"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior ..." Psalms 42:5 (NIV)
The words of this psalm were recorded under the direction of The Holy Spirit of God by the Sons of Korah. They were written to encourage believers who, because of personal situations and bad times, had become depressed and sorrowful. These words were written to remind them to praise The Lord God at all times, good and bad.
Believers are reminded not to let the events of this world get us down. We may not understand why things happen to us, but we should praise The Lord at all times. (Psalms 34:1) Only He can comfort the truly downcast, disturbed, despondent, and depressed. (2 Corinthians 7:6) We should consider all of our trials and tribulations as preparation for better things to come, and therefore count them all as joy. (James 1:2-3) We selfishly want to hold on to loved ones who are better off in a better place. (2 Corinthians 5:8) As believers we should praise God for the time that we had with our loved ones, and for what we learned from them.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
With God All Things Work For Good
"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)
Under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome to, among other things, encourage them in the face of difficult times. He told them that The Lord God is in control of all things, and that He can work things out for the good of those who love Him, and for those who have been called according to His purpose.
We would not consider every thing that happens to us to be a good thing. However bad things may appear to us when they happen, The Lord God is able to use whatever it is to the advantage of those who love Him and are called to His purpose. Remember, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he ended up being in a position to help his brothers survive a famine. (Genesis 37:1-36 and Genesis 41:1-57) God can use bad situations to prepare believers for, or to put us in position for, the good things that we cannot imagine which He has planned for our future. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome to, among other things, encourage them in the face of difficult times. He told them that The Lord God is in control of all things, and that He can work things out for the good of those who love Him, and for those who have been called according to His purpose.
We would not consider every thing that happens to us to be a good thing. However bad things may appear to us when they happen, The Lord God is able to use whatever it is to the advantage of those who love Him and are called to His purpose. Remember, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he ended up being in a position to help his brothers survive a famine. (Genesis 37:1-36 and Genesis 41:1-57) God can use bad situations to prepare believers for, or to put us in position for, the good things that we cannot imagine which He has planned for our future. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Thursday, July 10, 2014
God Is Our Refuge And Strength
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1 (NIV)
The words of this psalm were recorded under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God by the Sons of Korah. The purpose of this psalm was, and is, to inform believers that The Lord God is always present, in good times and bad. He is our shelter and our protection, and it is with His strength that we can continue to go on.
Believers know that God is our refuge, our hiding place (Psalms 32:7 and Psalms 119:114), our fortress (2 Samuel 22:2, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 31:3, Psalms 91:2, and Psalms 144:2), and our strong tower. (Psalms 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10) It is said that in order to protect us He hides us under His wings. (Psalms 17:8, Psalms 36:7 and Psalms 91:4) It is by His strength that we carry on and continue. (1 Chronicles 16:11, 1 Chronicles 16:27, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 29:11, and Psalms 59:9) He need not give us the strength to fight our enemies, for that battle is His. (2 Chronicles 20:15) We just need to put on the whole armor of God and stand against evil. (Ephesians 6:11-18) When trouble comes, God is the only one to go to.
The words of this psalm were recorded under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God by the Sons of Korah. The purpose of this psalm was, and is, to inform believers that The Lord God is always present, in good times and bad. He is our shelter and our protection, and it is with His strength that we can continue to go on.
Believers know that God is our refuge, our hiding place (Psalms 32:7 and Psalms 119:114), our fortress (2 Samuel 22:2, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 31:3, Psalms 91:2, and Psalms 144:2), and our strong tower. (Psalms 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10) It is said that in order to protect us He hides us under His wings. (Psalms 17:8, Psalms 36:7 and Psalms 91:4) It is by His strength that we carry on and continue. (1 Chronicles 16:11, 1 Chronicles 16:27, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 29:11, and Psalms 59:9) He need not give us the strength to fight our enemies, for that battle is His. (2 Chronicles 20:15) We just need to put on the whole armor of God and stand against evil. (Ephesians 6:11-18) When trouble comes, God is the only one to go to.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Do Good To Others
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Ephesians 6:9-10 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Ephesus in order to encourage them to do good and to behave in a Christ-like manner. He told them that they would be rewarded for doing good to all people, especially doing good to other believers.
We are encouraged to do good to others, to our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and to those that hate us. ( Luke 6:27) If we know that which is good to do, and we choose not to do it, then we commit a sin to not do the good that we know that we should do. (James 4:17) So let us depart from evil and do that which is good in the sight of The Lord. (Psalms 34:14, Luke 6:35, and 1 Peter 3:11) When we do good to others, and expect nothing in return, our reward is forthcoming. (Luke 6:35)
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Ephesus in order to encourage them to do good and to behave in a Christ-like manner. He told them that they would be rewarded for doing good to all people, especially doing good to other believers.
We are encouraged to do good to others, to our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and to those that hate us. ( Luke 6:27) If we know that which is good to do, and we choose not to do it, then we commit a sin to not do the good that we know that we should do. (James 4:17) So let us depart from evil and do that which is good in the sight of The Lord. (Psalms 34:14, Luke 6:35, and 1 Peter 3:11) When we do good to others, and expect nothing in return, our reward is forthcoming. (Luke 6:35)
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Fall Down But Don't Stay Down
"The steps of a good man are ordered by The LORD: and he delighteth in His way. Though he fall , he shall not be utterly cast down : for The LORD upholdeth him with His hand." Psalms 37:23-24 (KJV)
Under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit, King David wrote that a believer is not perfect in his walk, he will occasionally stumble and fall into sin. However, although he may fall, he will not stay down, he will get up with the help of The Lord.
Believers still sin. Like the Apostle Paul said, the good that I would do, I don't do; and the bad that I would not do, that I do. (Romans 7:19) Failure is not final. Believers may fall down, or get knocked down, but we will not stay down. By the grace of God, and with His help, believers will get back up, ask to be forgiven and helped, and then continue in the way of The Lord.
Under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit, King David wrote that a believer is not perfect in his walk, he will occasionally stumble and fall into sin. However, although he may fall, he will not stay down, he will get up with the help of The Lord.
Believers still sin. Like the Apostle Paul said, the good that I would do, I don't do; and the bad that I would not do, that I do. (Romans 7:19) Failure is not final. Believers may fall down, or get knocked down, but we will not stay down. By the grace of God, and with His help, believers will get back up, ask to be forgiven and helped, and then continue in the way of The Lord.
Monday, July 7, 2014
The Lord Will Make A Way
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
This message to the people of God was delivered by the prophet Isaiah as The Lord God had given it to him. He began by saying "Thus saith The LORD ..." (Isaiah 43:16) The message to the believers was that The Lord made a way for the people in the past, and that He will make a way for them, even in the wilderness.
The Lord God made a way for His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10 to13:3), across the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22), and He provided food and water for them in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:4-18 and Exodus 17:2-6) He made a way when there appeared to be no way out of a bad situation in the past, and He will make a way out of a bad situation when there appears to be no way out now and in the future. Believers can trust Him and know that He will never leave or forsake His own. (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5)
This message to the people of God was delivered by the prophet Isaiah as The Lord God had given it to him. He began by saying "Thus saith The LORD ..." (Isaiah 43:16) The message to the believers was that The Lord made a way for the people in the past, and that He will make a way for them, even in the wilderness.
The Lord God made a way for His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10 to13:3), across the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22), and He provided food and water for them in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:4-18 and Exodus 17:2-6) He made a way when there appeared to be no way out of a bad situation in the past, and He will make a way out of a bad situation when there appears to be no way out now and in the future. Believers can trust Him and know that He will never leave or forsake His own. (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5)
Sunday, July 6, 2014
God Will Remember And Reward Our Work
"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
The unknown author of The Book of Hebrews was writing to the scattered believers after the death of Christ, in order to encourage them to hold on and keep the faith. He told them that God would not forget what they had done in His name, and that they would be rewarded.
Believers know that God sees all that we do (Proverbs 5:21), hears all that we say (John 9:31 and 1 John 5:14), and knows all of our thoughts (Psalms 94:11) and intentions (Psalms 19:14). He does not forget anything, He just chooses not to remember our sins which have been forgiven. (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, and Hebrews 10:17) Our Heavenly Father will remember all of the work that we do in His name, and all of the help that we give to the poor. Our efforts will be rewarded and we will inherit the promises of God. (Hebrews 6:12)
The unknown author of The Book of Hebrews was writing to the scattered believers after the death of Christ, in order to encourage them to hold on and keep the faith. He told them that God would not forget what they had done in His name, and that they would be rewarded.
Believers know that God sees all that we do (Proverbs 5:21), hears all that we say (John 9:31 and 1 John 5:14), and knows all of our thoughts (Psalms 94:11) and intentions (Psalms 19:14). He does not forget anything, He just chooses not to remember our sins which have been forgiven. (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, and Hebrews 10:17) Our Heavenly Father will remember all of the work that we do in His name, and all of the help that we give to the poor. Our efforts will be rewarded and we will inherit the promises of God. (Hebrews 6:12)
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