Isaiah 25:9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation”

The most essential part of our relationship with God is Trust. To trust God means to “commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, to hope confidently in Him—forever”. We can trust God because He is trustworthy. He is honor-bound to keep His Word

A benefits package accompanies our trust relationship with God. We can live worry-free life which gives us peace of mind. We have the joy and contentment that a trust relationship brings.

We have the comfort of knowing that God will never forsake us and that He will be with us throughout the storms of life. These benefits strengthen us spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Our trust relationship with God is the model for all other relationships. Listen my friend, Mutual trust is the basis for their success.

Prayer Suggestion: God, increase my trust in You, and my trustworthiness to You and others.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Have you ever had to DIAL 911? During an emergency you dial 911 and you are instantly connected to a dispatcher. In front of the dispatcher will be a read-out that lists your telephone number, your address, and the name by which that telephone number is listed.

Also listening in are the police, the fire department, and the paramedics. 
 A caller might not be able to say what the problem is. Or perhaps a woman's husband has just suffered a heart attack, and she is so out of control that all she can do is hysterically scream into the telephone.

But the dispatcher doesn't need her to say anything. He knows where the call is coming from and Help is already on the way.

Listen there are times in our lives when in our desperation and pain we need someone to call. Sometimes we're hysterical. Sometimes we don't know the words to speak. But God knows my friend.

He knows our name, where we are at and what our circumstance is. And before you can say anything He has already dispatched Help to where you are; God has already begun to bring the remedy.

Thought for Today: Jesus has promised to help us whenever we are in need. All we need to do is call Him.

Isaiah 16:5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it—one from the house of David—one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness

The term “judge” describes someone who is expected to hand down a fair and impartial ruling in a given situation.

Now judges don’t always act or behave as expected.

A certain district judge threw a celebration party in the courtroom, complete with ice cream, cake, and balloons when he sentenced a captured fugitive to life in prison

while another district judge compassionately refused to serve eviction notices during Christmas.

Thankfully there is another Judge who we can always trust to deal a righteous and fair sentence.

The judge described is Jesus Christ. Unlike human judges, He is always accessible. He lives to plead our case before the Father.

He is sympathetic and helpful in our struggles. He is on our side when we have been wronged. We can rely on him to always be the same.

Thought for Today: We have been blessed with the perfect Judge, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Have you ever wondered why God needed someone to be His spokesperson? It was because He had a message for His people to hear at that specific time. You have to understand that whenever God wanted to get His will in the earth, he used mankind.

In this passage of scripture His will was to warn his people. It was a warning of future judgment because of their persistent sin. God warned them because He loved them. This warning was meant to lead them to repentance.

Every person is born a sinner and the wages of sin is death . Jesus came to earth with the same mission Isaiah accepted. To show the Love of God and the need for repentance. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He instituted the Great Commission, now if it is fully implemented, each new disciple, those washed in his blood, accepts the same mandate.

That mandate is Matthew 28:18–20 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

“Who will go for us?” is a question God asks each believer. He’s asking that question as I speak, What will be your answer?

Today’s Challenge: Become a willing participant in God’s Great Commission.

Isaiah 2:4,5 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord

God is merciful, kind, and loving. His anger is temporary while His favor is permanent. In this passage, the Holy Spirit uses two parenthetical passages to balance condemnation with an opportunity for forgiveness and redemption.

Both chapters 2 and 4 contain statements of glory that stand in stark contrast to the dark surrounding judgments.

The greater message for us today is to know that in our fallen world of sin and judgment, God still offers forgiveness, redemption, and peace.

According to Romans 3:23 Along with Israel, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of the Lord.

In spite of that God is ready to settle the eternal disputes, exchange our weapons for life-giving tools, and end our spiritual conflicts. He offers us Jesus—Our Savior and Redeemer!

Prayer for Today: Lord, thank You for balancing judgment with salvation!

Proverbs 21:11-12 11 When the scoffer is punished, the fool gets a lesson in being wise; but men of wisdom and good sense learn by being instructed.
12 The righteous man considers well the house of the wicked, how the wicked are cast down to ruin.

These verses show us that there are two ways to gain instruction in living. One is to learn by instruction and observation. The other is to learn by the experience of sowing and reaping.
In verse 11 we are shown how the scorner learns a lesson when he does something foolish, because he will suffer punishment for his wrong doings.

However, the wise person does not have to learn things the hard way because he will take advice and listen to instruction. He will not suffer any ill effects because he will not do the things that cause them.

This is the law of "cause and effect" or what the Bible calls the law of "sowing and reaping."
Many times God is blamed for things that He did not cause. God set the limits and boundaries for mankind and when we violate them, we cause problems for ourselves. God did not bring these on us.

They come on us because we violate the law or the rules that God set. The only way we can blame God for these is to blame Him for creating us and giving us His rules.

But we should not be mad at God for giving us rules, rules are meant to protect us. Listen we can avoid much of the pain we suffer in this world by simply obeying God's rules.

Prayer focus today: God help me to be wise by accepting your instructions.

Proverbs 29:10 Blood thirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright

Have you ever felt a surge of antagonism hit you? Has it ever seemed as if some people were extremely set against you although you had done nothing wrong?

Have you felt that no matter how hard you try or how nice you are, these few people will never show you kindness or understanding?

There may be times when others will not like us for no apparent reason whatsoever. This may simply be because we do not join with them or condone the sin they are living in.

Refusing to do so can cause them to be uncomfortable with us. The Bible tells us this is to be expected. Don’t take this personally, it’s not about you it’s all about Jesus.

Instead of letting this be a discouragement, we can take this as a cue to strengthen our resolve to be ambassadors of Christ in a dark world.

The devil will stir some people’s hearts against us, but I assure you, others will take notice of our actions and attitudes and be affected for the kingdom of God.

Rather than think of these situations as persecution, try to see them as opportunities to shine for Jesus.

Challenge for the Day: Strive to keep yourself pure even when under attack and don’t grow weary of well doing.

Proverbs 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

When we were kids we all heard the saying, “Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!” Well to be perfectly honest with you the person that came up with that saying was a liar!

Words do hurt my friends. Sometimes words hurt more than sticks and stones, because the damage from sticks can go away, but the hurt from rumors or gossip can sting long after the physical signs are gone.

Gossip, is openly sharing both nonfactual and personal information about someone else. Rumors and gossip are things that we should avoid at all cost because the information we spread can be destructive to those individuals when shared with others.

We are supposed to strive to be like Christ in all that we do and our God is not in the business of tearing down lives. He’s in the business of rebuilding and making all things new.

We are not responsible for how others act or what they say, but how we respond to their actions is our responsibility. The Word of God lets us know that we are wrong to keep alive a piece of gossip.

If you are the one spreading rumors and gossip, stop it and repent it’s very unbecoming of a believer in Jesus Christ, if you are the object of rumors and gossip, forgive them, show the Love of God in all that you do.

Our prayer focus today: Lord help me to put out the fire of gossip by not feeding it.

Proverbs 14:26 He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a safe refuge

When you see a castle what do you think of, for little girls maybe the knight on shining armor, for boys maybe it’s the beautiful princess looking out of her window.

No matter what you see you can’t help but notice the amount of time that was put into these magnificent structures.

While intact castles are beautiful to look at and may bring fairy-tale images to mind, they were built to be fortresses for the people who lived there.

In medieval times many communities faced the threat of attack and invasion. The people built a fortress so they would have somewhere safe to go when trouble came.

The people in those communities must have felt a great deal of security, knowing they had a place of safety to flee to if they were ever attacked.

However, a fortress built with stones and mortar can fall if it is attacked with enough force. That is why so many of the fortresses in Europe are in ruins today.

As a Christian you have a fortress that will never be destroyed and will never ruin. When the enemy of your soul brings trouble against you—and he will—you can trust in the knowledge that God is always with you and in him you will a refuge from the enemies attack!

Thought for Today: When you feel attacked, seek refuge in God’s presence.

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise

Have you ever said something you regretted? Whether you found out later that what you said was hurtful or realized immediately that you had broken the confidence of a friend,

Everyone of us has had that moment when we wish we could take back the thoughtless words we’ve spoken.

But no matter how hard you try you cannot retract what you said. Contrary to the childhood rhyme about sticks and stones, words can and often do hurt others deeply.

The Bible recognizes that words are incredibly powerful. One careless insult can negate a year of kind remarks. The things we say can easily lead us into sin.

However, if you find it difficult to bite your tongue from time to time, be encouraged—In James 3:8 the Bible admits that controlling your mouth is one of the hardest things you will ever learn to do

Even if you find it difficult, it is worthwhile to strive toward the kind of wisdom that knows when to hold its tongue. Make a conscious decision today to think before you speak.

Try to remember this when speaking to others, you may mean to throw a harmless pebble, but by the time it gets to the other person it could be a boulder.

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, help me today to speak words that honor You .

Proverbs 6:23 "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

The soul of man is, by nature, in darkness: and it needs an external illumination to lighten its way so that it can find the path of eternal life, and this need is supplied by God’s Holy Word!

The Word of God is often likened to that which gives light because it illuminates the path we are walking and exposes the sin in our lives, when that sin is exposed it must be dealt with.

People may dislike being reproved by the Word of God, but the truth is, my friend, that’s the way it’s got to be in order for us to grow into mature believers.

Our scripture this morning begins with the admonition to obey the commandments of the Lord and likens them to a lamp that brings light in the dark.

We know if we went out walking at night without a flashlight or street light, that very quickly, we would stumble and fall. No one can go very far without a light to guide them.

The Bible tells us that God's Words are the guiding light of our lives and that His reproofs and instructions are for our good. They will preserve our life if we obey them.

Our prayer focus today, Lord help me to take in all of your word and not just that which makes me feel good!

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding

Today, there are many opinions regarding what is right, and what is wrong. Behavior that may seem very harmless and good to one person may be viewed as very sinful and wicked to someone else.

Some believe that there are different degrees of sin, and that God will forgive some sins and not forgive others. But did God leave it up to us to decide what is sinful? Don’t try to set the standard for your own life my friend, God has already set the standard for us in His Holy Word.

The Word of God is the guiding light for humanity. It shows us what is right, and what is wrong, based upon the infinite wisdom and knowledge of Almighty God.
And, it's there for everyone to read, for themselves. If you want to get a moral portrait of yourself, Read his word!
You and I can be wrong, but God is never wrong. Like a parent telling a young child not to touch something that's hot, God doesn't give us His laws to be mean and overbearing, but he gives them to us, to keep us from burning ourselves.
God knows what works because He made it all work - He designed and created all that exists.
God's wisdom is supreme, nothing, or no one, comes close, and He makes it available to everyone through obedience to Him

Our prayer focus today: God grant me your wisdom in everything I do through my obedience to your word.

Psalms 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth
As David penned these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he must have thought back to the many times he had called upon God.

Although he was king of Israel for forty years David’s life was not without hardship, as many of his other psalms show.

After David was anointed by the prophet Samuel, he spent many years running from King Saul, who sought to takes David’s life because of Jealousy. David lived in caves, seeking shelter wherever he could find it.

He was never able to stay put for long because of Saul’s pursuit. It isn’t hard to imagine why David might have wanted to question God in such circumstances.

David knew what it was like to cry out to God, and he faced times when it seemed God was not listening.

Through these trying circumstances, David obviously learned that God is always faithful.
Understand this my friend, God is the same today as He was then, and He will be near to you when you call just as he was for King David!

Prayer Suggestion: Thank You, Lord, for hearing me when I pray. Help me remember that You are always near.

Psa. 51:17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Today I want to share with you the importance of being broken before God. I’m not talking about broken as a state of depreciation, but broken as a state of advancement in the Kingdom of God.

In the Nancy Demoss book entitled: Brokenness: The Heart God Revives, she writes, “This generation is being programmed to pursue happiness, positive self-images, and cures for our hurt feelings and damaged psyches, but God is not as interested in those ends as we are - God is more committed to making us holy, than making us happy.”

Many years ago, I read a profound statement in Watchman Nee’s book: The Normal Christian Life, that changed my life and I have never forgotten it goes like this: “There is only one pathway to holiness, and that is the pathway of brokenness.”

Most people including Christians think of brokenness as an emotional state of incapacitation, when in reality, brokenness is not how we feel, brokenness is a choice much like happiness, that we have to make! We have the tendency to see brokenness as God’s abandonment of us, when in fact, brokenness describes God’s activity in our lives!

God desires for us to get to a place of brokenness so that we may see what we’ve never seen before. A place where the eyes see the invisible, ears hear the inaudible, and minds conceive the inconceivable. That can and will only happen as believers reach a state of brokenness before God. You need to understand that God can not and will not use an unbroken spirit.

Prayer focus: Help to stay broken before you so that I can be used by you!

Psalm 102:2 But you remain the same, and your years will never end

Change is a constant in life. Many people are so overwhelmed with the complexities of day-to-day living that they yearn for things to slow down and remain the same for just a short time.

But change is inevitable. Children grow, prices change (usually rise!), old ideas become passé. Some yearn for the good old days when ironically their parents were yearning for the same thing.

Change is such an integral part of our existence, yet the desire remains for something dependable.

There is One who doesn’t change and He is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can bring our needs and frustrations to Him. He also invites us to find a place of rest where he wants restore us.

He is always with us, He doesn’t change His mood. He is never too busy for us, and He doesn’t change His mind. Maybe He created change, knowing it would cause us to yearn and search for Him.

When life changes unpredictably, rely on the God who never changes to help you through those uncertain times.

Challenge for Today: Stop and remember God is always with you, ready to listen.

Psalm 94:9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?

Does it really pay to be honest? People trying to live an honorable life sometimes ask this question when they see those considered successful gamble or cheat to get ahead. “After all,” they reason, “no one really gets hurt.”

Christians also become frustrated and ask similar questions when faced with struggles involving their finances, rebellious teens, or the deception by someone they trusted. Has God forgotten those who live to honor Him?

The Israelites struggled with their neighbors who preyed on them and on other weaker nations. But the Psalmist reminds us that God, our Creator, does not forget His children. God knows what men do, and in time they will be treated in life as they have treated others.

No matter what we see in others who we might consider “successful,” our goal is not the things of this life, such as fame or wealth. Our goal is to obey and honor our God.

Our ultimate reward will be an eternity living with Him. Remember, Honoring God isn’t always profitable, it isn’t always popular, but it is always peaceful.

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, help me honor You, no matter the outcome.

John 1:5 NLT, The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.

One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, there’s something about the pastor’s message this morning that I don’t understand."

The mother said, "Oh? What is it?" The little girl replied, "Well, the Pastor said that God is bigger than we are. He said God is so big that He could hold the world in His hand. Is that true?" 



The mother replied, "Yes, that’s true, honey." 

"But Mommy, he also said that God comes to live inside of us when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Is that true, too?"

Again, the mother assured the little girl that what the pastor had said was true. With a puzzled look on her face the little girl then asked, "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, why doesn’t He show through?"

My friend can I tell you that our purpose in life is to show Jesus to a lost and dying world. Is the Light of Jesus shining through your life? John 1:5 was not a suggestion, it was a command, we are commanded to shine in the midst of darkness.

And the great thing about shining this light is no matter what the enemy does, he can never extinguish it in our lives.

Today’s payer focus: God, let your light shine so that my arena of influence may see you through me!

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

Asaph, one of the leaders of David’s choirs, had observed the prosperity of the wicked—and envied it. He knew that God would provide for him, but he was tempted by wealth and almost slipped.

Asaph had to work through his temptation. He had to look beyond the material and to the spiritual. To change his perspective, he came to the temple to stand before God. Then he saw that although the wicked prosper, they are on a slippery slope to ruin and destruction.

Asaph had to come to the place where he recognized that material wealth can lead to a person’s ruin. Although he felt “senseless and ignorant,” he recognized that God was with him, holding on to his hand. He finally acknowledged that he wanted nothing but God:

Is your desire for wealth replacing your desire for God? Are you relying your job more than you Jehovah Jireh? Listen to Asaph in this psalm and recommit your life to God. Make the Lord your refuge in these tough times.

Thought for Today: God always has and always will provide your daily needs.

Psa 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?

As I read this passage today, I had to stop and reflect. I read it again and again asking myself this question. Am I really thirsty for God? Do I long for him like the thirsty deer, looking for the cool water of the spring? Is my thirst for God the focus of my life?

How many times do people seek out the easy waters of the world instead of seeking after the one true God and the refreshing waters that only he can provide?

Let me ask you my friend are you thirsty for God? Do you yearn for Him until you get into His presence and He quenches your thirst by wrapping up in his arms of love.
God longs for us to come away with Him to the waters He has provided so He can comfort and draw us closer. The more you get to know God; the more you will thirst for Him.

Prayer focus for today: Lord, I want to thirst for you and be satisfied with nothing else. Make me thirsty for you, and don't let me be content with anything less.

Psa 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?

As I read this passage today, I had to stop and reflect. I read it again and again asking myself this question. Am I really thirsty for God? Do I long for him like the thirsty deer, looking for the cool water of the spring? Is my thirst for God the focus of my life?

How many times do people seek out the easy waters of the world instead of seeking after the one true God and the refreshing waters that only he can provide?

Let me ask you my friend are you thirsty for God? Do you yearn for Him until you get into His presence and He quenches your thirst by wrapping up in his arms of love.
God longs for us to come away with Him to the waters He has provided so He can comfort and draw us closer. The more you get to know God; the more you will thirst for Him.
Prayer focus for today: Lord, I want to thirst for you and be satisfied with nothing else. Make me thirsty for you, and don't let me be content with anything less.