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Saul, Has Hidden Himself Among the Baggage

And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage” (1 Samuel 10:22b NIV).

Are you hiding yourselves among the baggage today? You, who is chosen of the Lord, are supposed to come out and be at the front. Here, Saul, already anointed king by Samuel at God’s command was hiding himself among the baggage.

Are you like him? What is keeping you from believing and accepting what God has ordained for you?

Saul might have still not been able to come to terms with his sudden promotion. He had already voiced his disbelief to Samuel because he came from the smallest tribe and clan in Israel.

Is the smallness of your circumstances preventing you from accepting what God has destined for you?

Whatever be the thoughts Saul had about himself, the truth was that he had the bearing of a king; for he was an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites and who stood a head taller than any of the others when he was brought out from among the baggage.

So you too need to come out from hiding among the baggage. Then only will you know your true worth; for it is God who has ordained you.

You should also remember that you cannot hide yourself from God. He will reveal to others your hiding place. You cannot but come out into the open and take up the role that God has kept for you. For no one lights a lamp to put it under a bowl and a city on a hill cannot be hidden!

Therefore step out from hiding. You have a task ahead. And God has already anointed you to do the same. Let not fear or your own smallness prevent you from doing so.
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Glory of Present House Greater Than Former House

“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:9a NIV).

The first problem with the people of Israel was one of neglect. They had neglected the rebuilding of the temple of the Lord. God punished them by withholding blessings. Then encouraged by the prophets they started rebuilding the temple of the Lord.

But then the second problem came. This one was of discouragement. It was because they had seen the former temple. It was impressive and massive and full of splendor. This temple they were now rebuilding was smaller in size and much less magnificent. Therefore it was discouraging.

In the midst of this discouragement, God spoke and promised that the glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. What a promise!

Your life might have been destroyed. You started rebuilding; but discouragement stepped in and you stopped altogether. You neglected God and tried to find happiness in your personal and official work. But you could find no success.

Today, therefore, God is calling you back to Himself and encouraging you to rebuild your time with God.

If you do so, He will make His glory rest upon your life. Though what you have now is nothing compared to what you had before, you will have peace. The greater blessing will rest upon what you rebuild because it is God’s promise.

Know that only your God can do so. Whatever is less impressive, whatever seems nothing to compared to former things; will be transformed by the glory of God and His peace, in your life.

Only be careful to rebuild your time with God!
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He Will Not Falter or Be Discouraged

He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on the earth (Isaiah 42:4a NIV).

With the Servant of the Lord, there is constancy to purpose. He has a purpose to accomplish on earth. And His entire focus is on the achievement of the same: It is to establish justice on the earth.

There is a lesson here for you who trust in His name. You should also be focused on what He is focused on. If you are not; you’ll be easily distracted by lesser purposes in life.

Even when you are focused on God’s purposes, discouragement can set in at times. How do you overcome that?

First of all, you have to look to the example of the Servant of the Lord. He will not falter or be discouraged. You can get strength by looking to Him. And also learn from Him.

He does not get discouraged because He is focused on the final outcome; the establishment of justice on the earth. Therefore you too have to focus on the final outcome of God’s purposes to tide over difficult times and discouragement.

You have to watch against faltering too. It refers to a weakening, and lack of confidence. Now, what enables the servant of the Lord to keep focused and not falter?

First of all, He is upheld by God Himself; for He has willingly become the servant of the Lord. And God was delighted in Him. Again God has put His Spirit on him. So it is a powerful combination.

All these are required in your life if you have to see God’s purposes fulfilled. You need to be willing to serve the Lord with a servant-spirit. You need to be upheld by God and He should delight in you.

Again, the Spirit of the Lord should be upon you. If these conditions are met, you will not falter or be discouraged till you see God’s purposes fulfilled.
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You Have Shattered the Yoke, Midian’s Defeat

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor (Isaiah 9:4 NIV).

May the reading of this bring you hope. For what God did in the past, He will do again for you. Here the prophet speaks about the increase of joy for the people. The reason is cited here. The rod of the oppressor was shattered.

Maybe Satan had been tormenting you and keeping you in bondage. This day the Lord proclaims freedom to you as He is breaking your yoke; the burden that you’ve been bearing all these years.

Here Midian’s defeat is specifically mentioned. It happened in the days of Gideon. The Midianites had been cruelly oppressing the people of Israel for seven years; looting and plundering them.

And they cried out to God. But it was their sinfulness that led them to be in such bondage. Even then God heard their cry. Even today, God hears your cry.

Midian’s defeat is important again because God used a fearful man, Gideon, to defeat them. He was a man who needed to be constantly encouraged to do so. God did it.

God encouraged him time and again. This day God is encouraging you. He will shatter what has been defeating you.

Another element in the victory is that God used only few men to accomplish that great victory. He did not want His people to trust in their resources or strength; but wanted them to rely on Him to achieve victory.

So do not try to rely on your strength; but trust in God who is mighty to save you with a mighty deliverance. This is the day you’ve been waiting for all these years. The burden is being lifted; the yoke is being shattered.

Rejoice in the victory that your God alone can give. He is doing it now!
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I Desire to Do Your Will

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8 NIV).

In this verse there is a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ’s passion to do God’s will (Hebrews 10:5–7). In fact, Jesus’ entire life was characterized by a desire to God’s will at all times and in all circumstances.

It is also to be noted that God’s will is always in tune with the Bible. And God’s law was always within the heart of Christ.

In this world, when Christians make a big fuss out of seeking God’s will; this verse helps you to understand two important components that help you understand God’s will:

The first one is a desire to do God’s will; and the second is a life shaped by the Word of God.

Now coming to the first element; it is this desire that is lacking in many. If you look at the lives of most Christians, they just have a desire to be happy, blessed, and active in the Church. But God’s will definitely, without any doubt, involves something more than this.

In fact, it involves a sacrifice of your privileges to move out to where the need is. If you read verse 7, you’ll find written, “Here I am, I have come.” Yes, in accordance to what is written here, Jesus came down from heaven. So the desire to do God’s will has to be expressed in action. So God’s will is not theoretical but practical.

Now coming to the second element; no one is enabled to do God’s will without having God’s law within his heart. Jesus’ life was fully in tune with God’s word; and therefore his entire life was an acting out of God’s will.

The practical lesson is that if you desire to do God’s will, then you have to saturate your life with God’s word. But many don’t have time for God’s word.

That means they are not very serious about their desire to do God’s will. For without being shaped by God’s word, no one can do God’s will. So drink deep of God’s word; then your desire to do God’s will, will be fulfilled.
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The Things You Planned for Us

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare (Psalm 40:5 NIV).

Who plans for others?
Normally, parents plan for their children.

So, what does it mean when God plans for you?
It means that you are His child. And God is being a Father and Mother to you.

Why does He plan for you?
He plans for you because He knows what is best for you and He knows what you need even before you ask Him.

There is a big difference in the way we plan for ourselves and in the way God plans for us. We plan for this life; whereas God plans for eternity.

Our planning is even at its best short-sighted. But God, since He knows everything and sees everything; even things that is yet to happen in the future, plans comprehensively.

That means He plans by taking every possible factor that can affect you into account. Isn’t it amazing?

But that does not mean that you will not encounter obstacles and difficulties in the fulfillment of the plans that God has made for you. For you they are forcefully blocking your way.

But as far as God is concerned those very things that obstruct your path are meant to show you His wonders. In other words, rough weather is also part of God’s plan.

In fact, unless these difficulties are there, you might never know the wondrous nature of His plan for you. You learn to appreciate the wonders that God does only when they surface in a blaze of light in the darkness surrounding you.
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Darkens My Counsel with Words Without Knowledge

Who is this who darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? (Job 38:2 NIV).

Job spoke much in his suffering. We too speak much in our suffering. It is a natural human reaction. Quite often this kind of talk is emotionally charged.

Sometimes these speeches rage against God though those who suffer may not intend to find fault with God. Their speeches then become expressions of severe agony which betrays their inability to understand the purpose of such suffering.

Many people have tried in vain to give a satisfactory explanation to suffering. Usually, there might be valid reasons behind someone’s suffering.

For example, if someone violates natural laws and tries to fly down from the rooftop of his house; he will instead fall down, injure himself and suffer for it.

The reason for suffering is obvious here. But there are many instances where suffering does not yield to such simple explanations. Sometimes someone’s sin can be a cause of suffering.

It can be one’s own sinful deeds that caused it or you might be the victim of someone else’s sinfulness. But even then there may not be any answer to why it should have happened to you.

Job also could find no reason why it should have happened to him. Finally, God confronts him with questions, beginning with the thought that Job was speaking words without knowledge.

After God completes His arguments which surprisingly never answered Job’s questions on his suffering (instead revealed Job’s ignorance about God’s creation and works), Job accepted his fault thus: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3b NIV).

In moments of pain and suffering, let us seek God’s grace that we may not speak words without knowledge.
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Some Trust in Chariots and Horses, But We

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm (Psalm 20:7,8 NIV).

It always looks impressive to have numerous chariots and horses arranged in formation. In modern language chariots and horses could be translated as tanks and missiles. Because it can inspire a sense of confidence many nations place their trust in them.

However, on a very personal level, chariots and horses could be translated as wealth and riches, power and influence, even friends and relatives. The question is, where is your trust?

Or in other words, what is your source of confidence? Is it in God or is it in other things that you count on? There is no doubt that all these things have their value in life and they do come helpful in times of need. You need not underestimate their value.

But the question here is one of trust. Trust places absolute confidence in the thing or person that one trusts in. It is done so in the belief that your chariots and horses, which is your source of confidence, will not fail.

But no one denies the fact that all these things can fail you and disappoint you. You can never trust them absolutely. The sad fact is that many people do not know God enough to put absolute confidence in Him. But to you, who know God, He will be an absolute source of strength and confidence.

Of course, He does send chariots and horses to help you. But your trust is not in them, but in Him. This is where many stumble. They have one eye on God and the other on chariots and horses. It is half-hearted trust.

But those who trust in the name of the Lord our God; for His name is trustworthy, will rise up and stand while those who trust in chariots and horses will fall to rise no more!
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My Word, Will Not Return to Me Empty

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10,11 NIV).

There is power, purpose, and productivity with God’s word.

If any doubt exists about its power, just get out of your room and look around at nature, the skies and the stars when it is night. It all came to exist at His word. He spoke and they came to exist. This is the power of His word.

Is there any other power in this world comparable to His word? There is not. All those power sources of this world; natural, nuclear, renewable or non-renewable; all came to exist at His word. Yes, there is unmatched power in God’s word!

Then there is purpose and productivity in His word. God Himself compares His word to the rain and the snow He sends down from heaven. Wherever it comes down, there is transformation.

The brown dry crusts of mud yield to the work of these heavenly messengers. A process is set into motion. And the change is beautiful, refreshing, clean, green and healthy. Then there are buds and blossoms and seeds and fruit.

Those who toil get more to sow again. And those who enjoy the fruit of their labor get plenty to eat. Similarly God’s word does a work of transformation in the lives of those who are touched by it.

It also multiplies its fruit in and through their lives. Yes, there is purpose and productivity in God’s word.

The best comfort is that God has endorsed His word by proclaiming that it will accomplish all that He desires. He says that it will achieve the purpose for which it has been sent. He declares that His word that goes out of His mouth will not return to Him empty.

Therefore those who carry His word and proclaim it; fight all discouragement. You are bearers of God’s word. It cannot fail; it never will, for God has decreed that it will fulfill its purpose and it will not return empty.

Therefore be not discouraged; for you have never seen the earth remain barren after the rains; have you? So be encouraged; every good purpose with which you proclaimed and sent forth God’s word will surely bear multiplied fruit!
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My Ways Are Higher Than Your Ways

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways ,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9 NIV).

When your best plans fail; when your earnest prayers seem to go unanswered; when you see the sun rise for others smiling while for you it has set; know that God is not over with you yet. He is still your God; more than that He is still the Lord of this universe.

He sees and knows all. Your vision is at its very best, limited. You cannot see beyond the horizon. Think about that. You think the horizon is the end. But God knows what lies beyond.

What if the delay and the frustration in your life now is God-send? Of course, you would never have dreamed of asking for it! Why? It is simple; isn’t it? Your wisdom cannot understand the purpose of it. Therefore you would never choose to welcome it.

But when it does come; it is unpleasant and tests your faith to the limit. The biting moments of discouragement are real. You feel abandoned. You doubt whether God cares. But isn’t it really a problem of not being able to understand His ways which are higher; that is beyond your mind’s ability to grasp.

So when the lightnings flash and thunder booms; and you’re caught in the raging storm when you know not what way to take forward; when all hope is gone; think about God whose thoughts are not your thoughts.

He cannot think despair. He can only see possibilities. And the day and hour is near when He will make you see a glimpse of the higher wisdom of His ways which took you through rough roads untraveled before!
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God’s Mercy and Free Pardon

Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:7 NIV).

With God, there is compromise with sin and wickedness. According to His eternal laws, those who sin earn its wages; that is death. The punishment of wickedness will certainly come to those who practice it, sooner or later. There is no escape.

Yet God is merciful. He has not left you without options to change. You can change by His grace. For that you need to forsake your wicked way. That means you have to give it up. It is not easy. For it is written that “wickedness will not release those who practice it” (Ecclesiastes 8:8z).

But forsaking wickedness is the only way forward. Even if you have to endure a great struggle in your soul; determine to forsake your wicked way. And also stop feeding your mind with evil thoughts; for they breed evil deeds.

What next? Turn to the Lord. Even after you give up evil, the deeds of the past, and its guilt will come to haunt you. No detergent of the world will cleanse you of its filth; no medicine of this world will give you relief from its stinging stabs.

No amount of good deeds done to compensate for crimes committed would give you peace of mind. But there is hope, in God. Turn to Him.

With Him, there is pardon. He will freely pardon you. You will have peace with God. Though you will live amidst the mess you’ve created; you will still live a blessed life for God’s peace and favor will overshadow you.

Know that however far you think you are from God; you are never out of range of God’s pardon.
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Seek the Lord While He May Be Found

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6 NIV).

Opportunities do not last forever. Favorable conditions may not last a lifetime. So it is wise to understand that there are seasons when God is much more near than otherwise.

He is patient; and does not give up on His children so easily. Yet He will not wait forever. Who knows, God may have kept open for you the doors of heaven even till now!

In this uncertain world no one knows when the curtains fall on one life or the other. An earthquake, a tsunami, an accident, an illness or a terrorist attack might suddenly close the doors of life. Once it is closed you’ve no more opportunity to seek God.

Many laugh at these possibilities. But one look at the newspapers of the day would tell you in how many varied and unexpected ways life is cut off.

The mistake that people make even after knowing all this is that they keep postponing seeking God. They think that all these kind of tragic things occur to others; and will never even come near them.

So they feel no urgency in seeking God. They keep it for their retirement days. But no one knows what evil a day can bring forth!

Therefore be wise and warned to seek God now. This is the time when He can be found. God is ever willing to respond to those who are willing to seek Him. He is ever willing to hear the faintest whisper of a cry from those who call on Him.

In this complex world of technology and speed and knowledge and concrete jungles; isn’t it a comfort to know that God can be found by those who seek Him? Though God does not change; seasons do. So be wise to seek Him in this season while He may be found.
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In Its Time I Will Do This Swiftly

The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly (Isaiah 60:22 NIV).

There is a key to understanding the way that God’s blessing and increase comes. It is the phrase, “in its time.” There is a time that God has set for opening the floodgates of heaven to bless you. Your duty is to wait for that time.

It might take patient waiting. You might endure much delay. But take a moment to look at the mighty promise given. It is huge. Therefore you should hold on to the promise without wavering, in hope.

When it is time, God acts. The difficulty for you comes only because you do not when God is going to act. But it is here that you should remind yourself that it is God who has given the promise. He has said that He will act. There is no uncertainty here.

As you look to God and meditate on His goodness and faithfulness in keeping His promises, your heart will be put to rest. You will be strengthened to endure the waiting period. The encouraging thought that should sustain you in moments of desperate waiting is the fact that God will act.

Finally, there is a swift rapidity and lightning quickness with which God will act when the time comes. The fulfillment of the promise should not take you by surprise even though it happens quickly.

Let the world know that you were expecting it to happen. Let others see that you had waited in the sure hope of God acting on your behalf.

But let the way and speed with which God acts for you be a bold testimony to half-hearted and doubting believers, that in its time, God does act swiftly to those who trust in Him and wait for His promise!
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Recorded the Stages in Their Journey

At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages (Numbers 33:2 NIV).

Any journey has many stages; especially the journey of life. But is there any significance to recording the stages of that journey?

There has to be; otherwise God might not have asked Moses to do so. It would be good to attempt to understand the reasons behind this command.

First of all this recording occurs at a significant stage of their journey. Their wilderness wanderings were about to be over. They were making final preparations to enter the Promise Land.

There was going to be a new beginning. But before it could happen, God wanted His people to mediate on the stages that had gone before.

Secondly, these stages do record moments of their disobedience and failure. They had rebelled and murmured against God at many stages recorded here. It seems that God wanted His people to be reminded of their faithlessness in following Him.

Thirdly, many stages recorded here are places where God had provided for His people in remarkable ways. Now as they were making preparations to enter the Promised Land, God wanted His people to remember that He will still be a Providing God to them.

Most significantly, we need to remember that each stage of this journey began and ended at God’s command. Only when the cloud (signifying God’s presence among them) would lift from above the Tent of Meeting did the people set out; and when it settled, they camped again.

It teaches us to always seek God’s will in all the beginnings and endings of life. It also challenges us to make God a part of all our decisions in life. Thus the stages of a journey teach us important lessons of our relationship with God in the walk of life and faith!
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He Took Up Our Infirmities and Carried Our Sorrows

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, … But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. … and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4a,5,6c NIV).

FOR YOU! Everything He endured was for you! You cannot afford to forget this message. He went through the agony to bring you peace.

He had to know what being forsaken was, to bring you near to God.

His wounds were for your healing. He was pierced for your transgressions; crushed for your iniquities. He carried your sorrows. All for you!

How often do you remember Him? How often do you think about what He did for you? What difference has that made in your life? Have you seen this kind of selfless love in anyone else?

If you have understood how selflessly He sacrificed everything for you; have you tried to be at least a little less self-centered in your life? Have you ever thought about others for whom also He died?

What does this chapter of God’s love and sacrifice teach you? Why did God allow His Servant to suffer? Did not God have any other method to save you? What is God’s purpose in suffering?

Is sin such a terrible thing so that it cost God everything to cancel its terrible impact on you and mankind at large? If sin is so horrible in God’s eyes, why do you still hold on to it like a toy with childish devilish delight?

When you enjoy sin, remember, you too had a part in causing His suffering. It was you who pierced Him; not anyone else. Or was it you? Perhaps it was me. Yes, it was I who pierced Him!
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God, Who Teaches You What Is Best for You

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, … (Isaiah 48:17b,18a NIV).

God makes known His concern for you by teaching you. He teaches you many things especially through His Word. But in this context, He teaches you specifically the way that is best for you. He directs you in the way you should go.

But is this experience real? Yes, definitely it is. But many Christians do not experience this very real and specific guidance of God. Why? The reason is not difficult to find. God Himself makes it clear: “If only you had paid attention to my commands . . .”

The fact is that many do not take God’s directions in their life seriously.They do not believe that God can counsel them in such practical decisions of everyday life. This one factor denies them the privilege of knowing God’s intimate, specific and very personal guidance in their lives.

Two simple things to be noted are these:

One, there are many ways in life to choose from. But it is not always easy to know “the best” from among them. A variety of voices can counsel you in different ways. These can confuse you; but God can teach you what is best for you. You need not doubt it.

Secondly, a choice alone does not ensure progress. Once a choice is made, constant care and guidance are needed for continued growth. It is here that God’s loving care is demonstrated.

He guides you by directing you in the way you should go. It is a moment by moment guidance, a step by step direction; it protects you from unnecessary risks and allows you to make quick progress.

Even though all these things are true, God still says: “If only you had paid attention to my commands . . .” Are you disappointing God by not listening to Him today? Is the loss yours or His? Think about it.
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From Now On I Will Tell You of New Things

I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. … From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you (Isaiah 48:3,6b NIV).

This is not an encouraging message but a rebuke from God. You have not listened to His counsel but delighted to go your own way. So God calls you to remember how He had announced the former things long ago.

They remained as prophecies which many chose not to believe in. But at the right time, God acted suddenly and they came to pass. God is calling you to remember these deeds of His which He had foretold.

It is to remind you of His wisdom and power. And also to rebuke you for your constant refusal to admit God’s miraculous intervention in your life.

Since you have been rebellious against God like this, God is giving you yet another opportunity. He is proclaiming to you today new things. These are God’s immediate creations, created now. It is a rebuke to tell you that you cannot claim to have known these things before.

The opportunity for you in this is to humble yourself before God and repent of your stubbornness. See, God can not only predict the present from a distant past, but also create new things now which you have never heard before. Therefore let God be God. Acknowledge Him today.

God is delaying His wrath against you. He is testing you now. God is being merciful because you are still His child. And He is still your God. And He does not gain glory in your destruction.

Therefore stop being rebellious. Stop being stubborn. Instead acknowledge God; for His knowledge is far beyond your understanding!
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Made Him Glad with the Joy of Your Presence

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence (Psalm 21:6 NIV).

This talks about the blessings given to the king whose desire God had granted. Surely this is the pattern in which God blesses all His children.

As you think about it; mercy shown to you, forgiveness of sins granted to you, and eternal life gifted to you, are all blessings that are eternal. Along with it the victories that God grants you crown you with glory.

But all this cannot have an impact on your life if you cannot enjoy it here and now. And the one thing that binds it all together to make it real for you now is the joy of God’s presence with which He makes you glad.

The joy of God’s presence gives you the ability to enjoy the eternal blessings that God gives. As you look around, you will find mournful Christians all around. They are not like that because of some grief that they are passing through.

But they go about sorrowful because they are unable to enjoy the eternal blessings that God has given them. They forget the fact that they have a God whose presence is full of joy. And God who is so merciful and liberal in His giving of blessings to His children is also the Giver of joy of His presence.

Have you failed to receive this gift? Without this joy of His presence you cannot be glad in spite of all the blessings that God has gifted you with. This joy is not make-believe. It is not manufactured on earth. It cannot be generated by any saint.

It is God-given. It is granted to those who appreciate God’s eternal blessings in their lives. It is given in exceeding abundance to those who are thankful for the same!

—
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I Make Known the End from the Beginning

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do” (Isaiah 46:10,11 NIV).

There is no other in this entire world, earth or heaven, who knows the end from the beginning other than God Himself. He knows where the world is heading to and where you are headed to.

And He alone knows how your path may serve His purpose in this world. Therefore listen to Him for He alone can tell you the end from the beginning.

Do not be found at cross purposes with God’s plan. For you cannot oppose God. He will do all that pleases Him; and His purpose alone will stand.

The best thing for you to do is to ask God to show you the purpose of your life; and then align yourself to it. For God has a plan. And you can be a part of it to fulfill His purpose.

It is interesting to note that to fulfill His purpose and do all that He has planned, God is here summoning a man. Note that God still does His work through individuals.

You can trust God because He knows what you are supposed to do to fulfill His plan. The best thing that you can do is to do your part, thus fulfill His purpose for you and leave the big plan to God Himself.

He will bring together many individual contributions to fulfill His grand plan; for God knows the end from the beginning.

You may not know how what you are asked to do is going to work out in His grand design and plan. Many give up God’s work because of attempting to know what good their contribution is doing to God’s cause.

It is discouraging because it is impossible to know these things. God alone knows the end from the beginning. And you have to be humble enough to keep on doing that task that God has assigned you.

Trust Him for He knows the end from the beginning; for it is His plan. But one day God might reveal the purpose that was fulfilled through you.
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To Open Doors Before Him

This is what the Lord says to his anointed, … whose right hand I take hold of … to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you … (Isaiah 45:1,2a NIV).

This is part of a famous prophecy about King Cyrus whom God used to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. Though it refers particularly to him, its message is applicable to you today.

The promise for you today is that God is taking hold of your right hand since you are His anointed servant. The purpose is to open doors before you. When God does that, gates will remain open before you and will not be shut.

This is something the world knows nothing about. It is a special privilege that God grants His servants who are called to fulfill His choicest purposes in their generation. God does not leave them alone to do the task.

Instead He empowers them to be in a position where they can exert the greatest good for God’s glory. This is the impact of God taking hold of your right hand.

Then God opens doors. What had remained closed for a long period of time shall be opened; what people said was impossible will be accomplished, and the most improbable opportunities will come to pass. Why?

Because it is God’s business. He is specialized in opening doors. And when He does so for you, your worst enemies cannot shut what He has opened.

The story isn’t over yet. God Himself will go before you. He will demolish any opposition that may come across your path inside the opened door.

He will bring down any power that exalts itself in your path. He will level the ground for your successful journey. This is your God; the God who opens doors for you!
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You Have Enlarged the Nation and Increased Their Joy

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder (Isaiah 9:3 NIV).

Praise God that there is an enlargement that is destined for you. The restricting circumstances shall be removed. A great freedom of movement and increase will come.

A time of growth and prosperity is destined to happen. And it is a joyous occasion because it is God Himself who is making it happen for you.

There will be an increase of joy. It shall be joy that is heaven-sent, and that wells up within. It shall be an offshoot of God’s light that is shining on you and your paths.

The darkness that you endured will be removed. And instead of shame, an increase of joy will shine through you.

And you will rejoice before God. For you will enjoy the fruit of your labor; and the harvest of all your hard work over the years will be brought to you. There will be plenty for you to enjoy, plenty to give away, plenty to store and plenty to sow for the coming years.

The barren fields where you had sowed and waited patiently for the yield shall give you cause to rejoice; for God shall sent a harvest that is plentiful.

The rejoicing shall be great because it brings victory. There shall be a final victory over the battles waged over the years. The defeats of years past shall yield to a new conquest; a victory where you shall divide the plunder.

You who had been the defeated one over the years shall now conquer. You shall be a more than conqueror; for you will defeat what had defeated you.

And you will rejoice before your God who has done this mighty thing for you! May your joy increase!
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Woe to Me! I Am a Man of Unclean Lips

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5 NIV).

“Woe to me!” What other response is possible? The awesome majesty of God’s holiness cannot inspire any other response in sinful, earthly man. So great is the gulf between the holy God and sinful men.This day, therefore, catch a vision of this awesome holiness of God.

For many modern preachers have made God to look like such a friendly neighbor. How far away it is from the truth! Therefore this day, catch a vision of the holy and awesome God.

Now why did Isaiah cry out, “I am a man of unclean lips”? It was because he suddenly realized that the best praises that he could render God was inadequate. More than that if our motives in worship could be weighed in God’s Balances, it will be found to be impure and sinful.

So he cried out about his unclean lips that could not offer pure praise and worship.

He also cried out that he was ruined because He saw the King, the Lord Almighty. It was because no man could see God and live. Therefore that vision of God was most terrifying.

In the light of this revelation of God, it would be great if you and I could restore to God the honor due Him–the King, the Lord Almighty!

Finally, this passage clearly puts before us the intense response that a vision of God on the throne can evoke in any man. This response can only be one like that Prophet Isaiah had: A true realization of one’s wretchedness before God; a burning sensation of one’s own sinfulness and terrible sense of ruin that can descend upon you.

Remember, a vision of God on the throne can evoke no other response!
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What More Could Have Been Done for My Vineyard?

What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it only bad? (Isaiah 5:4 NIV).

Listen to this complaint. The issue is “what more” had to be done. That implies that much had already been done. The vineyard is none else but you. The person making the complaint is none other than God. Therefore listen to it.

Think of all the good He did for you. Think of all the opportunities He gave you to know more about Him. Did you utilize them properly? Or did you neglect them?

The complaint is serious not only because of what He did for you, but also because of the relationship that He has with the vineyard. He says, “my vineyard.” There is ownership here. The vineyard is His. If it were somebody else’s vineyard, God would not have bothered.

But it is you–you whom He took much care of. He also arranged every circumstance in such a way that you could bear fruit. But no good fruit came. Instead what was produced was bad. Therefore the complaint is serious indeed.

Remember that there comes a point when the limit is crossed. And that time in your life might be just round the corner. Take stock of your life now. You can never say that God was impatient with you. But it was you who played a delay game with God. You put off seeking Him earnestly each time God tried to get your attention.

Every time some crisis came you sought God. And when you found that there was relief, you put God aside and forgot all about Him. Yet God was patient. But know that there comes a time when the limit is crossed. And when God acts who can stand? Therefore earnestly try to produce good fruit now before the limit is crossed!

A Cleft in the Rock

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You Refreshed Your Weary Inheritance

You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance (Psalm 68:9 NIV).

When batteries run low, they need to be recharged. And when Christians are depleted of their spiritual strength, they need to be refreshed.

Long and intense spiritual battles can drain the strength of any Christian. It is then that he becomes weary. Usual sources of help like encouraging words from friends may not help much when the weariness is intense. It is then that a Christian can look to the Lord for refreshing.

But many Christians fear to admit their weariness. They try to plod on; that is, they walk on with slow and heavy steps because they are very tired. They try to smile and make others believe that everything is O.K. This is not a good practice.

Christians need to learn to admit the fact when they are weary. There is nothing to be ashamed about it. As long as we inhabit this body, an earthly tent, weariness will be part of life once in a while.

Once the Christian can admit his need, he can look to the Lord for refreshing. God can give it in abundance. Isn’t that truth lovely? God spares no good thing when you are weary and needs to be refreshed.

He gives the showers in plenty. They are heaven-sent. Its coming shall wash away the dusty and sweaty smelling weariness from you. He does this for you because you are His inheritance. That means His eye watches over you because you are His.

He therefore cares to send you abundant showers. Like the blade of grass that lifts up its head after the showers, so shall you lift up your head when times of refreshing shall come from the Lord!
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Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1 NIV).

There are things beyond man’s control. And they can act at any time. Those who boast about tomorrow either close their eyes to this fact or think that such things may happen to others but not to them.

They also base their boasting on their present condition. They assume that their status today will continue to become better and they will thus live in the coming days. But these things may not happen according to their wishes.

Again, those who boast about tomorrow do not take into account God and His ways with men. They conveniently forget that the God who can build them up can also throw them down.

He exalts one and puts down another. He can do so in a space of few hours; at times even much much less. Think of Joseph who was exalted from the prison to the palace in a flash. Think of King Belshazzar (Daniel 5) who dishonored God and was slain that very night; his kingdom given to Darius.

Therefore tomorrow might dawn differently than expected for those who boast about tomorrow.

Then there is the aspect of knowledge to be considered. The simple truth is that “you do not know.” Yes, tomorrow is an unknown thing. No one knows whether tomorrow will come without them here.

No boasting of knowledge acquired through years of study or scientific achievement or careful observation will be enough to know what tomorrow will bring.

A new day might go silently by or it can throw a lot of unexpected and unpleasant surprises. It can crawl along and suddenly in a flash bring a lot of twists and turns. So better not boast about tomorrow.
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According to Each Day’s Need

According to each day’s need (1 Kings 8:59z NIV).

There is much wisdom in this prayer . It asks God to hear the prayer of His people and answer it “according to each day’s need.”

Prayer therefore can be made for all kinds of needs; but the wisdom is to ask God to answer “according to each day’s need.”

Christians need to rediscover the secret of answered prayer. They need to realize that God has given man life to be lived one day at a time. It is when man thinks too much about needs that might arise in the future that he fails to see what God is doing today.

Many people feel dissatisfied because of this single reason. They fail to appreciate what God has already done this day.

A Christian should not fall into this trap which robs him of great joy in the Lord. He should realize that God would provide whatever he needs for the day. If that is done then what more do you need?

So in prayer you can ask for all the needs that you face. And you can expect answers from God too. But the wisdom in prayer is to have the assurance that God in His wisdom answers your prayer “according to each day’s need.”

When a Christian lives with this assurance others will note the joy that you have and the confidence in God that is radiated from you. This is a result of simple obedience which trusts God for daily needs.

In such a dependence is a loving relationship with God built. The best thing about this daily provision is that a Christian need not struggle hard to make it happen. He just needs to encourage himself with the truth that God provides for daily needs.

Of course, some learn this truth very quickly. Others take some time to learn it. But the lesson to be learned is the same that God answers the prayers of His children “according to each day’s need!”
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A Cleft in the Rock

When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by (Exodus 33:22 NIV).

There is a cleft in the rock where God can hide you in. It is specially reserved for those who desire to see God’s glory.

Though it is not possible to see God face to face, He allows His choicest servants to see some glimpses of His glory. But for that He hides them in the cleft in the rock.

The New Testament speaks of you as hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Was this rock symbolic of Christ? Possibly yes. In another context it says that “they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4b).

Therefore you can think and meditate on Christ as you think of the cleft in the rock. That is your hiding place (Psalm 32:7a). It is when you are hidden in Christ that you are given a glimpse into the goodness of the Lord.

From no other place will you have an insight into the mercy and compassion of God. The cleft in the rock is a sacred place for every true believer and for you.

Think of it in this way too. Moses made the request to see God’s glory. Though His face should not be seen; God still made the provision for Moses to have a glimpse of His glory. That is important: God Himself made the provision.

It teaches you that there is nothing you can do to make you worthy to see God. Only God can do that for you.

And that too only by hiding you in the cleft in the rock and shielding you from His glory which can consume you if you are not covered by His hand.

Are you enjoying the privilege of being hidden in the cleft in the rock? It is a sacred place to be!

Is God Your Hiding Place?


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Whoever Is for the Lord, Come to Me

Whoever is for the Lord, come to me (Exodus 32:26b NIV).

Going along with the crowd is always an easy option. But what if the crowd decides to forget the Lord and do as they please? What if this decision leads to sin? It is then that you should remember this rallying cry, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.”

Even when the crowd decides to do wrong, it is your decision whether to join them or not. It is true that the pressure from the crowd to join them will be immense.

But you can take a stand for God. There may not be many to stand with you. But God is with you and it is for His honor and cause that you have decided to rally behind.

If the stand is for God, then often it is also against those who have joined the crowd. Do not be surprised if your stand for God positions you against your relatives and close friends. For they may also have joined the crowd.

But the choice has to be made. Whether you will stand for God is the question, no matter who all are not with you!

Today, the challenge of rallying cry, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me,” is heard loud and clear. Few listen to it. Still fewer respond to it. One reason is that sometimes leaders themselves fall prey to the pressure of the crowd to do wrong.

For example, here, Aaron gives in to the pressure of the crowd to make a golden calf and worship it. When leaders idolize anyone or anything other than the Lord, beware. They are trying to please the crowd and not the Lord. Then listen to the rallying cry and take a stand for God.

Finally, God sets you apart when you take a stand for Him against the pressure of the crowd. And He blesses you for it.
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I Have Come Down to Rescue Them. So Now, Go

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians … So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:8a, 10 NIV).

This chapter in the Bible shows us the divine initiative. It tells us that God is concerned about the suffering of His children. It shows us the heart of God who takes the initiative, the first step, in rescuing His children. It is of great importance to understand the truth about divine initiative.

In any great attempt for God, there will be a God initiative. There is no problem with man taking the initiative. But sometimes it fails as it happened with Moses who attempted rescuing the Israelites forty years ago in his own way.

So it is always good to have the knowledge that God has taken the first step in getting things rolling. Here God is informing Moses that He has seen the misery of His people and is going to rescue them.

Such a knowledge that God is moving and acting to get something done ensures that it will get done.

Secondly, even when the initiative is divine there will be a human agency to do the task. In this case, God called Moses to be that human hand to do His work.

So when God takes the initiative, He calls a person and gives the command to go to the specified place. Then that person can go with the assurance that God has sent him.

Finally, it is good to note that when God takes the initiative, He knows exactly what the outcome of the assignment should be and would be. God knows exactly what He wants to get done.

So His servant need have no doubt when God has taken the initiative to send him. He need only obey and proceed as God directs!
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Moses Took the Bones of Joseph with Him

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place” (Exodus 13:19 NIV).

Focus on Joseph. He had become governor of the land of Egypt. He enjoyed the favor of the king and also enjoyed the honor given to him by the people. He became mighty in the land and was able to provide for his family.

And they increased in the land of Egypt. The best of Egypt was theirs!

What would have been your thoughts if you had been in his position when it was time for you to die? Joseph had no thoughts of a permanent settlement in Egypt even though he was well placed there.

His attitude still was that of a pilgrim and a stranger in that country. In spite of all that he was able to achieve there, his heart was in the Promised Land. Though he was in Egypt, Egypt never had hold in his heart.

What an excellent attitude was this! Likewise you too can have your thoughts centered on heaven even as you live on earth. Always remember that your citizenship is in heaven. Remind yourself that you are a stranger and pilgrim on earth.

You are in a journey. And let the thoughts of your final destination evoke in you a longing to get there. Let not the best of what the earth can offer not divert your eyes and heart from the promised eternal dwellings in heaven.

Be sure that even when the promise seems far away even when the sun sets, there shall be a sun rise. Then God will come. And you too will rise from the dust of the earth to receive him. That privilege is yours if you hold on to the promise of the Promised Land.
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