given us.  When we neglect the assignments the Lord has given us, it will not only affect us, but the entire kingdom around us.  This might be a good time to bow your head, recommit your life to the Lord, ask Him to help you not be negligent and seek to be faithful in all He has chosen for you.  The Lord has chosen us, let us responds with faithfulness and fervor.

Proverbs - Walking Surely

                                      Proverbs 10:8-9

The wise in heart will receive commandments: 

but a prating fool shall fall.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:

but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

                    We must be open to receive God’s commandments - to have them come in and become part of the fabric of our identity.  If we are quick to contend with the Lord on a matter we will fall in order that God is proven right.  Our own understanding is not the best support to be leaning upon.

                    When we don’t have anything hidden we can walk in a sure manner.  If we have hidden sin, hidden agendas or unconfessed attitudes, our steps will give us away.  Let us walk in the light as He is in the light and then have good fellowship with one another.  As you and I make choices uprightly, our paths will be straight and our steps sure.

Knowing God - The Lord Submits Evidence

Rom 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,

 that we are the children of God:

The Lord Submits Evidence

How wonderful for the Lord to do this!  The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  These words ‘bear witness’ means to ‘corroborate with evidence’.  The Holy Spirit points out and labels pieces of evidence in order to convict us that we, indeed, are ‘guilty’ of being His children.  How does He do this?  He might show you fruit in your life that was never there before you had Christ dwelling in your heart by faith.  He might show you a desire within you that you would never have had before you were born again.  He might cause you to notice a lack of desire for sinful things you once were actually enslaved to.  What evidence have you seen in your life that shows you are God’s child?  This is one of the works of the Holy Spirit.  He is the best attorney convicting us, not only of sin, but of being God’s child.  Thank You Lord for giving us Your Holy Spirit to show us concrete evidence to combat the accuser of our brethren and internal lies that seek to persuade us that we do not belong to You.  We love you Daddy!