Be ready and Alert

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  1 Peter 5: 8 NKJV

I was watching our cat this morning as he sat on the window still. Even though he was looking rested and content, he was fully alert to what was happening in the garden. Birds were feeding on the lawn, gulls were flying over head and wood pigeons and other birds were perched in our tall Sycamore tree.
At any moment he would have been ready to pounce, if the window would have been open. You see, he's conditioned, a bird, mouse or a slow worm would stand very little chance if he was up close to them. He's doing what is natural to him.

When we go out, he has this built in clock which tells him when we will return home. He sits and waits for us at the gate. When it's meal times he knows. He doesn't wear a watch, his inner sense lets him know the time is right. He's conditioned and alert to what is going on around him.
We could learn a lot from a cat's behaviour. they know when it's time to rest and they'll take the time to do this. They are curious animals and walk around looking into whatever takes their fancy. However, they're careful how they go about it. Their conditioning is what we need to think about.
God has given us all we need to live in this world today. However, if we don't read the Word of God, we will suffer from lack of knowledge. Conditioning ourselves means, getting into the bible and feeding on the promises God gives us. That should be the natural thing we should do. Then when we meet up with a situation, we will know how to address it, with prayer, quoting the scriptures that we need, thus taking action against the devil's attacks.

Vigilance - being on total alert is how we should live 24/7. That as Christians, is the natural thing to do. But it's difficult to be fully alert if we're too tired because we haven't rested enough. This may be because we've taken too much on and are finding it difficult to work, run a home, go to church and try to be involved in as much as we're asked to do there. A cat is conditioned, it knows when to rest but it remains on full alert because it pays attention to its needs.
Are you doing too much, whether at work, in your leisure time or at church? Do you need to cut back a little? When we're tired, we leave ourselves open to attack and we can end up snapping at our loved ones and generally not flowing with God the way He wants us to.

Don't just re-charge your batteries so you can face another day. Analyse if changes can be made to the way you live and work. Your health needs it. Your spiritual health too. Do something about it so that you can be fully alert!

Distractions

"Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."  Ephesians 6: 16

Hazel Howard says,'The devil uses distractions to stop you from worshiping.'  And he will do, by firing his darts at us to try and get our minds off God and put our minds on worries and fears.
Kenneth Copeland says, 'He fires at us to get us to take our attention and focus off God, making us feel other things are more important and fearful.'

Many times we decide we're going to get close to God and have a quiet time with Him. No sooner have we started when the telephone will ring or someone will knock at the door. It's all sent to distract us from spending time with our Father.
I think it was Kenneth Copeland that said that the devil fires SCUD missiles at us. When you break the word SCUD down, it means, 'satan continually uses distractions.' This is very true, if he can cause a diversion between us and God, he will go for it, big time.

We have to take charge of our minds as we focus on God. many is the time when I've been at prayer when something has popped into my mind that is quite important. Except if there is a disaster happening in your home, nothing is more important than being in prayer' listening to what God has in store for us, or just taking the time to listen or worship Him. The devil knows that and like a snake, he'll crawl into your situation and try to disrupt and distraction you from doing what he knows you want to do.

Discipline is required to overcome times such as these. We have to take authority and kick the devil out of the situation before he takes over. We have the authority that Jesus gave us to do this. Stand on the Word and put the shield of faith to work.

Make sure that today, you read and put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:13 -18. You need to be dressed in His armour. Let's face it you wouldn't go out to the supermarket naked, would you? Well, don't go through your day spiritually naked. Dress in the Armour of God.

Don't Grieve The Holy Spirit

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." 
                                                                                                          Ephesians 4: 30

How can we grieve the Holy Spirit. Well, anger to start with; the kind that makes us lose control and completely makes a mess of your testimony. Many unbelievers don't read the bible but they do look at Christians. What do they see in you?
Next comes gossip. We can gossip in a prayer meeting by bringing too much information about someone into the group. Praying for someone's problems, yes, but not giving out their life history because you feel concerned about them. Bob Gass says:

'The trouble with gossip is not so much that it is spoken as an intended lie, but that it is heard as if it were the absolute truth.' Therefore, watch what you say.

Ephesians4:31 -32 says:
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice"

The Holy Spirit is very sensitive and He's easy to grieve. Anger, losing your temper, shouting out in frustration, being unkind, holding a grudge and pointing the finger at people are such things that grieve Him.
Do you keep a record of people's wrongs? What I mean is, think of those who have done wrong to you over the years. They may be family, friends, neighbours or even work colleagues. Have they offended you. If so, have you forgiven them? God expects us to:

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him (her), that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven, forgive your trespasses."  Mark 11:25 - 26

Strong words indeed but words that we need to take on board. We must forgive people who have done us wrong, even if it's difficult to. You may say,"I will never forgive him." The thing is, that is grieving the Holy Spirit and God will not forgive you your sin until you do. It is also a vow that needs to be broken. Forgiveness can do this. You will owe that person nothing when you do.

Who or what is on your record of wrongs today? God is highlighting what he wants you to do. He will help as well. Get on your knees and repent of your feelings. Give it to Him and feel the rush of the Holy Spirit come to excite and heal your feelings. Have a great day.

Our eyes are upon You Lord

Our Eyes Are Upon You

2 Chronicles 20:1 - 30
Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah and found favour with the Lord because he walked in the former ways of his father, David (2 Chronicles 17:3)
Then came a time when people of Moab, the Ammonites and other armies rose up against him in battle. This was quite a mighty force to deal with and Jehoshaphat shook with fear. However, he had the sense to give this problem to God and proclaimed a fast throughout the whole of Judah. He sought the Lord in prayer, pouring out his heart to Him, "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You:" Verse 12. In other words, he was saying, 'Lord, I don't know what to do but You do and I'm counting on You.'

A lesson here is, when we're in this position - PRAY! Give the problem to God. He knows the way through, you don't. Jehoshaphat did just that and gathered the people of Judah to stand, fast and pray before the Lord. God spoke to a man, filled with the Spirit of God, who declared that there was no need to be afraid; the battle was the Lord's,  not theirs. He would be fighting for them. He told Jehoshaphat to get into position, in other words, STAND TRUST - BELIEVE and then Jehoshaphat told the people to praise God. Make music before Him. Sing His praises and their fear was turned into victory and blessing, in fact, total abundance.

The formula Jehoshaphat used was:
* ASK verse 12
* BELIEVE Verse 20
* PRAISE verse 22.  Praise opens door!
And finally: GIVE IT ALL TO GOD.

Many times we are in a position similar to this, where we are overwhelmed by the pressures of life and we just don't know what to do. Remember, God does. He will go before you and make a way forward where perhaps we couldn't see one.

What are you facing at this time? Is it a big decision you need to make? Is it something so urgent and pressing that you really don't know how to go about it?
Remember, 'OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU' v 12

Seek Him
Cast your burdens upon Him Psalm 55:22 and Proverbs 3:5 - 6
Praise Him

"Lord, we come to You today and place our worries, our burdens and our fears at Your feet.
Please help us in our time of struggle to find a way through this mess.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Joseph's brothers

Joseph's brothers

Read Genesis 42 - 43
One thing that had caused Joseph's brothers much frustration, was his dreams. He used to tell them about how he had dreamt that he would be superior to them and that they would have to bow down to him. Possibly Joseph should have kept this to himself, but we know that he was rather over zealous in his younger days and this just wound them up - big time.

This was fulfilled some 22 years later when Jacob sent Joseph's brothers into Egypt to buy grain. When they arrived, Joseph recognised them instantly but his brothers failed to recognise him. They bowed down before him and and requested that they buy food. ( 42:6 - 7). They told Joseph that they were from Canaan - some 50 miles away. After further questioning, Joseph accused them of being spies who had come to check out his land. Whatever they said, he pretended to disbelieve them and carried on with the accusation.

You know, what goes around comes around. Joseph had been falsely accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison. Now the brothers were getting the same treatment. God has a sense of humour at times. Joseph told them that one of them was to be imprisoned while the others went back to Canaan to bring their youngest brother, Benjamin back with them. He was Joseph's blood brother.
Whilst they were discussing this with each other, Joseph was listening, they didn't know he spoke their language because he had been using an interpreter.

 In 42:21-22 we see them coming under conviction as they said, "Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn't listen. That's why we're in this trouble. Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy?" Reuben asked. "But you wouldn't listen. And now we have to answer for his blood."

Joseph hearing all of this, turned around and began to weep. One would have thought he would now be able to take revenge on these men who had hurt him so badly. But no, he was full of compassion.
He sent them away with the food, keeping Simeon in prison and they journeyed the 50 miles back home. Joseph arranged for their money to be returned to their bags and they panicked thinking they would be further accused of stealing.

There were lessons to be learnt here. We'll always get caught out at some stage. God knows what we do; He sees all and will do all He can to get us to repent and put things right. Look at the compassion of Joseph. Could we act in the same way to people who have wronged us so badly? Do we need to forgive someone? Do we show compassion to people? Jesus did. That's why He gave us a second chance. Do we need to give someone another chance? Do we need to let them off the hook, thus freeing them and ourselves?
Think about it.

Honourable and Trustworthy

Honourable and trustworthy

Please read Genesis 41:37 - 57
Joseph had taken quite a few knocks in his short life. His brothers were jealous of him because of Jacob's favouritism towards him. As a young lad Joseph had perhaps been over zealous talking about the dreams that he had, describing him as a leader over them. They decided enough was enough and eventually sold him to travellers and he ended up in Egypt working in an officials house.

Joseph had favour from God and excelled in his work within the house. Therefore, the official - Potiphar promoted him to be in charge of the whole house and servants. Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife made sexual advances towards him but even though he refused her offers, he was accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison. Still God's favour was upon him and he was very quickly put in the position looking after the whole jail.

Eventually, because of Joseph's gift of interpreting dreams, he was brought before Pharaoh and asked to interpret  dreams that he had had - dreams that no one else could interpret. The Chief Butler remembered that Joseph had interpreted a dream for him and the Chief Baker, one in which he had promised he would tell Pharaoh about. He had forgotten and now it was two years later.
Pharaoh told Joseph about the two dreams he had had and Joseph was able to tell him that the dreams meant there was to be seven years of abundance and then a seven year famine and there was a need to prepare for this.

Pharaoh was astounded at the gift of this young man and said, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God." Verse 38. Pharaoh knew there was something different about Joseph and recognised it was God. This is very similar to when Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4. In verse 13 we read, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus." I call this 'Impact evangelism,' the type where one doesn't really have to say anything but people around notice that there is a difference in you.

God had recognised the talent and the faithfulness of Joseph. He had seen the tolerance and the patience; the diligence and the integrity that Joseph had, and He was ready to reward this man.
Pharaoh at once recognised this in Joseph and made him the second in command in Egypt. In fact, he was made the Prime Minister. Pharaoh gave him his signet ring which represented - 'Seal bearer to the king.' and from thereon, he was a highly trusted official in the land of Egypt.
His story is a rags to riches one and shows us how God honours His people. You may never be promoted to Prime Minister - and let's face it, who would want that? However, God will recognise all you do for Him, even though at the time you may not notice this, especially through the bad times.
Joseph got out of bed that morning a prisoner but went to bed that evening the Prime Minister.

Communication

Communication

One of the biggest problems in life today is the lack of communication between people, especially within a marriage. Sometimes we go about our day and fail to communicate with people who matter. Possibly sometimes our head is so filled with what has to be done that we just assume that other people know what is happening and what needs to be done. However, by doing this, we show them  no dignity or respect.

Assumptions are dangerous and kill the moment. Husbands and wives assume that, 'this will be done,' and, 'we'll go there today,' etc etc without telling the other partner what they're planning. Sometimes we're tempted to hide certain things from our partners because we want to protect them, 'they don't need to know about this.' Sadly,  the other partner can pick up on something not being right and can form an assumption, only to get it all wrong. Arguments can then take place and we have a division.
This can happen in the workplace too, especially in a church. If the communication isn't good, people can feel left out and may feel rejected and of no value. Communication is essential.

When communication has been neglected, bad feeling can take place and then the devil can have a heyday with our thought life. The devil loves to bring division. It can split churches and work places alike. Don't forget:

"Stay alert! Watch out, for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:7  New Living Translation

Remember, what Kenneth Copeland says, 'If you let him into the back seat of the car, fretting soon he's gonna want to drive.' Given the opportunity, the devil will rip up whatever he can. He's no one's friend and if we let him in, he'll be only too glad to come in.

In Christian marriage, we're called to pray together. However, if there's division between us - a wall, that joining together is not there. there's a rift and we'll get no blessing from that until we put it right.

What is the communication like within your marriage. Does it need to improve? What is the communication like in your church, spot on or is there room for improvement.
God communicates with us, He expects us to communicate with people too, otherwise people become hurt, confused and feel as if they're surplus to requirements

Romans 12:10 in the New Living Translation says:
"Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honouring each other."