DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 7.11.20

Divine Detours - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. -Proverbs 16:9 A while back I was scheduled on a flight back to Los Angeles, but I missed it. I had a connection in Dallas, and my flight was late getting there. So, I had to take a differentone. I had planned to do some work on board, so I asked the flight attendant if there was a place to plug in my computer. "Yes, there is," she told me. "And by the way, I'm a Christian. Nice to see you, Pastor Greg." Then, about two hours into the flight she asked if she could talk to me. She started to cry as she told me about a crisis she was facing-a very serious one. So, I sharedsome Scripture with her, and we prayed together about it. Afterward she said that she follows me on social media and knew I was traveling for a speaking engagement. She had prayed that I would be on her flight. "I knew the Lordwas going to put you on this flight," she told me, "because like you posted on Instagram, an interruption is a divine intervention." I was thrilled with that. And it reminded me that extraordinary things often happen in ordinary circumstances. I didn't receive a message from God that day like someonein a Mission Impossible movie. God didn't speak to me audibly and tell me what my mission was. In fact, I would suggest to you that sometimes out-of-the-ordinary things will happen in our lives to get our attention. Because what may seem to you like a coincidenceis actually Providence. And what you may perceive as an interruption actually may be a divine intervention. So, when something happens out of the ordinary-and this year, it seems more than likely-pay attention. The Lord may be leading you. The Lord may want to use you for Hispurposes. Destroyed or Restored? - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. -John 10:10 Some time ago I was at Disneyland with two of my grandchildren, and I discovered something: All varieties of roller coaster rides now nauseate me. In 1977 I was on the inaugural ride of Space Mountain. I remember thinking, "This isn't even scary at all." But this time, I was thinking, "When can I get off this ride?" It actually made me sick to my stomach. Then we went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and that nauseated me too. Everything nauseated me except the corn dog I had. That was the highlight of the day, no questionabout it. That's how sin can be. What used to be fun now makes us sick. Maybe we used to do things that were fun at first. Then they were not as fun. And then they were a little bitmiserable. Ultimately, they became completely depressing, and we can't believe that we wasted our lives doing those things. The Bible talks about the pleasures of sin for a season. For instance, Hebrews tells us, "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh'sdaughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin" (11:24-25 NLT). For Moses, it basically came down to the simple recognition that the worst God had to offer was better than the best the world had to offer. People will let you down. Circumstances will let you down. But Jesus never will let you down. He said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10 NKJV). You have a choice: Death or life. Be destroyed or be restored. It's really up to you. All Dressed Up for Dinner - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? -Exodus 3:11 An excuse is what we offer when we don't really want to do something. It's the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Or, as someone put it, an excuse is a fancy lie all dressedup for dinner. No matter how we define them, we've all made excuses. Even Moses. Forty years had passed since he fled Egypt for the back side of the desert. He probably thought he was done. After all, he had taken matters into his own hands and killedan Egyptian slave driver. In some ways he was a has-been, a failure, an embarrassment. Even worse, he was a murderer running from the law. So, when the voice of God came to him through a bush that wouldn't stop burning, Moses basically said, "Not me. I don't think I'm the right guy." But God was saying, "I think you're just the right guy I can use at this moment." At 80 years old, Moses was more cautious. He said, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'Whatis his name?' Then what should I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13 NLT). God told him, "I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you" (verse 14 NLT). I love that. Moses was effectively saying, "Who am I?" And the Lord said, "I am who I am." In other words, "It is not about you, Moses. It's about Me. You have all of Me, and I will be with you." Before God tells us what we're supposed to do, He tells us who He is. He will work through us. And He will give us what we need, when we need it. The Light of the Word �Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.� (Psalm119:105) As the sun provides physical light for the world, so Jesus Christ is spiritually �the light of the world� (John 8:12). However, we clearly can see His lightonly through the light holder, the lamp, as it were, of His written Word. The Word, therefore, is a lamp and, since it contains and reveals the light, is also a light in its own right. Without the Holy Scriptures, this world would lie in the deepest darkness,but �the entrance of thy words giveth light� (Psalm 119:130). The Lord Jesus Christ is the living Word, and �without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not� (John1:3-5). Although He �was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world� (John 1:9), when He Himself came into the world, thosewho were made by Him refused to receive Him. �Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil� (John 3:19). Just so, although the written Word has come into the world, the world does not receive it, either. The lamp and the light of the written Word have been in the world (in complete and final form) for 1,900 years, but people still reject and ridicule it, and theworld still lies in darkness. Nevertheless, for those who receive it, there is wonderful light. �Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darknessknoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light� (John 12:35-36). God�s Word always brings light. His first spoken Word was �Let there be light� (Genesis 1:3), and wherever He speaks, God sees the light, and it is good!HMM Practicing the Presence by Max Lucado How do I live in God�s presence? How do I detect his unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear? A sheep grows familiar with the voice of the shepherd. How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God? Here are a few ideas: Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into his presence. I have a friend who makes it a habit to roll out of his bed onto his knees and begin his day in prayer. Personally, I don�tget that far. With my head still on the pillow and my eyes still closed, I offer God the first seconds of my day. The prayer is not lengthy and far from formal. Depending on how much sleep I got, it may not even be intelligible. Often it�s nothing more than �Thank you for a night�s rest. I belong to you today.� Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence. The mature married couple has learned the treasure of shared silence; they don�t need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent withGod. �Be still, and know that I am God� (Ps. 46:10 niv). Awareness of God is a fruit of stillness before God. Give God your whispering thoughts. Through the centuries Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers, prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. The Truth �And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.� (2Timothy 4:4) This is the last of 11 occurrences of �the truth� in Paul�s two letters to Timothy. He was not writing about the importance of being truthful in general but about a specific body of factual information concerning Jesus Christ and its vital importance. Thus, �the truth� was a very important theme in both of Paul�s letters to this young pastor�and, by implication, to all God-called pastors. Paul first speaks of �the knowledge of the truth� required for salvation (1 Timothy 2:4), then of his own teaching as �the truth in Christ� (1Timothy 2:7), then of �the church of the living God� as �the pillar and ground of the truth� (1 Timothy 3:15), and of Christians as those who �believeand know the truth� (1 Timothy 4:3). He stresses the importance of studying the Bible as �the word of truth� (2Timothy 2:15), and also that true repentance requires �the acknowledging of the truth� (2 Timothy 2:25). Paul also warns of false and covetous teachers who are �destitute of the truth� (1 Timothy 6:5) and who therefore �concerning the truth have erred� (2Timothy 2:18). There will even be false prophets who �resist the truth� and are �reprobate concerning the faith� (2 Timothy 3:8). As a result of the teachings of these false teachers, there will be many so-called seekers of truth who are �ever learning� yet who seem �never able to come to the knowledge of the truth� (2Timothy 3:7). The reason they never find the truth is because they �turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables� (2 Timothy 4:4). The fact is that Jesus said: �I am�the truth� and also that �thy word is truth� (John 14:6; 17:17). For any who would say with Pilate �What is truth?� (John18:38), there is the definitive answer! HMM The Pathway of Spiritual Growth Romans 8:29 God predestined us to grow into His likeness, but this doesn't happen at the moment we are saved. While we are redeemed by the Savior's precious blood and immediately have a new heart, our transformation is a lifelong process. The Holy Spirit enables this journey. Growth is impossible without Him, regardless of our efforts. Yet we can welcome or hinder His transforming hand. One way we give God willing access to our lives is by obeying this mandate in Romans 12:2: "And do not be conformed to this world, butbe transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Everyone chooses either a biblical or worldly philosophy as his or her source of truth--and that choice shapes the mind and spirit. Therefore, the Lord tells us to immerse our mind in Scripture, allowing Him to mold us into His beautiful image. The Bible story about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness illustrates this principle. After saving them from Pharaoh's abuse, God did not bring them immediately to the Promised Land. The Lord knew doing so would bring sinful ways with them. Instead,He led them to the wilderness and gave the Ten Commandments. Only after they learned to obey and turn to almighty God were they ready for the next step. The process of sanctification isn't always pleasant. In fact, it's often painful for us, just as it was for the Israelites. In God's amazing wisdom and love, however, He knows what we need to leave our old ways that lead to death. And He builds new characterin us--full of life and joy. O My Soul �Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yetpraise him for the help of his countenance.� (Psalm 42:5) This expression (�O my soul�) is not used here by the psalmist as a trite exclamation but as a plea of heart-searching introspection, concerned over the dark depression that was about to settle over him because of the oppressions of his enemies (Psalm43:2). The question in our text is asked three times by him in these two short psalms (Psalm 42:5,11; 43:5), and each time he answers himself: �Hopethou in God: for I shall yet praise him.� Yet, God continued to withhold His answer. His enemies were taunting him about it (Psalm 42:3, 10), and the psalmist, in spite of himself, found himselfcrying out �Why?� no less than 10 times. Nevertheless, his faith in God never failed, and it thus becomes a great testimony to us today for he asked his �why?� questions in submission to God�s will. When we are tempted to �go...mourning because of the oppressionof the enemy� (42:9; 43:2) and still God seems to have �forgotten,� then is the very time we must continue to affirm: �I shall yet praise him!� He is �the God of my life,� and �in the night his song shall be with me� (42:8). It may not be God�s will to set us free from the �noise of thy waterspouts� (42:7) or �the deceitful and unjust man� (43:1), but His light and truth will still lead, and we can yet praise Him, despite the circumstances. In our text, the psalmist praises God for �the help of his countenance.� In the verses that echo this verse (42:11; 43:5), his testimony is slightly�yet significantly�changed. �I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance.� Therefore, even in a dark night of �O my soul,� we can see Him by faith, with countenances full of joy. HMM They Don�t Know What They Are Doing by Max Lucado Anger. It�s a peculiar yet predictable emotion. It begins as a drop of water. An irritant. A frustration. Nothing big, just an aggravation. Someone gets your parking place. Someone pulls in front of you on the freeway. A waitress is slow and you are in a hurry.The toast burns. Drops of water. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Yet, get enough of these seemingly innocent drops of anger and before long you�ve got a bucket full of rage. Walking revenge. Blind bitterness. Unharnessed hatred. We trust no one and bare our teeth at anyone who gets near. We become walking time bombs that,given just the right tension and fear, could explode. Yet, what do we do? We can�t deny that our anger exists. How do we harness it? A good option is found in Luke 23:34. Here, Jesus speaks about the mob that killed him. ��Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.�� Look carefully. It�s as if Jesus considered this bloodthirsty, death-hungry crowd not as murderers, but as victims. It�s as if he saw in their faces not hatred but confusion. It�s as if he regarded them not as a militant mob but, as he put it, as �sheepwithout a shepherd.� Meditation �Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.� (Psalm119:27) The remarkable 119th Psalm, with its 22 eight-verse stanzas, is the unique �song of the word,� containing 176 testimonies or prayers concerning God�s Word�one for each verse. Eight times the word �meditate� or �meditation� is used, indicating the importanceof this practice in relation to the Scriptures. In our text, this word is translated �talk,� but its basic thrust is to exhort us to meditate on the wonderful works of God, once we understand the way of His precepts. The other seven references to meditation in this psalm are as follows: �I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways� (v. 15). �Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes� (v. 23). �My hands alsowill I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes� (v. 48). �Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts� (v. 78). �O how love I thy law! it ismy meditation all the day� (v. 97). �I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation� (v. 99). �Mine eyes prevent [i.e., anticipate] the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word� (v. 148). There is, of course, a counterfeit form of meditation (e.g., so-called transcendental meditation and other forms of mysticism), not to mention useless daydreaming. These forms of meditation involve clearing one�s mind of all subjects and allowing the mind towander. In contrast, true meditation involves pondering with awe and thankfulness God�s wonderful Word, His ways, and His works�in connection with prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. As an exercise of the mind as well as of the spirit, it is of greatblessing and most pleasing to God. HMM The Holy Spirit�s Dwelling Place 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Every time the news programs report a story about vandalism at a church, believers cringe. It�s hard for us to bear the thought of anyone spray-painting graffiti on sanctuary walls or damaging the stained glass windows, let alone setting fire to a placeof worship. It�s a desecration! The church is a sacred place. I�m saddened by the fact that many Christians don�t have the same qualms when it comes to harming the temple of the Holy Spirit�their own bodies. Some put junk into their stomachs, their veins, or their lungs. Others wear themselves down under a weight ofstress or exhaustion. Some folks justify these abuses as their right: It�s my body, I can do what I want. But that isn't true. First Corinthians 6 says that believers are the Lord�s possession (v. 19). He has fashioned these earthen vessels to serve Him and carry out the work He�s planned for us to accomplish. God created us with a mind, body, and spirit�of the three aspects, thebody is the one that allows us to interact with our environment. People cannot reach their full potential while neglecting the proper care of their bodies. What good are education, talent, and gifts if we�re too tired or sick to complete tasks well? Here in the world, we can do nothing apart from our physical body. Since it is the only one we�ll have in this life, we should do our best to keep it in good condition. Believers should also recognize their responsibility to treat the earthly frame likethe sacred and special dwelling place that it is. Guilt and Grace by Max Lucado Sometime ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma�s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boypanicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, �Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn�t you Johnny?� And she whispered to him, �Remember the duck!� So, Johnny did the dishes. What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. �Remember the duck,� Sally�d whisper when he objected. So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. �I know, Johnny,� his grandma said, giving him a hug. �I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I loveyou, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.� (Steven Cole, �Forgiveness,� Leadership Magazine, 1983, 86.) Leaving a Lasting Impact Matthew 5:13-16 On this Independence Day, consider the question, How do you use the gift of freedom? God gives all believers true liberty through His Son Jesus Christ. Do you squander that blessing or share it with others? The problem is, some people are so focused on theirown needs and desires that they fail to impact even their closest neighbor. Think about the people you see every week. Do you know how many of your neighbors are sick? Are there people in your church who struggle to make it from day to day? Do you know if any of your coworkers are going through hardships? Most likely, there areindividuals all around you who could use assistance. But being self-focused limits our ability to notice those people, let alone reach out to them. That's How Much I Love You by Max Lucado Untethered by time, [God] sees us all. From the backwoods of Virginia to the business district of London; from the Vikings to the astronauts, from the cave-dwellers to the kings, from the hut-builders to the finger-pointers to the rock-stackers, he seesus. Vagabonds and ragamuffins all, he saw us before we were born. And he loves what he sees. Flooded by emotion. Overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, �You are my child. I love you dearly. I�m aware that someday you�ll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I�ve already providedyou a way back.� And to prove it, he did something extraordinary. Waiting on God Psalms 37:1-9 Waiting on God is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David�s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord�s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him. When David was a young shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel�s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to place him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned againstDavid and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn�t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (1 Sam. 24:1-7). He waited onGod and was greatly blessed for his obedience. Signs of the Times �When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will befoul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?� (Matthew16:2-3) This sharp rebuke by the Lord Jesus was well deserved, for His critics were challenging Him to prove His right to be heard by performing a miracle. But they had already been confronted with a tremendous body of evidence, both in their Scriptures and in thevery life and teachings of Jesus (as well as in the miracles already wrought by Him) that He was their Messiah. They paid great attention to weather forecasting and other mundane matters while ignoring or rejecting the evidence that God Himself, in Christ,was in their midst. Today we are more occupied with daily weather even than they were, with all sorts of forecasting devices in operation. There is also a growing army of doomsday forecasters, loudly concerned about overpopulation, pollution, and a host of other foreboding secular �signs of the times.� Yet they ignore the overwhelming evidences, both in science and Scripture, that our great Creator/Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is still in control and is coming again soon to fulfill His great purposes in creation and redemption. A mere listing of the manyreal signs of God�s times would take many pages. One such sign, of course, is this very proliferation of science and technology. At �the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased� (Daniel12:4). Another is the great following achieved by these false teachers, as multitudes �turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables� (2Timothy 4:4). �Hypocrites,� Jesus said, are concerned with secular trends, but spiritual discerners can recognize the true signs. HMM Because He Chooses To� by Max Lucado Love. We�ve all but worn out the word. This morning I used love to describe my feelings toward my wife and toward peanut butter. Far from identical emotions. I�ve never proposed to a jar of peanut butter (though I have let one sit on my lapduring a television show). Overuse has defused the word, leaving it with the punch of a butterfly wing. Biblical options still retain their starch. Scripture employs an artillery of terms for love, each one calibrated to reach a different target. Consider the one Moses used with his followers: �The LORD chose your ancestors as the objects of his love� (Deuteronomy10:15). 3:16Thispassage warms our hearts. But it shook the Hebrews� world. They heard this: �The Lord binds [hasaq] himself to his people.� Hasaq speaks of a tethered love, a love attached to something or someone. I�m picturing a mom connected by a childharness to her rambunctious five-year-old as the two of them walk through the market. (I once thought the leashes were cruel; then I became a dad.) The strap serves two functions, yanking and claiming. You yank your kid out of trouble and in doing so proclaim, �Yes, he is as wild as a banshee. But he�s mine.� In this case, God chained himself to Israel. Because the people were lovable? No. �GOD wasn�t attracted to you and didn�t choose you because you were big and important�the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping thepromise he made to your ancestors� (Deut.7:7�8 MSG). God loves Israel and the rest of us because he chooses to. The Christian's Cleansing �If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.� (1 John 1:9) This familiar promise is often quoted as a sort of pat formula for dealing with sin in a believer�s life. Simply identify and acknowledge the sin, and all is forgiven. This is gloriously true, so far as it goes, but the last part of the verse is also vitally important. The Lord wants His people to be cleansed from all unrighteousness. �If we walk in the light, as he is in the light,�the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleansethus from all sin� (1 John 1:7). In these and other verses, the verb translated �cleanse� is the Greek katharizo, from which we get such English words as �cathartic.� It is a strong word, sometimes translated as �purify� and even �purge.� The sin not only is to be confessed, it mustbe purged! The Lord Jesus Christ �by himself purged our sins� (Hebrews 1:3) so that God can be perfectly �faithful and just to forgive us our sins� on the basis ofHis cleansing blood and sanctifying Word. But this is far more than an academic formula, for this cleansing, purifying, and purging must become a real experience in one�s life, and the Lord will do whatever is necessary to make it so. He �gave himself forus, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify [same word as �cleanse�] unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works� (Titus 2:14). We must learn to �walk in the light� and to be �zealous of good works,� as He �purgeth us from all unrighteousness� when we �confess our sins.� It is necessary that we be constrained to become more �like him,� for �when he shall appear,�we shall see him ashe is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure� (1 John 3:2-3). Thus, His forgiveness of our sins is inevitably accompaniedby a purging of our lives. HMM I Will Speak to You in Your Language by Max Lucado Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19 The framer of our destiny is familiar with our denseness. God knows we sometimes miss the signs. Maybe that's why he has given us so many. The rainbow after the flood signifies God's covenant. Circumcision identifies God's chosen, and the stars portray thesize of his family. Even today, we see signs in the New Testament church. Communion is a sign of his death, and baptism is a sign of our spiritual birth. Each of these signs symbolizes a greater spiritual truth. Our Caring and Able Father 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 Everyone faces challenges in life. Whether our struggles are financial, vocational, relational, or physical, we can be certain that nobody is exempt. Fortunately, we serve a God who is both interested in our problems and able to take care of them. When trouble looms, prayer is always a good first step to take. But having a foundation upon which to build our prayers also makes a difference. Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, faced an enormous challenge. Three different tribes--the Moabites, Amonites,and Meunites--simultaneously waged war against him. Most leaders would have crumbled under such pressure, or at the very least taken drastic measures, but Jehoshaphat was a wise king. Though afraid, he did not strike out against his enemies.Instead, knowingthat God was interested in his dilemma, he "turned his attention to seek the Lord" and proclaimed a fast throughout the land (2 Chron. 20:1-3). Strength in Waiting Isaiah 40:28-31 God has a purpose and plan for your life, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes" or "no." But at other times, He says "not now"--when that is the case, we can avail ourselves of the rich rewards that come when we wait. One very practical blessing is that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that "those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." We are given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneathhis wings. It is interesting to note that the words "wind" and "spirit" come from the same Greek word--pneuma. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy and strength sustain us as we abide in Him. Exceeding Greatness �And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of hismighty power.� (Ephesians1:19) There are a number of scriptural superlatives that convey something of the tremendous magnitude of our great salvation. These are marked by the adjective �exceeding,� which in the Greek implies essentially boundless, surpassing dimensions of the attributesit describes. First of all, as our text implies, His power available to us is one of exceeding greatness. Its magnitude is measured by the power required to bring Christ back from death and Hades. Consider also the measure of His grace, �that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus� (Ephesians2:7). His grace has saved us when we were dead in sins, but this is only a small token. In the ages to come, we will experience His grace as one of exceeding riches. Then there is the wonderful peace of God. �The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus� (Philippians4:7). In this verse, the word �passeth� is the same word. Paul is saying that God�s peace is one exceeding understanding. Finally, consider His glory. �For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory� (2Corinthians 4:17). The future eternal glory is one of exceeding weight, or abundance. Thus, the infinite blessings and resources of our salvation in Christ are described as providing the power of surpassing greatness, the grace of surpassing richness, the peace which surpasses all understanding, and the eternal glory of surpassing abundance!All of this is freely available �to us-ward who believe.� HMM Learning to Listen by Max Lucado Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful. A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day. Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you. How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need�an open Bible. The Source of Our Adversity Isaiah45:5-10 When we experience hardships, we usually wonder why God allows these painful situations to come our way. It just doesn't seem to fit with His role as our loving heavenly Father. We struggle to reconcile our suffering with His love for us and His power toprevent or stop it. In order to understand what's going on, we need to consider the possible sources of adversity. A Fallen World: When sin entered the world, suffering came with it. God could have protected us from these harmful effects by making us like puppets who could not choose sin, but that would mean we'd also be unable to choose to love Him,because love must be voluntary. The Lord and King Cyrus �That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thoushalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.� (Isaiah 44:28) This is a remarkable prophecy, one of the main stumbling blocks of liberals who use it as an excuse for their completely wrong notion of a �second Isaiah.� Long before Jerusalem was invaded and its temple destroyed by the armies of Babylon, Isaiah was alreadyprophesying its rebuilding! Furthermore, the great Persian emperor Cyrus (whose nation would eventually conquer Babylon) was here named by God about 150 years before he was born and 175 years before he would fulfill Isaiah�s prophecy by giving Ezra authority to rebuild the temple (Ezra1:1-2). Since liberal scholars do not want to believe in miracles and fulfilled prophecy, they have decided that this prophecy could not have been written by the original Isaiah but by some later writer living after Cyrus. The truth is, however, that God controls thefuture and can reveal it if He chooses, using this very fact as proof that He will keep His other promises. �Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus�I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou has not known me� (Isaiah45:1, 4). God had also named King Josiah before he was born (1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:15-16), with the specific prophecy concerning him waiting to be fulfilled for over 300 years after it was first spoken. It may take a long time, but God will surely do all He has said. �I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure� (Isaiah 46:9-10). HMM What Does It Take to Be Happy? - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. -Psalm 19:8 What is the purpose of our existence? Some might say, "Well, it's to be happy, of course." In fact, even the Declaration of Independence lists "the pursuit of Happiness" among "certain unalienable Rights." But if you're chasing after happiness, you might end up as a very unhappy person. We assume that wealth, fame, and fortune will bring us happiness. Actor and comedian Jim Carrey knows a few things about that. He said, "I think everybody should get rich and famous and doeverything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer." We're all wired differently, of course. I think some people are naturally happier than others. We see it in children. Some exhibit a happier temperament and a more buoyant attitude. Meanwhile,others aren't as optimistic. So how do we find happiness? After a lot of research, some experts found that family and friends are the best antidote to unhappiness. They also identified things that don't make us happy. University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener concluded that materialism is toxic for happiness. On the other hand, psychologists say that gratitude has a lot to do with life satisfaction. Talking and writing about what you're grateful for amplifies your happiness. And learning to savoreven the small pleasures has the same effect. Then there's forgiveness. "Forgiveness is the trait most strongly linked to happiness," said University of Michigan psychologist Christopher Peterson. "It's the queen of all virtues," he added,"and probably the hardest to come by." In other words, forgiving people are happy people. All these are biblical qualities we can apply to our lives. In the pages of Scripture, we find the virtues of gratitude, forgiveness, and a strong family. It turns out that God had it rightall along. An Unearthly Love by Max Lucado Your goodness can�t win God�s love. Nor can your badness lose it. But you can resist it. We tend to do so honestly. Having been rejected so often, we fear God may reject us as well. Rejections have left us skittish and jumpy. Like my dog Salty. He sleeps nextto me on the couch as I write. He�s a cranky cuss, but I like him. We�ve aged together over the last fifteen years, and he seems worse for the wear. He�s a wiry canine by nature; shave his salt-and-pepper mop, and he�d pass for a bulimic Chihuahua. He didn�thave much to start with; now the seasons have taken his energy, teeth, hearing, and all but eighteen inches� worth of eyesight. Toss him a dog treat, and he just stares at the floor through cloudy cataracts. (Or, in his case, dogaracts?) He�s nervous and edgy, quick to growl and slow to trust. As I reach out to pet him, he yanks back. Still, I pet the old coot. I know he can�t see,and I can only wonder how dark his world has become. We are a lot like Salty. I have a feeling that most people who defy and deny God do so more out of fear than conviction. For all our chest pumping and braggadocio, we are anxious folk�can�t see a step into the future, can�t hear the one who owns us. No wonderwe try to gum the hand that feeds us. 3:16But God reaches and touches. He speaks through the immensity of the Russian plain and the densityof the Amazon rain forest. Through a physician�s touch in Africa, a bowl of rice in India. Through a Japanese bow or a South American abra�o. He�s even been known to touch people through paragraphs like the ones you are reading. If he is touchingyou, let him. Peace, Joy, and Contentment Nehemiah 2:1-8 Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment. But I have great news if you feel disheartened: You�re not stuck! I�ve known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation. A few years later, however, they were in a terrific place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions. The reason? They never gave up. Instead of sulking in self-pity, they choseto believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit. Spiritually Bankrupt - by Greg Laurie - https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/154497/on-anniversary-seige-jerusalem-60-rabbis-call-jews-enter-temple-mt/ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. -Matthew 5:3-4 Everybody wants to be a somebody, or so it seems. So many people want to be a star, to be out in front, and they think that will make them happy. Yet Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3 NKJV). In other words, "Happy are the nobodies." To be poor in spirit has nothing to do with how much you havein your bank account. This is about your attitude toward God. Here's another way to translate this: "Happy, or blessed, is the person who sees his or her real spiritual condition." And what is your real spiritual condition? You are spiritually destitute. You are spiritually impoverished. You are desperately in need of God. If you want to be a happy person, it starts with knowing that about yourself. Blessed are those who see themselves as they really are, which is spiritually bankrupt. Jesus also said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4 NKJV). Here the idea of mourning is being sorry for our sin. It's mourning overour sin. We see our condition before God as sinners, but it isn't a hopeless situation. There is a Savior who died on the cross for me and shed His blood for every sin I've evercommitted. He's ready to pardon and forgive us. The Bible says that "godly sorrow produces repentance" (2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV). So, we must say, "Lord, I'm a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin." If you're really sorry for something, you'll change. The sorrow the Bible talks about is being sorry enough to change your behavior. You see God, His holiness, and the lifethat He wants you to live. And you see how far you have to go. Blessed or happy, are those who mourn over that condition.