Life is tough, but it gets easier to understand when we allow God to lead. Let His Word be a light that guides your path.
Psalm 33:4
A person’s words are measured by the quality of his or her character. If your friends trust what you say, it is because they trust you. If you trust what God says, it is because you trust Him to be the God he claims to be. If you doubt His words, you doubt the integrity of God himself. If you believe God is truly God, then believe what He says!
-Life Application Study Bible (pg. 979)
2 Samuel 23
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Interesting Interviews” starring, HolyEll and various characters throughout Bible history! I’m your host, “HolyEll”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!
(“Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse…, the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel…”)
(As king David neared the end of his reign, he spake to those he loved, concerning his journey. All of a sudden, HolyEll appears in the midst.)
King David: What is this?! Who are you, and how did you appear in the midst of us?
HolyEll: Greetings king David, I come from a time, far beyond this one, in hopes of gaining a better understanding of who you are, and how your life has impacted not only your generation, but mine as well.
King David: Hmm… interesting. I can sense that you are a man, sent by the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
HolyEll: Well, I just wanted to meet you, and glean from your wisdom sir… if that’s ok.
King David: Son, I have sustained all these years, and overcame my enemies because, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”
HolyEll: Indeed sir, I’ve read your story, and it is so fascinating. You’ve had a major impact on the foundation of the body of Christ, even in my time.
King David: Christ? Is he someone special in your time?
HolyEll: Trust me.. you already know everything about Him.
King David: I’ll share with you a brief summary of my journey. As a boy, I watched over my father’s sheep. Some would deem that position as low and unbecoming, but through those experiences, I grew in wisdom, understanding, and physical strength.
HolyEll: Yes, like when you slew a lion and a bear?
King David: How do you know that?
HolyEll: Umm..well…
King David: It matters little, but the Lord, my God was with me from the time I tended to sheep, when I stood strong in the face of the uncircumcised Philistine, and during my service to king Saul.
HolyEll: You have really been consistent in your faith and trust in the almighty God. Your 23rd Psalm is read and sung daily all over the world.
King David: And what psalm is that in your time?
HolyEll: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…
King David: Ahhh yes. That was one of my favorites. I’ve learned, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. For this reason, I never submitted to the enemy, nor to my mistakes. Oftentimes, people tend to lose faith after they’ve sinned, or fallen short of God’s glory.
HolyEll: That’s right! I just wrote about that in my blog a few days ago.
King David: A blog?
HolyEll: My bad, I keep forgetting… go on sir.
King David: It is important to understand, the man who rules God’s way, “he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
HolyEll: My brother, you are too deep for me lol, yet so poetic. I love it!
King David: It’s not about being deep, it’s about being willing to submit all of oneself, to the total immersion of the Spirit of God into himself.
HolyEll: (Mic drop) My my mercy. Amen, and amen again. Before I go, can you give me any advice to take back for myself, and the people of my generation?
King David: Why certainly. Take heed to this, “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a shield to all then that trust him.” This is why I write. This is why I sing. This is why I give praise to the Lord God almighty, because he has kept me all these years.
HolyEll: … amen… amen… and amen.
This concludes the exciting episode of, “Interesting Interviews”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!
2 Chronicles 35:20-27
Throughout history, many people, including men, women, and children, have died before their time. Some even say, there’s an appointed time for all men to eventually pass on from this life to the next, but I’m certain, many have left this earth prematurely. All men were created wonderfully by the hand of God, and tasked with a special purpose to fulfill in the earth. Unfortunately, not all people were successful in fully completing their ordained assignments.
In my brief 40 years of existence, I’ve witnessed the lives of many be cut short, whether by murder, suicide, or some type of accidental tragedy. In the same way we witness a tree die before fully developing and producing fruit, is similar to seeing a person’s life end, before they even begin to show their true potential.
From a young age, king Josiah ruled in Jerusalem well. God gave this young king wisdom and spiritual insight, in order to restore the temple of the Lord, and His people, to prominence once again. The texts reads, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the left, nor to the right” (2 Chronicles 34:2). King Josiah did well in cleansing Judah and Jerusalem from all idolatry. During his reign, Josiah and the children of Israel departed not from following God.
While this great reign could have endured many more years, it was cut short when king Josiah went against a man, following the Lord’s assignment. The King of Israel assumed incorrectly, a heathen ruler could be doing a work for the Lord. Unfortunately, his false assumption cost him his life. Just because someone is in the company of heathen, doesn’t exclude them from being used of God. The Lord can use anyone He desires, to fulfill His plan. Rather than listen to Necho’s message, Josiah disguised himself, and went against the man’s words. The king died at a fairly young age, then was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers.
No man knows the day or time of his death, but while we have life, let’s use wisdom to navigate through it. We may not have all the solutions or answers to the many questions of life, but we serve the God who does. Appreciate every second you’re blessed to have, and do all you can to avoid making foolish mistakes. God loves everyone, but He can get more use from our lives, when we place all our trust in His will, and not our own.
Ephesians 4:25
During times of war, the most important person a soldier can rely on is, the man fighting beside him wearing the same uniform. It’s absolutely important for those fighting alongside each other to always remain focused on their enemy, while at the same time, covering each other in battle. One of the most horrifying and disappointing moments of a battle is when “friendly fire” occurs, and a fellow soldier is either wounded, or permanently taken out of the fight. This action can either be the cause of losing a battle, or prolonging it longer than anticipated. What’s worse than friendly fire is, when a soldier deliberately turns against his own unit, and begins to open fire on his own people. This is simply unacceptable, and can literally shift the tide of any battle. It’s always good to know who you’re fighting with, but also to keep a keen eye on everyone who claims to be on your team, because you never know who will turn against you when the battle begins.
Fighting the “Good fight of faith” will always come with its usual contention against our adversary the devil, but when the children of God are unified, they’ll usually progress through each battle and grow accordingly in faith, patience, wisdom, and experience. Unfortunately, many who walk with God have taken the unexpected bullet from another who claimed to be “saved”. Not everyone who says “Lord Lord” will enter the kingdom of Heaven, and many who seem to be believers in Christ, are far from doing the will of the Lord. A great number of men and women are simply tares, growing amongst the wheat. They look like “church folk”, act godly, walk the walk, and talk the talk, but secretly, they have a plan to pull you away from righteousness. For this reason, it’s vital for all who claim the name of the Lord to pray always, without ceasing. The devil never takes a day off, so the Saints shouldn’t either. We should always keep our guard up, even with friends and family members (I’m just saying… we’re in the last and evil days, and trust is earned).
To all my Christian soldiers, stand firm, stay on guard, and be vigilant. Let’s strive to keep our brothers and sisters covered, while aiming our artillery in the right direction.
Matthew 27
On the cross is where my sins were laid,
forever to be lost.
On the cross my Savior sacrificed,
a sinless life the cost.
On the cross the world witnessed a death,
unlike any seen before.
On the cross is were the world was changed,
when death and the grave could rule no more.
Matthew 3
During the time when Jesus walked among men, two of the major religious groups in Israel were the Pharisees and Sadducees. Unlike the Sadducees who were more politically minded, the Pharisees focused more on religious beliefs. Opposing groups rarely joined in union, unless they shared a common hatred for a person or cause. This was the case with these two groups. Both groups had a shared hatred for Jesus, so they became allies to work together against Him. Although the Pharisees and Sadducees had some good qualities, their bad characteristics far outweighed the good.
Pharisees Positive Characteristics:
– Were committed to obeying all of God’s word
– Were admired by the common people for their apparent piety
– Believed in a bodily resurrection and eternal life
– Believed in angels and demons
Pharisees Negative Characteristics:
– Behaved as though their own religious rules were just as important as God’s rules for living
– Their piety was often hypocritical and their efforts often forced others to try to live up to standards they themselves could not live up to
– Believed that salvation came from perfect obedience to the law and was not based on forgiveness of sins
– Were more concerned with appearing to be good than obeying God
Sadducees Positive Characteristics:
– Believed God’s word was limited to the first five books of the Bible
– Were more practically minded than the Pharisees
Sadducees Negative Characteristics:
– Relied on logic while placing little importance on faith
– Did not believe all the Old Testament was God’s word
– Did not believe in a bodily resurrection or eternal life
– Did not believe in angels or demons
– Were often willing to compromise their values with the Romans and others in order to maintain their status and influential positions
Romans 8:31-39
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Is there anything in your life, that is causing separation between you and God the Father? If so, what is it? Could it possibly be money, pride, suffering, or even fame that’s keeping you from walking in unity with God? Take a moment to examine your life, as we near the end of 2021. If there is anything, or anyone holding you back from giving your all to God, remove it, or them from your life, ASAP! Don’t take anything from this year into the next, that has been unprofitable, unfavorable, and unholy. Start your new year in right standing with the Father, and allow your love for Him to grow stronger, daily.
Romans 7
Oftentimes, it seems hard to live a holy life on a consistent basis. The inevitable battle between good and evil shapes every aspect of our lives, and the path our lives take, is determined by which side we submit to. When a person is newly converted into the family of God, they have an insatiable desire to do good. Their mind has been renewed, thoughts refreshed, and intentions set on doing only good. Unfortunately, the season of newness tends to wear down, when the desires of the past gradually creep back into their lives. The more time an individual spends studying, learning, and growing in the way of holiness, the more likely they’ll become properly equipped to walk in the Spirit, while avoiding the lusts of the flesh. On the other hand, the less time spent in God’s word can cause a person to become influenced by unrighteousness, and it’s harmful effects. We all may have a strong desire, or will to do as God commanded us to do, but if we aren’t diligent in our commitment to serve, and refuse to study to show ourselves approved unto God, then our will and desires will only reside in our minds, and not our actions.
Psalm 56, 84, 86, 93, 136
When I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord, because He warms my heart and sustains my life like the sun. The Lord is my shield, and protects me from all who come against me. The Lord showers me with grace and glory, and He’ll never withhold anything good from me. The Lord is great in mercy, full of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, and truth. The Lord reigns supreme! He is clothed with majesty and strength. His throne is established of old. He is from everlasting. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding have all they that do His commandments. His praise endures forever. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Kings 7
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Nothing To Lose” starring, the Four Lepers! I’m your host, “HolyEll”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!
(During the days of the great prophet Elijah, a season came when severe famine entered the land. The situation for the children of Israel had become so lamentable, until they forced themselves to eat unclean animals, and some attempted to eat their own children. Moses predicted this would happen, if the people ever fell into sin. Unfortunately, they did.)
(Four leprous men lingered near the gate of a Syrian camp.)
Leper 1: Why are we still sitting here, waiting to die? Our condition will only lead to our death, so let’s get up from here, and do something.
Leper 2: What would you advise us to do?
Leper 3: Yeah, what are we supposed to do? No one can stand to be near us, let alone set their eyes upon us.
Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.
Leper 1: Listen guys, if we go into the city, there’s famine, and we’ll die from starvation. If we sit here, we’ll die from this miserable disease anyway, so let’s take a chance and go into the camp.
Leper 2: Wait a minute. If we go in there, the Syrians will turn us away.
Leper 3: Right! They’ll certainly send us back into the streets .
Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.
Leper 1: Alright, listen. We’re going in there, and if they spare us, we’ll live, but if they kill us, we’ll die.
Leper 2: Umm…. that’s kinda obvious (speaking sarcastically)
Leper 3: (Looking confused and uncertain)
Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.
Leper 1: It is better to die with hope, than with none at all. Let’s go fellas.
(“And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.” vs. 5)
Leper 4: Oh my God! There’s no one here!
Leper 3: Where did all the men go?
Leper 2: (Mouth wide open in amazement)
(“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.” vs. 6-7)
Leper 1: Hey, since there’s no one around, let’s see what’s in these tents!
(“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.” vs. 8)
With nothing to lose, the frail, yet hopeful lepers joined together, removed themselves from their place of misery, and went forward in faith, to find what they hoped for. Surprisingly, they received more than what either of them could have imagined. God is well aware of our struggles and wants to see us blessed, but we will never receive of His glory, until we get up from our place of misery, realize we have nothing to lose, and go forward in faith.
This concludes the exciting episode of, “Nothing To Lose”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!
Ell's Daily Inspirations 