Daily life with Jesus by Grahame Howard

Sunday 12 November 2023

Today is going to be a good day

"This is the day, the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24 NLT

Things may not have been going your way just lately and, the last thing you have felt like doing is, praising God and rejoicing. There have been moments when you have been tearing your hair out because of the pressures and the difficult people and situations you have had to deal with. But, hey, you made it through, so, that is something to rejoice in.

You may have made so many errors this past week and, your anger has burned at times giving permission for your tongue to speak some colourful language. Some people have stabbed you in the back, some may have told lies about you hoping to give you a bad name and when you have returned home in the evening, you have found that someone has blocked your drive and the nearest parking space is at least 50 yards away and it's bucketing down with rain and you are seething. But at least you have got a home to go to and you made it there in one piece. This is something else to rejoice in.

When you don't feel like rejoicing, tell God just how you feel and, you will find that He will give you a reason to rejoice. One thing, as bad as it may have been, He has given you this day to live, so be glad. Many have not made it through the day.

David Guzik comments:

'This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it: When Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 (in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, and Luke 20:17), He did so in response to the praise and hosannas given to Him at what is commonly called the triumphal entry. Since this psalm is prophetically connected with that event, the day mentioned here can be prophetically understood as the day Jesus formally entered Jerusalem as Messiah and King. It is true in a general sense that the LORD makes every day, and there is reason to rejoice and be glad in every day. Yet specifically, the day the LORD made to rejoice and be glad in was the day Jesus entered Jerusalem with hosannas welcoming Him as Israel’s Saviour. If on that day human voices failed to rejoice and be glad, Jesus said that the very stones would cry out their praises and hosannas (Luke 19:40)'.

When you give it some thought, you have many things to thank God for each day. Fanny Crosby sang: 'Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long'.

There is always something to praise God for, and when you do this all the day long, your soul reacts positively. It may be bleak outside but with Jesus He makes everything warm and cosy. Your day may have been filled with problem but try thanking Him that you at least, had a day to live through. Food for thought.

If you are not born again and want to be, here I’ll below is a prayer of salvation:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com

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Saturday 11 November 2023

Be determined in your faith

"If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Mark 5:28 NKJV

This poor women had been imprisoned within her own home because of her condition. She had a constant bleeding problem that made her ritually unclean according to Jewish Law Leviticus 15:25-27. Twelve years of seeing doctors had been very expensive and she was now broke and, still ill. Somehow, she heard that Jesus was in the vicinity and after hearing all of the stories of people being made well, she was determined to go and see Him, ritually unclean or not.

When she arrived there were so many people that it was practically impossible to see Him. And then, there He was, right over the other side. Determination took over and she pushed her way through the crowds until she was just a few steps from Him. She thought, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' She took the next few steps and did touch His clothes, and as she had confessed, she was healed.

What happened here? She had a determination that things were going to change. She had suffered enough and now, here was the opportunity she had dreamt about - Jesus. The determination coupled with the faith that she had was enough and, as Jesus had told His disciples, 'Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.' Mark 11:22-24.

Note that Jesus didn't say when you speak to God, He said, 'Whoever speaks to this mountain.' In other words, He was saying we are to speak to the sickness or whatever problem or need and believe it and receive it and it will be ours. This is what this particular lady had done within her heart. She believed and received and she was made whole. She didn't speak to Jesus, not at this stage.

When you do this, things will happen, probably not straightaway. There may be a waiting time but, this is where your faith comes in. You need to remember, you have this now, but you just cannot see it. But we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Therefore, you remain in faith and hang on to this until it manifests. But this is the hard bit, you have to remain in faith and not give up. Oral Roberts used to say, 'Believe and receive. Doubt and go without.'

So, there you have it. Speak, Believe and Receive.

If you are not born again and want to be, here I’ll below is a prayer of salvation:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle

Check it out

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Friday 10 November 2023

Jesus said I give you peace, not stress

"Ask Me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."

Jeremiah 33:3 NLT

There is absolutely no reason why we should allow stress to take over our minds and bodies. Jesus is just a call away. In fact, many Christians can remember from Sunday school that this verse was taught as God's telephone number. Obviously, this was not true but, it was a brilliant way of remembering it. God is there night and day ready to hear from us and He will attend to what is troubling us. He may not make it go away but He will offer a Word in Season that will help find a way through the problem.

The above verse is rather like what we read in Romans 10:13, 'For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Now initially, this verse was written to the Jews who were waiting for the Messiah (Isaiah 58:9). They only had to recognise Jesus as the Messiah and call on Him, then He would come to them with blessing after blessing they would be saved. However, it is also for us. He is there to answer our call and, make a way through the mess.

As we saw yesterday, God will meet our needs, but not necessarily the way we expect. He may answer our wants but, our needs are uppermost to Him. So, He is the place to start when we have things that we can't handle, the sort of things that trouble and cause a pressure all around. Many times we can feel pushed into a corner with problems that are of great weight to our minds, and try as we may, there doesn't seem to be a way through, we have come up against a mountain.

Is this the way you feel today? Jesus, really is the only answer at times of incredible stress. You may be having sleepless nights and this can make you ill by the overwhelming worry. Thankfully, God can make a way where there doesn't seem to be one. But, you have to be willing to trust Him and do what He tells you to do allowing your faith to help you through. If you say, I have no faith at the moment, you need to get some and quickly. Scripture says, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.' (Romans 10:17). You hear God's word by reading the bible, praying, listening to praise music. You may say that you don't feel like doing that at the moment, but you need to, and quickly because He is your only hope. Receive His peace, right now!

If you are not born again and want to be, here I’ll below is a prayer of salvation:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle

Check it out

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Thursday 9 November 2023

Don't just sit there, get up

"But Peter said, 'I don't have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!." Acts 3:6 CSB

In the days of the early church, beggars used to position themselves outside the temple, alongside the Beautiful Gate, waiting for people to enter the temple. Their logic was, those going to the hour of prayer would be in a holy mood so, perhaps they would be generous to them. You can see this in many cities throughout Britain today; people of the road nearly always seek out a church for the same reasons and this is why food halls and night and day shelters are in place - to provide a need.

As Peter and John approached this man, he started calling out to them for money. Peter got straight to the point. He stared into his face and told him, 'I don't have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.' And this is what the beggar did, as Peter helped him to his feet, he was healed and went walking, leaping and praising God and went into the temple with them. The man had asked for what he wanted - money, but he received what he needed - healing; and this is the way Jesus works with us.

When God meets your needs, He may not give you what you asked for, but what He provides will always be greater than what you want. In a way, the man's expectations were too small. Here he was sitting outside the temple of God begging from people. He needed an atmosphere of expectancy and this is what Peter and John gave him. They were walking in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit knew his need and gave it to him. From now on, he would have the ability to work and provide for himself. The man had been waiting around outside the temple, waiting for someone to meet his wants. When we do this, it rarely comes, we have to get up and approach the giver - Jesus Christ, this is where we have our needs met.

Perhaps you are in a 'Sticky' position at the moment. Funds are tight, mortgages need paying and the prices of most things are shooting sky high, not to mention gas and electric. Let me encourage you, don't sit around waiting for an angel to come along with a bag of cash. It could happen but, it is highly unlikely. So, don't just sit there, get up and do something about it. The first place to start is with Jesus Christ of Nazareth and then, follow His instructions. He knows the way out of all of this.

If you are not born again and want to be, here I’ll below is a prayer of salvation:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle

Check it out

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Wednesday 8 November 2023

Speak a good word to those who are weary

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad"

Proverbs 12:25 NKJV

Most places that we go these days, people are suffering anxiety. This may be caused in many ways, but the result is the same, a heavy heart. People are carrying a great weight around, worrying about various things, some of which they can do nothing about. This causes depression; that great hole of darkness that people find so hard to escape from.

This is why, the writer of Hebrews writes, 'let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith' 12:1-2.

Note that these verses talk about a 'race'. This means that we live a competitive life as we battle with sin and the heaps of problems that come our way because of it. But, we are not competing against any other Christian - we are all the same and each one of us has the same struggles as we make our way to the finishing post. We are though, in a competition with Satan. He doesn't want us to get there so, he throws all he can at us to attempt to prevent us. This can cause weariness and at the first sign of this, we need to speak with Jesus. He told His disciples to make sure that they had rest and it's the same for us. In His humanity, if Jesus had to sleep and rest, then so do we. However, when the mind is buzzing with worry after worry, it is not easy.

It can be so helpful when someone comes to us and tells us, ''I'm praying for you and I'm only a 'phone call away'. It may not have an immediate impact on you but, it has been registered in your mind and you realise that, you have at least one friend. I say this because when a person is depressed, it's easy to feel the whole world is against us. In the same way, if you meet with someone who is having a difficult time, why not try to get alongside of them and offer encouragement. A word in season can help pick this person up and help them get back to the race. I watched an athletic event recently where a competitor saw someone on the floor and he picked them up and raced to the line carrying him. This is what Jesus would do and what todays blog is all about.

We never know what may have happened to a person who is depressed, anxious and in despair. It could be anything - money problems, bad health, broken relationship or just some kind of emotional pain. As someone who has suffered depression and PTSD for some time, it is not easy to overcome, and with added problems can lead to a nervous breakdown. I know and the loneliness, emotional pain and helplessness is very debilitating. There comes a time when calling on Jesus is such a great help; but, until the time that the person is ready for this, just an encouraging word, prayer and love can help lead the way.

Don't walk on by a weary person, one day it could be you.

If you are not born again and want to be, here I’ll below is a prayer of salvation:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle

Check it out

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2