The Blessedness of obeying the Word

ALEPH    

1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! 2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. 4You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. 5Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! 6Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. 7I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. 8I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!                          Psalm 119:1-8   NKJV

This Psalm has been called the golden alphabet of the bible. The reason is that it is divided into 22 sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section has 8 verses and every verse in a section begins with the corresponding Hebrews letter; thus in the Hebrew every verse in the first section begins with ALEPH, in the second section BETH and so on. Apparently, the author felt this was a convenient way of studying God's Word properly. I will endeavour to go through the whole Psalm, which will cover roughly around 22 days. The titles for each section are based primarily on FW Grant's notes.

As we are committed to the Lord and, live a sin free life to the best of our ability, we are classed by the Lord as undefiled in the way we live and, we are blessed. As we keep His Word and seek Him with all that we have (wholeheartedness), we can be sure that He is pleased with us. The blessed or happy person is the one whose life is conformed to the Word of God. Even if we sin - which we know that we will do - He has given us provision in His Word to be able to confess this sin to Him and, we are kept in this wonderful state of being undefiled.

God knows us through and through; He knows that some days it can be impossible to remain sinless. We are easily led to distraction if we are not careful and when we are, we feel awful because we have let God down. However, He sees us through the eyes of faith; He sees the finished product and as we say we are sorry, He sees no wrong in us, so much so, He refuses to remember our past. If we have confessed to Him, He is 100% faithful and just and totally forgives us (1John 1:9). 

Therefore, we need to live wholeheartedly for Him, which I know is difficult to do, but if we ask Him He is only too pleased to help us to accomplish this. We probably will not be perfect until we are standing before Him. To Him we are already, but our flesh won't allow us to believe and live this way. So ask Him to help you to live sold out for Jesus.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Understanding what Jesus says

"Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?  63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  64But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.  65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

                                                              John 6:63-65   NKJV

At times people, including the disciples, found it difficult to understand what Jesus was saying. He may have been telling them a parable or He may have been speaking words of the Holy Spirit. Either way, some found it difficult. These people were the one's that were not born of the Spirit. Some of the disciples had a little way to go yet before this happened to them.

Here Jesus had been speaking to the crowds, religious leaders and many of the disciples. The people were confused and troubled by what He said; in fact, some turned away from Him altogether. He was speaking about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He is the Bread of Life - the Living Bread, He that eats it, eat His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life and will live forever.

The people failed to realise that He was not speaking literally, it was a synonym of faith spoken figuratively by Jesus but they got it all wrong. Perhaps we would have done as well if we had been there at the time? Jesus was not speaking about His literal flesh but the subject of  believing in Him. The flesh does not give life, only the Holy Spirit does. Jesus words are spiritual and life-giving. The words of people can inform us but, only the Words of God can transform us.

The Holy Spirit takes a person's belief in Jesus' words and activates Jesus' life in that person to give him or her, spiritual life. Salvation cannot be attained through human effort.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Righteous anger v Human anger

"Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.  15When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.  16And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”   John 2:13-16.  NKJV

Jesus became angry but, only when other people were mistreated or, God's reputation was dishonoured. He never became angry over His own mistreatment. His anger is known as righteous anger.

To be honest, a lot of our anger isn't righteous, it is selfish. We become angry when people wrong us or fail to live up to our expectations. In some homes, this type of anger can be observed when a parent or a spouse are expecting something to be done and it isn't. This can be the start of an argument.

In our reading today, we can see righteous anger in operation. Jesus was appalled at people using the temple as a market place, selling goods, changing money and generally using the temple in a manner that was not honourable to His Father. Jesus made a whip. It was probably a small lash made of cords. It is not recorded that He used it as a weapon, it was more likely a symbol of His authority. I don't think for moment it was intended to hurt people, more to deter them as He waved the whip before Him, driving the merchants out of the temple and overturning the moneychangers tables at the same time.

James wrote: "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20. We need to be aware of such scriptures as these, taking them to heart. Think, when was the last time you became angry? If you did, was it righteous anger, like Jesus, or human anger. There is a major difference. Human anger can lead to arguments, fights and total division between the parties concerned. We can see this type of anger all around us. It is not healthy to do this because, it causes all types of problems and feelings.

We all are prone to become anger. The old saying of counting to ten may be helpful in some circumstances but, training one's-self to overcome this type of behaviour is far better.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Yesterday's man

"Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”   1 Samuel 16:1-2  NKJV

The LORD had taken His hand off Saul; he was still king but he had lost the anointing. Samuel grieved over this fact but, the LORD told him bluntly to face the fact that Saul had been rejected as king. He had chosen another man - David - to replace him. However this was not to be made official for some years. David would have to wait about 20 years before he would take the throne. Saul would still be doing the things that kings do, but without the anointing of God. Saul wore the crown without the anointing; David had the anointing without the crown. In a short while, David would prove his worthiness when he tackled and killed Goliath

How would David have felt at this time? Saul knew nothing about his anointing, if he had have done, this would have made the paranoid behaviour towards David, even greater. He was jealous of David to the core and it showed. David however, was as respectful as he could be, under the circumstances, and this must have been very difficult for him to do. Don't forget, David knew the throne was his, he had been anointed but Saul didn't and neither did the Israelites. Only a handful of people knew this fact including, Jesse his father, Samuel and his brothers. The latter would not have wanted this known as they hated him and wouldn't want to be a laughing stock from other people if they found out too. It was the waiting game and, David did it very well. He had to wait while Saul abused him by throwing a spear at him and trying to kill him in other ways.

How are you at waiting? David showed total humility in doing so. He knew what God had said and that was enough for him to know. He would wait rather like the prophet Habakkuk would write years later: 'Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come; it will not tarry.'

Habakkuk 2:3.

You may have been waiting ages for something God has told you. Up to now, it has not come to fruition. But don't lose heart. If God said it, He will perform it! Don't lose hope. Don't allow the devil to steal this promise from you. It may be just around the corner, so don't give up. You are not Yesterday's man or woman. You are of today.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Under the safety of His wing

"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

This piece of scripture is almost as if Jesus was reading it aloud, about His Father. Whether that is true or not, they are words that he wants all of us to accept and own for our walk with Him. It is often said that, the safest place to be in a storm is in the eye of it, and this Psalm reflects that; we are safe when we dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Like a swan that hides its young under its wing to protect them from danger, so Our Father does the same with us - when we take refuge in Him (v4).

In verses 9 &10, we read: 'Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling' There is a condition here, if we make Him our refuge, He in return, will protect us from any danger. No disaster will come upon us even if it is all around us. When God protects His children, He places angels around us and our property, and protects us and they hold us up in their hands. In fact, there will be absolutely nothing to be frightened about (v11 & 12).

Let us not forget though, we have an enemy, and like any enemy, he will do all he can to prevent us winning or gaining ground. But Satan's fieldcraft is not as efficient as God's is. He knows all things and is able to counteract anything that the devil may try and put into place. A word of warning here. God will only do this if, you are in a relationship with Him and, if you're living the righteous life that He had planned for you. If these conditions are not in place, you may suffer many attacks and have to handle them alone, and that is not easy. 

Therefore, ensure Jesus is your Commander in Chief and that you are walking steadfast with Him. Get rid of anything that will try to entangle you (Hebrews 12:1-2) and in the strength of the Holy Spirit, run to Him to the Throne of Grace, spending time in His refuge until it is safe to come out again.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Have a good laugh

"A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones"

                                                                         Proverbs 17:22   NKJV

A person's mental outlook has a lot to do with recovery from sickness or an accident. A cheerful disposition is a powerful aid to healing. However, a broken spirit saps a person's vitality. This latter condition can often be observed when a person is going through bereavement or a broken relationship. It's natural and important to grieve but, if it goes on too long it can rob the individual of future happiness.

Doctor's have long seen the benefits of laughter being a good cure and in itself, is viewed as good medicine. A good belly laugh has been seen as useful for helping the diaphragm to go deep in the body helping the lungs to expand, increasing the amount of oxygen being taken into them. It is also known to help the heart have a gentle rhythmic massage which helps it to beat faster and harder. Circulation speeds up, liver, stomach, pancreas, spleen and gall bladder are all stimulated giving an invigorating lift. (Info from The Berkeley Version - Up to date therapy, unsurpassed)

However, Howard Pollis, a psychology professor at the University of Tennessee, reports that when laughter and smiling are used in an aggressive way - to sneer at, to ridicule, to embarrass etc. - they are non healthy and can really do more harm to the 'laugher' than the one who is laughed at.  ©Howard Pollis

A broken spirit has more devastating symptoms. These type of emotions can make hair fall out by the handful, bring on splitting headaches to name just a few of the bad symptoms, including heart problems. Therefore, hearty laughter can produce good health as long as the heart is not full of aggression, jealousy, hate and any other negative feelings. 

So there is a need to empty yourself of any bad feelings that you may have towards anybody - it is really not helping. How can God forgive your sins if you hold resentment towards anyone. Once you have a clear conscience you can begin to see the funny side of things, lighten up and open yourself to some good, hearty belly-laughs. You know that feeling when you have laughed so much that your ribs are aching. This is doing you good, living with a broken spirit is not.

Therefore, talk to God about it

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Don't be held back by your mistakes!

"58But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end."    Matthew 26:58   NKJV

Even though, Peter denied Jesus three times, let us not forget that, during the chaos of Jesus being arrested and taken to see Caiaphas, the high priest, Peter followed. He didn't run away as one would have thought he would. After all, he had denied Jesus; and certain people had recognised him and stated that he had been with Jesus, proving he was a liar. But he didn't run away; he went into the thick of things and sat with the guards until he knew what would happen to Jesus. 

Yes, one can say that he denied Jesus; it's a fact but, following Jesus and sitting in Caiaphas' house together with the guards still showed that he was a faithful man. If he had not have denied Jesus and admitted that he was with Him, it may have been a different story and he may have been arrested and crucified too. If this had happened, there would not have been the Pentecost preaching session, where Peter evangelised publicly and 3000 souls were saved that day and more and more daily.

Could this have been part of Jesus plan? Probably not. However, it does show that Jesus can take our 'mess ups' and bring good out of them. Romans 8:28 reassures us of this 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.' We do make mistakes; we do let God down big time and somedays we are far away from Him but, He is always with us and, as we talk with Him, He will bring about positive changes to our negative ones. Peter must have spoken to God as he pushed his way forward into the high priest's house. If not, how is it he was allowed in there, and why wasn't he recognised? He was under divine protection and God had a plan.

When you have let Jesus down badly (and you will), don't beat yourself up and run away and hide in a corner. Quickly accept that you blew it, put it right and press on without condemnation. The devil is only too be pleased to condemn you (Romans 8:1-2). Don't play his game; refuse to feel bad about what you have done, if you have asked Him, Jesus has forgiven you so, press on and get the job done. You're an overcomer!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. 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, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard.