Protected

Protected

Ephesians 6: ¹⁶ At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. ¹⁷ And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 

 

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“Why is this happening?” has been the question I raised up to GOD many times. During several points in my life, it seemed like wave after wave after wave of calamity was happening. Peace could not be found.

 

• I was down.
• I felt like things were hopeless.
• I did not see any relief any time soon.

 

“Carry faith” was Paul’s analogy in the armor of GOD. He warns that the Evil One will try to attack everyone and a way to thwart the attack is through faith. He also gives us protection of the mind by belief in JESUS for salvation. He lastly provides the only weapon used in the armor of GOD, namely GOD’s word.

 

My Observations

• Despair, doubt and disappointments can be fought against with faith in the LORD.
• Fear, insecurity and uncertainty can be erased from my mind with salvation in JESUS.
• Lies, twisted words and manipulation can be destroyed with the Word of GOD.

 

Protection against the Evil One is highly important to GOD. HE knows we are simply sheep amongst wolves, so HE gives us a way to protect ourselves against a foe that seems relentless. Our fight is not against humans, rather against “wicked spiritual forces” according to the scripture.

 

Salvation keeps our minds clear and focused on the LORD. The world will keep coming up with things that can pollute our mind to turn away from GOD. Since our sin nature wants what it wants, GOD provided HIS word to guide our desires back in alignment with HIM. I am glad GOD gave me the whole armor to protect me daily.

 

Challenge

• When does the writer feel you should use faith as protection?
• Have you ever felt helpless, worried or overwhelmed?
• Will you seek GOD’s protection through faith in HIS power, belief in HIS SON and understanding of HIS word today?

Check It

Check It

Acts 15: ¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. ¹⁵ The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁶ “‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
¹⁷ that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’—
¹⁸     things known from long ago.

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Going with my gut, I began to assemble the complex item. I mean, I had put a lot of things together before, what would be so hard about this thing? While I had a good start, somewhere towards the middle of my assembly, I discovered I did not have the right parts available. I had to take everything apart and look at the instructions. I had used the wrong parts too early.

• There were times when I went with my gut feelings.
• There were times when I did what I “thought” was right.
• There were times when I acted on something before checking to see if I was doing it correctly.

Barnabas and Paul explained how they began to speak to other races about JESUS. They also explained how amazing GOD worked through them. James explained how Simon, also known as Peter, had also been charged to speak to other races. James checked what they were doing by looking at what the prophets wrote.

• GOD wants me to check my actions to see if they align with HIS desires.
• GOD wants me to understand I may think of things that seem right but they are not.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways by reading HIS word first.

There is a way that seems right humans but its end is death. GOD wants me to check the thought that seems so right, so comfortable and so pleasurable, against HIS word. If the thought conflicts, HE wants me to have enough fear of HIM to obey what HE wants me to do rather than what I want to do.

Obedience to GOD may mean I am stretched to speak to people who do not look or act like me. The person may vote a different way or listen to music that I may not understand, BUT GOD wants me to reach the person anyway. I am grateful JESUS gave me purpose from long ago.

• Is GOD telling you to expand your heart to speak to other people?
• Do you see hurt across every nation?
• Will you allow GOD to give you abundant life by caring for the people HE sends to you today?

Getting Prepared

Daniel 7: ²⁵ He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

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“Where is my phone?” I asked myself as I looked around the house frantically. When I found it I had to ask a similar question, “Where are my keys?” I retraced my steps and found my keys on top of a chest of drawers where I had laid them down to find my phone. That day did not make me feel prepared.

• Sometimes I do not feel prepared for what is coming.
• Sometimes I do not feel prepared for the many situations that will pop up in a given day.
• Sometimes I do not feel prepared for many of life’s happenings.

After losing these same items a few more times, I decided to be prepared. I would locate my keys and phone before I went to bed and put them in the same place, this way when I left for work, there they were. I wonder If GOD is the same way? I mean, do I need to get prepared for something of HIS? Yes!

• GOD says to me “Keep watch, for you do not know the day or the hour.”
• GOD says to me “No one knows the day or the hour of MY return.”
• GOD says to me “I WILL come like a thief in the night, so be prepared”

How can I be prepared for something that has been looming for thousands of years? GOD wants me to communicate with HIM on a daily basis so I will not be surprised. Each day as I read and pray, I get prepared for JESUS’s return. HIS kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, free of politics and full of HIS love and peace. I look forward to those times immensely.

• Are you looking forward to CHRIST’s return or are you too distracted?
• Will you continue to focus in on your distractions of will you start looking for CHRIST daily?
• Can you start looking for GOD’s kingdom by giving HIM your worries daily?
• Will you start getting prepared by helping your neighbor?

Pondering Takes Time

Psalm 48: ⁹ Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate on your unfailing love.
¹⁰ Like your name, O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.

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“I wonder if I did my report?” was the thought that crossed my mind. The answer came to me in a flash. “No!” I started thinking of who I could call to help me with the project. I then thought about some important points that would make the report engaging. Finally I thought of some great numbers that would really knock the socks off of senior management.

When I finished my flood of thoughts I realized I was in church and had not really heard a word that was said. “Oh well, I’ll catch it next week.”

• Sometimes I get distracted with life.
• Sometimes I put projects in the way of life.
• Sometimes I see nothing else but the project, causing me to be blind.

Praise who? I have this on my mind and it’s hard to praise anyone when I am this distracted, I thought to myself. Then it hit me, I was getting choked by the world.

• GOD says to me “Do not worry” and I believe it is because I lose my focus of HIM.
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid” and I believe it is because I think about this world too much.
• GOD says to me “I will be with you always” and I forget this when I am distracted.

GOD has received second billing in my life to so many worries, fears and doubts. I exhaust myself just trying to keep things moving in a path that I feel comfortable. GOD has never placed me on a path where life gets boring. HE has just the right mix of trial and reward to make me grow. HE is worthy of my time and I need to quiet down and listen to HIM daily.

• Are you distracted?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Can you stop for a moment to meditate on GOD’s wonderful power?
• Will you praise GOD today for HIS unfailing love?

Endure with Delight

Psalm 1: ¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

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“Trust in the LORD and lean not unto your own understanding” is what my mother would say to me. “Yeah, yeah” I thought to myself. I did not ponder these words until I had to experience them myself. Soon real trouble came and I was on my own with no one to turn to. “What was she trying to tell me?”

• Words in the Bible were more “poetic” to me than experience.
• Words in the Bible were more “mysterious” to me than fact.
• Words in the Bible were more “interpretive” to me than a means to grow.

Now that the waters of trouble have pounded against me for years, I can say “I understand.” Each day is faced with new challenges and I need something to hold onto. What should I delight in?

• GOD gave me a path that I can choose to be on each day.
• GOD gave me relationships that I can show HIS love.
• GOD gave me HIS Word that if I believe and trust in HIM I will have everlasting life.

Trouble comes in waves pounding against my soul, BUT GOD gave me a way to endure. If I pay attention to what HE says through my Bible, my church and my relationships, I can hear HIM clearly. I can delight and meditate on HIS deliverance in spite of what’s going on around me. This plants my soul deep in trust and absorbs the nutrients of faith, love and hope that is provided by GOD’s river.

• Is your mind troubled?
• Do you have situations that seem utterly impossible?
• Can you meditate on GOD’s ways?
• Will you look at HIS word and read peace into your soul today?

Can I Hear God?

2 Chronicles 33: ¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

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“Why did I just lie?” was the final straw. At this point I was lying for no reason at all. There was nothing to gain so in all respects I was lying to myself. It wasn’t the lie that brought me around, but the question. Where did that question come from?

• There are times when I hear GOD and I choose to ignore HIM.
• There are moments when GOD is telling me to do something and I sit back and close my ears.
• There are periods where I am throwing a tantrum and I refuse to do what GOD is saying.

GOD speaks to me each and every day.  HE placed HIS laws in my heart as HE did every human HE made. HE says “Forgive that person” or “Don’t do that this time” or “Be Strong, do not be discouraged” to me and in my own bumbling way I ignore what HE says.

• GOD wants me to listen to HIM on a daily basis.
• GOD wants me to read HIS word so HE can speak to me.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways so HE will make me fruitful.

GOD speaks to me through HIS creation when I can see growth, sun and rain. It’s up to me to appreciate it.  GOD speaks to me through people in calm and trying situations. It’s up to me to praise HIM about it. GOD speaks to me through HIS Bible. It’s up to me to absorb what HE is saying. GOD speaks to me through the HOLY SPIRIT who brings me comfort. It’s up to me to receive peace.

GOD speaks to me daily. HE wants me to speak back to HIM.

• Are you confused or fearful?
• Have you ever asked “How can I hear GOD?”
• Can you stop and look around and see what GOD is saying to you right now?
• Will you let GOD permeate your heart?

Not knowing is worse

2 Kings 22: ⁸ Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. ⁹ Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

¹¹ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. ¹² He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: ¹³ “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

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Finally I was on my own.  No more tyranny from my parents, no more schedules to go to class! I had my own apartment and I was free to live as I pleased. After visiting my fourth club, I soon realized this dinky town has no “fun.” I longed for the big city but settled on trying to build my night life where I was.

For some reason I started to feel empty. Even when I went to clubs and bars full of people I felt something missing. A person I ran into said I should read the Bible and go to church. “If I go to church, they will tell me how to live my life. I’ll pass.” I said reluctantly.

• Ignorance of GOD is not an excuse for me.
• Ignoring what GOD has written through humans is not an excuse for me.
• Avoiding GOD so I can do what I want is not an excuse for me.

Josiah was eight when he took the thrown. His predecessors did not follow GOD even to the point where they sacrificed their own children. The Bible was lost and people didn’t have instruction on how to live. I tried to do the same by plotting my own course without GOD. I wouldn’t read, serve or learn. BUT GOD wanted more.

• GOD wants me to take HIS yoke upon me and learn of HIM.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to HIS glory daily.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face rather than hide from HIM.

The more I seek GOD the more I do the things HE wants me to do. This brings a radical change in me.

• Are you trying to do things without GOD?
• Are you tired of doing things under your own power?
• Will you take GOD’s hand and accept HIS might, HIS power, and HIS strength?

How do I know when the LORD is speaking?

Deuteronomy 18: ²¹ You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” ²² If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

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Pricey but sleek was my dream car at the time. It was next on my list of toys I was going to purchase. GOD must want me to have it, because I want it and I have the means to purchase it. I think I even had a date in mind. When the company cut positions, I no longer had the means to buy this pricey hunk of metal. Was my desire from GOD or me?

• Just because a thought pops in my head doesn’t mean it’s from GOD.
• Just because I really want something doesn’t mean GOD has blessed my desire.
• Just because a circumstance is placed in front of me doesn’t mean that circumstance is flowing towards GOD’s plan.

I have heard preachers tell me the end of the world was supposed to happen on a specific date but the Bible says “No man knows the date or time” for this event. I have thought a person was or wasn’t going to do something BUT GOD did opposite of my thought. Is GOD opposing me on purpose? How do I know when HE is speaking?

• GOD speaks through HIS HOLY SPIRIT HE placed inside of me and has written HIS laws on my heart and the HOLY SPIRIT reminds me to follow them.
• GOD speaks through ordained humans, not always pastors or teachers, but those HE consecrates to say some tough messages that I sometimes do not like.
• GOD speaks through HIS Bible which documents past, present and future events.

Why the mystery?  I mean if HE would just open up HIS mouth and audibly say something then everyone on earth would believe, right? Wrong! HE walked on the planet for years and years and many did not believe. Instead of begging for my love HE showed HIS by dying on the cross in my place.

• Have you asked GOD to show you the way?
• Have you given GOD the chance to say “no” to your idea or desire?
• Have you sought GOD by reading HIS Bible?
• Are you listening to what GOD is saying through other humans or are you critiquing them?
• Do you check what humans are saying with what the Bible says?

Read, Heed but don’t need

Deuteronomy 17: ¹⁸ When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. ¹⁹ It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees ²⁰ and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

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“Read the Bible daily” is what people would tell me.  “Read a book? Read the Bible?” were the two dreadful thoughts that crossed my mind. Can’t someone just tell it to me?  So I picked the Bible up and started to read it from Genesis. It wasn’t so bad until I hit an area I thought was pretty dry.  I mean why do I have to learn about all these laws and lists of people?

I stopped reading because it was boring and I wasn’t getting it. In fact, after a while I stopped going to church because it was boring and hypocritical. Then I stopped praying, at least until things started to go wrong. “What should I do? I know… I need to look in the Bible.”

• At one point I viewed reading the Bible as a task rather than a need.
• At one point I viewed reading the Bible as something for pastors and teachers, not me.
• At one point I viewed reading the Bible as too indicting, too incriminating, too judgmental.

I mean the people who told me to read weren’t following the Bible anyway, why should I read it was my pitiful thought. BUT GOD opened my eyes and showed me something different.

• GOD wanted me to learn about HIM because in very lonely times HE would be the only one there for me.
• GOD wanted me to learn about HIM because there are many who are in pain and struggling and need a word of encouragement.
• GOD wanted me to learn about HIM because HIS love is misunderstood.

It took a while, but now I actually crave spending time reading about HIM. I guess it’s because the wheels have fallen off the tracks enough in my life that I need to find out how to do things with power. Once I began to heed GOD’s message, clarity came into my life.

I no longer needed to be better than the next person, but be the best “me” that I could be. GOD said HE made me wonderful and HE loves me. I read it in words HE spoke to mankind in the Bible.

• Do you feel a bit lost?
• Are you seeking a word of encouragement?
• Can you read the Bible and seek GOD’s promises for you?
• Won’t you trust that HE has a great plan for you today?

Keeping GOD’s message special

Numbers 1: ⁴⁷ But the families of the tribe of Levi were not counted along with the others. ⁴⁸ The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said, ⁴⁹ “You must not count the men from the tribe of Levi. Do not include them when you list the other men of Israel.

⁵⁰ “Instead, put the Levites in charge of the holy tent. That is where the tablets of the covenant are kept. The Levites will be in charge of everything that belongs to the holy tent. They must carry the tent and everything that belongs to it. They must take care of it. They must set up camp around it.

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Dress in a suit and don’t walk behind the pulpit were the rules that seemed to be upheld the most in the church of my childhood. Meanwhile I missed many sermons because I would fall asleep. “When I get older, I may not attend church” I said to myself.

I tried reading the Bible but it got boring real quick. I mean why should I know a genealogy? And besides, many of the old folks who were teaching me this stuff didn’t seem to be living any better than other folks.

• When GOD’s message is not special to me I develop reasons to move away from HIM.
• When GOD’s message is not special to me I treat everything about HIM as common.
• When GOD’s message is not special to me I compare what others are doing and never look at myself.

GOD went through great lengths to make HIS message to me special.  HE wrote HIS laws on my heart and taught many great people to hold HIS word in great esteem. HE knew I would reject HIS ways so when HIS SON volunteered to die for me HE agreed. HE loves when I pursue HIM.

• GOD understands when I don’t follow HIS ways but rewards me when I do.
• GOD understands when I don’t read about HIM but loves when I get to know HIM.
• GOD understands when I don’t treat HIS message special but grows me when I seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding from HIM.

HE put a group of people in charge of carrying HIS message when the Israelites were in the desert and told them to keep this message special. GOD wants me to do the same.

• Are you keeping GOD’s message special?
• Do you yield to HIS ways whenever you can?
• Won’t you start seeking HIM by letting go of your expectations of HIM and allowing HIM to work?

Follow the instructions!

Leviticus 8: ³⁴ The Lord commanded what has been done here today. It was done to pay for your sin. ³⁵ Stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days. Stay here day and night. Do what the Lord requires. Then you won’t die. That’s the command the Lord gave me.”

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As I completed assembling the cabinet I noticed a few parts left over. I had failed to read the instructions and had to reassemble the cabinet. GOD wants me to read HIS instructions daily to understand how to cope with life. HE wants me to “do what is commanded” to show gratitude for JESUS taking the punishment for my sins!