Keep Holding Tight

But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.

Joshua 23:8

Sometimes we just need to remember to hold on to the Lord our God, not ourselves, not our own wisdom and understanding, just remember to hold on to the Lord. 

Joshua and the Israelites had been taking the land. Under Joshua's leadership they were learning that God was faithful to fight their battles for them. Joshua knew his time was just about up and he would soon go see the Lord. He gives the Israelites good advice. Keep holding fast to the Lord. 

Isn't it easy after you have had some victories to sort of take your foot of the gas? Maybe make a few "treaties" with the enemy, let down your guard. But, Joshua told the people to keep holding fast. Thanking God for the victories and remembering that it's all about the Lord's faithfulness. 

Hold tight because the Lord is holding on to you!

What Heights Does Go Have for You?

yet I will triumph in Yahweh;
   I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
Yahweh my Lord is my strength;
   He makes my feet like those of a deer
   and enables me to walk on mountain heights!
Habakkuk 3:18-19 Habakkuk

Habakkuk was written during a time where the moral leadership of the nation was failing and justice was perverted. Sound familiar? It does to me. 

Then like now, God still reigns! Like Habakkuk the prophet we can still cry out, "Yet I will rejoice in Yahweh!"  Lord is our strength! He makes our feet able to scale the heights that he calls us to. The only question is what are the heights, the mountains that God has call and enabled you to walk? 

God will enable to walk the path, the heights, he calls you to. He is God our Savior. Amen, Lord. Show us Yourself!

Don't Let the World Intimidate You

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

I John 4:4 

First, a few thoughts on the greatness of God...

I know that the Lord is great,
   that our Lord is greater than all gods.
The Lord does whatever pleases him,
   in the heavens and on the earth,
   in the seas and all their depths.
Psalms 135:5-6 (NIV) 
God does what he wants, as he sees fit. Some people think they will call God to account for the evil and injustice in the world. According to the Bible God is the Judge and we will all answer to him. The evil and injustice in the world is the result of mankind's rejection of God and rebellion to his Sovereignty. 

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 
John 10:29 (NIV)
God is greater than all. All what? All everything, all anything. No person, no government, no belief will overpower or out think God. Every knee will bow, even those who impetuously deny and blame him.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (NIV)
Sometimes all we will be able to see is the vastness of those who oppose us and our God. It may, at this time, look like the God haters are winning, but remember that the devil thought he won a great victory when Christ was crucified. But when Christ rose from the dead, conquering both sin and death, God forever revealed that he is greater than sin, it's sting which is death and Satan the accuser.  

  
The time we live in is definitely anti-Christ. One political party wanted to take the name of God of their platform during the last election. That can be intimidating, but greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.

Father, reveal yourself and your greatness to us as we seek to trust in you in this wicked world. May we shine like lights in the darkness! Praise be to you in us today!

DON'T MESS AROUND WITH VICTORY

"The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire." I Chronicles 14:12

After battling the Philistines David didn't mess around. He sought God. He acted in faith and fought the battle. God granted him victory. 

As usual the enemy left a little temptation for David and the troops. A bunch little idols. 

David didn't need to ask God what to do with them, he knew. Get rid of them. Burn them and make them useless even as an object of worship. 

Is there something in your life that you need to get rid of? Do you find yourself tempted by the same thing over and over again, especially after a victory?

Get rid of it. Burn it. Don't mess around. Seek Christ and rest in him. 

Jesus, thank you for the victory we have in Christ over sin. Help us to continue to turn to you, even after our victories. Praise be to you in us today!

GOD BRINGS THE VICTORY/ Psalm 44:6-8

"I do not trust my bow,
     my sword does not give me victory;
 but you give us victory over our enemies,
     you put our adversaries to shame.
 In God we make our boast all day long,
     and we will praise your name forever." 
Psalm 44:6-8

Lord, you know the battles in our lives. You know the battles in our hearts, our marriages, our families, finances and friendships. Reign in us! We look to you to bring us victory over our adversaries. In you we make our boast. If you do not fight for us, we will surely fail. Praise be to you in us today! 

THERE WILL BE TROUBLE, BUT GOD IS OUR SALVATION: PSALM 37:39

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
     he is their stronghold in time of trouble." Psalm 37:39

The question of the day: What do you look to in times of trouble? Do you turn to your bank account? Do you turn to the television? Do you turn to your computer? To alcohol? To drugs? To someone else?

David reminds us that our salvation comes from the LORD. The LORD is who I am supposed to look to for help when life gets hard. 

Notice that David does not say that the righteous won't have trouble. Everyone has trouble. Trouble is part of life, whether we want it or like it, trouble will come. If you are like me, sometimes it seems like I have a particularly strong attraction to trouble.   

Trouble will come. We turn to God. That does not mean hiding from trouble. It means seeking God in the midst of trouble and by faith acting in righteousness. Acting righteously by faith is the Christian way of fighting your way out or trouble. Seek Christ, do the right thing by faith, love as Christ loved you and God will be your stronghold in times of trouble.

Thank you Father, for being our stronghold in times of trouble. Help us to walk by faith, to fight by faith as we trust in you to be our stronghold in times of trouble. Praise be to you in us today!