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TRUSTING GOD

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Day 62

“Trust in God, trust also in Me”
John 14:1b

When many people say “I love God”, their idea of loving God does not always include trusting Him. They are not so sure that he will do what needs to be done. The disciples had this problem. They loved Christ, but they did not trust in Him for the outcome of what was happening; they didn’t understand and they didn’t believe.

Christ comforted and reassured them and then said, “Trust in God, trust also in Me.” He told them what was happening and that He would be preparing a place for them in Heaven. They needed to hear that because in a matter of hours their faith would be put to the test through His crucifixion, death and burial.

But there were those who did trust God and we can see how they were blessed because of it. Noah trusted God when the land was dry – he built a boat. Moses trusted God when he wandered in the desert for 40 years leading millions of people. David trusted God, knowing he was to be King, even while being relentlessly pursued by armies out to kill him. And many others trusted God in the face of constant testing and adversity with no evidence of deliverance.

What a great God we have! He comforts us. He reassures us, and He proves His faithfulness over and over again by working on our behalf. He knows our weaknesses and frailties. He knows that many times we face circumstances wherein we cannot see the answers. In His mercy He has called out to us as a Father – “trust me.”

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord,
the Lord, is the Rock eternal”
Isaiah 26:4

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HIS TENDERNESS

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Day 61

“Do not let your hearts any longer be troubled.
Trust in God; trust also in me”
John 14:1

It was the Last Supper. Jesus announced Judas’ imminent betrayal, and Peter’s denial. His disciples didn’t fully understand why He had to go and die; they resisted even the thought of it. They were sad, confused, and troubled by the events. Jesus Himself was troubled in the spirit.

In the midst of these unfolding events and troubled hearts, two very powerful acts of love took place. Christ humbled Himself at the supper and washed the feet of His disciples, even the feet of the one who would betray Him. He did what they failed to do. In so doing, He forever set the pattern of true love and ministry. And then, in an unselfish and tender manner, He spoke to their very hearts with words of comfort and reassurance.

This brought the disciples to a realization of their own selfishness. Having the Master wash their feet was a humbling experience. His love revealed their self-occupation; it was almost offensive to them. Yet Christ neither focused on their failures, nor on their weaknesses; but brought comfort and assurance to them. Isn’t He the same with us?

“I am going there to prepare a place for you”

John 14:2

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THE LORD WHO BREAKS OUT

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Day 60

“And there he defeated them”
2 Samuel 5:20

Did you know the Lord is a Man of War and that He is warring against the enemies of His children? The Old Testament gives many accounts of God’s people facing formidable enemies who outnumbered them. When David was anointed King over Israel, the Philistines went in full force to find him. They came and spread their armies throughout the Valley. David asked the Lord what to do and God gave Him directions. The result was that David defeated them. He said, “As the waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.”

The second time David faced them, the Lord gave another battle plan wherein he would circle around them, and wait until the wind from their marching was rustling the balsam tree tops. He struck when this happened, and defeated them again in an even greater victory. These and many other accounts are great studies of the way in which God gives wisdom and strength to His people. Yes, ‘gives,’ not ‘gave.’ God is as active today in warring against our enemies as He was in the Old Testament History.

God is a Father and we are His children. We were once lost, but have been rescued. He snatched us out of death. Do not believe for one moment He is going to allow anything to happen to us! Our Father is protecting us even today. No matter what enemies you face, whether they are of your own making, other people who work against and betray you, or any number of other things – inquire of the Lord and He will break through the enemy, and bring victory.

“The Lord will fight for you,
you need only to be still”
Exodus 14:14

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SEATED WITH HIM

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Day 59

“Seated with Him in heavenly places”
Ephesians 2:6

We need to realize the greatness and glory of our salvation. It’s unfortunate that we think only in terms of the forgiveness of our sins and do not consider what Christ has positively accomplished for us. God’s forgiveness of our sins came at a great price and the magnitude of His love in redeeming us is beyond our understanding. He did this to gain back what had been lost and bring us into fellowship with Him. He also did this so we may be glorified with Him.

Our great salvation embraces rescuing us from the present evil age. We who were dead are now alive. He has given a position in Him. He has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. He has made us holy and blameless. We are seated in Him in the heavenly realms. We can now behold His glory and presence. We have gained an eternal inheritance. And to seal that inheritance, He has given us the Holy Spirit for our earthly journey.

We no longer belong to the past, the world, its system, or to the devil. We are no longer to live in the past. We are called to live in the Lord today. We need to grasp who we are in Christ and know our position in Him to live in the Lord today. We have been saved by grace. That grace will now carry us empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s done – it’s a fact. This is the day of the Lord.

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which He has
called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance
in the saints”
Ephesians 1:18

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LIFETIME SEAL

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Day 58

“Having believed, you were marked in Him
with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”
Ephesians 1:13

Marketing in the western culture has always sought ways to validate and prove the worth of products and services. People must have confidence and trust before they will buy. One marketing strategy is branding a product with the “seal of approval”, giving added value for the consumer. But long before marketing came into existence, God knew man needed assurance.

When the time came for Christ to reconcile us to the Father, in His love and goodness He gave us the Holy Spirit so that ‘the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God’ [Romans 8:16]. God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father” [Galatians 4:6]. What love! What a gift! He not only saves us, but dwells in us as assurance that we belong to Him.

Think about it: the same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Christ during His time on this earth now lives in us! We have become certain of Emmanuel, God with us; certain of God as our Father. This seal of our inheritance brings us the realization of our being sons of God. And there is more: He is our Comforter, who intercedes and is an advocate for us. He points us to God, giving us light over our nature. He gives us wisdom for life by teaching us all things. And He gives us rest in the assurance of who we are in God.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide
you into all truth. He will not speak on his own;
He will speak only what He hears, and He will
tell you what is yet to come”
John 16:13

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FOR HIS PLEASURE

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Day 57

“According to the good pleasure of His will”
Ephesians 1:5

Sometimes we are so focused on ourselves and our daily life that we forget our true purpose. God made us to know, love and fellowship with Him. His purpose was for His pleasure, and His pleasure is found in our relationship with Him.

We tend to see God through our history, family, culture, church and doctrine, starting with ourselves instead of with Him. We box God into a defined area instead of a loving relationship. What is missing is friendship; a fellowship built on familiarity with our Father and His Son.

We are His children, members of His family. We are children of God. We bear His name. God Himself has written it because He adopted us. His glory rests on us and His Holy Spirit dwells in us as a seal of our inheritance in Him. This is our Friend. Yes, you were created according to the good pleasure of His will; and by intimately knowing Him you will live your life in the fulfillment of His purposes.

“The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear him,
in those that hope in his mercy”
Psalm 147:11

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THE GREATER LOVE

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Day 56

“Who loved me, and gave himself for me”
Galatians 2:20

Christ gave His life for us. Speaking to how we are to live with our spouses, Paul says “…even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it,” we are to love exactly as he loved us. We are to lay down our [self] life and live for each other.

Think about how he loved us, and initiated his love towards us first. There was nothing about us to draw the love of Christ. We were under condemnation. We deserved the wrath of God. We were impure. We were opposed to God. We were polluted, cast out, loathsome and corrupt. Christ, who dwelled with the Father and gazed upon His glory all the time, could see nothing good in us.

We have no cause to boast about our salvation. God chose us for His own reasons. He loves us for nothing in us, but out of Himself only. His choosing us is an act of His mercy and love based on His own counsel. It is an unparalleled love. There is no way to compare it to any other type of love. It is an unconditional love that is not based on our performance. It is a love in excess. It is a love that cannot be out-loved. It is a love that never ends. It is a love that knows no boundaries.

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands”

Isaiah 49:16

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HIS GREAT FAITHFULNESS

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Day 55

“He is the faithful God”
Deuteronomy 7:9

We can always know that God is true, reliable, and faithful. Because of His great faithfulness, we know He will strengthen and protect us from the evil one. He will see His will and purposes completed in us. And He will not permit us to be lost.

Consider His faithfulness today:

God is faithful in forgiving our sins (1 John 1:9);
God’s perfect faithfulness is reflected in His plan for us (1 Corinthians 1:9);
God faithfully provides for our needs (1 Thessalonians 5:24);
God is faithful to us in fellowship (Hebrews 10:23);
God protects us faithfully from Satan’s attacks (2 Thessalonians 3:3);
God is faithful to us in His grace, mercy and compassion (Lamentations 3:22-23);
God is faithful in testing us (1 Corinthians 10:13);
God is faithful in watching over us (Deuteronomy 7:9);
God is faithful in protecting us from our enemies (Deuteronomy 33:27); and
God is faithful in keeping His promises to us (Hebrews 11:11).

What more can be said? His faithfulness is reason to praise and glorify Him who loves us.

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the skies”
Psalm 36:5

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HIS SOVEREIGNTY

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Day 54

“His sovereignty rules over all”
Psalm 103:19

God is sovereign over all things and this is a great comfort for us. Because of His sovereignty we can rest in Him. We can be at total peace. In fact, knowing His sovereignty should make us a rejoicing people. It is the very reason we are to bless Him and give praise for His works.

God’s sovereignty means that He has the undisputed right to make decisions and the unlimited and absolute power, to carry them out. His power and extent of His reign over all things are without limit. Every day, we see and read doom and gloom about the world. Heinous crime, reprehensible acts of humanity, corruption in our governments, sickness, death and misery are in the news every day. It overpowers any good news we may hear. But if you understand God’s sovereignty, these events will not disturb your peace; for you know that what is impossible with men is possible with God. Only He can save. Only He can reach down into depravity and bring life. And we know that in the end all will bow their knee to Him.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that
is within me, bless His holy name”
Psalm 103:1

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HIS TIMING

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

Day 53

“There is a time for everything, and
a season for every activity under heaven”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Some people believe that God had to change His original plans because man rebelled against God and sinned at the beginning of our history. This is not true. It was determined before the foundation of the world that Christ would die for us. It was also determined whose names would be written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth [Revelation 13:8]. So, before the world and humanity were created God had already made his provision for us.

God’s provision also has been made for our lives. There is no luck, chance, fortune or other happening that determines what happens in our lives. Everything, every detail, every good or bad event that would happen in our lives was known before time began. Every day of our lives was written in His book before one of them came to be [Psalm 139:16].

God’s time and timing are sovereign. He is in complete control; everything is predetermined. He knows what is around the corner. There are no surprises for Him. He has appointed a time for everything in our lives. Even the deepest trials and tribulations of our lives occur in His time and the answer to our problems lies in His timing. For those who love Him, everything turns to the good. His timing will bring His glory to every situation. We will find comfort and peace by resting in Him.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them! Were I to
count them, they would outnumber the
grains of sand. When I awake,
I am still with you”
Psalm 139:17-18

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