He Is Able

When the doctor says, “I am sorry, there is no hope. We have done all that we can possibly do,” we despair. Why? Because men have done all they can. We reach the end of that sentence and conclude that there is no hope, without ever taking God into account. But the more you factor God into the problem, despair flees. When you remember God, hope returns.

We must remember that God I able to deliver from the fiery furnace, and the den of lions. He is able to deliver you from sin and from death – and from any present trouble causing you distress.

If God is the One tackling the mountain, the word “difficulty’ has no place in the equation. As He said, “Behold, I am the Lord. Is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

Are you facing a mountain today? Ask God for help. Ask the able One to show Himself mighty on your behalf – and then believe that He will.

Father, thank You for loving us. Help us to get our eyes off of the circumstances and on Your great Ability.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

 

Pastor Chuck Smith

Word For Today

Godly Sorrow

We all have experienced the grief of betrayal. Nothing wounds the heart more deeply than the betrayal of a trusted friend. Jesus understood the grief of betrayal, not just by one of his closest friends, but by two – Judas and Peter.  These two disciples provide a vivid contrast between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. 

Both Judas and Peter grieved over the sickening reality of betraying Jesus. But Judas’ betrayal resulted in further wrong choices. Overwhelmed with grief, Judas rushed headlong into worldly sorrow, and he ultimately committed suicide. 

On the other hand, Peter’s betrayal  resulted in godly sorrow. Rather than hardening his heart, Peter’s godly sorrow let him to repentance. This God-honoring repentance, in turn, led to Peter’s complete reconciliation with Christ, and to a humble, yet powerful life that would forever impact the world. 

Judas and Peter each had a choice. One chose death – the other chose life. As you face your season of grief, what will your choice be?

Why We Grieve

Everyone has been created with three God-given inner needs - the needs for love, for significance, and security. When one or more of these needs is no longer being met, we naturally feel a sense of loss.

Unmet need = Sense of loss = Feeling of grief

Throughput our lives we will incur numerous losses. Although we need to feel the pain of our losses, we do not need to be controlled by our losses.

Instead we must rely on God's promise that He will meet our deepest inner needs.

"My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

June Hunt

The Anchor of Your Soul

We have all been ‘in the same boat,’ with cloudy thinking about hope. The common view of hope in our culture is quite different from Christian hope. If you live by cultural hope, you will have a boatful of wishful thinking, and what you hope for will sometimes happen, and sometimes not.

However, Christian hope is based on the Bible – God’s unchanging Word. By patiently relying on what God says, you will have all the hope necessary with all the certainty you will ever need. The Apostle Paul states the source of hope.

“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,
So that through endurance and the encouragement of Scripture
We might have hope.”
(Romans 15:4)

When we live with biblical hope, we have an anchored life. We are held steady in the midst of any storm. Because hope is often misunderstood, an accurate understanding of the meaning of hope is crucial. The Bible says that when your hope is anchored in God, He will teach you His truth and lead you in the way you should go. This prayer is yours to claim:

“Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:25)

June Hunt

Sing Aloud To The Lord!

When troubles come let’s confuse the enemy and those around us and instead of allowing worry to overtake us, like David let’s sing aloud of our Lord’s power and mercy. Let’s open our mouths and praise the Lord loudly because doing so not only reaffirms our faith but also makes the enemy shudder and flee from us. 

So precious people, no matter what you’re facing today, no matter how big your problem is, no matter if no one understands what you are going through,  make a conscious effort to sing and praise the Lord in the midst of the problem. Rest assured that you are not alone and when you open your mouth and start praising the Lord, the devil cringes and will flee from you. 

Help us Lord to open our mouths and praise you loudly even in the midst of storms because you have defeated the enemy and we will emerge victorious in Jesus name.

What Does the Lord Require of You?

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, and to love mercy,
And walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 ESV)

We can often look at our lives and try to figure out what we need to change or do to become more like Christ. God gave the Israelites three things they can do that are good in the eyes of God. The same apply to us. This is God's will for our lives.

Do Justice: Our good God is just God and requires from us that we do continue to do justice. “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:17 ESV)

Love Kindness: The good Samaritan man loved kindness and that was the reason he helped his enemy a Jew man who was wounded by the thieves. (Luke 10:29-37). Jesus told to the crowd that the consequences of not having mercy on others (Matthew 18:23-33). We must love kindness and mercy because our good God is merciful!

Walk Humbly: We should not make God walk with us, but we should walk with him. Where God stops we must stop. “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? (Amos 3:3 ESV) This is the secret of walking with God. To agree with Him, means walking in rhythm with Him.

Restoration

Nothing is Beyond Restoration for Him...

God deals with sin. But through His Covenant of Grace, we find mercy, healing, transformation, sanctification and restoration. He is mighty to overcome the darkness...and He is faithful to more than compensate us for the lost time with beautiful, astounding, miraculous blessings.

There is hope beyond our comprehension when we fix our eyes on Him...

Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you..."

Jeremiah 32:40
"I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them..."

Jeremiah 31:25
"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

John 4:14
"...but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.…"

Psalm 23:1-3
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul..."

Prayer For Our Nation

Heavenly Father and Lord of hosts,

I pray for leadership in this nation (and the world) which mimics that of King David, the Godly king-servant and forefather of The Messiah...

Leaders who possess the very qualities that would make them also "after God's own heart."

Leaders who are courageous because they claim their birthright in Jesus; who are fearless and secure in their true identity, and are Holy Spirit led.

Leaders who fight battles in The Name of The Lord - with The Sword of The Spirit - and proudly put on the armor of God.

Leaders who are faithful and wise and seek truth in the full counsel of God; who are imitators of Christ, clothed in strength, dignity, mercy, humility and grace.

Leaders who are passionate about our Living God; who seek Him and place Him above all people, powers, politics, greed and worldly desires.

Leaders who bow down to The One True King, defend His Name, and give Him all the glory!

Leaders who are not merely focused on a presidency or a nation, but rather on the Kingdom of God!

Lord, we need You.

Please come soon.

In Jesus Christ's Holy and Righteous Name,

Our Savior and The King of kings,

Amen.

Doubt of The Future

by Katie Armstrong:

“The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes…”
— Deuteronomy 1:30 (NASB)


Why is our relationship with God so important? Why is taking the time to pray, to present our requests to Him, and get to know Him, so important?
Because, “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
— Psalm 37:23 (ESV)

When we know our Creator, and not just know of Him, we get to know how He thinks and how He sees. We understand Him, and how He understands us, and we bury His promises within our hearts that keep our feet fastened to the road that He’s laid out before us.

“At that time I [Moses] commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings [to keep safe His people]. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”
— Deuteronomy 3:21-22 (NIV)

We, are Joshua.

Whether you are a seasoned Christian who has directly experienced the hand of God with your own eyes, or are a new Christian who doesn’t yet understand how the King of Kings is working in your life, we both can look back and reflect on where we have been, and where we are going…

Just as Moses reminded Joshua, I am reminding you: look back and remember all the valleys of lows; see where you have come and know that God is faithful.

We have a good, good God — a God that desires all of our soul, our heart, our mind, and our strength; not for Himself, alone, but for our benefit; so that His goodness can be poured out, and over us, in the form of His unconditional love, comfort, provision, and protection.

Whether you fully understand this or not, make the choice to believe now, and you will understand later: we are not to fear what is to come; God Himself will fight for us, just as He always has done.

“Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.”
— Joshua 23:10 (NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
— Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Consider The Ravens

by Katie Armstrong:

“But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
— Luke 12:31 (NIV)

In Luke 12, Jesus reminds us that worrying about our life can do nothing for us: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

With so many distractions, and a brain that loves to run with the wind, this is a constant reminder that I need as I can easily get caught up in what I can do, and be taken from what God can do — a recipe for wipeout if not caught, and released.

Jesus says, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

So whatever it is that consumes your mind and drains your peace, whether it be rent at the end of the month, your child’s expenses, loans or overdue bills that you have, or something unexpected that you don’t know how you’ll provide for, surrender it to God today.

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows you need them.”
— Luke 12:29-30 (NIV)

Choose Life

The family is of monumental importance to God and extremely influential in shaping the hearts and minds of children.

When a home has genuine Godly characteristics, and the foundation is built on Jesus Christ, the byproduct is going to be love, grace, identity, security, and significance. However, when a family is built on anything other, it’s going to be unstable and unsafe and will produce shame, fear, guilt, neglect, and abuse: unmet needs that cripple children emotionally, into adulthood. 

What is poured into the soil of our hearts, then, determines the health of our roots; or, our beliefs; which affects how we view ourselves and the world around us.

The nourishment we receive is going to have a huge impact on our tree of life. If we are nourished in God’s light, we will receive the breath of life and believe that we are precious, valued children of the living God; but, if all we receive is darkness, we are going to believe what darkness breaths: lies about ourselves and others.

Despite your background or the family heritage you received, you can be the one who applies faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ, and bring healing to the hurts that have plagued your family. Choose life!

Lead Me To The Rock

If you are overwhelmed today, if your circumstances are more than you can bear, be encouraged to cry out to Jesus -- to the Rock that is higher than you, and higher than all your problems.

He will deliver you. He will bring you to a place of strength and victory.

Father, many today are facing problems and situations that are beyond their understanding, beyond their capacity. I pray your Spirit will lead them this Day to Your Son, that they might find in Christ their strength, their deliverance, their health, and their peace.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Trusting God With Our Future

There is a fascination in this culture with wanting to know the future. The truth is people don’t understand the reality and the pain of knowing the future. Jeremiah knew this pain well. God gave Him the ability to see into the future - the devastation, captivity, and disaster God’s people would face as a consequence for their idolatry and disobedience. He was grieved to the core for his countrymen and the nation of Israel. So much so that he is known as the ‘weeping prophet.” 

We should be grateful that we don’t know what is coming around the bend in our life. There are enough trials, tribulations, hardships, losses, betrayals, and bitter blows that will have us grieving and weeping too. Comfort yourself knowing that our God is already living in the future, sees all and already turning things around for your good because He loves you.

His grace will be sufficient each day to help you thrive and live out the fullness of the abundant life Jesus came to give God’s children and when we are ready to go Home, He will be there guaranteeing our safe arrival in heaven and into His everlasting arms of love.

Living in His Image

Let us live a life that truly reflects our transformation in Christ and the character of God, whose image we were created in...

A life that is full of love, grace, peace, mercy, forgiveness, joy and freedom...

A lighted life that clearly indicates to others that there IS a Redeemer and a Savior...a real reason for hope in this shattered, decaying world.

May we live in a way that gives weight to our testimony and shows the regenerating power of The Holy Spirit.

May the unbelievers...the broken children of God...see His light as a roaring fire within us and find their way home to their Abba Father...and join us in Eternity.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1 John 1:5-6)

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Trust

Sometimes God will allow a situation to get beyond our means so that when He brings us back we will know that it was Him. In that He is reaffirming His love for us and reminding us that even when it looks like we are on the path alone, God has not, nor will He ever forsake us.

We cannot let the cares of this present world consume our thoughts and keep and rob us of God's peace.

By faith even when we can't see beyond the difficult circumstances we need to trust that God will carry us through.

If we let our minds wonder then they control us. Keep your thoughts in check and continuously on the promises of God as revealed in scripture.

His steadfast love will engulf you, give you hope, and the strength to persevere through the darkest trials.

Never Alone

People sometimes leave us and abandon us. We may feel rejected and alone, and that God is nowhere to be found. We may even feel abandoned by God and feel anger towards Him.

Feelings are based on thoughts. While these feelings are true the thoughts behind them are not. God's Word says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. So even though we may not "feel" God is with us, He is always there because He promises to always be there and He cannot lie.

God never goes against His word. He promises His eternal presence. 

Feelings change all the time which is why they can't be trusted, especially if they are based on lying thoughts.
You our are not alone. You are not abandoned. Some people may leave you but God never will. Take comfort by reminding yourself of the truth. God is with you, even in times of trouble.

If God is for you who can be against you?

The Shadow of His Wing

Check your positioning when you are afraid. Are you abiding under the shadow of the Almighty? Make the Lord your hiding place. Scripture tells us that God’s perfect love casts out fear.

The Lord does not want any of His children living in fear of man nor circumstances.

Because you are secure in God’s love, you know He will answer you and at the sound of His voice, the enemy has to flee.

So whenever you are afraid, put your trust in the Lord and ensure that you are positioned under His shadow, in the will He has for you.

here is no safer place to be than the center of God's will.

Identity

There is so much talk of “identity” these days. The world sets a standard then tells us we either measure up or we don’t, then tries to give us a lot of negative identities (ugly, worthless, untalented, unwanted, etc.). God wants us to have the identity of HOLY ( the pure, spotless, special possession of the living God). Identity is the fact of being who we are. 

Through the sense of identity we develop our feelings of worthiness or shame, belonging or exclusion, hope or despair. 

Shame, dirtiness, unworthiness was dealt with at the cross. We are holy saints not by any action of our own, but the action of Christ on our behalf. It’s not an issue of morality, but of being – not of production but position.  It’s a way of saying we belong to God because of what Jesus has done for us! 

Identity always forms an action. If we see ourselves as unworthy, we act that way and vice versa. When we begin to see ourselves as holy, we begin to choose to act that way. If you have built your identity on something positive other than Christ – it’s unstable. If you have built your identity on something negative – it’s untrue. What is rock solid and true about you is that you are holy unto God (a saint), because of your faith in Christ! (The Holy One of God) 

The moment we embrace that as part of our identity, we are set on a lifelong journey of becoming who we are “holy.”