Praise in all situations

This is Habakkuk 3:17-19 in the Complete Jewish Bible

¹⁷ For even if the fig tree doesn't blossom, and no fruit is on the vines, even if the olive tree fails to produce, and the fields yield no food at all,
¹⁸ even if the sheep vanish from the sheep pen,
and there are no cows in the stalls;
¹⁸ still, I will rejoice in ADONAI, I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
 ELOHIM Adonai is my strength! He makes me swift and sure-footed as a deer and enables me to stride over my high places.

It seems that Habakkuk was convinced that God was worthy of praise regardless of what was going on around him. If the food supply fails, the sheep vanish and the cows disappear God is still worthy to be praised.

So many things are going on around us that we can get overwhelmed. Wars, persecution, interest rates and then the taxes, “Oh the taxes!” The loss of a loved one can kick our feet right out from under us and sickness makes us tired and unmotivated.  It’s so easy to lose sight of who we are in Christ and who God is in us. We tend to give in to the weakness and fatigue and take a nap instead of pressing into our source.   

This is where a “Sacrifice” is needed. A “Sacrifice of Praise”.

Hebrews 13:15 CJB
¹⁵ Through him, therefore, let us offer God a sacrifice of praise continually. For this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge his name.

In verse 14 it says that we don’t have a home here, we seek one to come. When we become a new creature (2 Cor 5:17) we are no longer of this earth. We live here in our Earth Suit, but we don’t belong here. We are raised up together and seated together with Christ in Heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Praise puts our total focus on Him as we seek Him first and let Him take care of everything else (Matt 6:33). It is a natural outcropping of our relationship with Jesus and is one of the most powerful tools God has given us. The more we use it, the more powerful it becomes. When we pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and grit our teeth to praise Him, just because He is Worthy, great power is released around us.

We enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Ps 100). Then He makes us strong and sure-footed like a deer so we can conquer all those high mountains before us. Then Joy comes and the Power of Praise brings Victory. Trouble + Praise = VICTORY!

Here are some scriptures to get you started: Isiah 61:10-11, Ps 34:1-4, 68:3-4, 103:1-5, 118:24, and many more!

So no matter what, PRAISE HIM!

 

Your Miracle is on it's way!

 In 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:18 Israel was under serious siege by Syrians and it caused a major famine in Samaria, the seat of government for the northern kingdom. The king heard of people eating their children to stay alive and it angered him to the point of blaming God, and Elisha, for their condition. It was as if he believed that God made this happen and Elisha was uninterested in doing anything about it.  So he went after Elisha at his home vowing to take off the prophet's head. 

God had other plans. 

The king confronted Elisha and this was his reply:

2 Kings 7:1
¹ Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ ”

 As it turns out there were 4 lepers starving outside the city. Assessing their situation they decided to throw themselves at the mercy of the enemy because they were going to die anyway. They approached the camp and found the following:

2 Kings 7:6-7
⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” ⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.

 The lepers went into the tents, ate and drank and stashed what they could carry for themselves until they came to the conclusion that they should be telling everyone else about what happened. So they took it to the king.

 2 Kings 7:15-16
¹⁵ And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king. ¹⁶ Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

In less than 24 hours God turned certain death into victory and celebration. He used 4 lepers, outcasts!

What's your near-death situation? 

Is it a serious disease?  

Psalms 103:3-5
³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

A relationship?

Psalms 147:3
³ He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

Children who are headed straight for destruction?

Isaiah 54:13
¹³ All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
And great shall be the peace of your children.

Perhaps finances, a bill you have no hope to pay or legal trouble that threatens to take everything you have. 

 2 Corinthians 9:8
⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

 Psalms 103:6
⁶ The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.

Here's the truth. God has a million ways to bless you that you could never even imagine.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31
²⁹ But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. ³⁰ When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice ³¹ (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

He will heal your heart if you seek Him. He will heal your body if you will seek Him. He will not forsake you for He is a merciful God. 

 Matthew 6:33
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

It could be in less than 24 hours!

Your Miracle is on it's way!

Be Blessed!

Psalms 1:1-4 (KJV)

1 Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord;

and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The beginning of the Book of Psalms is a fitting start to God's direction in our lives.  It starts out "Blessed"!  I love that!  The Amplified Version says " "BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable)..." is the man! I want to be that man!  The great thing is that He doesn't leave us hanging, He tells us how to be that man, woman, or child.  Here it is.  

First, don't follow after the worldly way of doing things, living and working as if you are just another cog in the worldly wheel.  Stop! Turn around and endeavor to do things God's way.  That's the true meaning of the word repent.  Turn around. Go God's way instead of the world's way.  Leave the old life behind and live according to Godly counsel.

Second, don't act like a sinner.  Don't go where sinners go, don't do the things sinners do.  Remember, God is talking to His people here and the context is expectant of a spiritual connection with Him.  We are not sinners, we are redeemed, set apart, and have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (His anointing).  He is saying "Don't act like normal people, act like you're a child of the King!

Third, don't allow yourself to get negative.   Remember from whence you came.  We all have our opportunities to become judgmental of others and situations saying, "I would've done this" or "Why would they do that?" There are times when it is appropriate to evaluate situations and performance but we must be careful not to become haughty and literally hateful.  If I allow myself to become critical  and negative in spirit I am going to miss the Blessing and I won't even recognize it.  

That's just the first verse!

Here's how you get Blessed!  Put God's Word first, make it your delight.  We have far more control over our passions than we usually recognize.  Whatever you spend your time on is going to form the essence of your life.  Whatever you meditate on, and focus on, is going to become your passion.  If we spend our time meditating on God's Word and His ways  we will begin to think and act like Him because His Word is powerful enough to transform us into the person God designed us to be!  It really is as simple as making His Word the priority and focus of our lives. Matthew 6:33 in the Amplified version says: "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also."

Romans 12:1 says that we are to make ourselves a living sacrifice to God, calling it our reasonable service.  We are to commit the whole of our bodies and faculties in service to God in order to prove, or fulfill, His perfect will in us.  As Ps 1:2 says, as we delight ourselves, focus, meditate and study, His Word, giving ourselves to it both day and night, we will be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of our minds.

Here's the blessing!  Verse 3 says we will be as a tree planted by the river.  Never in need of nourishment.  Healthy and flourishing in every area of our lives.  Bearing fruit, growing, and prospering in every way.  We will, as verse 1 says be BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable).  

That's God's promise!

Finishing Strong

This morning at church, our Pastor, Dave Minton, gave a very effective message on finishing the year strong so we can start the New Year well. Our theme for the next year is "A Year of Spiritual Growth: A Year in the Word. 

 

It's easy to think of finishing strong as an element of our lives overall sometimes we take things in too big of chunks and then get bogged down and discouraged.  As I see it, God has given us each day as a seed that can be sown toward the calling He has set before us. As we seek Him, He brings wisdom, direction and fruit in our lives.

 

Every year we hear of significant leaders who have passed away and it seems the world is a little poorer for their passing. Pres. Jimmy Carter just went home to be with the Lord at 100 years of age. There will be many memories and many opinions expressed but now, because he knew the Lord Jesus he is engulfed in the loving arms of God and welcomed by his beloved Rosalynn. 

 

The great leaders of our faith have also left a great void in the Body of Christ. Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Kenneth E. Hagin, T. L. Osborn, and more each had a significant impact on millions over a lifetime of service to God.  I felt a particular pain of loss with the home-going of Jerry Savelle earlier this year. It's easy to compare our own seemingly insignificant life to those generals of the faith but we need to realize that the calling on each of us is just as significant to God as any of the others. 

 

We all have times when we feel insignificant and even useless, but the truth is that we all have a circle of influence. We all know people who are affected by our lives even if we don't realize it. It's not always building a university, or starting a worldwide ministry.  It's mostly giving an encouraging word, praying with someone in need, lending a hand when it's needed, or giving a blanket to someone who is cold.  In Matt. 25:31-46 Jesus tells us that when we help each other it is the same as helping Him.  When we act in kindness to others, we are honoring God and fulfilling our purpose. 

Eph. 1:4-5 says: 

...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...

We were each chosen before the foundation of the world to serve and love God.  Jesus paid the price to redeem us from a destiny that dictated failure and separation from God.  We are all chosen to do a specific work in a specific time.  

Eph 4:16 

 ...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Each of us has a mission to accomplish in this life, a piece of the puzzle to add. Without us the Body of Christ, and the world, suffers.  God needs us. Regardless of your background or how you came to be in this life, even if you've "messed up" your entire life, God needs you.  

 

I am the fifth of five children in my family.  When my Mother became pregnant with me it had been 7 years since her youngest was born. I was not planned.  However, I was not a mistake.  My parents may not have planned me but I am sure that God did.  My Mom always made sure I knew that she viewed me as a blessing.  I was there as a stabilizing factor in her life during some very difficult times.  She said that she had responsibility and couldn’t just fall apart when things got rough.  God knew what she needed at that time, I also know that I have had some influence on those around me.  I believe God put me on this earth for a purpose.  That purpose is not yet fulfilled so I continue to seek God for His direction and wisdom. I believe my best days are ahead of me. After all, I just published my first book!

We each can live in hope. Rom. 11:29  says that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”  He has instilled in each of us on this earth giftings, abilities, talents, and a specific call to service that He will not take away.  If we will submit ourselves to Him, and His purpose for our life, He will renew those giftings and calling.

It’s important for us to each realize that living from day to day is not guaranteed.  The only thing we can control is right now. If I plant the seed of submission to whatever God asks me to do today, however small it may be, I will see the fruit of that seed in further direction, the blessing of God on my life, and lives changed around me.   

 

I will finish strong. 

Be Encouraged in the Lord

 

1 Samuel 30:6 (AMP)

6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

 David had just encountered Saul in a cave with an opportunity to kill him and end the threat against him, but he refused to harm him because David was an honorable man, and Saul was King (chapt. 26). He decided he would ally with the Philistines in order to protect himself from Saul, which was successful. David fought alongside the Philistines for over a year but when they decided to attack Israel they didn’t trust him, so they sent him home to Ziklag, which was the city they had given him.

While they were gone the city was attacked by the Amalakites and burned to the ground. They arrived to find that everything they had was gone, including their families. (chapter 30:1-5)

His troop of 600 men and were turning against him, considering stoning him, and David was in great distress.

He encouraged himself in the Lord and the Lord sent him after the Amalekites giving him victory and restoration of all their goods and families, with only 400 of his 600 men.

God gave him a great victory in a circumstance that seemed insurmountable. So, how did he encourage himself and how do we do it when we are facing dire situations?

Jesus faced the crucifixion and was well aware of what was ahead. He knew he had to go through with it, and was committed to it, but as a man He was afraid and felt alone in His struggle. He sought His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane and found the strength to finish His assignment.

We also can feel alone and afraid at times that are bigger than we are. Perhaps God has given us an assignment that seems undo-able. Maybe an illness, cancer or an addiction we can’t seem to break. Relationships that are broken and seem irreparable, or the loss of someone dear to us leave us brokenhearted and lonely with no apparent end in sight. Maybe our finances are overwhelming and we are facing extreme pressure, losing everything we’ve worked for or facing homelessness. All these can leave us feeling hopeless.

David turned his eyes to the Lord in his weakness. This is what he said in Psalms 18:2-4 NLT.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
³ I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies..

David encouraged himself. He sought the Lord in his circumstance, turning his eyes on God to find strength. He said “I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies…”.

I start with this. The Lord God is worthy to be praised regardless of anything else. He is the Holy one, the Creator of everything and we should always praise this God, who is love. This is what Psalm 100:4-5 says.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Connecting with God through thanksgiving and praise is what encourages our soul and gives us strength to face our circumstances, with faith, in the God who is good, merciful and loving toward us. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34 NIV.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God has promised to be there for us in ALL our needs. When we seek Him first He is able to give us a great victory in insurmountable circumstances.

Be encouraged in the Lord!