366 days of Bible Study to give you daily encouragement
This is a blog that centres on Jesus Christ - my Lord and Saviour. My aim is to describe how He has helped over the years, together with offering daily teaching and encouragement
Tuesday 4 August 2020
DAILY BIBLE COMMENTARY
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A Decision needs to be made
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will guide you with My eye."
Psalm 32:8. NKJV
Today, someone needs to make a decision and it's quite a big one - one that has the ability to change the direction of your life. If that is you, what decision will you make?
Some people want others to make the decisions for them, it's easier that way. Really though, this is a form of denial and a lack of responsibility. It may have been this way the whole of the person's life. In Transactional Analysis, the person who wants others to make decisions for them, fits into the Child Ego State. In this state, behaviours, thoughts and feelings are replayed from childhood. A parent or other responsible person, has always made the decisions and this has taken the responsibility from the person's shoulders. However, there comes a time - and that may be now - when transfer to the Adult Ego state is needed, so that the person learns to make their own decisions. This may not be easy at first, but it is essential to sound living. The majority of people struggle with making the right decision. After-all, it may change the whole course of their life. The choices we make today usually determine where we will be tomorrow.
So what is the best decision making strategy? Well, for believers, the best way forward is consulting with God. He knows the right way. As the above verse tells us, 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye.' This statement, straightaway conveys a message - we have to seek God and ask Him:
'Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and Lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' Proverbs 3:5-6
Now if this is you, it is where your faith has to come into affect. Everything we ask God for is a faith request. 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' 2 Corinthians 5:7. This is the moment when we have to say, 'I trust You Jesus,' and then take the plunge.
For those who are not really used to making decisions, or who may procrastinate, it's time to bite the bullet, stand tall and begin to put your trust in Him. If you're not certain about what you should be doing, don't rush into things. Instead, ask God to close the door if it is not His will for you. But do make the decision one way or the other.
Charles F Stanley says:
'If you want your life to be the very best it can be, you must put your full faith in God - rejecting your own limited perspective and honouring Him in every area of your life. This is the heart of Godly living - you must submit to the Lord's direction, knowing that He has the answer to your every need and is faithful to provide it.' Philippians 4:19.
So make it a priority to talk with God about this and allow Him to help you make a good decision.
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
Monday 3 August 2020
Trees of Righteousness
"That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:3. NKJV
As we submit more and more to God, getting into His Word and attempting to walk closer to Him each day, we prosper. The main part of His prosperity can be found in Psalm 1:1-3:
'Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (2) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. (3) He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.'
Again in Joshua 1:8 we read:
'This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then YOU will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.'
The results of submission to God - reading His Word and meditating on it until it flows out of your lives, are evident here. We become prosperous in it. It is down to us because it is us that produces this. God sees the seed we are sowing and He turns us into trees of righteousness - a planting of the LORD - by Yahweh Himself. The New Living Translation quotes Isaiah 61:3 as:
'In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory.'
Note it is God who does the planting here. He sees that we mean business for Him; He notices the dedication and submission to Him and He honours us. From thereon, our prosperity in all things can multiply.
An Oak tree is a very sturdy and strong tree. It attracts all kinds of interest - people love its beauty and wildlife inhabits the mighty branches. Squirrels love the acorns it produces, Sparrowhawks, Buzzards, Owls and other type of birds love the secrecy of its perches. It is an attractive part of our natural world. It draws people to it.
Do you get the picture here? It attracts interest. This is what trees of righteousness do; and God wants you to be one, if you're not already. It takes submission and a complete change of life as we know it, but it is totally life-changing to live this way.
Why not allow God to get His spade out and do another planting, today!
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
Sunday 2 August 2020
Trials and Tribulations
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7. NKJV
Often we are tempted to ask, 'Why?' when we are undergoing problems, trials and upsets. It is not easy for anyone. Some people tell us that God stretches our faith at these time to see how we handle the situation. From these two verses that seems the case. God wants the genuineness of our faith to reign so that as we go through this period, we are still able to praise and rejoice in Him. Craig W Hagin says, 'No matter what, I am still happy, because God is on the Throne and He has things in control.'
Let's face it, how would we ever learn to trust God if we never experienced times where we know that He's the only one that can help us? He wants all of the impurities to bubble to the surface as He refines us, so that we have a solid confidence in Him - whatever we go through.
The key to finding the ability to rejoice in trials, can be found in James 1:2-3, 'My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.'
The key to finding joy in adversity, is where we place our focus. If we focus on the trial, we'll be discouraged. If we focus on Jesus, we have access to joy because we know God will help us through the trial.
God wants to teach us not to react to trials emotionally but to respond with faith in His perfect provision. When we do this, we can endure anything because our character is strengthened and our focus is on Him, not the circumstances.
Whatever situation you are in, God sees it differently. Check out theses amazing verses:
'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. (3) To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.' Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV
There's always a way through with Jesus!
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
Saturday 1 August 2020
God is your supplier. Part 3 and this includes the end of Coronavirus
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2. NKJV
The term, 'Most High', here is Shaddai - Elyon and Almighty is Elohim - The Sublime God. In verse 9 of this Psalm, we see the term the LORD which is Jehovah or Yahweh which is the personal name of God. Again, like yesterday's study in Philippians 2:8-11, we see the Name above all names, our refuge and our King. The Living Bible actually states this: 'For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me.' Psalm 91:9 Living Bible.
Did you see that? The God above all gods, Jehovah, Yahweh, Most High, Almighty is there for us to choose Him to take care of us. But we must choose Him!
When things all around us are bleak, when they're crowding us in with stressful areas, sickness, troubles and all other nasty things, God can be relied on to take us to a place of safety - under the shadow of the Most High (v1)
At this time, the world has many fears, and possibly the most prevalent one, is Covid 19. This plague, because that is what it is, has killed very many people throughout our world and people are living in fear that there may be another wave which will attack us again. Let us stop right there for a moment! Check out these verses from this Psalm:
'Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence' v3
Again in v 9-10:
'Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, (10) No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.'
This could'nt be any more clearer, there's a pestilence around the world. It's a plague by the name of Coronavirus or Covid 19; but it is a name and subject to the Name above all names - Jesus Christ of Nazareth - God Himself, our refuge and place of safety.
We should be wise about this plague though, taking all the precautions that are directed by the various governments. However, we are not to be fearful. It is defeated! This plague is in the grave, defeated by the Name above all names.
Who's going to shout Amen first here? Your supplier has even supplied healing by His stripes and when you read Psalm 91, you will see He was prepared for it, many years ago.
Relax and praise God.
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
Friday 31 July 2020
God is your supplier Part 2
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4:19. KJV
Let us take a closer look at this verse, breaking it down into relevant key words. Firstly:
MY You and I belong to Jesus and Him to us. This happened when we accepted Him as our Lord. He is ours, the creator God; the Almighty God; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, belongs to us. He is our God.
SHALL Therefore, He shall - He will look after us . He promises that in this verse. We have no need to worry, He is on our side and has our backs covered. He is our daddy (Abba Father), therefore, He shall, not He might do, but He will do.
ALL He will supply all we need - not everything we want. He doesn't want us to be greedy, He wants us to be blessed beyond our wildest dreams. (Ephesians 3:20) He has an abundance for us - more than enough, so when we think about it, He has a super-abundance, ear-marked for each one of us.
NEED He knows what we need, and He's responsible for us - if we let Him be by putting Him in first place in our lives. If not we then have to sort things out ourselves.
Christ Jesus He has the Name above all names. (Philippians 2:8-11) There is no other name higher than Jesus' Name. Other names must bow the knee to Him - to His authority. There are so many names that are relevant to us and they must all come under His authority. Among them are:
DEBT If we surrender our debt to Jesus, repent and say we will be more careful in the future, He will take the lead on this. The debt may not be cancelled out at once, but He will give us the opportunity to be free as time goes on.
SICKNESS According to 1 Peter 2:24, we are already healed by the stripes of Jesus - by His death on the cross. We just need to exercise our faith and receive it. Jesus put sickness in the grave. We need to trust Him for this manifestation. This is what faith is.
UNEMPLOYMENT We may need to humble ourselves and take a lower paid job to exercise our trust in Jesus. Benefits may pay more than this job, but they could never be higher than God's benefits. I've been there years ago and it's not easy. But when you show Him that you're willing to do your bit, He'll meet you halfway.
ABUSE, FEAR AND DEPRESSION These are all delivered to us from the pit of hell. But Jesus is greater than your fear; He can lift that depression and He can and will, deal with the abuser in your life. But again, we need to trust Him; He is watching and waiting for your call. There is no name that is greater than the Name of Jesus. He will make any of these names bend the knee. Read and claim Philippians 2:8 - 11.
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
Thursday 30 July 2020
God is your supplier
"My purpose is to give life in all its fullness" John 10:10. Living Bible
A look at the word 'Fullness', shows it is translated abundance. It is actually God's desire to give us life in abundance, in fact, more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV). This means everything: life, health, happiness, prosperity - you name it. God's wish is to bless us as we walk in obedience to His Word.
The thing is, we need to trust Him; we need to believe that He wants the very best for us. This is where our faith Comes in. We see in 2 Corinthians 5:7, that we walk by faith, not by sight. This means we have to trust that, no matter what, He will meet our need from His riches in Glory (Philippians 4:19). We may not see it now, but as we look through the eyes of faith it becomes a reality. Our job is to reach out and take it by faith - to receive it.
However, if we want God to be a giver to us, we must be a giver to Him. This is where tithing comes in. Charles F Stanley writes, 'God has set forth very specific directives about what He expects us to give back to Him. Malachi 3:8-12 clearly teaches us that we are to give Him a tithe, which is 10% of what we produce or earn. ' The word 'tithe', is based on the number ten in Hebrew.
Sometimes believers fail to give what God calls them to because they feel they will not have enough to live on. The thing is, we cannot outgive God. Be confident that He will give to you and meet your need because you're following Him in obedience.
God longs for us to walk in faith with Him. Jesus explained it clearer in Mark 11:22-24 (read it for full understanding). Whenever we ask God for something in prayer, we are to believe that we receive them and we will have them. Oral Roberts used to say, 'Doubt and do without, with faith, believe and receive - expect a miracle.'
Notice those last three words - Expect a miracle. We pour doubt on things too much. We ask God for something and then cancel it out with doubt by confessing, 'I still feel unwell,' or 'We'll never get through this financial crisis.' Stop the 'I can't' and replace it with, 'I can, with God's help.'
Why not believe for a miracle today? Believe and receive; in other words ,'Take it'.
Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard
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