Purify My Heart

 Scripture:

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Solomon writes here that we should guard our heart above everything else because it determines the course of our lives. We tend to follow our heart in most things. When our heart is wounded, hurt, or unguarded, we are susceptible to attacks. We want our heart pure and free from unforgiveness, pain, etc. Ultimately, God determines the course of our lives, but we follow our heart, which hopefully is led by His Spirit.

Application:

Jesus spoke much about the heart. He said that it is out of the heart that sin comes. We must continually walk before the Lord asking Him purify our hearts. Many years ago, the songs of the church spoke a lot about God purifying our hearts and cleansing our thoughts. We need to do whatever it takes to pursue a clean, pure, heart because it will determine where we end up. Seeking God must be number one priority, then allowing Him to purify our heart, must be sought.

Prayer:

Father, purify my heart. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Let my intentions be pure and let my walk with You be in step. Help me to guard my heart. Help me to stay alert to the plans of the enemy to get my heart out of alignment. Teach me to guard my heart.

Your Son,

Jeff

No More Gaps

 Scripture:

“Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.”‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Thessalonians here and tells them he prays for them earnestly, asking God to let him see them again so he can, “fill the gaps in your faith.” Paul wanted to see the Thessalonians be well-grounded in their faith and not to have any gaps in it. Apparently, one can have gaps in their faith.

Application:

I don’t want any gaps in my faith. I want to have an answer for the hope that is within me whenever asked.  I don’t want to be strong in faith in one area, but weak in another. I want my faith to be strong and have no gaps. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. I need to be in God’s word more and more so there will be no gaps in my faith. I long for a strong, well-balanced faith that honors God and that God honors.

Prayer:

Father, fill in the gaps in my faith. Help me to walk in step with You at all times and to know what to do in every situation. I need You Lord. Teach me to live by faith and not by sight. My hope and my help are in You and You alone. Help me to honor You with my faith and let my faith have no gaps, but be well-rounded and strong. I don’t want any weak areas in my life.

Yours,

Jeff

He Heals the Broken-hearted

 Scripture:

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

When we realize that God heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds, we realize that God cares for those who are not perfect and strong. He cares for those who don’t have it all together. He is the God who takes the broken-hearted and makes them strong. You don’t have to be strong to come to God, He heals you, restores, you, and makes you strong. It is all about Him.

Application:

We learn much about helping ourselves and how to get ourselves out of bad situations. We try to change our thinking and our lifestyles to help, but really it is the Lord who heals us and restores us. We must learn to lean on Him and trust Him more, rather than trying to fix ourselves. We have a God we can trust to make us the best version of ourselves we can be. He created us and has the owner’s manual. We must trust Him completely.

Prayer:

Father, heal any wounds in my life. Heal every hurt and help me to submit myself completely to You. You are my rock and my fortress. You are my strong tower. Heal every broken place in my life and let me walk in true wholeness as Your child. I offer myself once again to You.

Show me Where to Walk

 Scripture:

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist had been through much and had always looked to the Lord to rescue him. He understood what it takes to follow the Lord and to lean on Him. He says here that he needs to hear of God’s unfailing love each morning because he is trusting God. He needed to know God’s love each day. He also knew that the Lord knows best where we should walk. He gave himself to the Lord and wanted direction from God and God’s will to be done in his life.

Application:

I need to be reminded of God’s love each and every day. When life gets hard, I need to be reminded of His incredible love for me. I need to trust Him like the Psalmist. I look to the Lord to show me each step to take and where to walk. Each time I take a prayer walk I spend time giving myself to the Lord and asking Him to show me where to walk. I need to do this always.

Prayer:

Father, I long for You. I long for Your presence. Guide me. Lead me. Show me the way forward. You are my everything. You are amazing and I trust You completely. Help me to walk in confidence in my walk with You. Teach me to live how You desire me to live. Let my life bring You praise.

Your Son Forever,

Jeff

God of Miracles

 Scripture:

"Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 136:4

Observation:

The Psalmist credits the Lord as being the only one who does mighty miracles. It is God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything else on it and in it. He is the author of all life. He put the stars in their places and made the sun to shine. No one and nothing is greater than Him. He is in a category all by Himself. Unless He does the miracle, it won't happen. Other gods are worshiped, but only one validates who He is through miracles.

Application:

When we serve God, we see His miracles in our lives. No other religion sees this. He has power over life and death. He alone stands out from all the rest with His miracles working power. He is the God of miracles. When we need a miracle, it is God alone who can supply it. We must walk in right relationship with Him at all times. When we walk with Him, miracles are commonplace. 

Prayer:

Father, You are the one who does great and mighty miracles. I trust You and ask You to live in me and through me. Let miracles be commonplace in my life. Let me declare to the nations that You are the only God who does miracles. Let me see more and more of Your miracles Father I pray.

Your Son,

Jeff

Seedtime and Harvest

 Scripture:

"Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." Psalm 126:5-6 NLT

Observation:

This writer tells us that those who sow their seed in tears will harvest with great joy. Sowing in tears is symbolic of the difficult seasons of life. There are times when it seems there isn't much fruit and the labor is intense. Later, though, there is always a harvest of good things that bring joy. 

Application:

Seasons come and seasons go. Some seasons are difficult, some seasons are joyful. There is a lot of work at harvest time, but when the harvest comes in, there is such great joy that there is a celebration. I need to keep in mind that not every season produces the same results. In some seasons, the work is underground and you don't see anything happening. Doing the right thing in every season and knowing the harvest will come is difficult, but rewarding. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to know what season I am in and also to realize that harvest is coming. I have planted many, many seeds, and a great harvest is coming. Help me to keep the right heart and attitude while the plants are still underground. Rejoicing will come again. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Joy From God's Words

 Scripture:

"Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts." Psalm 119:2 NLT

Observation:

The Psalmist lets us know here that those who obey God's laws are filled with joy and also search for Him with all their hearts. Following commands doesn't seem like it would ever bring joy and make you want to search out the person giving the laws. Human nature causes us to run from laws and rebel against them, not seek out the lawgiver. God's Word is different. It is life-giving.

Application:

When we seek to follow God's word with all our hearts, joy is the product. Doing things God's way simply keeps us from wrong decisions and makes us want more and more of Him and His word. We must learn to love the Word of God and hunger and thirst for it. Loving God's word and God's ways, brings us into a place of joy and wanting more of Him. Rather than being a demand from Him, seeking Him and loving His word becomes life to us.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your word. It truly is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. Your word is true and doesn't lie or fail. When we live Your ways and according to Your word, our lives are blessed. Thank You for providing a covenant for us. You are my joy and strength. You are my life. Let Your word dwell richly in me all the days of my life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Two Dimensions at Once

Scripture:

"And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth." Psalm 116:9 NLT

Observation:

The Psalmist says here that God had saved him many times in the past, then follows it up by saying, "and so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth." This is a powerful thought! We can walk in the presence of God and on the earth at the same time. Paul said we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, yet we are here on earth living out our lives. We are actually living in two dimensions at once.

Application:

Sometimes sci-fi movies show two dimensions or realities. They show going through a portal of some kind and stepping into another dimension. As a believer, I am actually living in two dimensions at once. I am operating in two realities, two kingdoms, at the same time. I can be in the presence of the Lord and the presence of my enemies at the same time. My job is to live on this earth while living in the heavenly realm and to pray, Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live out my life in both dimensions simultaneously. I want Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to live "seated with Christ in heavenly places." yet manifesting that here on earth. Teach me to walk this out daily. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Stay Hungry. Stay Thirsty

 Scripture:

"For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:9

Observation:

The Psalmist depicts God here as one who satisfies the thirsty and gives good things to the hungry. Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be filled. God satisfies and fills those who cry out to Him in hunger and thirst for Him.

Application:

When a baby is hungry or thirsty, it cries until someone feeds it. When an adult is hungry or thirsty, they feed themselves. Jesus said we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven like a child. I believe God is looking for those who are passionately crying out to Him desiring to know Him more and to be filled with His presence and power. I never want to be satisfied in my relationship with the Lord, I want to remain hungry and thirsty for more of Him in my life. Hunger and thirst motivate action. They cause you to do something to get food. I want my hunger and thirst for God to motivate action in my life through increased prayer, fasting, and seeking His face.

Prayer:

Father, I want to remain hungry and thirsty for You all the days of my life. I want more of You in my life. Fill me with Your Spirit and create in me a heart that longs for You. Baptize me, overwhelm me, with Your presence and power. You are my heart's desire!

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

Work on Character and Let God Take Care of the Dreams

 Scripture:

"Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character." Psalm 105:19

Observation:

Joseph had big, God-given dreams. God showed him things to come that were powerful, but Joseph still had to be tested by God to prove his character could handle the dreams God gave. God gives dreams, but sometimes there is a testing period of our character before the promotion comes. For Joseph it was a long, hard battle, but he was being tested.

Application:

I don't want to forfeit the dreams because I haven't passed the character test. I want God to know I can be trusted with His dreams for my life. I must allow God to test me, so He can trust me more. When I am discouraged in the testing time, I must remain faithful to God's character. If I focus on character, God will take care of making the dreams come to pass.

Prayer:

Father, into Your hands I commit my life, my heart, my future, and my destiny. I am Yours! Lead me and guide me. Test me and prove me. I want to fulfill all You have for my life and I don't want to derail anything because I had a wrong attitude or a wrong disposition. Help me to pass every test and demonstrate I can be trusted with the fulness of what You have for me. 

Your Son Forever,

Jeff

Renewed Youth

 Scripture:

"He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's!" Psal 103:5

Observation:

The Psalmist tells us here that God fills his life with good things and his youth is renewed like an eagle. It is important to remember that God does fill our life with good things. Today I want to focus on my youth being renewed like the eagle's.

Application:

I honestly don't know how an eagle's youth is renewed, but I do love to see them soaring in the sky so majestically. The bottom line is that I feel like I want to stand on this verse today for my personal life. I want my youth to be renewed. I don't want to slowly deteriorate, then go see Jesus> I want to live a full life with energy and strength to do all God wants me to do, then go see Jesus. That may be asking a lot, but I believe it is possible. I feel older with each passing day, but I want to do a reversal. I want my youth renewed.

Prayer:

Father, You have truly filled my life with good things. You have taken care of me all the days of my life. As my years continue to advance and I feel older in my body, renew my youth and let me be strong and full of energy again. Fill me with zeal and the strength to do all You place before me. Show me how to walk with You and to have my youth renewed. Until then, I walk in faith that Your word says it, I believe it, and I will remain young because of You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Light and Joy

 Scripture:

"Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right." Psalm 97:11

Observation:

The Psalmist makes a declaration here and tells us that light shines on the godly. He also says that joy is on those whose hearts are right. Light and joy should reflect from our lives when we are walking in godliness.

Application:

When people look at my life, do they see light and joy, or darkness and misery? Am I shining the light of Christ and living in the joy of the Lord, or am I negative all the time? In the past, joy was the most common description of my life. I need to get my joy back and light up the room with the glory of God. I want to live a life that makes serving God look awesome!

Prayer:

Father, fill my life with lightness and joy. Walk with me and talk with me. Help me to check my attitude and live a life that brightens people's day. Help me to bring joy into every situation. You are my joy and my light. Fill me with more and more of You each day. Let me walk in Your goodness and grace every day.

Yours,

Jeff

Love and Trust

 Scripture:

"The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name." Psalm 91:14

Observation:

Psalm 91 is a powerful and one of the most quoted Psalms among Pentecostals and Charismatics. As this powerful Psalm is coming to a close, the Psalmist speaks on the Lord's behalf and says that God will protect those who love Him and those who trust in His name. 

Application:

Love and trust are crucial in our lives as believers. When we love and trust the Lord, He will rescue us and protect us. He always fulfills His end of the covenant, we must fulfill our end. Therefore, we must ask the question, "Do I love Him and do I trust Him?" Sometimes it is easier to trust ourselves and what we have the power to do than to put our trust completely in the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of my love and trust. You have never forsaken me. Help me to love and trust You more today than yesterday. I need Your protection and Your rescuing. You are faithful to me, help me to trust You more, and to walk in step with Your Spirit every day. Let me not take a step that is not aligned with You. You are my everything!

Your Son,

Jeff

Power Increase

 Scripture:

"For God says, 'I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.'" Psalm 75:10

Observation:

Asaph declared what God had spoken. He declared that the strength of the wicked would be broken and the power of the godly will increase. As godly people, we can stand on verses like this in the Bible. God will do what He says He will do, whether our current situations look like it or not.

Application:

When trying times come, we can trust that God will break the strength of the wicked and increase the power of the godly. I can expect an increase of power. This morning I feel an increase of power from God almighty. He is my deliverer, my strong tower, my place of refuge. He alone is my strength and my portion. I'm expecting a power increase, not a decrease.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for a power increase in my life. We used to sing a song that says, "More love. More power. More of You in my life." I want more of Your love, more of Your power, and more of Your presence in my life. Fill me to overflowing today and give me strength.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

He is Mine Forever

 Scripture:

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

As humans, our strength fails at times and, as we grow older, we tend to get weaker. This reality for us as evidenced since Old Testament times. As we grow older and get weaker, God must remain the strength of our heart. I love where the Psalmist Asaph says, “He is mine forever.” 

Application:

When we take wedding vows, we say things like, to have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, in good times and bad times, I faithfully commit my love to you. We need to make our covenant with God stronger than any other covenant. I want to declare, “He is mine forever.” When I have strength, He is mine. When I don’t have strength, He is mine. When my health fails, He is mine. When my spirit grows weak, He is mine. In every situation life throws at me, He is mine.

Prayer:

Lord, You are mine! You have been so good to me all the days of my life. You have blessed me strengthened me, walked with me, and helped me over and over again. You are faithful. Help me to be faithful when I see the answer and faithful when I don’t. Show me how to walk as You want me to walk. Let me represent You well in my generation.

Your Son Forever,

Jeff

Humility and Seeking God

 Scripture:

“The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭69‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This verse tells me that the humble with see God at work and be glad. We see the hand of God when we walk in humility and lean on Him. He continues by saying, “Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.” Walking in humility and seeking God’s help gives us a reason to be encouraged. 

Application:

I want to see God at work and rejoice in His wonderful blessings and answers to prayer. I want God to do things only God can do so there is no explanation except, “but God.” I long to see Him provide and demonstrate His incredible ability, therefore I will seek Him and trust Him in all things. He is the answer to all my prayers. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to put all my trust, not in horses or chariots, or any other person or thing, but in You. You are the source of every good and perfect gift. Lead me, guide me, and show me the way forward each and every day. May Your name be praised in and through my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Victory Comes from God

 Scripture:

“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist tells us here that he waits quietly before God because his victory comes from God and that God alone is his rock, salvation, and fortress. Because of that, the Psalmist declares, “I will never be shaken.” The writer understood waiting on God because God holds the keys to victory. His defense wasn’t his money, it was God Almighty.

Application:

I want to live a life of faithful obedience to God. I want to wait quietly for Him instead of taking things into my own hands. I want to trust Him above everything else in life. He has never let me down and He will lead me to victory every time. I want to never be shaken from trusting God and standing on His word.

Prayer:

Father, give me wisdom each and every day to do the right things. Speak to my heart and show me the way forward in every situation. Provide land and a building for Word of Life. I put my trust in You and in obedience to Your word. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Church Hurt

 Scripture:

“It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Here the Psalmist hits on something deep that is very real in the lives of believers. He describes being taunted and insulted by those who were his companions and close friends. The next verse actually says it was those he walked to the house of God with. He says he could bear it if an enemy did these things to him, but because it was someone from church, it hurt more deeply.

Application:

Church hurt takes out more believers than any other thing. It seems to hurt more because it is people your worshiped God with and who you spent valuable time with. When we are insulted by God’s people and our friends, it hurts deeply. Our goal must be to live an unoffendable life. We can’t expect more from people because we go to church with them. We need to extend the grace of God in every situation. Church hurt is real and we must prepare for it by walking in step with the Spirit and trusting God completely. Our self-worth must come from Him and not those around us.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible! Thank You for making Your Word so real. It truly is the people we worship with that cause us the greatest pain. Help me to know how to deal with every situation that arises. Show me how to respond properly and then trust You with every relationship. Lead me Holy Spirit and I will follow.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Praise to the Ends of the Earth

Scripture:

“As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory.”  ‭Psalms‬ ‭48‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God deserves to be praised to the ends of the earth. His strong right hand is fill with victory. The Psalmist realized that God’s hand is powerful and that His name is worthy of praise and honor. He knew where his help came from and who it was that gave him the victory so many times in his life. 

Application:

God must receive all the glory and honor in our lives. He is the only one worthy of our praise. He alone is high and lifted up. His power is incredible and we must set the example of praising Him in all the earth. I love to praise God is hard places in the earth. He is worthy in the worst situations. He is worthy in the poorest villages. He is worthy of my praise in all the earth and I will give it to Him.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are worthy of my very best worship and praise. You are my king and my God. You are my rock and my salvation. You are my deliverer and my song. You lift my head and have always had great compassion on me. You have all power and authority and I submit my life to You. Show me every step to take. Guard my path and don’t let me do anything that You don’t want me to do.

Your Son,

Jeff

Knowing Him Helps us Be Still

 Scripture:

““Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.””  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God said, way back in Psalms, “Be still and know that I am God!” He has always wanted His people to know that they can rest in Him and know that He is in control. He completes this verse by saying that He will be honored in every nation and throughout the world. What He is saying to us is relax, I’ve got this.

Application:

Because God is in charge and His name is honored now in every nation throughout the world, we can relax, knowing He has us in the palm of His hand. We have to learn to be still and know. KNOWing He is God and in control, we can BE STILL. Part of the being STILL is found in the knowing of WHO HE is. 

Prayer:

Lord God, I want to KNOW You deeper and RELAX in You more. Help me to trust You completely. Help me to walk in step with You daily. Teach me Your ways and help me to be STILL and KNOW. Let Your name be honored in all the earth and let me be part of that process. I am Yours. All I am belongs to You. All I want is to fulfill Yoru plans. Show me every step to take.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Lifted and Steadied

 Scripture:

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

David loved the Lord with all his heart. He gave God credit for all his victories and triumphs. He says here that it was God who lifted him from the pit of despair, the mud and the mire. He say God set his feet on solid ground and steadied him as he walked along. David knew he couldn’t walk straight without the Lord and he gave God the glory for pulling him out of despair. God pulls His people from pits of despair, from the mud and the mire.

Application:

Self-help and self-care is promoted quite a bit today, but if you really want out of the pit of despair, it is going to come through God Almighty. He is the one who can lift us up and get us out of the mud and mire of life. Sometimes we get bogged down in life and need someone to steady us. God wants to be that someone in our lives. When we cry out to Him, He steadies us, and lifts us out of despair. We can’t lift ourselves sometimes, we need God.

Prayer:

Lord, when I get down, help me to focus on You and Your power. Thank You for always lifting me up and giving me strength. It is You who elevates me above the despair of life. You are the one who steadies me when I feel like everything is collapsing around me. You are my rock and my security. You are my foundation and the lifter of my head. You, and not me, can pull me up when I am down.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Be Still and Wait Patiently

 Scripture:

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This passage tells us to be still in the presence of the Lord and to wait patiently for Him to act. Sometimes this is the hardest thing to do. He goes on to say that we shouldn’t worry about evil people or what they scheme against us. These words are wonderful, but hard to live out. As humans, we like to act, and to act swiftly on our own behalf. We don’t like to wait on the Lord, especially not patiently. 

Application:

What God is saying to us through this passage is that God is in control and He sees everything that goes on. He knows when we have been wronged or cheated. He knows when people have schemed against us and He wants us to wait patiently on Him rather than stepping in and taking care of it ourselves. Learning to be still and let God work is a hard lesson to learn, but it is powerful. He is better at dealing with my enemies than I will ever be.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are faithful and true. You are all-powerful. You are all-knowing and You are ever-present. You know everything people say and do against me. You know all things. Help me to trust You more and to react less in the flesh. Help me to not fret or worry about relationships and what people are saying or doing that make me uneasy. Teach me to be still and relax because You are in control.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Lacking no Good Thing

 Scripture:

“Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist tells us here that even young lions, who are very alert, powerful, and capable hunters, sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. In other words, when we trust God, He takes care of our lives better than a young lion takes care of their own life. I also see here that he says those who trust God will lack no GOOD thing. Good things do come to God’s people and to those who trust Him completely. 

Application:

Trusting God has powerful results. A young lion is trained to feed itself, but those who trust in God, He takes care of. We must realize that the world operates in a system that trains itself for success, but trusting God can take you places you didn’t prepare for. Trusting God can advance things in your life that study, and certifications, and preparations can’t take you into. When we put our trust in God, GOOD things become the norm. We must learn to trust Him more and ourselves less.

Prayer:

Father, You are good to Your people. I thank You this morning that I lack no good thing and that You provide all I need. You are a great provider for Your people. Thanks for being trustworthy, help me to trust You more and not to only see things from a human perspective. Let no good thing be missed out on in my life because I didn’t trust You.

Yours,

Jeff

Sometimes the Bold and Courageous Must Wait

 Scripture:

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist here tells us to wait patiently for the Lord twice. Between those two, he adds, be brave and courageous. Usually we think of the bold and courageous rushing into bad situations to rescue people. Sometimes we think of the bold and courageous fighting enemies and defeating the powers of darkness. Here God tells us to be brave and courageous by waiting.

Application:

Sometimes the bravest and most courageous thing we can do is to wait patiently on the Lord. It is easier to break in and fight than to wait for some people. Trusting God often means waiting on His timing rather than boldly and courageously rushing into situations to fix them. We must learn when to rush in and when to wait on the Lord. Sometimes He asks us to do both. Waiting means trusting and it is usually easier to trust ourselves than it is to trust God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to know when to wait and when to rush into situations. Give me discernment to know exactly what to do and when to do it. I want to walk in step with You every day. Help me to know Your voice and follow Your orders. More than anything, show me when to wait patiently and when to rush in. I want to serve You well..

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Instructions and Decrees

 Scripture:

“The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist tells us that God’s instructions are perfect and they revive the soul. He goes on to say that God’s decrees are trustworthy and make the simple wise. When we follow what God instructs, we can walk in revival of our soul. When we listen to God’s decrees, we will be wise, no matter how simple we are. In God is everything we need for life.

Application:

We can’t know God’s instructions unless we spend time in His word. We can’t know His decrees unless we spend time in His word. We must daily come to God’s word and learn His ways and know His decrees. We need to know what God is speaking at all times. He is faithful and He is righteous. Knowing Him more and more is the best thing we can do with our lives. When we really seek Him, and not just what He can do for us, we will walk in wisdom and revival of our souls.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are great and glorious! You are all-powerful and worthy of praise. You are above all things and Your name is exalted. Teach me to love Your word and Your instructions. Instruct me and I will respond. Teach me and I will follow. I am Yours.

Your Son,

Jeff

My Fortress

 Scripture:

“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.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist here speaks of the Lord being his protection, fortress, savior, etc. David understood that, though he was a king and had a mighty army, they were powerless unless God protected them. His trust was not in his army, but in his God. He realized that he could have the best armed guards protecting him, but it was really the Lord who kept him safe. He knew where the credit was due.

Application:

We can trust ourselves, our plans, our people, our own thoughts, or we can trust God. A wise person realizes they don’t have what it takes and doesn’t lean on their own strength, but on the strength of the Lord. We must learnt that God can take better care of us than we can. We must learn to put our trust in Him more and more each day.

Prayer:

Father, You have rescued me over and over again. Help me to give your praise and credit for all You have done for me. Help me not to take glory for the work of Your hands. Everything I have is from You. Everything I am is from You. My very life is from You. Without You, I am helpless and hopeless. I need You like I need air to breathe. You are my everything and I thank You for always leading me, guiding me, and fighting my battles. You are amazing!

Jeff

Trust God’s Love

 Scripture:

“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT

Observation:

The Psalmist here says that he trust in God’s unfailing love. God’s love is trustworthy and unfailing. ‬The Psalmist rejoiced because God had rescued him. He declares the goodness of God through song. A heart that trusts God will always worship God.

Application:

We must learn to acknowledge God in everything we do. Our trust is in His love. He has rescued us. He has been good to us and we need to look for ways to say thank you, and worship and praise the Lord. He has done so much for me personally. I have always been able to trust God, even when others have let me down. God is my rock and fortress. He is the one I trust above all and I need to trust Him more.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to trust You more. I want to trust You in every way and in every area of my life. You have been good and I promise to spend some time in worship. I long for Your presence and want to know You more intimately. I long for Your presence. You presence brings life and healing. Come Holy Spirit and meet with me today. Walk with me and talk with me. I invite you into my life at a deeper level.

Yours Forever,

Jeff