Word of the Day: Deliverer

But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
   “The Lord is great!”
But as for me, I am poor and needy;
   come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   Lord, do not delay.

Psalms 70:4 | NIV

May God deliver you from all harm and strengthen you to stand in him. Remember: God is your deliverer!

Has God Relented?

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 3:10 (NIV)

If I honestly look at my life right now I know there are a few times I probably, with the gracious Sovereign hand of God, have been delivered from self-destruction. 

God wants us to turn to him. He longs to show us compassion, to forgive us and restore us to himself. Even if the circumstances are less than perfect, the Father is concerned with our reconciliation. Remember, the message to the Ninevites was delivered by a reluctant messenger who hated the people he was speaking to. God is concerned with our response to him. 

Take a moment and ask yourself if God has relented from sending destruction in your life lately...

WHAT PLEASES GOD

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

One of the many things I don't understand is liberal theologians. People who call themselves Christians but don't believe in the infallibility of Scripture. They don't believe in miracles or the supernatural. So, anything that has to do with God working in a way that seems miraculous or supernatural, they reject. You know, things like the flood, healings, the virgin birth of Christ and his resurrection. 

The author of Hebrews reminds us that believing in God, pleases God. To come to him, you must believe he really exists. Not only do you need to believe he exists, but believe that he will reward you when you earnestly seek him. I think the earnestly seeking is the action to the inner belief. You, in your heart, believe he exists. In your actions you seek him in anticipation of the rewards of faith.

God wants us to believe and anticipate his working in our lives. This pleases God. That is amazing...

Father, to think that you are pleased when we believe in you and earnestly seek you, is amazing! Thank you for your amazing grace to me! Praise be to you in us today! 

"HOLD TIGHT, BUCKAROO, SHE'LL HOLD."

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  Hebrews 6:19-20

God's purpose is to save us and mold us into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. He does not change and he will do what he said he would do. So, no matter what goes on around us God is holding us on a steady course. 

I'm kind of a goof ball when it comes to some movies. One of my favorites is Buckaroo Bonzai. In the beginning of the movie he is trying to break the dimensional barrier using a jet powered Ford Bronco equipped with an oscillation overthruster.  He breaks off course and heads toward a mountain and the people who were not privy to his real plans are shouting into the mics to "Abort, Buckaroo, ABORT!" In the meantime his number one man is calmly telling him, "Hold tight, she'll hold." 

I get this picture in my mind sometimes when I think about what I perceive to be chaos around me. The world around me is shouting to forget trusting God. But, the Holy Spirit is gently telling me, "Hold tight, God has a hold of you." The truth that God is in control, anchors our soul. 

So, hold tight, God is in control.

Thank you, Father, for never changing and always being in control. Praise be to you in us today!

EVEN YOUR FORTRESS: Psalm 46:7

"The LORD Almighty is with us;
     the God of Jacob is our fortress."
 Psalm 46:7

Two things to remember today. The LORD Almighty is with you and the God of Jacob is your fortress. 

I see it all the time coaching my son's teams. I kid will be looking into the stands, popping their head out to see if their mom or dad is there yet. Once they know they're there, the kid settles down. Sometimes that's us! We look around trying to see God in whatever situation we are in. The truth is: God is with us. He will never leave you or forsake you. God, the LORD Almighty is with you.

Not only is God with you, he is your fortress! When the Psalmist says "the God of Jacob" he is saying that God is the God of those of us who are not exactly perfect. Remember, Jacob was the one who stole his brother's birthright and the blessing of the first born. His name means "he grasps the heel"  which figuratively means "he deceives"! Lying sneaky thief might be one way to say it. Think about it. You, like me, may know that you are not exactly perfect. Yet, God is your fortress. God is with you and he is going to keep you safe.

Father, help us to abide in you. To live in your presence and under your protection. Praise be to you in us today!

TROUBLE? GOD IS PRESENT/ Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength,
     and ever-present help in trouble.
 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
 though its waters roar and foam
     and the mountains quake with their surging." 
 Psalm 46:1-3

What's your trouble? God is present. Is the earth giving way? Are the mountains falling into the depth of the sea? Is your life falling apart all around you? God is "ever-present". 

As much as I don't like to be in the midst of chaos and a life crisis, I have know the presence of God there. Sometimes after everything is stripped away, only God remains. In the silence. In the aloneness. Only God remains...

Father, help us to see you and hear you when things seem to fall apart all around us. Praise be to you in us today! 

FEEL NEED? SEEK GOD: Psalm 40:17

"Yet I am poor and needy;
    may the Lord think of me.
 You are my help and my deliverer;
    O my God, do not delay." Psalm 40:17

How you feeling? Do you feel poor and needy? Didn't Jesus say, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"? Yes, he did. I know this isn't usually what we want to hear, but, sometimes it is good to feel poor and needy. A few days ago, something happened to me and I was very upset. I called out to God. I felt very poor and needy. God answered my prayer. Thank you, Lord. 

Frankly, it is good to seek God. It is good to seek God when things are well. It is good to seek God when things are not well. Just seek God. God is our help. God is our deliverer. 

Father, thank you that we can seek you whatever the circumstances. Praise be to you in us today!

REMEMBER GOD HAS PLANS...: Psalm 40:5

"Many, O LORD my God,
      are the wonders you have done.
 The things you planned for us 
     no one can recount to you
 were I to speak and tell of them,   
      they would be to many to declare." Psalm 40:5 

Sometimes when you are stuck in the moment you can't see where you really are. You forget all the God has done for you. When you forget all the times that God was faithful, when he was gracious, when he was patient and when he was merciful, and then you find it hard to believe he is Sovereign over the future. 

Take a moment a remember the times God has worked in you life...the times a crisis was averted...and most importantly remember that Jesus provided us with salvation. Remember that he is preparing a place for us in heaven. Remember that he loves you.

Father, remind us of your many workings in our lives. Thank you. Praise be to you in us today!

TRUSTWORTHY HOPE: I Timothy 4:9-10

"This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." I Timothy 4:9-10

Every day in my classes students ask to "borrow" a pen or pencil. They promise to give it back at the end of class. If I don't make them leave a back pack or something as collateral, 99 out of 100 times they "forget" to give it back. People trust and hope in a lot of different people, stocks and the simple words of someone every day. Every day people are let down and their trust is proven misplaced. 

But our hope is in the living God! Our hope is not misplaced. Our trust is in the one Being in the universe that can not lie and can not change. Our faith is in the Savior of all men who proved his faithfulness by his death and resurrection. The old hymn says, 

"My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' Name." - Edward Mote

The truth is that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but, only those who believe enjoy the forgiveness and newness of eternal life. 

If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior I encourage you to rest in his salvation and hope in him alone. And may you find one person today to share the hope you have in Christ.

If you do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord, I encourage you to ask him to forgive your sins and make you a new person in Christ. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). 

Father, thank you for this hope we have in You, the living God and Savior of all men! Show us yourself! Praise be to you in us today!

HOW LONG? STAND STRONG!: Psalm 35:17-18

"O LORD, how long will you look on?
     Rescue my life from their ravages,
     my precious life from these lions.
 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
     among throngs of people I will praise you." 
          Psalm 35:17-18 

OK, let's be real here. Sometimes we just don't understand God's timing. His time is not our time. Sometimes we just we just can't figure out why God doesn't just blast some people. 

I'll be honest. I can't see the end from the beginning. I can't predict the future. I can't tell if another person's heart is sincere or not. I may feel slighted when someone accidentally steps on my toes. And in all reality, some people are out to get everyone else. There are some evil people out there. 

But God, is not just about our comfort. God is shaping us into the image of Christ and that is not always comfortable. It may even be painful and heartbreaking. But God is still God and he will always be Sovereign over all. He is faithful and will complete the work he began in us. So, we call on him.

One last truth. David ends with a declaration. Sort of staking his claim on the work of God in his life. He says, "I will give you thanks." There is no ifs. Just I will. Sometimes maybe we just need  to state the truth. 

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you. 

Father, rescue our lives. We will give thanks in the great assembly. Praise be to you in us today!

GOD WILL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL YOU TROUBLES: Psalm 34:19022

"A righteous man may have many troubles,
     but the LORD delivers him from them all;

 he protects all his bones,
     not one of them shall be broken.
 Evil will slay the wicked;
     the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
 The LORD redeems his servants;
     no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."
 Psalm 34:19-22

Thank you, Father, because you deliver me from all my troubles, you protect me and you redeem me! I take refuge in you!

I am thankful for my salvation, my wife, my children and my job.
Praise be to God and his faithfulness to me!