Three Reasons I Love The Lord
The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” -Psalm 118:14
Psalm 118 contains 29 verses full of encouragement and truth to those whose distress has been caused by both their own sin and the subsequent condemning voice of the enemy. The Psalmist writes and repeats several times: “For His mercy endures forever.”
Today I am meditating on the truths found in verse 14.
- The Lord is my STRENGTH. One of the great promises of the Word is that, “when I am weak, He is strong.” I often feel inadequate and incapable to accomplish the things I face as a husband, father, and pastor. But God comes with anointing and power, encouragement and grace, reminding me that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
- The Lord is my SONG. Many Christians only sing to and worship God in corporate gatherings – and some don’t engage even then. I honestly believe that, in most cases, it is not as though that Christian is trying to be obstinate or rebellious, but that he/she simply has not understood the importance and power of praise. Releasing praise and worship to the Lord is not simply a response to what He has already done; it is also a catalyst to what He will do. When your soul (mind, will emotions) don’t feel like giving God praise, your spirit should say: “Do it anyway!” The Bible says that God is the one who “lifted me out of the miry clay and set my feet on a rock…and He put a new song in my mouth – a song of praise to my God!” Let praise arise. The Lord is your song!
- The Lord has become my SALVATION. I love the way this is worded. It’s not that the Lord “will become,” or “is becoming;” He “has become!” Particularly true for us in the New Covenant, Jesus Christ has already paid the price for our sin. He has already forgiven you. He has released you from the debt, because He paid it for you! Satan attempts to keep you chained to your past, but Jesus breaks the chains and releases you to your future, filled with hope and promise.
Father,
Today I thank you for your mercy – your covenant love and kindness. You keep reaching toward me. Even when I fail You, your mercy has no end. You never weary of me. You are my strength when I am weak. You are my song that rises out of darkness. You are my salvation, my hope, my joy, my all-in-all.
I love you, Lord, with all that is in me, and today I give you praise.
Amen.
Whispers From Hell
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5 NKJV)
The once-fisherman was now the longest living of Jesus’ original twelve disciples. John’s wisdom was widely known, his influence far reaching, his zeal still fiery.
With the heart of a spiritual father, the apostle writes to express the truth about Jesus and His gospel. He sums up the Savior’s message by saying: “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Like a failure? Like God was overall disappointed in you?
It would be good for you to remember that God NEVER condemns. Those times when you feel unloved, unworthy, defeated – those moments are often the direct result of the deceiver, satan. He makes you think that you’re hearing God’s disapproving voice, when, in fact, he is spewing whispers from hell.
God’s voice is clear, it is hope-filled, it is full of promise and possibility. God is light and in Him there is NO darkness…NONE at all. None.
Listen carefully to that voice next time you hear it. If there is the slightest hint of darkness, oppression, depression, or condemnation, you can rest assured that it isn’t God.
Sure, God convicts us. And conviction stings when God points out sin and failure. But conviction comes with the hope of forgiveness and the promise of a better tomorrow.
Condemnation takes life out of us. It weighs you down with an unbearable burden. It seeks to kill.
Next time the enemy sneaks in, disguising his voice as God’s, stand against him, rebuke him in Jesus’ name, and refuse to allow his words to control your mind.
God is for you. He loves you. With Him, there is hope. Get into God’s Word – the Bible – and find out what God really has to say. It will change your life.
The Pathway to Your Destiny
Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. (Psalms 105:19 NKJV)
Like a painter choosing to use a broad brush with wide, sweeping motions to cover his canvas, the writer of Psalm 105 tells Israel’s history in just a few verses, recapping what took Moses several entire books to tell in detail. Still, he includes a statement about a particular man named Joseph.
Joseph was a young dreamer, the favorite son of his father, Jacob (whose name God changed to Israel). Joseph had received a word – a promise from God – that he would rise to a place of significant influence and be used by God.
But young Joseph would first face many years of tests.
Our lives are quite the same. God has significant plans for you and me. When we lean in and listen to His voice we begin to get a glimpse (a dream) of what our lives may look like, and how He can use us. But we will face our share of tests.
Until the time that Joseph’s word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.
These tests along life’s journey allow us to:
1. Defeat the enemy whose desire is to derail us from our destiny.
2. Confront our own pride, and strengthen our personal character.
3. Trust God, realizing that He is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith.
The pathway to your destiny will be marked with adversity, but you CAN walk in victory!!
One Life to Give
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. (John 12:24 NLT)
When He said these words, not only was Jesus referring to His own life being laid down, in order for many to be raised to new life; He also revealed a principle that applies to my life today.
If I will lay down my life for Jesus and for others, the result will be a life with multiplied effectiveness and impact.
I have one life. Will I live it for myself, and use it up? Or will I invest it into others, and watch it multiply?
Father, help me to see beyond myself to invest into others.
Amen.
A Journey Toward Freedom
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32 NLT)
Jesus spoke to different people in different ways. He spoke gently to the woman caught in adultery (although never condoning her sin), but He spoke harshly to those whose pride caused them to condemn her.
In the midst of that exchange, Jesus made this statement:
“If you desire to fully follow Me, you must be dedicated to My Word.”
Recently God has been teaching me the difference between a “decision” for Christ (at salvation) verses “discipleship.” A decision lasts a moment; discipleship is lifelong.
One characteristic of disciples is that we are committed to knowing, declaring, and living out God’s Word.
Many people misquote Jesus’ words, by only saying: “The truth will set you free.”
But Jesus actually said, “You shall KNOW the truth (God’s Word), and the truth (that you know) shall set you free.”
The pursuit of truth is the pursuit of a Person. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.”
When I open myself to the truth of God’s Word I am on a journey toward freedom.
Father,
Thank You for the truth of Your Word, and the Truth, who is Your Son, Jesus. Would you set me free today from anything that has me bound?
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Pastor Dale Jenkins 