Joy Comes in the Morning

 Scripture:

“For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this verse, the. Psalmist declares that God’s anger lasts only a brief, short moment, but his favor restores a person’s life. He finishes by saying that we may have sorrow at times, but that will be brief because joy comes in the morning. In other words, God will bring us through every difficult season. He will bring joy when the world has brought us sorrow.

Application:

We cannot allow discouragement to ruin our lives. When we have setbacks, we must look to the Lord and know that it won’t last forever. We serve a God we can trust. He will bring joy into our lives again! There will be times when it feels like God is mad at us or things are not going the way we pictured, but we can also know that favor and joy are coming. 

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to live according to Your words. When I go through difficulties, help me to remember that You are faithful, reliable, and that You will bring me out. Let it sink deep into my heart that joy will come again, no matter how difficult the current season is.

Yours,

Jeff

Depend on the Lord, Not Yourself

 Scripture:

“Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the Lord our God. They will fall down, but we will stand firm.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬ 

Observation:

This little couplet of verses is a great reminder to put our trust in the Lord and not in the things we think can help us. God wants to be the one we trust, not ourselves. When we do this, the Psalmist says we will stand firm and those who depend on other things will fall down. 

Application:

Sometimes it is easier to trust doctors, attorneys, people, machines, computers, etc. than is is to trust God. It is easier to trust what we can see and control than to trust in a God we can’t see and cannot control. He does what He wants to do, and we have to trust He will always do the right thing. The good news is that He is faithful and haas never failed His people. 

Prayer:

Father, increase my trust level. As in video games, let me level up my trust walk. Help me not to trust only the things I can control, but to believe You are good and Your plans for my life are wonderful. Let me trust You more this week and believe You will do what You say You will do.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Trust God’s Faithfulness

 Scripture:

“But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist was asking God when He was going to overthrow his enemies and bring justice. The Psalm was basically saying, How long will You allow bad things to happen and You not intervene? He seemed frustrated, but in this verse he gives some wisdom, “but I trust in Your faithfulness.”

Application;

Psalms like this help me because there are times when it seems like God is not answering our prayers. There are seasons when it may seem like He is distant. At those times, we must remain like David and trust in God’s faithfulness. We may not understand why He allows certain things to happen, but we know in the end, it always turns around and He always delivers. 

Prayer:

Father, teach me to trust Your faithfulness. You have always been faithful to me and always come through for me, but sometimes it is not when I want You to. Help me to trust You more and to remain in faith when things are not going the way I want them to go. When I see how You have worked in my life, I should never wonder if You are going to work on my behalf, but I do. Help me to trust You more.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

A Life God Can Bless and Prosper

 Scripture:

“He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this first Psalm, the Psalmist describes a person who is righteous and flees from evil. It says he is planted like a tree whose leaves never fall off and that produces fruit at the right times. He says of that person that he succeeds in everything he attempts. 

Application:

I want to fit into this category of person. I want to always have leaves on my tree and to yield much fruit for the Kingdom of God. Lastly, I want to succeed at everything I attempt. I want the blessing of Almighty God on my life. This Psalm is attached to obedience. It is those who live godly lives who see these things. As for me, I want to live a life that God can bless. I want to live aligned with His purposes and plans for me. 

Prayer:

Lord, I give myself to You. Guide me. Guard me. Lead me into Your will at all times. Help me to live a life You can bless and prosper. You are faithful and true. Teach me to hear Your voice and to respond accordingly. Show me how to walk in Your blessing. Meet every need in my life and family. Meet every need in the church and the ministry I lead. Prosper my life and let every need be met. 

Yours,

Jeff

The Appearance of Wisdom

 Scripture:

“Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul writes to the Colossians about their works-based righteousness. In this text, he talks about doing things to look spiritual. These things appear to have wisdom, but are self-imposed and demonstrate false humility. He says this is a wisdom with no true value. He uses the words, “an unsparing treatment of the body.” 

Application:

Any works we do in order to get God’s favor, really get us nowhere. It can look very spiritual to fast, pray, and destroy the flesh by every means, but it usually just brings attention to the one doing it and not to God. These things we need to do, but we must do them with the right heart. Our heart in fasting and prayer should be that Christ would be glorified in and through our lives, not to make God to what we want Him to do. We can’t twist God’s arm by mutilating our bodies. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk this walk with You every day. Teach me to be disciplined without being overly legalistic. Show me how to balance legalism and righteousness. Lead me by Your Spirit into all truth. I want to serve Your purposes in my generation. Help me to reflect You more and more as I grow older. You are my focus and the joy of my life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Christ in You the Hope of Glory

 Scripture:

“God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Colossians here and tells them about the incredible mystery of the Gentiles, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory. We, as Gentiles, have been given access to God through Christ Jesus. We have been grafted in as adopted by the Father. Now, by faith, Christ lives in us. Literally, the hope of glory lives in us now.

Application:

If Christ lives in me, then my life should resemble the life of Christ. I should be doing the things He did while He walked the earth. This idea is a great mystery and full of glorious riches. We have access to God, not through obligations, rules, and ceremonies, but because of the precision blood of Jesus. If Christ is in me, I don’t want to do anything to cause Him shame or reproach. I want to live a life worth Him dying for.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for adopting me into Your family. Thank You for the great mystery You have given to the Gentiles. Help me to live a life that reflects what Jesus died to give us. Teach me to walk in Your ways and to finish the work of Christ. Let my life be an offering to You each and every day. Help me to live effectively and build Your kingdom with every breath. I am Yours!

Forever,

Jeff

Stand Still and Consider

 Scripture:

““Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭37‬:‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This word is from Job’s friend Elihu. He tells his friend to stand still and consider the wonders of God’s work. This phrase stood out to me as something valuable to do at times. We should ponder the works of God and think about the things He has done.

Application:

It is good to think upon the goodness of God and to meditate on His word and His works. I need to spend more time contemplating my walk with the creator of the universe. What He has done in my life has been nothing short of incredible and I should think more often of all He has done. It is good to reflect on God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to slow down enough to meditate on You. Teach me to stand still and consider the wonders You work. Help me to be a disciplined thinker. I want to know You more each day. Take me deeper in my walk with You. You are incredible!

Your Son,

Jeff