What if the Bottom Falls Out?

How often do you have one of those days where the bottom just seems to fall out? Things appear to be on the up and up, going well, when all of a sudden it happens—disaster strikes! Unexpected…unprepared for…what do you do? How do you respond? How do you overcome?

Sadly, disaster strikes more often to more people than we are truly aware of. Many of the people we encounter on a daily basis are going through some kind of crisis situation in their lives. Maybe that is you right now? An unplanned expense? A serious medical condition? A lost job? Problems with a child? An unexpected death of someone close? These situations are real and the pain and distress is real as well.

David and his fighting men had been out in the field for a time engaged in battle with the surrounding enemies. The Bible tells us that when they returned to their home town, “they found it burned down. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped” (1 Samuel 30:3 HCSB). The Bible says: “David and the troops with him wept loudly until they had no strength left to weep” (v. 4). Their distress had overwhelmed them.

Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, David found out his “troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters” (v. 6). Much too often that is what happens in our lives when we find ourselves distressed and overwhelmed by some situation—all of a sudden we get whacked by something else compounding the already difficult time we are going through.

David knew right where to turn in his difficult hour. The Bible says: “David found strength in the Lord his God” (v.7). He got away and got with GOD. GOD ministered to his heart. GOD strengthened and encouraged David promising him that victory was on its way! David went out and confronted his enemy.

The Bible tells us: “David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken; he also rescued his two wives. Nothing of theirs was missing from the youngest to the oldest, including the sons and daughters, of all the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David got everything back” (v. 18-19).

David could’ve sat around depressed and distressed over how bad his situation had become. He could’ve continued crying out, blaming GOD for not taking care of him. He could’ve just thrown his hands in the air and claimed defeat and simply returned to his old way of living. But, he didn’t! He went forth in the power of GOD, faced down his enemy and took back everything the enemy had stolen from him. He refused to be defeated and he came out the conqueror!

I have known many people who allowed their mounting problems, their discouragement, their distress to destroy them. Much too often, people return to their old way of living when disaster strikes rather than turning to GOD and trusting Him. Rather than listening to GOD and following His direction, people will turn to the bottle, to drugs, to worldly living—leaving all that GOD had already done in their lives behind.

Maybe that is you today? Maybe the bottom fell out for you? Something came into your life and drug you away from your relationship with GOD? You were living high on the mountain only to find yourself falling over a cliff of despair. The despair got ahold of you and today you have returned to the ways of you old life? Maybe it’s time to change your situation? Maybe it’s time to turn back to GOD and allow Him to move in your life once again? He is waiting to hear from you.

Maybe the bottom fell out for you? Maybe your life has crumbled underneath you and you are just hanging on by a thread? Give the problem over to GOD. Trust Him for the answer. Hold your head up and walk in faith that GOD will take care of you. GOD is here for you, simply put your trust in Him today. If the bottom falls out, GOD will be there to catch you! Trust Him!

Maybe the LORD has been blessing you in a very special way and you are overflowing with His peace, assurance and joy today? Find someone that’s not doing so well and bless them through a kind encouraging word, through a special prayer, through a helping hand. Be GOD’s hand extended into someone’s life today!

Scripture Reading: “You are righteous, Lord, and Your judgments are just. The decrees You issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy. My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget Your words. Your word is completely pure, and Your servant loves it. I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your instruction is true. Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but Your commands are my delight. Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.” (Psalm 119:137-144 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I am overwhelmed by my problems today. I don’t know how much more I can take before I break. It seems the enemy just keeps packing on the problems and the weight has nearly overcome me. Today, I place my trust completely in You to take this heavy load from me before I break. I pray that by Your Spirit I may find relief, peace and the ability to move forth in the victory You have for me. I realize that things that come into my life can be used to strengthen me and I am trusting that as I look back on this terrible time I have gone through that I will always see the victory that You brought me through by Your power. Thank You, Father for loving me and never giving up on me…I trust completely in You! I love You…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

I’m Just Not the One!

Are there times when you feel you’re just not the one? You don’t have the education? You don’t have the experience? You don’t know the Bible well enough? You are just a baby Christian? Or, an abundance of other excuses for not brandishing the Sword of the Lord and proceeding into the battle!

We can look at ourselves and our inabilities and bow out as simply not the type of person Jesus would choose to use in His service. The idea that “I can’t do this” or “I can’t do that” has duped you into believing you are incapable of being all that GOD has called you to be. So, you have bowed out rather than accepting the challenge to be all you can be for the sake of the Kingdom of GOD!

Let me give you something to think about for a moment. The Scripture tells us: “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, ‘Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:6-7 HCSB).

GOD had rejected Saul as king over the Israelites. He sent His prophet, Samuel, to anoint His chosen replacement. When he entered the house, he was confronted by the oldest son and, in his head determined this is the man. But, GOD spoke to Samuel and told him to quit looking at all the outside things that man looks at like giftings, talents, looks, stature and so much more.

GOD told Samuel to take a look at the man’s heart! The outside can be deceiving. The outside is not always a good indicator of the true man. What man may consider the greatest may be incapable of truly carrying out GOD’s plans because it is the heart of man that directs the man’s true actions.

Six sons passed in front of Samuel that day and six times GOD said, “NO!” Somewhat bewildered, Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons and Jesse responded, “There is still the youngest, but right now he’s tending the sheep” (v. 11). When David was called in, Samuel’s was convinced in his spirit that this was GOD’s choice for the job.

You may seem inadequate for kingdom work. You may have feelings of inferiority. You may lack the education, the training, even the right upbringing, but GOD isn’t necessarily looking for those things. GOD is looking for a willing heart. GOD is looking for individuals who are willing and ready to get busy turning their world upside down by the power of GOD working through them—seeking individuals willing to say, “Yes, LORD, I am willing, send me!”

I’m just not the one will not suffice. When GOD calls, simply respond, “Here I am, willing and ready!” GOD will take you and mold you and shape you and work wonders through you. GOD uses the willing to perform His work through. How will you respond today?

Scripture Reading: “Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One: ‘Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them. Then He speaks to them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath: ‘I have consecrated My King on Zion, My holy mountain.’ I will declare the Lord’s decree: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; You will shatter them like pottery.’ So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverential awe, and rejoice with trembling. Pay homage to the Son, or He will be angry, and you will perish in your rebellion, for His anger may ignite at any moment. All those who take refuge in Him are happy” (Psalm 2 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I admit I have failed often to stand up and carry out the work You give me to do. I have allowed the world to dictate my worth and in so doing have failed to be the witness you have called me to be. I recognize You have called me and You will empower me to do great and marvelous works for Your Kingdom, if I will only submit fully to You. Please help me to take my eyes off of what the world would expect of me and to simply sell myself completely out to You and Your work. GOD, work through me; I give myself fully to You!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

From Prison to Palace!

Do you sometimes feel like the world is against you? Perhaps everything you attempt to do seems to end in failure? You wonder at times why life seems to be going so right for everyone you know and yet so wrong for you? GOD can turn your chaos into victory. He can take what seems to always be wrong and make it very right.

Think about Joseph for a few moments. Life seemed to be on the up and up. His father loved him more than any of his brothers. He was good-looking. He had the constant favor of his father showered upon him.

But, lurking in the background were those who were being cast aside as he was living in prominence. His brothers, all older than him, felt the strong difference their father made between them and Joseph and their animosity towards him was growing. One day, they had had all of Joseph they could stand and decided it was time for him to go.

They determined to kill him. However, his oldest brother, Reuben, determined that was not the way it should go and so Joseph was sold into Egyptian slavery. A royal official purchased him and soon discovered Joseph’s worth. GOD was with Joseph and He made everything Joseph did succeed.

One day, the wife of his owner decided to entice him into having relations with her but he ran away not desiring to offend his master in any way. When he was told a fabricated story that Joseph had attempted to rape his wife, the master had him thrown into the pharaoh’s prison.

GOD continued blessing Joseph in the midst of his problems. He will do the same for you, if you simply remain focused upon Him in your life. Regardless of how bad things may appear for you, if GOD is on your side, you have all you need.

Eventually, Joseph rose to a high position within the prison due to his continued faithfulness to GOD as GOD continued working in and through him. Joseph did not allow his terrible situation to change his attitude towards GOD. He continued to trust Him in and through it all. No matter what others may be saying about you or actions they may take against you, remain faithful to GOD and He will guide you through!

The time came for GOD to lift him out of his situation. Through GOD’s divine intervention in his situation by giving him the ability to interpret the dreams of the pharaoh, Joseph went from being chief prisoner to second-in-command of the entire nation of Egypt! He went from prison-life to palace-life in a single day.

The Scripture tells us: “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find anyone like this, a man who has the spirit of God in him?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you. You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you’” (Genesis 41:38-40 HCSB).

Joseph’s continued faithfulness to GOD, to GOD’s plan and to GOD’s purpose for his life positioned him to be the savior of the nation of Israel as a famine soon swept through the known world. Joseph, under GOD’s direction, prepared Egypt for what was soon to come in order that the lives of the people could be saved.

GOD took a young boy whose heart was soft towards Him and eventually molded and shaped him into a man who He could use for great and mighty purposes. GOD will do the same with you!

You may be wondering why you have to go through the tough times you are going through? You may wonder if GOD even cares about you anymore? You may be ready to throw in the towel and call it all quits but I want to encourage you to hang in there. GOD has a plan and purpose for you. Remain faithful to GOD, to His Word, to His church because He is preparing you for something great for the sake of His kingdom.

One day you will wake to discover he has lifted you out of the prison you once lived in and raised you to a position of greatness within Him in service for His Kingdom. Hold strong and know that GOD never leaves you, even in the depths of despair; rather He is working His plan to bring about His purpose through you in order to impact the lives of many others.

Scripture Reading: “Lord, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness listen to my plea, and in Your righteousness answer me. Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight. For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead. My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You. Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Don’t hide Your face from me, or I will be like those going down to the Pit. Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go, because I long for You. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I come to You for protection. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground. Because of Your name, Yahweh, let me live. In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble, and in Your faithful love destroy my enemies. Wipe out all those who attack me, for I am Your servant” (Psalm 143 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I praise You in the midst of my troubles. I give You glory for what You are doing in and through me preparing me to be the servant that is most useful to You and Your Kingdom. Please give me the strength to remain faithful. Help me to maintain my trust in You and Your will and purpose even when I don’t see what You are doing—knowing that You are working things out for the best for others as well as myself. I love You and thank You that You have counted me worthy to be used by You. I submit my will completely over to Yours!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

The Genie in a Bottle!

I am always amazed at the ingenious ways people go about coaxing GOD to action. He has become a genie in the bottle to so many. Masses have bought into the false teaching that GOD’s desire for His people is to have anything and everything their heart desires.

“Re-post this picture of a pile of money and tomorrow it will all be yours.” “Speak your wishes out and GOD will grant them to you. Because GOD desires for you to be blessed with everything the world has to give.” What lies! What deceit!

Who is the Master Deceiver? Satan himself! Why has the church bought into such false teaching? Simply put, because too many ministers discovered that by teaching such untruths, their pockets would be filled with money while emptying those of the flock GOD has placed them in charge of.

John gave us a clear teaching of the principle of asking and receiving when he wrote: “Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for” (1 John 5:14-15 HCSB).

The key phrase in this verse is not “whenever we ask anything” but “according to His will.” Too many are quick to jump on the first phrase without understanding the entire intent of GOD’s heart. The key to receiving from GOD is encompassed in your personal relationship with Him.

Consider for a moment the importance of relationship-building here in your earthly existence. You will never grow into a tight relationship with your spouse if you never spend time with them—talking to them, enjoying their presence, learning what pleases them. In the same way, you will never understand GOD’s will when you have failed to spend quality time with Him.

You cannot understand GOD’s will if you never open His Word and enrich your life, heart and mind with its truths. You cannot truly begin to understand the concept of GOD’s heart and love without spending quality time with other believers building one another up and enriching one another’s lives with the love and truth of GOD.

Understanding GOD’s will begins with understanding your purpose for being. Revelation 4 represents a huge change in scenery and activity from the first three chapters. The rapture has occurred and from this scene and what is occurring in heaven, we can easily ascertain our true reason for being.

Beginning in verse 10, John is describing what is being revealed to him on that day. He writes: “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created’” (Revelation 4:10-11 KJV).

The 24 elders he speaks of are representative of the raptured saints, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice they throw down their crowns of blessing and achievements before the only One worthy to receive such glory and honor and power. The true church recognizes it isn’t about me and what I can gain but about Him and what He has done. And, finally, notice what they say because your purpose and mine is encompassed within their words: “Lord, you have created all things and for Your pleasure they have all been created.”

Your purpose is to bring pleasure to GOD. Your purpose is to fulfill GOD’s desires not yours. Your purpose is to bless Him not to be blessed. You will be find GOD will grant you contentment and blessing when you have simply focused upon blessing Him by living according to His Word and sharing Jesus Christ with the lost, dying world.

Quit rubbing the genie bottle and chanting words of blessing upon yourself. Turn your attention to pleasing GOD in all you are and all you do. Quit seeking the blessing and become a blessing and you will soon discover what GOD’s will is and learn to seek and ask according to that rather than your own fleshly desires.

Give glory to GOD today as you consider these words of the Psalmist:

Scripture Reading: “My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name. My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with goodness; your youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He revealed His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and full of faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass- he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, all His angels of great strength, who do His word, obedient to His command. Praise the Lord, all His armies, His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works in all the places where He rules. My soul, praise the Lord! (Psalm 103 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I give glory to You alone today! I praise You because You have given me another day to glorify and lift Your name high. May my eyes, heart and mind focus only on You. May my desire be to please only You! May the words that come out of my mouth and the meditations that proceed from my heart bring glory and honor to You alone. May others see only Jesus in me today as I seek to live my life in complete service and dedication to Your will for me. Father, I love You and praise You for saving me, delivering me and for calling me Your child because of what You have done for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Trapped in the Clutches of Sin?

Perhaps one of the most dire situations an individual can find themselves in is sin! When you choose to live in sin, you have chosen a path of self-destruction—a path of ruin. You choose to enjoy pleasures that are only momentary and then they are gone—leaving behind a trail of lies, deceit, and emptiness. You soon find yourself deeper in than you ever intended to go. You soon discover sin has carried you to places you would never have gone before. You soon get to the place where you see no way out as life begins to crumble in all around you.

David found himself in just such a situation. He had committed adultery which led to murder which led to the death of his own son which led to a plague that swept through the innocent people of Israel. How can one small sin create such a disaster? Have you ever considered the repercussions of sin that you allow into your life? Have you ever stepped back momentarily and assessed the damage one unconfessed sin can create not only for you but for many others around about you?

David found himself lost and hopeless at what became the darkest time of his entire life! He said: “When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat” (Psalm 32:3-4 HCSB). The unconfessed sin burned deep inside his being. His inner man groaned from the weight of the sin combined with the conviction of GOD’s Spirit. He was slowly wasting away to oblivion!

Have you been there? Maybe you are there right now? Maybe you are feeling what David felt? Maybe your insides are groaning from the weight of your sin? Don’t allow it to carry out its work of total destruction. Recognize there is help and hope. The Spirit of GOD is still there speaking ever so gently to you to wake-up, rise from the trash heap that has encompassed your life and rediscover GOD’s grace, mercy and love.

At his greatest moment of despair, David discovered the path of peace. In his own words, he said: “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You took away the guilt of my sin” (v. 5). David recognized his own inability and he turned to the only One capable of renewing the peace and security he had once enjoyed. He acknowledged his sin before GOD. He confessed his own sinful ways and GOD’s peace was restored to his heart and life. He was released from the weight and the destructive nature of the sin that had bound his heart and life.

Out of the new-found freedom he was experiencing, he cried out: “How happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How happy is the man the Lord does not charge with sin, and in whose spirit is no deceit! (vv. 1-2). Being loosed from the overbearing weight of sin by the Spirit of GOD is the single greatest feeling and experience an individual will ever pass through.

Perhaps you have deep-seated sin in your life? Perhaps there is something deep within you that continues to weight you down and is slowly destroying your life from the inside out? Perhaps there is not another person in the world aware of your sin, but GOD knows and GOD desires to deliver you today! GOD does not hang over you waiting to punish you and judge you and condemn you; rather, GOD has created the only means whereby you may be freed from the weight of your sin.

1 John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” GOD desires to free you today. Inside you are wasting away but the freedom that GOD has for you is available to you right now. Don’t remain in the pit of despair any longer. Make peace with GOD by confessing to Him what He is already aware of. Come clean before Him and He will cleanse and purify your heart and soul and restore you to your position of peace and security in Him.

Scripture Reading: Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:1-12).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, my heart is heavy, my life is overwhelmed by the weight of the sin that I have allowed to enter into my life and there remain. You are mindful of this sin so my confession is not something that will bring my sin to light in Your eyes but it will bring Your forgiveness. I ask You, Dear GOD, to forgive me and cleanse and purify my heart and life. Please release me from the bondage of this sin and help me, LORD, to walk away from sin and to keep my life pure before You so I may bring pleasure to You in all my ways. May my life glorify You always. I praise You and love You, O LORD…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!