October 31 – Before Us For Us

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.”  Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV)

Hopefully you will find encouragement today from this passage.  Written to believers, may who were of Jewish background.  When this verse mentions an anchor for the soul it reminds us how God has provided for us a way to keep our faith firmly established.  It means that our faith and hope are tied to what our Lord Jesus did and is doing for us in God's presence.  Jesus is praying for us, and when we pray He is praying with us in the presence of His Father in heaven.  The initial recipients of this letter were very familiar with the visuals this verse creates.  It is what happened in the Tabernacle and then the Temples where they had worshiped before putting their faith in Christ Jesus.  They understood the matter and need of intercession and how Jesus now intercedes for us all who believe in Him.  We are not alone and the work has been accomplished for our salvation permanently.  We are called to believe and to live in faith believing in Jesus.  

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October 30 – Seek, Listen, and Follow

“You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”  2 Chronicles 20:17 (NASB)

The words in our verse today were delivered by a prophet of the Lord, Jahaziel to the King of Judah.  God tells Jehoshaphat that He had heard the prayer for help when the enemy threatened to attack Judah and God's people.  What God instructed the king to do must have sounded very strange but the king and the people bow down before God.  They proceed to follow the instruction of God and without a fight, the enemy is defeated by turning on each other.  We have been thinking about how our God is One and the only God.  He is the same today as he was in 850 BC when Jehoshaphat was king.  He wants us to look to Him when we need help and to listen for Him to tell us how we should proceed.  God will hear our prayers and will guide us through the wisdom He provides.  We should not try to solve our problems by ourselves but instead trust God to guide and direct our path.  Sometimes we may do battle and sometimes we may stand and watch - whatever God wants us to do he promises to be there for us.  

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October 29 – A True Starting Point

“For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”” 1  Peter 2:6-7 (NIV)

In the first letter he wrote to believers scattered everywhere, the Apostle Peter quotes from a prophecy by Isaiah. Peter correctly interprets for us that the words in Isaiah were a prediction of the coming of Jesus Christ to lay the foundation for our faith.  To those who choose to believe the message is precious.  Not so for those who reject the message.  Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be a precious cornerstone and Peter points out that believers find Jesus to be precious.  Those who do not believe stumble over Him. Something precious is something of great value to us.  A cornerstone in a building was the starting point for a foundation and kept it true and straight.  Jesus is our starting point, the basis of our faith, and that is very valuable for us, something we hold precious and our response is real love for Jesus.  He is the One who promises to keep us true if we trust and obey Him.

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Importance and value of Cornerstones

October 28 – One and Only, None Other

“And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.  Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:21b-22 (NIV)

We mention often here that God is the only God and that there are no other god.  These days, it is common to try to be inclusive of beliefs that worship other things as god.  There is also an effort by others to make it a competition between God and whatever they worship.  It was so in the days of the prophet Isaiah as well.  The people of Isaiah's time needed to hear a message like this because their neighbors worshiped other things as gods.  We also need to hear this message to encourage us. We do have a God who is real.  He is the creator God and all things were created by Him and He controls the universe.  He is in control of the big things and the smallest details of our lives.  He is the only one.  Our God is not one we select out of many options for there is none to compare.  By his own words He promises that there are none but Him.  Today, take that promise and live by it.  Trust in the only God and all who trust in Him will be saved. 

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October 27 – Known By Name

“The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.””  Exodus 33:17 (NASB)

Being known by name is important in many ways.  Yesterday's blog we noticed how God's Name is near to us. Today we read how significant it is that God knows us by name.  Moses had asked God to go with him and the people of Israel on their way to the land God had promised to them.  Our verse is the promise God gives to Moses in reply to his request.  God gave two reasons why He would do what Moses asked Him to do.  He said He would do it because H was pleased with Moses and because He knew Him by name.  This promise can be ours as well.  If we are trusting in our Lord and if we love Him and obey Him, He is pleased with us.  And we believe that He knows us each in a personal way and by name also.  So we can trust Him to answer our prayers too.  The God who Moses prayed to and who answered him is our God, for there is only One God and He never changes.  What a privilege we have that God knows us by our name. 

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October 26 – Close To Us

“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, For Your name is near; Men declare Your wondrous works.”  Psalm 75:1 (NASB)

What is it that we give thanks to God for in our day to day life?  The psalmist, in this verse gives thanks to God because His name is near.  That seems a bit unusual, doesn't it?  We believe and know that God is near to each of us but what does it mean that His name is near?  It is a promise that we can trust in as we read the next expression in the verse which refers to God's works.  His deeds which are wonderful,  are all done in His name.  As we learn and hear about them, we share the things God is doing, and we realize that His name is truly close to us.  We respond with thanksgiving to God.  How wonderful to know and trust that God's name is near and if His name is near, we know that He is near.  We are encouraged to speak out, to declare what we know.  “Thank you Lord for all the wonderful deeds You are doing,” becomes our response to this promise.

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October 25 – Believing and Loving Is Seeing

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  John 14:21 (ESV)

The words we are looking at today are again words spoken by Jesus to His disciples on the evening before His arrest and crucifixion the next day.  Knowing that He was soon to be taken from them in a violent way by a hateful crowd, Jesus was preparing their hearts with this promise.  We know that it was God's love which sent His Son into this world to become our Savior.  Our verse speaks of God loving people who love His Son which is a special love that we can be assured  of if we love Jesus.  And, Jesus also promises that He will love those who love Him.  That is also part of the love that we receive and feel.  Another part is the promise we have for today is that as Jesus loves us with this special love He shows Himself to us.  Isn't it wonderful to sense the presence of Jesus in our lives, demonstrating to us His love for us?  Some say 'seeing is believing' but we are promised here that 'believing and loving is seeing Jesus in our lives.  

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October 24 – Established. Sealed. Guaranteed.

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:22-22 (ESV)

Every promise from our Lord God brings us joy if we have believed in Jesus as our Savior.  Today's promise is especially precious because what God says in this verse is that He is the one who establishes us in Christ.  It is not our effort that has earned for us this place in God's family.  We are in Christ Jesus because God the Father has fulfilled His promise to all who have in faith believing turned to Him.  We read here too that God goes beyond “establishing” us.  Once we are established in Christ, God seals us in there, we are secure if we have truly believed.  Even one more promise is given.  God gives us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of the seal.  What God  guarantees requires only His word to keep the promise.  We are His.  We belong to God.  We are in Christ, sealed there with the Holy Spirit in residence guaranteeing this promise.  Nothing and no one can break the seal and change our standing.  What a promise to go with today.  Rejoice!

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October 23 – Doing What Fits

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” Psalm 147:1 (ESV)

This is an expression of the value of praising God.  The one who first put these words together was expressing the personal benefit that he received by praising God.  Reflect on these words and we think about our practice of praising God.  When we praise the Lord now in our lives we can enjoy the same benefit.  It does us good to praise God.  We can perhaps all remember how we have felt as we have done that.  Perhaps we have sometimes been discouraged and heavyhearted.  Then, when we thought of God goodness and His love for us we begin to praise Him for it.  It is then that our outlook changed.  It is as the psalmist said – a pleasant experience.  And why is this true?  It is because God is worthy of our praise.  He should be praised.  As the psalmist said, It is fitting.  It is an appropriate thing to do and it brings blessings.  

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October 22 – Calling Sincerely

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18 (NASB)

This verse does not say anything directly about God answering prayer but we believe this is the promise we find here.  We believe that this verse is all about God promising to respond when we pray.  God knows everything – our past, present, and future – and He knows when anyone calls on Him in prayers.  When we call on God in prayer, He knows what we are thinking.  Yes, God knows exactly what we are thinking and what we are feeling when we pray.  He knows before we know ourselves.  God knows if we are sincere and if we truly believe that He can and will answer us.  Our verse tells us that when we pray sincerely (in truth) and with faith, God pays attention.  God is near to us when we call and and he comes nearer when we pray sincerely.  And, He lets us sense His nearness and this strengthens our faith and our trust in Him.  

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October 21 – Grace Unending

“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” John 1:16 (NIV)

It is good to take the time to reflect on how much our Lord has given us – so much that we should be praising Him, each day.  John the disciple of Jesus recorded these words in the first chapter of the Gospel of John.  John knew first hand, and in person, the truth of these words.  This was also true about the people who followed Jesus in the days John was living and writing.  It is true about us who follow Him today.  The grace of our Lord, which He has given to us, brings us so much that we don't deserve and could never earn.  But Jesus is full of grace which he continues to give to us.  Have we already received grace from Him?  Yes, if we have believed and follow Him, we have been given grace.  Our promise here is that we continue to receive grace in place of the grace we have received.  God, through Jesus the Son of God, does not stop giving us the grace we need every day. 

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October 20 – Feeding on the Word

“Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”  Jeremiah 15:16 (NASB)

Jeremiah, a prophet of God delivered many messages to the people which God gave to him.  But, Jeremiah also spoke to God on his own behalf as we have in today's passage.  We believe that these words were recorded for our benefit and are intended to teach us the attitude that we should have when God speaks to us through the Bible.  God speaks to us in many ways and each time we receive His word, it is like receiving food, spiritual food for our spiritual life.  Why would the words from the Bible be so good for us?  Because they bring joy and delight to our heart for they are the Words of God and the Promises of God.  God has called each of us by His name to a life of worship and praise and sharing His truth.  May we learn to develop a hunger for His Word today, it is good for our soul.  

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October 19 – More Than the Dawning of the Day

“I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope.  My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.”  Psalm 130:5-6 (NASB)

Today we look at a song in the Book of Psalms that gives us deep understanding of God.  Perhaps you sense that the psalmist meant that his whole being was concentrating on the Lord, expecting Him to work in his behalf.  The psalmist wasn't just thinking that 'maybe' God would help him – he knew it deep in his soul, with his whole being.  This can be our expectation as well.  We too can have our hope based on the reality of God's presence, His nearness.  Just as watchmen wait for the morning they do so knowing that it will indeed come.  Our anticipation for the Lord is even more sure than the arrival of the morning.  Our hope is more certain than knowing the sun will rise and daylight will chase off the darkness of night.  For the promises of God are more sure than the turning of the earth and our hope in His promises will never be dashed as we wait with our whole being for God promises to come to pass.  

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October 18 – The Real Amen

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.”  Revelation 3:14 (NIV)

The Apostle John, serving as God's prophet, records the things he saw and heard into the New Testament Book known as The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  More commonly called Revelation.  In chapters 2 & 3 our Lord Jesus delivers seven messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor.  We learn in this verse today how Jesus identified Himself when He calls Himself the Amen.  This is an important name but perhaps we hear the word 'amen' used so often that it has lost its real meaning.  The root meaning of 'amen' is the adjective 'faithful'.  Amen is derived from the Hebrew āmēn, which means “certainty,” “truth,” and “verily.” So in our verse, Jesus explains that His name is Amen because He is faithful and true.  He was faithful to God's promise to provide a means of salvation.  He came to earth, lived a perfect life and went to the Cross to die for each of us.  He is faithful in praying for us everyday as he has promised and when we pray 'in Jesus' Name,' we trust the promise that He is faithful and true, Amen. 

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October 17 – Only the Very Best

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”  1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV)

The words of praise in this verse were spoken by David at the time that his son Solomon was installed as King of Israel.  David had been collecting gifts to be used in the building of the temple of God in Jerusalem. Until that time, the Israel had been worshiping in the Tabernacle* – the tent used in their desert wanderings before entering the Promised Land.  David wanted God to have the best in order to acknowledge the truths we read in our verse.  That should be our desire too because we have the same God that David did.  We should be ready to give Him our very best in everything we do.  Let us remember everyday that all belongs to God.  Everything in heaven and earth.  What we have, has come from our God.  When we give  Him something we have or do something for Him we are expressing the truth of the promises David acknowledged about God.  

* The Tabernacle and Temples of Israel

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October 16 – Trust and Rejoice

“And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.””  Isaiah 25:9 (NASB)

How do these words sound to you?  Do you think this prediction recorded by the prophet Isaiah has come true in your life?  The prophet said there would be people who would trust in God and they would report that God had been faithful and had saved them.  We're hoping that this has been your experience because it is available to all who trust in God through faith, believing his promise.  If this has been your experience, then this prediction has been fulfilled in your life.  The prophet also predicted that after this experience those who trust the Lord would rejoice and be glad for what He had done for them.  We hope that is also true for you for His salvation brings great joy and gladness to our hearts when we trust in God.

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October 15 – Reasons to Leap for Joy

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”  Psalm 28:7 (ESV)

The songs written by the psalmist David and included in our Bible were written as a result of some personal experience in David's life.  When David wrote the words to Psalm 28 he was expressing the feelings of His heart.  In answer to David's faith, God had helped him. What happened then? He said his heart exults. Other versions say "leaps for joy," and he began singing his thanks to God.  David's God is our God for there is only one true God.  He promises to respond to our faith by helping us when we call on Him.  When we recognize and acknowledge that God is helping us our hearts rejoice.  Can we say then that our heart leaps for joy?  If so, let us not forget to sing out thanks to our wonderful God.  

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October 14 – The Word – Our Inheritance

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  Acts 20:32 (NIV)

The words recorded in the verse for today were spoken by the Apostle Paul and then recorded by Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles.  The occasion was Paul's farewell to the Christians at Ephesus and are the last words he spoke to them in person.  Paul could leave his friends with confidence because he knew that God's Word would help them to grow.  If that was true in those days, it is more so today.  They had the Old Testament as we have but we also have the New Testament.  Yes, God has given us His Word in the Scriptures, our Bible.  His Word will build us up and make us stronger and stronger as we read, learn, and obey it.  God's word is also a rich treasure and it is part of our inheritance that God has given to us.  We have this promise, that it belongs to us because we are God's Children.

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October 13 – Calling

“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,  abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”  Psalm 86:5 (ESV)

These words are addressed to God as in a prayer but the psalmist is not asking for anything.  The verse is for us a promise.  It reminds us how much God loves those who trust Him.  It reminds us that when we call on Him in faith, we can experience His love as He responds to our call.  It promises us what God is like. He is good, forgiving, and loving toward us.  The steadfast love is sometimes called lovingkindness which is God's unending mercy toward us.  We can know God through these attributes when we call on Him.  We who believe know that calling on God is what He wants us to do.  Yes, my friend, when we turn to God asking Him to help us, He showers His love upon us.  This was the psalmist David's experience and it can be ours as well.  

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October 12- - Accomplished By Him

“Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”  Isaiah 26:12 (NIV)

The prophet Isaiah wrote and recorded the words which God gave to him.  In the verse we read today, he is predicting a day would come when God's people would recognize how much He had done for them. They would acknowledge and profess this truth. This verse expresses a special insight which we all can and need to have.  When we realize how much God is involved in our activities we can give Him the credit for the things He is doing in our lives and through us.  The words we read in our verse were really a part of God's teaching to His people.  God wants us to recognize how much He is doing through us so that we don't give ourselves credit but give Him the glory.  Today is a good day to acknowledge the promise that God works in us, and to ask God to reveal to us how much He is doing so we can also declare that whatever we have accomplished, it is God who has done it for us.  

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October 11 – Being Truthfully Sincere

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.”  Psalm 145:18 (NASB)

We who truly believe in God know that He does not keep office hours.  We know that God is everywhere, and we can call on Him at any time from any place or situation.  We will never find a “Be back at...” sign on his door.  We need to remember though, that we must have the proper attitude when we call on God.  David, the psalmist reminds us of this in today verse.  Our God is everywhere and our God knows everything and He has wonderful ways of making His presence real to those who sincerely want to experience His nearness.  Yes, it is possible to call on the Lord without sincerity.  It is possible to say we will pray without actually ever saying a sincere prayer to God.  It is possible to do it as a matter of practiced form, or for the wrong motive.  We can pray to impress others with a facade of piety.  But God knows our hearts, and our thoughts, and the motives we have. This promise calls for us to be truthful and sincere when we seek and call out to God who is always near, and always knows, and always ready to help. 

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October 10 – Our True Forever Family

“Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’””  John 20:17 (ESV)

After Jesus died while hanging on the cross, He was buried and then rose from the grave.  Encountering Mary outside the empty tomb He gives her this message to her to deliver to the disciples.  Consider the way Jesus refers to God.  He says “My Father and your Father.” He says this because He wanted His followers to know and fully understand that God in heaven was their Father just as He was His own Father.  They were brothers and sisters to Jesus and He calls them that.  God is also our Father for these words are for us as well.  Yes, our Almighty God is Jesus' Father and He is our Father because when we trust, and receive Jesus with faith believing that He died for us and then He rose from the grave with a new life, He made it possible for us to receive a new nature and to be adopted as legal heirs with God as our Father.  This is the act of being born again as a child of God by the power and authority of God our Father.  Today, this promise might be on our thoughts more than usual, and we might trust Him to help us live accordingly with God our Father guiding our way.  

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October 9 – Our Hope, Our Goal

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  Romans 15:4 (ESV)

It is a true and trustworthy statement that we each face needs each day.  Almighty God knows very well just what our needs are and He promises to provide for us.  We are reminded of this in the Bible verse we have today.  Perhaps we trip up at times because we don't always stop and take account of how much encouragement God has provided for us in the Bible.  We need to remember what a long process has been involved in recording all these events starting with the creation, with Adam and Eve, with the patriarch and the prophets.  Written in former days for our benefit, these records were written by hand and copied by hand and passed on for so many centuries.  And then the story of Jesus and how the needs of salvation was passed on long before printing was ever invented.  God planned and supervised and preserved all this and now we have the Bible.  Why?  In order to give us the opportunity of knowing about His gift of eternal life and a hope that will not disappoint.  It is promised to us. 

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October 8 – Seek It. Obey It. Trust It.

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

This is the kind of prayer which pleases God.  Our God is ready and desires to guide His children, and to not only show us the way but to prepare our path before us.  He know what is best for us. He knows which decisions will bring us the very best results in the end.  And, He is glad to show us the way to go as the psalmist David says in today's verse.  God promises to do this for us but we have to know that His guidance depends on our willingness to seek it and to obey it.  Notice how, the psalmist opens himself up to follow God's guidance.  He does it with his whole being.  He says, “I lift up my soul.”  Doesn't that sound like he's ready with his whole being to follow God'[s guidance?  Well that the attitude we need to show when we pray to God asking for guidance and direction.  

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October 7 – Waiting For a New Song

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  …  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”  Psalm 40:1, 3 (NIV)

It is Sunday and a time when we worship God with songs and hymns, singing them together where we gather.  But our singing of praises to God can be something we do anytime and anywhere.  Now, it is very likely that the psalmist David had written many of his songs before he wrote this one.  He says here that God put a new song in his mouth and it was a hymn of praise.  God can do that for us as well.  Whatever challenges we are facing we know to wait patiently, God promises to turn to us and hear our cry and He can give us a new song to sing.  No matter how many songs we know we can always receive from God through many means, new or familiar songs of praise to sing.  And the purpose of the songs we sing are so that others will see our faith and our respect the Almighty God.  As our songs demonstrate our trust in his promises, others are drawn by the Holy Spirit to put their trust in Him as well.  Sing your songs of praise to God today, new or familiar - they are all good and pleasing to God. 

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October 6 – Cost of Pride

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”  Daniel 4:37 (NASB)

Today we consider words of praise to Almighty God which were offered up and spoken not by a prophet or psalmist but by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar.  He had conquered the Nation of Judah and Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and the city wall.  He had taken captive most of the people and brought them to Babylon.  His story is in the Book of Daniel where in the fourth chapter, we read how God judged the proud king and humbled him by forcing him to live wild and alone for seven years.  These words of praise came from Nebuchadnezzar at the end of his punishment.  We believe the same about God that the king came to believe.  God's words are true and His ways are just.  God deserves praise and we are happy to exalt and honor the King of heaven.  Our promise is a warning too.  God is able to humble the proud.  Let's praise God and honor Him today as we recognize him as King of heaven.  

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October 5 – Calling for Help

“and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”  Psalm 50-:15 (NIV)

The Bible contains many messages delivered to God's people through the prophets He appointed.  The messages were given to the prophets who delivered them to the people and recorded them for the benefit of the people who lived at the time as well as for us today.  We find these messages also in books of the Prophets and even in the Book of Psalms.  We believe the messages from the psalmists are from God just as those messages that came through the mouth and pen of the prophets.  We receive such a word and promise from the psalmist Asaph* in Psalm 50.  Our God knows when we face problems and He knows we face days of trouble as we do His work.  He knows what causes our hearts to become concerned and He knows how to help us face the trouble.  He invites us to call upon Him at times like that.  God's promise is that He will bring us through the day of trouble.  He know too that if we recognize that He is helping us we will give Him the honor and praise that He deserves. 

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Who is Asaph the psalmist?

October 4 – Take Heart Through Hope

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.”  Psalm 31:24 (NASB)

We often talk about the songs that we find in the Book of Psalms in our Bible.  God has provided for us many reminders of His love and faithfulness in these songs as well as in the rest of the Bible.  The songs, often express feelings of praise to God but there are also promises for all who believe, and that includes us.  In Psalm 31 David gives many expressions of praises to God and then ends the song with a promised encouragement for us in the final verse.  It is for us who are looking to God for His blessing and His help.  If our hope is in the Lord it means that were looking to Him with assured expectation.  We're expecting Him to help us in every situation we face.  If that is our attitude we don't lose heart.  We take heart and are encouraged because we know God is able and He is faithful and our hope in Him will not disappoint us.  Whatever each of us are facing today, be strong and let your heart take courage.  

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October 3 – Training to Lead or Serve?

“whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,”  1 Peter 4:11 (NASB)

We all are likely familiar with the many 'leadership training' opportunities that are available through seminars, classes and other programs.  Developing leaders is a keen focus with companies, cities, and organizations.  Depending on the version, we're using the NASB, the word 'lead' occurs 60 times in 60 verses in the Bible and the word 'leader' occurs 69 times in 69 verses.  Together it is 129 times.  By contrast, the word 'serve' occurs 207 times in 196 verses and 'servant' occurs 447 times in 402 verses a total of 654 times.  As Christians, we are reminded of the importance of serving God by serving others even in leadership positions.  In everything we do we are called to serve.  But we cannot do this on our own because we can only accomplish what God requires through the strength He supplies.  So if we really want our life on earth to count for anything we need to trust in the promise that He will give us the ability to serve.  And the great result, when we do, is that our God is glorified through Jesus Christ in what we do for Him.

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October 2 – Hope, Faith, and Love

“...since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”  Colossians 1:4-5a  (ESV)

This may remind us of references in the Bible to faith, hope, and love.  These are, of course, three important results of our Christian lives.  This verse today draws us to consider the close relationship between these three characteristics of living as a Christian.  It is truly our hope, the assured expectation, which strengthens our faith.  And because of our hope and faith we are encouraged in our love for others.  God has promised future blessings in heaven which will be throughout eternity for those who believe in Him and live a life of love.  Doesn't this expectation help us to trust Him more and to love others more?  This seems to be the promise we find in our verse today.  

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October 1 – Permanently Unshakable

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 (NASB)

Our promise from God's Word today is in the writings of the prophet Isaiah as he records something God has said to His people. We too are God's people just as the children of Israel were in Isaiah's time.  When we look at the mountains we usually think of them as being quite permanent.  But God wants us to know that His love for us is more dependable than anything we might see in His creation.  The mountains might shake and be moved but God's love is unfailing and permanent.  He will always love us.  And, in our selected verse for today, God promises that His love and His promise are unshakable.  His love for us will never waver – not even a little bit.  It will not vary.  It will always be the same and will never be taken away from us no matter what happens in our lives.  Our loving God wants us to know this truth and He wants us to trust in it today.  Why all this?  Because the Lord God has compassion on each one of us.

Please share these daily posts if you have been blessed and encouraged by them. 

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