God Accomplishes What Concerns You
David was a man who walked through trouble on a regular basis. His psalms express the struggles and disappointments he faced, yet in the end, he always turned his focus back to God. The key to his victorious attitude was his strong faith in the Lord.
David was confident in God's purpose. That's why he could say, "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me" (v. 8). The only way we can walk through trouble and not be defeated is by keeping our focus on the Lord and His purpose. He has promised to do a good work in our lives, but sometimes the only way He can complete it is in valleys of hardship.
He relied on the Lord's power. When troubles arise, we, too, can trust God to deliver us, but it may not be by escape. Sometimes He sustains us through the difficulty, walking with us every step of the way.
David believed the promises of God. Throughout these two verses, he repeatedly reminds himself what the Lord will do. We also need to have some specific promises from Scripture that will anchor us in times of trouble. The truths of the Bible are our most valuable possession when the storms of life assail us. Self-reliance or advice from others will never equal the help God's Word offers us.
God assumes responsibility for accomplishing what concerns you in times of trouble. Your job is to believe that He will fulfill His purpose, His power is adequate, and He'll keep every promise. When the trial has achieved His goal, He'll remove it. Until then, keep walking with your eyes on Him.
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
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Idolatry
The most predominant sin we find in the Bible that stopped the rain of God's blessing from falling was idolatry. Maybe you are thinking, "Well, that's great, but it doesn't really apply. I'm not tempted to go to the nearest pagan shrine and bow down and worship a carved image."
Hold on, though. As you read the New Testament you begin to realize it has a lot to say to us about idolatry. For example, 1 Corinthians 10:14 says, Flee from idolatry, and 1 John 5:21 says, Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Wycliffe in his commentary says, "An idol is anything which occupies the place due to God." An idol is anything in your life that competes with God.
Colossians 3:5 says, …covetousness, which is idolatry. In other words, your stuff can become an idol. Greed can become an idol; money can become your idol. If anything becomes the main pursuit of your life, other than God, then that thing becomes an idol.
It can be your job, your boyfriend or girlfriend, your husband, your wife, or even a child. It can be a sport, a hobby, fame, anything that comes before God in your life.
I once saw an interview of one of my favorite golfers. He was a brilliant golfer who had won major tournaments. In the interview he said, "I've had a love affair with the game of golf. But I want to tell you, it cost me my marriage. It's cost me my relationship with my kids. Golf has been my god."
The interviewer asked him, "If you had all of it to do over again, what would you do differently?" He said, "Nothing. I'd do it all the same."
You will never experience God's blessing if there is an idol in your life. Is there?
~Bayless Conley~
_________________________
~Adrian Rogers~
__________________________
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14).
They were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost, and He sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, sitting by "as a refiner and purifier of silver," until they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands.
They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so nigh to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot go back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow.
Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out through them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own (and what they might have had), and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.
Such, are they in all ages, "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."
Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere--if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back -- what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection? But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well nigh slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.
~L. B. Cowman~
__________________________
Highest of Heavens and the Humblest of Hearts
For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” - Isaiah 57:15(NIV)
How can it be that God dwells in the highest of the heavens but also in the humblest of hearts? How can the God of the Universe, who created all things and by Him everything exists, want to be a part of us?
From the beginning of creation, God created man to work and tend the Garden of Eden while in close relationship with Him. God then formed the animals and brought them to Adam so he could name them. God wanted Adam to have a partner, so He created Eve. Over and over in Genesis, we read about God’s love, concern and willingness to have a relationship with man as well as God’s desire to care for his needs. There was only one rule to follow. Everything else was burden free. God knew that man needed to have free will, for God wanted a relationship based on choice, not force. With the freedom to choose, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. From that time moment on, Adam and Eve died in two ways: physically in time and spiritually that day. Sin entered into the heart of man that day and severed our relationship with Lord. Today, we are all born spiritually dead.
This broke God’s heart. He created us to have a relationship with Him; He created us to dwell with Him. From Genesis chapter 3 until Revelation 21, the Bible is about God’s plan to get the world back, reversing the destruction of sin. The answer was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 as being Jesus. Jesus is the One who came to restore sinful man back to a Holy God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The wages of sin is death but Jesus came to bring life so we can live abundantly.
So whose heart does God dwell with today? He dwells with those humble of heart. He dwells with those who prayed and said,
Lord, I know that I am a sinner and in need of a savior. I know that You sent Your Son to die on the cross, shedding His blood for my sins. I ask You, Jesus, to come into my heart and save me. I surrender control of my life to You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in Your ways. Thank You for saving me.”
~Daily Disciples Devotional~
The most predominant sin we find in the Bible that stopped the rain of God's blessing from falling was idolatry. Maybe you are thinking, "Well, that's great, but it doesn't really apply. I'm not tempted to go to the nearest pagan shrine and bow down and worship a carved image."
Hold on, though. As you read the New Testament you begin to realize it has a lot to say to us about idolatry. For example, 1 Corinthians 10:14 says, Flee from idolatry, and 1 John 5:21 says, Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Wycliffe in his commentary says, "An idol is anything which occupies the place due to God." An idol is anything in your life that competes with God.
Colossians 3:5 says, …covetousness, which is idolatry. In other words, your stuff can become an idol. Greed can become an idol; money can become your idol. If anything becomes the main pursuit of your life, other than God, then that thing becomes an idol.
It can be your job, your boyfriend or girlfriend, your husband, your wife, or even a child. It can be a sport, a hobby, fame, anything that comes before God in your life.
I once saw an interview of one of my favorite golfers. He was a brilliant golfer who had won major tournaments. In the interview he said, "I've had a love affair with the game of golf. But I want to tell you, it cost me my marriage. It's cost me my relationship with my kids. Golf has been my god."
The interviewer asked him, "If you had all of it to do over again, what would you do differently?" He said, "Nothing. I'd do it all the same."
You will never experience God's blessing if there is an idol in your life. Is there?
~Bayless Conley~
_________________________
The One and Only God
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God is a jealous God. Now, that may sound like a bad attribute. But to God it is a holy attribute. You see, I have no right to be jealous of another preacher because I am not the only preacher in the world. I do not own preaching. On the other hand, there is only one God.
Exodus 20:2-3 says, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” And when asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).
ACTION POINT:
When you die to self and worship God, you will begin to experience the fullness of God in a way that transforms your life.
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God is a jealous God. Now, that may sound like a bad attribute. But to God it is a holy attribute. You see, I have no right to be jealous of another preacher because I am not the only preacher in the world. I do not own preaching. On the other hand, there is only one God.
Exodus 20:2-3 says, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” And when asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).
ACTION POINT:
When you die to self and worship God, you will begin to experience the fullness of God in a way that transforms your life.
~Adrian Rogers~
__________________________
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14).
They were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost, and He sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, sitting by "as a refiner and purifier of silver," until they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands.
They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so nigh to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot go back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow.
Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out through them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own (and what they might have had), and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.
Such, are they in all ages, "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."
Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere--if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back -- what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection? But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well nigh slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.
~L. B. Cowman~
__________________________
Highest of Heavens and the Humblest of Hearts
For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” - Isaiah 57:15(NIV)
How can it be that God dwells in the highest of the heavens but also in the humblest of hearts? How can the God of the Universe, who created all things and by Him everything exists, want to be a part of us?
From the beginning of creation, God created man to work and tend the Garden of Eden while in close relationship with Him. God then formed the animals and brought them to Adam so he could name them. God wanted Adam to have a partner, so He created Eve. Over and over in Genesis, we read about God’s love, concern and willingness to have a relationship with man as well as God’s desire to care for his needs. There was only one rule to follow. Everything else was burden free. God knew that man needed to have free will, for God wanted a relationship based on choice, not force. With the freedom to choose, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. From that time moment on, Adam and Eve died in two ways: physically in time and spiritually that day. Sin entered into the heart of man that day and severed our relationship with Lord. Today, we are all born spiritually dead.
This broke God’s heart. He created us to have a relationship with Him; He created us to dwell with Him. From Genesis chapter 3 until Revelation 21, the Bible is about God’s plan to get the world back, reversing the destruction of sin. The answer was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 as being Jesus. Jesus is the One who came to restore sinful man back to a Holy God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The wages of sin is death but Jesus came to bring life so we can live abundantly.
So whose heart does God dwell with today? He dwells with those humble of heart. He dwells with those who prayed and said,
Lord, I know that I am a sinner and in need of a savior. I know that You sent Your Son to die on the cross, shedding His blood for my sins. I ask You, Jesus, to come into my heart and save me. I surrender control of my life to You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in Your ways. Thank You for saving me.”
~Daily Disciples Devotional~
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