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 5:1-3
The secret of a close relationship with God is to pray to him earnestly each morning. In the morning, our minds are more free from problems and we can commit the whole day to God. Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. We need to communicate with him daily. Do you have a regular time to pray and read God’s Word?
(Excerpt from Life Application Study Bible)
Psalm 44:8
What has the world become? In times past, men and women functioned very differently than today. The father would typically provide for the family, while the mother turned the house into a home. Children were disciplined in the home, and in turn, were usually well-behaved in public. Modesty was common in the dress code of men, women, and children, and rarely would anyone feel comfortable enough to expose their body in public places. Sadly, the rise of social media has changed our society forever! Not a day goes by, where people aren’t seeking attention, by either exposing their bodies, or doing something unusual with their cell phone camera.
Why do so many people seek attention these days? Well, I’m glad you asked. The main reason individuals yearn to be noticed is, they have absolutely no relationship with God the Father. When God is first in a person’s life, they’ll no doubt place His desires above their own. Another reason people freely expose their personal business on social media is, they lack self-respect, and need the approval of others to feel relevant. What a shame. God made everyone wonderfully, and that alone should make all people feel appreciated. Unfortunately, modesty, humility, and self-control were placed to the side when Facebook, Twitter, Tick Tock, and Instagram became prominent social media outlets.
While it’s not uncommon for “worldly” folk to be drawn to such selfish desires, it’s sad when those who claim to be “Christians” are found yearning to get views on their social media platforms. The body of Christ was commanded to be holy, and that includes all conversation and communication. What you say from your lips, or type on a phone or computer, will be a representation of what you believe. If you claim to be righteous, but post unholy videos, then your claims are false. If you gossip, lie, or support unethical media, then you are just as bad as those who post it. As becoming Saints, we must keep ourselves separate from all things ungodly, and unhealthy. The world is expected to seek attention, as satan did when pride consumed him in heaven, but the church of the living God, should never be partakers of such unholy behaviors.
The Bible tells us to make our boast in the Lord. In other words, brag on God for being the creator of life, and sustaining all things in it. As frail humans, we should never allow ourselves to think highly of anything we do, because at any moment, sickness, tragedy, or any other unfortunate thing could occur. God is the only one who deserves attention, and the glory we place in ourselves, should be redirected toward heaven.
Desde el principio de los tiempos, este mundo ha estado plagado de innumerables ídolos que los hombres han adorado y a los que han unido su lealtad. Lo que es interesante notar es que, en la raíz de cada ídolo o dios, está la mano de satanás. El motivo principal del diablo es bloquear o alejar de Dios a tantas personas como sea posible, antes de que termine este mundo actual. Lamentablemente, nuestro adversario ha demostrado ser muy eficaz para guiar a hombres y mujeres por el camino que se desvía de la dirección de la justicia. Afortunadamente, la Biblia está llena de pasajes que advierten a los creyentes que eviten enseñanzas, doctrinas y profetas falsos. Hubo muchos en el pasado, que hablaron cosas que realmente sucedieron, y fueron acompañadas de señales y prodigios sobrenaturales, pero esos fueron solo trucos y artimañas del enemigo, cuyo único propósito era alejar a los hombres de Dios. Hoy, la iglesia debe estar alerta y estar alerta, porque hay muchos que reclaman el nombre del Señor, pero en secreto tienen intenciones engañosas y malvadas. El Dios que creó el cielo y la tierra, ha dejado información más que suficiente en su palabra, que mantendrá a su pueblo preparado para enfrentarse a toda idolatría falsa y malvada. Pero, debemos leer y meditar en la palabra de Dios, a fin de crecer en el conocimiento y la gracia de todo lo que Él nos creó para ser.
Isaiah 40:1-5
How can one find peace, in the midst of a storm? Where do you go for direction, when wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of life? Who can give comfort, in situations that are uncomfortable? This present year is nearing its end, and many have struggled to crawl out of valleys, climb over mountains, and even stand firm during stormy seasons, since the year began, and of all the things lacking in life, trouble is far from being one of them. But, regardless of how tough this year has been, we who have made it this far, can have hope that God will reward us for our perseverance. Although the prophecy in this text was directed toward the people of Judah, the power of God continues to work in favor of those who love Him, and keep His commandments. God promised to bless those who obey Him, and knowing this should bring great joy to the believer, because “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). It is indeed hard, at times, to find comfort in the midst of suffering, but the love that comes from the Father, is strong enough to penetrate through our situation, and give us peace, as we go through whatever comes against us. Be strong, and trust in the power of the Lord, because if He was loving enough to deliver Judah from years of oppression and persecution, He’ll freely carry us safely out of this trying year, and into a promising new one.
“Look back on your past, only to push you into a better future.” – Ell
Galatians 3:6-9, 13-14
If Jesus never came to die for the sins of mankind, all would be lost, and any thought of spending a secure eternity with the Father would be impossible. Every person on the earth owes thanks and praise to the Savior, for the simple fact that their sins can be washed away, and their only requirement to receive salvation is to confess their sins, and believe on the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Following confession and conversation, the believer has a duty to love God, and keep His commandments, the rest of their lives.
Fear of the unknown is frightening on its own, but dying without Christ in your heart is more fearful than anything I can think of. If there was no begotten gift, no master teacher, no flawless godly example, no sacrifice, then all men would be living this life to die, only to suffer the second death in the life to come. There are some religions that believe this is the only life we have, and after this, there’s nothing. So, they teach men to live their “best lives” now. Others believe in reincarnation, and other teachings that are contrary to biblical doctrine. Whether a person believes in God, or not, it’s obvious this present world is decaying at an increasing rate, so it’s wise to start believing in the truth of God’s Word, and take advantage of the time we have in the earth.
This life is temporal, but eternity is neverending, so to avoid a hopeless eternity, men ought to give their lives to God, and join in with all who are presently spreading the Gospel message throughout the world.
“Put your hope in the risen Savior, not in men who need the same salvation.” – Ell
Psalm 43
🎵🎶 When I am afraid, I will trust in you,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you.
When I am afraid, I will trust in you,
In God whose word I praise.
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you.
When I am afraid I will trust in you,
In God whose word I praise.
In God I trust, when I am afraid.
In God I trust, in God whose word I praise
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you.
When I am afraid I will trust in you,
In God whose word I praise.
I TRUST YOU LORD I REALLY DO 🎶🎵
-Song by Steve Green
Journeying through life will present moments when finding our way will appear dark and dim, but the only way to see the path of righteousness during times of darkness is, by trusting in God’s light, and His truth. The Word of God is the only way to safely navigate and traverse through these troubled times, so never lean to your own understanding. Instead, let God lead you in the way you should go.
We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.
Ell
Proverbs 5:7-14
If you were to take a moment to think back on all the times you bumped your head for not adhering to wise counsel, how many bumps would you count? Oftentimes, people (especially children) tend to seek advice when it’s too late. Parents warn and teach their children of the dangers that lurk outside the walls of their safety, so that in the event the child encounters such a temptation, they’ll know how to escape it unharmed, and unscathed. Unfortunately, many children have had to run home with a few bumps and bruises, because they failed to follow their parent’s teachings.
Failure to follow instruction is also typical of some members of the body of Christ, unfortunately. The church has been commanded to read and obey God’s holy Word, but there are times when even God’s own children hate instruction, and despise reproof. It’s during these moments when even the believer gives in to temptation. Not only are these persons disobeying God’s direct commands, but they’re also giving of themselves, to those who consume them without remorse.
If allowed to, the enemy will drain every bit of energy and life from the believer, so that they’ll be unfit to walk according to God’s standards. For this reason, it’s of great importance that the church take heed to the words of Scripture, and apply them daily, as to keep from falling into temptation. To avoid living in regret, or wasting time, effort, and resources on those who are cruel and undeserving, hear the words of the Lord, and depart not from the instruction of those who care for your soul.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.
Ell
Luke 7:24-28
Are you familiar with the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? As a kid, I preferred to select books that had cool, colorful, and appealing covers. This was because, I expected the contents of the book to be worth reading, if the cover was enticing enough to catch my attention. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. In essence, this phrase warns of the danger of passing judgment on a person based on their outer appearance, without gaining full knowledge of who they really are.
Take a moment to think back over your life, and consider those whom you prematurely passed judgment on, then found them to be pretty cool characters. One such character in the Bible who was prejudged because of his appearance was, John the Baptist. Unlike men who “preach” or “prophecy”, while choosing to dress in the finest apparel, eat choice meals, and make themselves known for self gratification and status, John chose rather to adorn himself in the most modest of garments (camel’s hair and a leather belt), eat rustic food (locust and wild honey), and preferred to preach and prophesy in the wilderness, rather than from the pulpit. Jesus, Himself was recorded as quoting, “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:” (vs. 28a). This comparison of greatness is not absolute, but relative to certain aspects of the parties involved. In other words, there were other prophets who’s ministries were great as well, but Jesus was referring to the simple fact that John’s privilege and position to represent the Messiah made him greater than all the other prophets.
You and I may not have been called to be great prophets or the like, but we were commanded to be great in our duties as representatives of Christ. In this life, men may not recognize you for moral character, holy living, or obedience to God, but rest assured, God has read all the pages from the book of your life, and He knows how great your end will be!
Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,
Ell
2 Timothy 1:3-9
The most valuable treasure adults can leave behind for the youth is not money, property, or any type of investment. Instead, passing on the knowledge of God’s Word will benefit the next generation far more than anything else. By default, children are born into a world tainted with all manner of evil and wickedness, so establishing a solid foundation in the Word of God, will help children develop a better sense of what’s right and wrong, according to the Scriptures. Not only is establishing a foundation of holiness in the hearts and minds of our youth vital, but continuous encouragement is also a great way for seasoned Saints to nurture young people, as they develop.
One of the biggest problems plaguing the modern-day church is, lack of Bible knowledge being transferred from the elderly to the young. One reason for this stems from the fact that the world has put a firm grip on the minds of the youth today, by distracting them with all types of technology, and social media. I’d be surprised to find a handful of children in any area of the county, who’s eyes aren’t glued to their cell phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV. Children spend more time on social media, than doing things that could potentially help them become better adults. Although it’s become more of a challenge to reach the young in these last days, the message of the Gospel is still as potent as it was in the past, and is very much capable of reaching as far as possible, to grab the attention of our wavering generation.
Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,
Ell
Psalm 86:1-13
Who can do what God does? Can a doctor truly understand, and explain the code of human DNA? While they may see an in-depth analysis of cell function, no one can truly understand how cells do, what they do. Can a bird sing, except God grace him with the necessary parts to do so? Birds were uniquely formed to inhabit the heavens, and show forth God’s unmatched intellect. Do you believe in gravity? I do, but can you honestly say, you understand it fully? Can you contain it in a jar, analyze it, or paint it purple? Although we know the purpose of gravity, and what it does, no one can fully make sense of it. What is light, except the illumination of dark spaces? We see the light, but how does it exist? What substance is it composed of?
God is amazing, and the things He does are sometimes beyond human comprehension. I tried once to contain God in my finite brain, then had a headache for a few hours after. God has the power to speak things into existence, heal sick bodies, raise men from the dead, inhabit praise from those who love Him, and bless men so, until curses are unable to penetrate their lives. As I write, I have millions of thoughts running through my mind, concerning how good God is, and how He does so much for everyone! I don’t understand all the ways of God, but I’ve learned how to keep His attention, from studying the Bible.
King David left great examples of how to stay in union with God, until He creates opportunities, just so He can bless. David understood that one must first cleanse the evil from their hearts, before even attempting to ask anything from the Father. A pure heart, coupled with a consistent holy lifestyle, will always keep you in a position where God CANNOT refuse to grant your prayer requests. The almighty, all-knowing, all-wise God, looks down on the earth, and desires to perform some amazing things in the lives of the people, but many don’t believe in Him, nor in His Word, so they willingly forfeit themselves from receiving blessings that can only come from God. While men find temporary satisfaction from pleasures in the world, only God can give things that offer lasting joy, and satisfaction.
Who can do what God does? No one. Think on that for a moment, and consider adjusting your life to where it always has God’s attention.
Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,
Ell
Ell's Daily Inspirations 