Category: Word of God

Counsel and Strength

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(Photo Credit: Krzystof (Kriss) Szkurlatowski)

“Woe to the rebellious children”, says Yahweh, “who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, 2 who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. – Isaiah 30:1-3 (World English Bible)

Where do you get your counsel from? Do you seek wisdom from the Word of God, or from other places? Do you base your concept of relationships on what you see in movies or television shows? (By the way, that’s probably not a good idea.)

In the scripture passage above, God is stating what happens when people seek do not seek Him. “Egypt” in this passage can be applied to the human-centered culture of the world. There have been times when I have looked to the rest of the world for counsel, instead of seeking the Lord. I chose my way because I did not want to change. I knew that I was supposed to bring myself to God, but didn’t. I preferred to stay where I was. Spiritually, I had chosen to sit still and not move forward in God. So although I didn’t intend to, I turned my heart away from God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. – John 3:19-20

In the short-term, it is easier to avoid God. In the long-term, life is much tougher and makes less sense. Why? Because God should be the source of our strength. We should not seek strength from ourselves, and not from the world. With God’s strength in us, working through us, we can get through anything. When we seek strength other than in the Lord, we get stuck in life, and it is hard to get “un-stuck”. Notice what Isaiah wrote later in Chapter 30:

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. – Isaiah 30:7

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I admit that I have often tried to build and guide my own life. I listened to the world instead of You. Please forgive me, and renew me in Your strength. I need Your wisdom, and I ask for you to lead me. In the name of Jesus, amen. Thank you, Lord.

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Threshing Mountains

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(Photo Credit: Benjamin Earwicker)

Behold, I have made you into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth. You will thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and will make the hills like chaff. – Isaiah 41:15 (World English Bible)

Threshing is probably not something we’re familiar with these days. But for many centuries, it was known to be the act of separating seeds of corn or wheat from the rest of the plant (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thresh).

Why would God mention threshing? We all have mountains in our life. We have things that seem to be huge and in our way. It may be lack of finances, anger, alcohol, our past, worry, lust, pride, a bad relationship we can’t seem to escape, loneliness, or anything else. These mountains seem entrenched, too massive to move.

Does God want these mountains in our life? Yes, He actually might. Does He want the mountains to defeat us? No, He does not. He knows that we do not have the strength to move mountains. But He does give us something that can: faith.

For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. – Matthew 17:20 (World English Bible)

If you feel like you don’t have any faith, don’t believe it. Faith is not based in feelings, it is based in the truth of God’s Word. We all have tests of faith, and often they are not easy. Don’t listen to the voice that tells you to give up, or that it’s not worth it to keep going. Those are destructive lies, and you are the target. Listen to the voice that tells you to keep going, the voice that says, “I am with you, and I will never leave you” (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5)  How do you build your faith? Read and listen to the Word of God every day.

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17

This faith that God Himself gives you will be a mighty weapon. You will be able to speak to mountains, and move them. But what does threshing mountains mean? It means that after you have moved mountains with the faith God gives through the midst of your struggles, you will have victory. In your victory, a seed of faith is planted in your heart and mind. You will have faith to face the other mountains in your life as time passes. God will be with you as you do this. Don’t give up. Destroy the mountains in your life that hinder you, and gain the faith God will give to you!

Prayer for today: God, it feels like I lack faith, but I will trust in Your Word. If You say that You are making me into someone that can thresh mountains, then I believe You. Help me to see You doing this through me. I don’t know the way out of these situations, so bring me through the mountains. Show me how to beat the mountains and thresh them until they are small. I ask this in your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

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How to Dig Deep

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(Photo Credit: Albert Lazcano)

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. – Luke 6:48

Notice a previous post (Dig Deep). We need to set the foundation of our life on the Rock of the Word of God, so that we can stand when the floods of life try to shake us. But how do we actually dig deep? Keep this process as simple and honest as possible.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

  1. Ask the Lord to show you where your life lines up with the Word of God, and where it doesn’t. God knows us better than we know ourselves. So ask Him. It takes some humility and a willingness to be honest, but He loves us enough to show us. Why? God wants to lead us in the way everlasting!
  2. Ask God what changes you need to make, in order to be in line with His Word. To be more specific, ask the Lord to show you what changes to make in your attitude, thoughts, finances, relationships (family/friends/significant other), and how you spend your time.
  3. Ask God for strength, wisdom, and an heart that obeys Him. Let God lead you.
  4. Trust God, and do what He has shown you to do. Take action.

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. – Proverbs 28:26

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I can trust you. I ask that you fulfill your Word to me today, which is found in Psalm 143:8: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. I ask you to show me where I am walking in your Word, and where I am not. I also ask you to help me to live your Word in every area of life. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

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Dig Deep

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(Photo Credit: Maira Kouvara)

 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. – Luke 6:48
This is a familiar verse of scripture for many Christians. I first heard about it in Sunday School as a child. For some reason, even into my adult life, I pictured someone building their house at ground level. But that is not what this verse is saying. The Lord Jesus told us to dig deep.

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock . . . – Luke 6:47-48

Being a Christian is not superficial. In order to truly follow Jesus, we have to dig deeply into our soul and deeply into His Word. He invites us to do this because the floods of life will attempt to shake us and wipe us out. But applying His Word and living it protects us. We can stand.

Learning for the sake of knowledge is not enough; we have to do His Word. Deep down, our human nature resists the Lord’s Word. But if we submit ourselves to Jesus, He can show us how to change, to transform us into being more like Him. He can meet us at the deepest parts of our heart and mind, and show us things we don’t even realize about ourselves. He does this in love, not to shame us but to help us.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Romans 12:2

Prayer for today:  Lord God, help me to know your Word and live it. Show me how to dig deeply into myself and apply your Word to every part of me. I can trust you not to shame me, as you show me things about myself that I need to change. Then when the floods of life try to tear me down, I will endure because my foundation is upon your Word, and I will stand. I ask this in the Name of Jesus, amen.

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