"HEAR MY CRY"

Psalm 61:2 (NKJV) 2 ...; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 
     A young man asked me to pray for him, "that God would get him out of this prison." I asked him what he would do when he got out, he replied, "I would stay out." We prayed and God mercifully led him out to freedom, however just two months later he was back in crying for freedom again. What went wrong, he asked for freedom and God delivered?
    God often allows us what we want, to remind us we are making wrong decisions about life and in our relationship to God. What is He letting happen in your life, that is stressing and causing much pain and worry? Our Heavenly Father wants to hear our cries for mercy, but they must be properly understood to experience true freedom.
    The psalmist cried, "Lead me to the rock," we need freedom based on the solid relationship Jesus wants us to have in Him. That freedom consists in complete obediendce to the Father through the Son, walking in this life based on, The Christ leading and us following. What are you following right now, is it your desires or the direction of the Creator, He wants to lead us into a solid relationship with Him, however you must trust Him where you are, not where you want to be!
Heavenly Father thank You for the pressure that takes us to our knees and reminds us, You alone are our Rock, there is no other solid ground. Will You use me where I am today, to be light and salt and Lord may I always look to You in every circumstance, let me trust The Rock for all my needs. Amen

NEVER LOOK BACK

Joshua 4:18 (NKJV) 18 ... the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. 
      The Israelites walked on dry ground where the swollen waters of the Jordan had hindered them passage. God parted the water and provided a way into a land that promised to meet every desire of the heart. God has given that picture of provision for us today Jesus has parted the waters of life and made a way into Eternity for all who will trust Him to lead the way. Note, there is no way into heaven for anyone without first coming to the place where we trust God and God alone, I cannot make a way and get into Heaven. See that God will let all who want access to go through, but it must be through Jesus.
      However the waters must return, where once we are given passage into the promised land there is no going back. Just as Jesus faced Jerusalem and death on a cross for all mankind, He had to die, to satisfy the awful judgment of sin in my life, Jesus Christ could not just suffer and continue on, death closed the door to the past. Like the waters closing behind the Israelites there is no return to our old life it must die before the new life in Christ Jesus can live in us. There is the promise of a glorious new day in the Savior but the past attractions have no more to do with Jesus and living in Him. Have the waters of the old life closed behind you, never look back.
Heavenly Father help us to move on in this new life of Grace that You have provided and never let the past attract us again. May we always look up and remember the price my sin cost you. Amen

WHO SPEAKS THE TRUTH?

Psalm 15:1-3 (NKJV) 2 ..., And speaks the truth in his heart; 

    The psalmist asks "who can abide (continue) in Your presence," as he examines himself, God shows him the tools needed. It is to live within the preordained rules of Almighty God, the same God requires of Himself. What are they? I am glad you asked!
    Our Heavenly Father requires of His creation the internal life of honesty, righteousness, and truth, these are revealed externally in a tounge of peace, protective of his friends, and one who will not hurt his neighbor. He gives everything I need to live Holy before Him, isn't that amazing, I don't need to produce a single molecule of my own righteousness, He will do that through me, in His Son Jesus.You and I can live with God by His standards, simply trusting His provision of Holiness, that is through Jesus Christ alone.
    Wouldn't you like to speak truth from your heart today, you can, just ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and humbly ask for Him to enter you and use you today.
Heavenly Father let the truth of Your Word live in me so others may be drawn to You, let me in no way hinder another form trusting You with their whole life. May it please You to use me today that You might be blessed where ever you put me. Amen

SEARCHING FOR PEACE

Luke 24:36 (NKJV) 

..., "Peace to you." 

      The world needs to heed the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Fear and confusion had risen in the hearts of the disciples, they were terrified of the next moment and Jesus appears saying "Peace to you." 

      Today there are wars and violence against man, nature is revealing God's awesome hand, and the Creator still asks, "Why are you troubled, why do doubts arise in your hearts," He encourages us, "look" to Him. However, we appear to be very busy, preoccupied with living. Everyone seems to be able to communicate in a moments notice, eyes and ears are focused on electronic devices, we are so busy with the instant, that we cannot see or hear the obvious. What is that you ask? 

      We need peace, peace of mind, peace in the heart, peace in our confidence of The God who has saved us from a lost and dying world. Jesus is Lord of all, He is over all, He is in control of all and Jesus is the author of all life in men. John 1:1-4 Take charge of your destiny today by trusting Jesus Christ with every area of your life, he wants to give you Eternal life with Him. He wants to bless you with the "peace that passes understanding," however He says, first "repent and ask forgiveness for our sins," for His peace, I have done that have you? I pray you will!

Heavenly Father we trust You right now for the promise of Your peace. Let that peace permeate our lives so that others see You in us. I trust You to use life's circumstances to bring others to Jesus through me. Amen

IS YOUR HEART BURNING?

Luke 24:32 (NKJV) 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us ...?"
      Like the disciples we spend a little time with Jesus and grow confident all is well. Then tragedy strikes and we find ourselves despairing, hopeless and asking where is Jesus? He is not gone we have become complacent, satisfied with the everyday living believing in our selves and no longer trusting Him.
     Have you awakened to a torn heart, a day you do not want to go through, the temptation right here is to hide and suffer, to close all outside influence out and withdraw. Do Not, Jesus says, "come to Me" Matthew 11:28 right now go to Him, you have wandered away and He wants you to come close. Why, how can He help? I am so glad you asked. Jesus says, "I will give you rest," He will and He does.
     When we first asked Him to forgive us of our sins and come into our lives, our confession allowed Jesus to enter us at our lowest level, we can get to Him no other way. In despair we find ourselves at our lowest level again in need and He is there to take the heavy burden we have assumed and lift it up off of us and bear it together. Nothing is allowed in our lives that does not first go through Him, He has carried our sorrows Isaiah 53:4 and it is Jesus alone that will take us through the trials. Let your heart burn again with the presence of Jesus, trust Him right now to get you through.
Heavenly Father the pressures seem too much, but I know You have been there. Help me to see and hear You and trust all these things to your hands again. Let me fall again into your hands that I might find Your promised rest, thank You for what You are doing. Amen

COUNT IT ALL JOY

Psalm 57:4 (NKJV) 4 My soul is among lions; ... 
    The servant of God finds many extremely difficult circumstances await the soul who seeks Him.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 we read The Lord God of all creation has provided a most amazing resource, He puts within the saint the gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. The troubles we face are actually for God's Glory, He is using difficulties to bring many sons to Glory. We are weak vessels that contain the most wonderful Presence, Jesus. He is seeking others to bring into His kingdom and He is using us where He finds us to touch the lives of others.
    God said, "Light will shine out of darkness," He is preparing "earthen vessels"(clay jars) to speak to the hearts of those who are in desperate need of His saving Grace (redemption). What does this all mean? I am so glad you asked!
    Jesus loves us so much, He will trust us with the difficult situations in life. Seeing I have no way to solve the problem, I must cry out to God and He will deliver me through the situation so that those around me see Jesus working in and through the trouble. So, my friends trust God in every difficulty and you will find the blessings of All Mighty God come flooding in and the trials melting into rejoicing. James 1:2 Count it all joy...
Heavenly Father thank you that Jesus has gone before us and paved the way. He has embraced our troubles and forgiven our sins, we can trust Him with anything. Thank you for the circumstances that bring me to my knees, use them I pray that others may see Jesus. Amen

WHERE ARE YOU PLANTED?

Psalm 52:8 (NKJV) 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. 

     Planted in the proper place the olive tree produces rich green leaves and wonderfully full fruit that bless all who care to take of it. God has a place for all His trees to bear rich fruit so that others may be blessed, however we are consumed so often with our desires we produce very little fruit and sickly looking leaves.
     The key to bearing real fruit, is found in the second part of this statement, " I trust in the mercy of God," He is the source of all blessings. God's mercy is for everyone who will come to Him, His blessing touch every life, but His mercy is for the one's who trust completely in Him.
     Where is your allegiance today, is it your desires, what you want, have you planted yourself in the wrong place? God wants to make you a blessing, you must trust Him, He must have first place in your life, Jesus will not spend time with a barren tree. Matthew 21:19 Will you by faith ask Jesus the Son of God to forgive you of your sins and will you trust Him with all your life? He will come in and make you a blessing to others. Trust Him today!
    Heavenly Father thank you for the blessing You give to those who are Yours and to those who are not Yours. May the evidence of Your presence in our lives encourage others to seek You with all their hearts and really trust You to change them eternally. Amen