The Joy of Failure and reason for Bible Study

 Soul are you weary and troubled? Bless the Lord o my soul, worship his holy name. Hymns remind us that we are blessed to remember the Lord and worship our way through difficult times.

Today, I am learning to find joy even in failure. WD-40 earned its name through iteration: 39 unsuccessful attempts before the 40th formula worked.

While tri-bible.ai involves extensive information and requirements analysis, its ultimate purpose remains clear: to make Scripture understandable, doctrinally faithful, and reproducible in every language.

That mission became tangible while I was translating a Bible study into German. I discovered that Psalm 139:14 can read as “terribly and wonderfully made” in contemporary German. It was a bug, but also an important lesson in why careful, context-aware translation matters. The Lord helps me to consider this Pure Joy (James 1:2-4). 

In Bible study we can enjoy learning but the main reason should always be to "get to know God" as John Lennox says in this interview. He recounts an important lesson from his mentor, Professor David Gooding, who challenged him to move beyond studying the Bible simply to prepare talks, teach classes, or fulfill obligations. Instead, he explains that if the Bible is truly the Word of God, the ultimate and most worthwhile purpose for engaging with it is to allow God to reveal Himself to the reader through it.

The distinction between viewing scripture as a vehicle for God's revelation versus dismissing it as "fantasy" largely comes down to the reader's attitude toward metaphors and the nature of language.

• Seeing Fantasy: Professor Lennox explains that many young people today struggle to understand metaphorical language. Because they lack training in the grammar of their own language, they often treat symbols and figures of speech in books like Revelation as literal descriptions. When these descriptions seem impossible or surreal (like a sword coming out of a mouth), they conclude the text is merely "fanciful" or "meaningless."
• Allowing Revelation: Conversely, approaching scripture to "get to know God" involves recognizing that metaphors stand for realities. Lennox notes that just as saying "my heart is broken" refers to a real experience rather than a literal damaged organ, biblical metaphors point toward deep, non-literal spiritual truths.

Ultimately, Lennox argues that reading the Bible as God's Word requires maturity and judgment. It isn't about ignoring intellect, but about accepting that the text uses imaginative language to communicate truths that transcend a purely literal, materialistic interpretation.

I read a book on the Psalms that shows God's wisdom in the Hebrew literary form of poetry that doesn't use rhyme but uses metaphor. "Bless is the person, who meditates on God's word - he is like a tree planted by stream. Producing fruit in every season... they prosper because the Lord watches over the way of the righteous."

Lord help me read the Bible with eyes that see, ears that hear and heart that understands. In Jesus name, amen. Give me confidence that you are watching over the way of righteousness and help me to meditate on your way. Keep me near your heart and guide me into the way of everlasting. 

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Mercy defines the Sabbath day, discover how to "delight in the Lord" (Isa 56:1–7,Isa 58:13–14)

This is what the Lord says:

“Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.

“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people. And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’

For this is what the Lord says: 

I will bless those eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me...“I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-25) and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer (1 Corinthians 6:19). I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. Isa 56:1–7

Over the past few months I've been looking at Stop in the Name of God with guys from Teen Challenge Portland house. I wanted to share with the guys that resting in the Lord is a great way to spend Saturday, healing and new paths open up as we rest in the Lord and focus on "seeking his face." in community. 

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!” - Isa 58:13–14

Sabbath is mentioned 154 time in the NIV. The "mercy defines the day" theme is perhaps the most continuous. Deuteronomy's Exodus-grounded rationale for Sabbath rest, "you were slaves, therefore your servants and animals rest" is not overturned by Jesus but drawn out to its logical conclusion. The healings are Deuteronomy in action, performed by the One who authored the Exodus.

The most surprising convergence is the mission column. Isaiah 56's vision of foreigners keeping the Sabbath at the mountain of prayer is so specific that Paul's synagogue strategy in Acts looks like deliberate fulfillment. He was not accommodating Jewish custom for pragmatic reasons, he was standing inside Isaiah's prophetic picture and announcing its arrival.

And the eschatological rest column shows the most sophisticated typological argument in the canon. Hebrews 4 is not proof-texting; it is reading Genesis 2, Psalm 95, and the Conquest narratives together and showing that the open-ended seventh day was always waiting for an antitype that only Christ's finished work could supply.

Theme	Old Testament foundation	New Testament fulfillment
Lord of the Sabbath God's sovereign ownership of the day	Gen 2:2–3 · Ex 20:8–11 · Deut 5:12–15 · Ezek 20:12,20 The Sabbath belongs to YHWH — "a Sabbath to the LORD." God himself rested, blessed, and hallowed the seventh day. Ezekiel calls it his personal sign between himself and Israel. Sovereignty over the Sabbath is an exclusively divine attribute, not delegated to any human authority.	Mark 2:28 · Matt 12:8 · John 5:17–18 Jesus claims the identical sovereignty: "the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." This is not a relaxation of the law but a Christological claim. John 5:17 makes the logic explicit — the Father's ongoing work grounds the Son's Sabbath activity. He who created the Sabbath now fulfills it in person. Type fulfilled in Christ's person
Mercy defines the day Liberation and rest for the powerless	Ex 23:12 · Deut 5:15 · Isa 58:13–14 · Lev 25 Deuteronomy grounds the Sabbath in the Exodus: "you were a slave in Egypt." Rest must therefore extend to servants, animals, and foreigners. The Sabbath year releases debts; the Jubilee restores land. Isaiah 58 redefines true Sabbath as justice. The day is structurally a liberation institution.	Matt 12:12 · Luke 13:16 · Luke 14:5 Jesus draws out the mercy logic already embedded in Deuteronomy. Calling the bent woman a "daughter of Abraham" deliberately echoes covenant identity and Exodus liberation. His ox-in-the-pit argument (Luke 14:5) appeals to mercy his opponents already practiced and extends it to a human being. OT humanitarian law → christological healing
Custom & practice The Sabbath as covenant identity	Ex 16 · Ex 31:12–17 · Num 15:32–36 · Neh 13:15–22 The manna narrative pre-Sinai established the weekly pattern before the law was given. Ex 31 makes the Sabbath a perpetual covenant sign. Violation was a capital offense in the wilderness (Num 15). Nehemiah enforced it at Jerusalem's gates as a marker of post-exilic covenant fidelity.	Luke 4:16 · Luke 23:56 · Matt 24:20 Jesus attended the synagogue "as was his custom" the covenant-keeper embodying the covenant sign. The women rested on the Sabbath even in their grief, honoring the commandment. Jesus' instruction to pray the flight not be on the Sabbath shows the rhythm still shaping his disciples' future. Covenant sign kept perfectly by the covenant Lord
Shadow & substance Critique and universalizing of observance	Isa 1:13–14 · Isa 56:2–7 · Amos 8:5 · Jer 31:31–34 The prophets already anticipated a deeper fulfillment. Isaiah condemns hollow Sabbath-keeping while simultaneously opening Sabbath participation to foreigners and eunuchs (Isa 56) — universalizing what Israel had privatized. Jeremiah's new covenant inscribes law on the heart, relativizing external observance as its ultimate form.	Col 2:16–17 · Rom 14:5 · Gal 4:10 Paul declares the Sabbath a "shadow" of the substance that is Christ (Col 2:17). The prophetic critique of empty observance is resolved: the reality the day pointed toward has arrived. Sabbath keeping becomes a conscience matter rather than a salvific one the OT itself prepared this trajectory. Prophetic anticipation → Pauline declaration
Eschatological rest The open-ended seventh day	Gen 2:2–3 · Ps 95:7–11 · Deut 12:9 · Lev 25The seventh day in Genesis uniquely has no closing formula ("evening and morning") — it is open-ended rest. Psalm 95 uses "my rest" as a future threat written after the Conquest, showing Canaan did not exhaust the promise. The Promised Land was called "rest" (Deut 12:9), but a greater rest still lay ahead. The Jubilee projects Sabbath rhythm onto a cosmic scale.	Heb 4:1–11 · John 19:30Hebrews weaves Genesis, Psalm 95, and Canaan into one typological argument: three Sabbath-rests (creation, land, Ps 95's future promise) converge on a single antitype — the rest believers enter by faith in Christ's finished work. "It is finished" is the ultimate Sabbath declaration. The rest that remains is eschatological, inaugurated now and consummated at the resurrection. Three OT types → one NT antitype
Mission platform All nations at God's Sabbath	Isa 56:2–7 · Isa 66:23 · Ezek 46:1–3 Isaiah 56 is striking: foreigners who keep the Sabbath will be welcomed at God's holy mountain, "for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Isaiah 66 envisions all flesh coming to worship on new moons and Sabbaths in the new creation. Ezekiel 46 pictures the Sabbath as the rhythm of restored, universal worship.	Acts 13:14,42–44 · Acts 16:13 · Acts 17:2 · Acts 18:4 Paul built his entire Gentile mission around the Sabbath synagogue assembly. Isaiah's vision — foreigners gathering at God's house on the Sabbath — is precisely what Paul exploited across Antioch, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Philippi. The Sabbath gathering became the first and most natural platform for announcing that the One the Scriptures promised had come. Isaiah's vision → apostolic mission strategy

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Smashing bronze snakes: When God's gifts become idols

Jim shared this the other day and I really needed to let go of my past trophies and live in today's challenges. 

The Backstory

In Numbers 21, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it on a pole. Anyone bitten by snakes who looked at it would live (Numbers 21:8-9). It was an instrument of healing and a call to faith, nothing more.

Hundreds of years later, the object remained. But its purpose had curdled. By Hezekiah's time, the people were burning incense to it, had given it a name ("Nehushtan," meaning simply "a piece of bronze"), and were treating it as an object of worship (2 Kings 18:4). What God designed to point toward Him had become a substitute for Him.

Hezekiah destroyed it. No hesitation, no nostalgia. His reasoning was clear: the symbol had replaced the Savior. The created thing had eclipsed the Creator (Romans 1:25). It had to go, even though it once carried a holy purpose.

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The Lesson

Even gifts from God can become idols when we cling to them wrongly. Traditions, symbols, spiritual experiences, past blessings — any of these can quietly take the throne that belongs to God alone. Israel did it with the bronze serpent. We do it with subtler things.

The warning echoes across Scripture. The prophet Isaiah records God saying, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing" (Isaiah 43:18-19). Jesus warned that no one pours new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5:37-38). Paul pressed forward, refusing to be held by what was behind (Philippians 3:13-14). Reverence for what God did must never become a chain that keeps us from what God is doing.

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The Beautiful Twist

Jesus Himself references this moment in John 3:14-15: "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."

The bronze serpent was never the destination. It was always a signpost pointing forward to Christ. Hezekiah was not rejecting God's past work. He was protecting God's present glory by refusing to let a shadow replace the substance (Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1).

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Reflection for the Week

What bronze serpent do you need to smash?

It might be social media, a phone habit, an unhealthy website. But it can be subtler than that.

For me, pride in past achievements became an idol. I found myself protecting a former version of myself rather than remaining open to God's corrective input today. It is a kind of PTSD in reverse: worshipping a past experience, guarding an old award, rehearsing a former identity. The very thing God once used became a wall between me and what He wants to do now.

The Psalmist prays, "Search me, God, and know my heart... see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). That is the prayer for this week.

Lord, help me look forward to Your presence and the promises You are fulfilling in me now and in the days ahead. Loosen my grip on what was. Give me eyes for what is. Amen.

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Let God show you the path of life today (Psalm 16:11, John 14:6)

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. — Psalm 16:11

My friend and prayer partner Gloria sends me a text message every morning. She always encourages me and builds up my soul. We get to pray every Thursday with my mom, Robb, Tony, Russ and Karen. It's awesome. It helps me to pray for all the things in ministry, our church, our community and world. It started as Alpha Prayer for twin cities and five state area. Then morphed into Alpha at Teen Challenge Campuses. Here's today's message.

 Good morning!!

 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

  There are times I realize  that I miss out on certain things because I'm not fully focused on the present. I am asking Jesus to help me be aware of all that He brings to my life each day.

  My desire is to be fully present, basking in the pleasures of Jesus as He guides me through out my life.

  Jesus loves you and so do I 

David wrote Psalm 16:11 from a place of deep trust. He knew that God was not a distant guide pointing from afar, but a close companion walking beside him every step. Jesus made this same promise when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He does not just show us the path. He is the path.

There are times when life moves fast and our minds race ahead to tomorrow, or drift back to yesterday. In those moments, we miss what God is doing right now. Moses learned this at the burning bush. He had to stop, turn aside, and look before God spoke (Exodus 3:3-4). Presence requires attention.

Jesus modeled this beautifully. He stopped for blind Bartimaeus when the crowd pressed on (Mark 10:49). He paused for the woman who touched His robe (Luke 8:45). He noticed. He was fully present. And He invites us into that same awareness.

Paul reminds us, "This is the day the Lord has made" (Psalm 118:24), and that we should "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude is one of the greatest tools for staying present. When we say thank you for what is in front of us, we stop rushing past it.

The promise of Psalm 16:11 is not just for heaven. Fullness of joy is available today, in His presence, on this ordinary morning. As we walk with Jesus, He fills each moment with meaning, with beauty, and with Himself.

"The Lord your God is with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9

• Psalm 23:3 — "He leads me in paths of righteousness" — a companion to Psalm 16:11 on guidance
• John 10:10 — "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" — the fullness Jesus brings
• Philippians 4:11 — Paul learning contentment in the present, whatever the circumstance
• Matthew 6:34 — Jesus' direct teaching on not borrowing anxiety from tomorrow

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Profound tranquility when we accept Peace that Jesus gives

We finished watching 11.22.63 series about going back in time and trying to change things. I saw the link to PTSD where people spend their life in the past, but it never changes. I thought about Paul Abney's testimony at my work with SALT, VETNET and STRIVE a week from Tuesday and his healing ministry; Redeeming Your Timeline by Troy Brewer

Chloe had a great insight, depression occurs when we're in the past, anxiety occurs when we're in the future and peace occurs when we're in the present. When we view our lives through God's purpose, power and plan we see He can redeem the past, and give hope for the future. 

The world sees hope as wishful thinking, but the Bible defines hope as the joyful expectation of something good. In There Is Hope For What You Are Facing - Bill Johnson talks about the idea that faithful Christians don't deny trouble (pain, trouble or bad circumstances) but they deny it place of influence over their lives. When we put God first we are able to walk in step with him and experience that the "Word is Light onto my path." Even in a fight of our lives we can be present with the Lord and for the Joy set before us endure the hardest moments with a heart full of love and forgiveness (Hebrews 12:1-13:25)

Now may the God of peace - who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood - may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.  All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Peace is Presence, Not Escape

The world's peace is circumstantial. It exists only when conditions are favorable. God's peace operates differently. It is relational, not situational.

When Jesus says, "My peace I give you; not as the world gives" (John 14:27), He establishes a fundamental distinction. The world's peace is the absence of trouble. Christ's peace is the presence of God in the middle of trouble.

Paul makes this explicit in Ephesians 2:14: "He himself is our peace." Not His gifts or solutions. Not His interventions. He is the peace. This is why believers can experience profound tranquility in circumstances that would shatter anyone else.

The peace isn't found by escaping the storm. It's found by encountering the One who speaks to the storm (Mark 4:39, Psalm 107:29).

Philippians 4:9 promises: "The God of peace will be with you." Notice the emphasis. Not just that peace will come to you, but that the God of peace will be present. His nearness is the source (Psalm 73:28, James 4:8). His companionship is the substance. Peace is not a spiritual commodity we acquire. It's a Person we know.

Practical application: When anxiety rises, our first instinct is to solve the problem or escape the pressure. The biblical response is different. Intentionally acknowledge God's presence. "You are here. You are peace. I receive You." This reorients us from circumstance-management to presence-awareness.

Supporting passages: Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 26:3, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5

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Keep Your Peace

Peace is already given. The challenge is retention, not acquisition.

Colossians 3:15 uses the imperative: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." The Greek word for "rule" (brabeuō) means to act as an umpire or arbiter. Peace is meant to govern decision-making, emotional responses, and mental patterns. But we must actively allow it to do so.

A noisy heart cannot hear the still, small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12). One dominated by anxiety, reactivity, or distraction cannot sense the gentle arbitration of His peace. Isaiah 30:15 reveals the principle: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust is your strength." But the verse continues: "Yet you would not."

The peace is available. The stillness is offered. But we must choose it.

Psalm 46:10 is often quoted in isolation: "Be still and know that I am God." But in context, this stillness isn't passive resignation. It's active surrender in the midst of nations raging, kingdoms falling, and earth giving way (Psalm 46:1-3, 6). The command is to stop striving, stop manufacturing solutions in our own strength, and know that He is God and we are not.

Our memory verse in BSF the last few weeks: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" Zechariah 4:6

Practical application: Throughout the day, perform "peace checks." Is peace still ruling, or has anxiety taken the throne? When you notice you've lost your peace, don't merely try to calm down. Return to the presence of God. The peace you're looking for isn't manufactured by deep breathing. It's recovered by returning to the One who already gave it.

Supporting passages: Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 32:17, John 14:1, Romans 8:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:16

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Prayerlessness Creates Lack

The most direct instruction on maintaining peace is Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The structure is intentional. Anxiety is dispelled through prayer, not independently of it. The peace that guards our hearts is given in response to bringing our concerns to God.

This isn't mechanical or transactional. It's relational. When we withhold our anxieties from God, we forfeit the peace that comes from unburdening ourselves in His presence.

James 4:2 states the principle bluntly: "You do not have because you do not ask." This applies to peace as much as any other spiritual reality. Prayerlessness is a choice to carry burdens we were never meant to bear alone (Matthew 11:28-30).

It's the quiet pride that says, "I can handle this myself." Or the functional atheism that says, "Prayer won't actually change anything." Both positions cut us off from the very source of peace.

My quiet pride of being looked over at work was discovered during a weekend of worship a few weeks ago: Jesus gives new power to walk differently - Mark 2:11

1 Peter 5:7 gives both the command and the reason: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." The act of casting requires deliberate, verbal, specific prayer. Vague spiritual intentions don't displace concrete anxieties. We must name the fear, articulate the burden, and consciously transfer it to the One who invites us to do so (Psalm 55:22).

Practical application: When anxiety surfaces about a specific issue, immediately convert that anxiety into prayer. Don't wait until you "feel like praying" or until the fear intensifies. The moment you notice it, speak it to God. "Father, I'm anxious about _______. I release this to You. I receive Your peace in exchange." This isn't formula. It's relationship.

Supporting passages: Psalm 34:4, Psalm 62:8, Proverbs 16:3, Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 11:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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Peace Guards What We Guard

The promise of Philippians 4:7 is that God's peace will "guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." The word "guard" (phrourēsē) is a military term. It means to garrison, to station sentries, to protect by an armed presence.

Peace doesn't just comfort. It actively defends against the intrusion of fear, confusion, and chaos.

But notice the condition in the preceding verse. The promise of guarding peace follows specific instructions about what we bring to God: prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, requests. We cannot experience the guarding function of peace if we don't engage the relational practices that activate it.

This connects directly to Philippians 4:8, which is actually the continuation: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

The peace that guards our hearts is sustained by what we allow into our minds. Mental passivity erodes the garrison. Consuming whatever the world presents, rehearsing worst-case scenarios, dwelling on offenses destroys peace (Proverbs 4:23).

We must actively curate our thought life. Not through rigid mental control, but through intentional focus on what is true, noble, right, and praiseworthy.

Practical application: Implement "thought triage" throughout the day. When a thought enters your mind, ask: "Is this true? Is this worth my attention? Does this build peace or erode it?" Don't merely try to suppress negative thoughts. Replace them with truth. Memorized Scripture is the best defense here (Psalm 119:11). When anxiety attacks with "what if," counter with "even if" grounded in God's promises.

Supporting passages: 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ephesians 6:14-17, Colossians 3:2, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 4:12

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Peace with God, Peace from God

Romans 5:1 establishes the foundation: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is positional peace. The settled legal status of being reconciled to God through Christ's atoning work.

It is not experiential peace (how we feel day-to-day) but relational peace (our standing before God). This peace is permanent, not fluctuating (Romans 8:38-39).

Understanding this distinction is critical. When believers struggle with anxiety or internal turmoil, it doesn't mean they've lost their peace with God. The blood of Christ has secured that once for all (Hebrews 10:10, 14).

What's at stake is not our justification but our experience. Whether we're drawing from the peace we already possess in Christ.

Romans 15:13 speaks to experiential peace: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Notice the mechanism. Joy and peace come in believing. In actively trusting God's character, promises, and purposes.

This peace is not automatic. It's accessed through faith and sustained by the Holy Spirit's power (Galatians 5:22, John 14:26-27). Peace is both a gift and a fruit. You can't manufacture fruit. You can only create the conditions for it to grow (John 15:4-5).

Practical application: When you lose your experiential peace, don't question your salvation. Question your believing. What truth are you not trusting? What promise are you not applying? What aspect of God's character are you not leaning on? Return to specific biblical promises and deliberately choose to believe them again.

Supporting passages: Isaiah 53:5, John 16:33, Acts 10:36, Romans 8:1, Ephesians 2:13-18, Colossians 1:20

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The Peace That Passes Understanding

Philippians 4:7 describes God's peace as "surpassing all understanding" (hyperechousan panta noun). This isn't peace that makes rational sense given the circumstances. It's peace that operates on a different plane entirely. It transcends human logic, psychological explanation, or circumstantial justification.

This is the peace Jesus demonstrated sleeping in the stern of a boat during a life-threatening storm (Mark 4:38). His disciples panicked because their peace was tied to circumstances. Jesus rested because His peace was tied to the Father.

When He woke and calmed the storm, He didn't rebuke the weather first. He rebuked the disciples' lack of faith (Mark 4:40). The issue wasn't the storm. It was their failure to recognize that the presence of God in the boat made them perfectly safe regardless of the waves.

John 16:33 captures this paradox: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Jesus doesn't promise the absence of tribulation. He promises peace in the midst of tribulation.

The peace isn't found by avoiding the world's troubles. It's found by abiding in Christ who has already conquered them (1 John 5:4).

This is supernatural peace. The peace of martyrs singing hymns before execution (Acts 16:25). The peace of missionaries sleeping soundly in dangerous places (Acts 27:21-25). The peace of parents whose child is in crisis but who rest in God's sovereignty (2 Samuel 12:22-23).

The world looks at such peace and considers it denial or delusion. But it's neither. It's simply trusting Someone the world doesn't know.

Practical application: When circumstances logically dictate fear or anxiety, that's precisely when supernatural peace can shine most clearly. Don't apologize for your peace or feel guilty for not being as worried as others think you should be. Your peace isn't denial. It's faith. It's trusting in a reality the world can't see.

Supporting passages: Psalm 4:8, Psalm 112:7, Proverbs 1:33, Isaiah 41:10, Nahum 1:7, Romans 8:31

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Peacemakers, Not Peacekeepers

Matthew 5:9 pronounces blessing on "the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." This isn't passive peacekeeping. Not avoiding conflict, suppressing truth to maintain surface harmony, or enabling dysfunction in the name of "keeping the peace."

Biblical peacemaking requires courage, truth-telling, and sometimes confrontation (Matthew 18:15-17, Galatians 2:11).

Hebrews 12:14 commands, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Notice peace is paired with holiness, not with tolerance of sin. True peace doesn't compromise righteousness (James 3:17-18). It pursues reconciliation through righteousness.

Romans 12:18 acknowledges the limitation: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." The qualifiers matter. "If possible" recognizes that some people refuse peace. "So far as it depends on you" acknowledges that you can't control others' responses.

You're responsible for your own pursuit of peace, not for achieving it unilaterally.

• April 2018, Offering ourselves alive, renews our minds and enables us to discern God's perfect will - Romans 12:1-5
• Jesus teaches how faith is practical and effective (Matthew 21:18-22)
  
• Prayer as Spiritual Command and Control
  

Jesus Himself said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). In context, He's describing the division that occurs when truth confronts darkness. When allegiance to Christ supersedes human relationships (Luke 12:51-53).

There's a false peace that simply avoids confronting evil. That's not the peace Christ offers.

Practical application: When relational conflict arises, ask: "Am I pursuing peace or merely avoiding conflict?" True peacemaking addresses issues directly, speaks truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and seeks reconciliation grounded in righteousness. Don't sacrifice truth for comfort, but don't wield truth as a weapon either. Be a peacemaker, not a peacekeeper.

• Jesus prescribes limitless readiness to forgive from the heart (Matthew 18:21-22)
• Sensing God's pleasure motivates our devotion
  
• The Discipline of Daily Repentance (Hebrews 3:13)
  

Supporting passages: Proverbs 12:20, Mark 9:50, Romans 14:19, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, 2 Timothy 2:22-24

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The Prince of Peace and the God of Peace (covenant not temperament)

Isaiah 9:6 prophesies the Messiah as "Prince of Peace," yet His arrival triggered Herod's massacre of innocents (Matthew 2:16). His ministry provoked constant controversy. How is this "peace"?

Because the peace He brings isn't merely international harmony or political stability. It's reconciliation between God and humanity, the foundation of all true peace.

The peace Christ secured through the cross is described in Ephesians 2:14-16: "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

This cosmic peace was purchased with blood (Colossians 1:20). Peace isn't cheap. It required the wrath of God being fully satisfied at Calvary (Isaiah 53:5, 10). The just punishment for sin was completely executed on Christ. The righteousness of God was perfectly maintained while extending mercy to the undeserving (Romans 3:25-26).

This is why believers can confidently approach "the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16). Not because we're worthy, but because Christ has made peace. The God who is "the God of peace" (Romans 15:33, 16:20, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:20) isn't peaceful by temperament but by covenant.

• His wrath against sin has been satisfied in Christ (1 John 2:2, 4:10).

Practical application: When you feel distant from God or unworthy of His presence, remember that your access isn't based on your performance but on Christ's finished work. The peace that allows you into the Father's presence was bought at the cross. Come boldly. He is the God of peace, and He has made peace with you through His Son.

Supporting passages: Micah 5:5, Luke 2:14, John 20:19-21, Acts 10:36, Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15

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Conclusion: Living as People of Peace

Peace is not a spiritual luxury for mature believers. It's a core marker of kingdom citizenship.

Jesus repeatedly greeted His disciples with "Peace be with you" (Luke 24:36, John 20:19, 21, 26). Paul begins and ends nearly every epistle with benedictions of peace (Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2). The early church sent messengers with greetings of peace.

This wasn't religious formality. It was theological substance.

To live as people of peace means:

• Anchoring in the presence of God, not the absence of problems.
• Actively guarding our peace through prayer, truth, and intentional thought patterns.
• Drawing from our positional peace when experiential peace feels distant.
• Trusting beyond understanding when circumstances defy logic.
• Pursuing true reconciliation, not superficial harmony.
• Resting in Christ's finished work, which has secured our eternal peace.

Why this matters:

The world is watching to see where believers find their stability. Do we panic like everyone else, or do we demonstrate a peace that doesn't make natural sense?

Our peace is apologetic. It points to a reality the world can't see but desperately needs (1 Peter 3:15).

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Final supporting passages: Numbers 6:24-26, Psalm 29:11, Isaiah 54:10, Haggai 2:9, Zechariah 8:12, John 14:27, Philippians 1:2

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Heart Attitudes and Actions That Please the Lord Isaiah 59-66

 We're studying Zechariah in BSF and got to read a familiar passage, 

 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. - Isaiah 61:1-3

This got me reading Isaiah 59-66, I asked Claude to consolidate a list of heart attitudes and actions faithful believers can take that please the Lord:

Heart Attitudes

Humility and Contrition

• Being humble and contrite in spirit (66:2)
• Acknowledging we are the clay and God is the potter (64:8)
• Recognizing God as our Father and Redeemer (63:16; 64:8)

Reverence and Fear of God

• Trembling at God's word (66:2, 5)
• Revering His ways and remembering them (64:5)

Repentance and Acknowledgment of Sin

• Repenting of sins (59:20; turning from rebellion, treachery, lies)
• Acknowledging our iniquities and offenses (59:12-13)
• Recognizing our uncleanness and need for cleansing (64:6)

Delight and Joy in God

• Delighting greatly in the Lord (61:10)
• Soul rejoicing in God (61:10)
• Rejoicing and being glad in what God creates (65:18)
• Heart rejoicing when seeing God's work (66:14)

Trust and Waiting

• Waiting for Him (64:4)
• Looking to the Lord and seeking Him (65:10)

Actions and Practices

Prayer and Intercession

• Calling on the Lord's name (64:7; 62:6)
• Giving ourselves no rest in prayer (62:6)
• Giving God no rest until He establishes Jerusalem (62:7)
• Striving to lay hold of God (64:7)

Worship and Praise

• Telling of the Lord's kindnesses and praiseworthy deeds (63:7)
• Bringing acceptable offerings to God's altar (60:7)
• Proclaiming the praise of the Lord (60:6)

Righteousness and Justice

• Gladly doing right (64:5)
• Being clothed with garments of salvation and robed in righteousness (61:10)
• Not calling for injustice or relying on empty arguments (contrast to 59:4)

Response to God's Light

• Arising and shining when God's light comes (60:1)
• Looking and being radiant (60:5)

Solidarity with God's People

• Rejoicing with Jerusalem and being glad for her (66:10)
• Mourning over Jerusalem (66:10)
• Not keeping silent for Zion's sake (62:1)

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Peace comes from God’s presence, guarded by prayer, gratitude, trust, and hope

Enjoying How to Maintain Peace and Avoid Stress and Anxiety - Bill Johnson Sermon | Bethel Church

Bill Johnson teaches that peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of God, who guards the heart and mind when we stay grounded in prayer, gratitude, and trust. Scripture reinforces this pattern. Jesus gives a peace the world cannot match (John 14:27), and believers are urged to let that peace rule their hearts (Colossians 3:15). Prayerlessness opens the door to temptation and lack (James 4:2; Matthew 26:41), while thankfulness acts as protective armor (Philippians 4:6–7). Worry is misplaced faith (Matthew 6:27), but casting burdens on God restores confidence and strength (1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 41:10). Fear disrupts intimacy, yet perfect love drives it out (1 John 4:18), enabling us to hear God clearly (John 10:27). Biblical peace restores spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and the God of hope fills His people with joy and peace as they trust Him (Romans 15:13).

Peace is presence, not escape.

God’s peace is His active presence, not the absence of conflict.
• “My peace I give you… not as the world gives.” John 14:27
• “He himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:14
• “The God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Keep your peace.
A noisy heart loses what God already gave.
• “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15
• “In returning and rest you shall be saved.” Isaiah 30:15
• “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Prayerlessness creates lack.
No prayer. More pressure.
• “You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2
• “Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Jesus warned Peter to “watch and pray… so you will not fall into temptation.” Matthew 26:41

Thankfulness is a guard.
Gratitude is armor.
• “Present your requests… and the peace of God will guard your hearts.” Philippians 4:6–7
• Jesus “gave thanks” on the night He was betrayed. Luke 22:19
• “Give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Worry is misplaced faith.
Anxiety trusts the wrong kingdom.
• “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour…?” Matthew 6:27
• “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
• “Do not fear… I will strengthen you.” Isaiah 41:10

Guard peace to hear God.
Noise blunts discernment. Peace sharpens it.
• “My sheep hear my voice.” John 10:27
• “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
• “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Fear breaks connection.
Fear disrupts intimacy with God.
• “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10
• “Perfect love drives out fear.” 1 John 4:18
• “The Lord is my light… whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

Peace restores spirit, soul, and body.
Peace is whole-person restoration.
• “May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• “The God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• “He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3

Hopelessness is a spiritual attack.
Reject it. Replace it with resurrection hope.
• “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Hope in God.” Psalm 42:5
• “By His great mercy… a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3
• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” Romans 15:13

Breakthrough requires standing.
Hope activates when we respond.
• “Stand firm… and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring.” Exodus 14:13
• “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” James 4:7
• “Call to me, and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3

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Joy in the promise keeper (Romans 15:13) comes from a guarded heart (Proverbs 4:23, Phil 4:7)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Enjoying this teaching by Bill Johnson, Warfare Through Lordship: How Trust in God Defeats the Enemy Bill Johnson teaches that joy rooted in trust and the Lordship of Jesus is not denial of hardship but a strategic act of faith. When believers count it all joy, they choose defiant perseverance that refuses anxiety and fear, which disarms spiritual opposition. Joy flows from confidence in God’s promises, especially that He works all things for good. This posture establishes victory before circumstances change. The Lordship of Jesus is tested most clearly in finances, relationships, and the inner world. Surrender in these areas produces freedom, unity, and clarity of mind. Joy becomes both shield and weapon, aligning believers with God’s perspective and securing spiritual authority.

Reminds me of my "life verse": Proverbs 4:23, Phil 4:7

Guard your heart with all vigilance, above all else, for it determines the course of your life, for everything you do flows from it, like a Spring of Life (living water John 7:38). - Prov 4:23

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Phil 4:4-7

Choose Joy as Obedience

• Joy is a deliberate act of trust, not a reaction to outcomes. Scripture: James 1:2–4; Nehemiah 8:10

Practice Defiant Perseverance

• Endurance is steadfast resistance under pressure, not passive waiting. Scripture: James 1:12; Ephesians 6:13

Anchor Hope in God’s Promises

• Hope is present joy based on future certainty. Scripture: Romans 8:28; Romans 15:13

Submit Finances to Christ’s Lordship

• Generosity reflects trust in God as provider and sustainer. Scripture: Matthew 6:21; Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7–8

Pursue Reconciliation Over Being Right

• Unity is a higher calling than winning arguments. Scripture: James 1:19–20; Matthew 5:23–24

Guard the Inner World

• Thoughts must align with God’s truth, not self-accusation. Scripture: Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8

Live Under the Lordship of Jesus

• Full surrender creates spiritual safety and authority. Scripture: Colossians 2:6–15; Luke 6:46

Use Joy as Spiritual Warfare

• Joy breaks fear’s grip and silences the enemy’s accusations. Scripture: Psalm 16:11; Isaiah 61:3

Reflective Questions

• Where is joy most challenged in my life right now, and what would defiant perseverance look like in that area?
• Which area most resists Christ’s Lordship for me today: finances, relationships, or my inner thought life?
• If I fully trusted that God is working all things for good, what would change immediately in my attitude and actions? 

Isaiah 55:1

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

Come and Listen David Crowder

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Sharing the good news about Jesus is awesome when it's received in friendship.

 Doctrine of Election is God's irrevocable call for everyone (Genesis 25:23)

What does it mean to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)?

Enjoyed our biggest gathering at Portland house last night, 25 people! We over flowed the 3 tables. So grateful for Russ, Tony and Jim helping to make this happen. We gave out "Power of Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. Missy (KC), Debbie (Justin) and Maddy (Vang) join again but we missed Bridget (Matthew). We are on our second session from the Unanswered Prayer Course: Maundy Thursday:“How am I going to get through this?”

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death… Abba Father …everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” – Mark 14:34, 36

As we were getting ready for the session I was talking with my friend Javon and asked him what his favorite verse was, he said that he had a lot but was meditating on Isaiah 61:1-3 and he quoted it to me:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

I have been studying this same section of scripture (as part of the prayer course and my previous two posts: Spirit of heaviness and other "spiritual ailments"  and Pulling down strongholds with gentleness and respect (2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Peter 3:15)

Javon and I enjoyed a conversation about how people unknowingly accept a "spirit of despair" into their lives and how the Bible gives us the remedy for this spiritual sickness, to wear a garment of praise that is provided in the good news of Jesus as Jesus proclaimed in Luke 4:18-19. Jesus taught us to be filled with the Spirit of God, resist the devil, proclaim good news (even to hostile people), drive out impure spirits and heal many (Luke 4). 

This morning I'm reading Isaiah 61-63 and felt joy in our Father God when I came to Isaiah 63:16-17. 

“It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”...the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. You led your people, Lord, and gained a magnificent reputation.”

...Lord, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past.

Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants,...

Reminds me of the prodigal son coming to his senses. Luke 15:11-32

Thank you Lord for this wonderful week of walking with you, celebrating John's 83 B-day and listening to 40 Days with the Holy Spirit A Journey to Experience His Presence in a Fresh New Way

I'm looking forward to our prayer time tomorrow to celebrate all the Lord is doing!

Encouraging my Friend: https://pay.telmate.com/ui#/account/destination_accounts

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Spirit of heaviness and other "spiritual ailments"

Listening to How Demons Can Cause Negative Thinking - Derek Prince and looking at, What Does the Bible Say About Spirit Of Heaviness?

I can see how modern preachers recycle the classics and make them their own. Robert Morris (Free Indeed) appears to have been influenced heavily by Derek Prince (Pulling Down Strongholds) and John Bevere (Bate of Satan) by Warren Wiersbe (Strategy of Satan). 

Derek Prince highlights that we can be given over to torment by lack of forgives. Matthew 18:33-35, "…Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Notes from how demons can cause Negative Thinking: 

• Compelling to bite nails. Cutting self, self harm. 
• Enslave.  People can sin and stop sinning. Enslaved can’t stop
• Compel + enslave = addiction
• Addition can be respectable. 90% demons.
• Defile, dirty unclean, evil impure images and thoughts in our minds.
• Anything to keep you from worshiping God is demonic
• Deception: deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
• Week, sick, tired or killed. You spirit of tiredness come out of her… they make us go to sleep, spirit of slumber…

Remedy is found in God's promise delivered in Jesus Christ

Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Luke 4:14-21 Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power...taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone...he stood up to read...the prophet Isaiah...“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Grateful to share these truths with my brother yesterday as we watched Tim Mackie - What Many Christians Misunderstand About The Bible. We talked about what it means to be a child of God who wanders away from God, rejects God. Is it right to kidnap them and force them into heaven or allow a door for them to walk through? I was able to accept Jesus into my life after rejecting him in my foolish youth because I learned the principles of healthy spiritual and mental functioning. From insecurity to peace of mind (Serenity Principle)

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How to get rid of the last 3% of sin in your heart (2 Kings 10:31)

But Jehu did not obey the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. (2 Kings 10:31)

2 Kings 10, tells how Jehu did away with every idol and evil thing burning it and killing every trace except the one thing of perceived value. 

• Excuses inside (flesh): "I was born this way", "I can't forgive myself", "I can't stop"
• Excuses outside (world): "everyone is like this", "You don't know what they did", "go with the flow"
• lies from the devil: "did God really say" (Gen 3)

Truth about us: our heart is deceitful and deception is from the devil

• The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
• For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:21–23
• ....(devil) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

How can anyone turn from sin?

• All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
• Abide faithfully in prayer with Jesus, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.', Ask, seek, knock (Matthew 6:13, Matthew 7:7-12), I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15). In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Eph 6:16, John 15-16)
• Abide in fellowship with other believers,  But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one (2 Thes 3:3). Remember Corinthians, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians are writing to believers/churches - not just names of Bible books.  

Barrier against temptation - God's divine nature within (James 1:18; John 3:6; 1 Peter 1:23)

GOD is our natural environment

Diagnostics of a depraved psychology and consequences (Romans 1:18-32)

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Spiritual believers but not followers of Jesus Christ

Reading an analysis of Ephesians this week I'm reminded how easily we can be led astray by false teachers. I know I have loved entertainment that is opposite of what I've learned about God and his will for my life. Yet we see the Lord's mercies are made new everyday. I believe the Holy Spirit is poured out on all people, we can choose to acknowledge God's work like Abel or puff ourselves up like Cain ("didn't we do these great things.."). Jesus paid it all the cross, so there is no bearer between people and God. Have you felt the Spirit of God guiding you? Jesus said "when I send the Holy Spirit he will guide you into all truth. He will remind you of everything I taught." - The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), the only sin left to condemn us is to reject gifts and call of God (Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:29).

Every day we have a choice to make, to accept the gifts and call of God or to rely on our own understanding. This is how Isaiah put it:

The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will...If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires... - Isaiah 50:4,10-11 (see Jesus life and teaching: Isaiah 48:12-51:23)

Spiritual believers will come to a decision about Christ, but how can we say we've really understood if we haven't followed the prescribed way (Heb 6:4) of Sanctification connects repentance, restoration, and service to God. Today if you hear his voice don't harden your heart - this is the message of Hebrews and Psalms (Psalm 95:8,Hebrews 3:15), let the Word of God do it's work in you (Heb 4:12). 

Discover a relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior, you'll find following Jesus is the best decision a person can ever make. 

People can be honest with God and ask Him to reveal himself

• But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. - Psalm 88:13
• I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. - Psalm 119:147
• This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24 , Phil 4:4-7
• Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. - Psalm 143:8, Romans 12:1-3

The Lord will reveal his Loving Kindness when we ask him to open our eyes to see Him this morning.

• The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23, Titus 3

What are you preparing in your heart, what are you setting apart for God in heart? What would you like to see God do in your life today? 

• O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. - Psalm 5:3, Romans 12:1-3, Romans 12:6-18

When we come to the Lord in Spirit and Truth we often see how wrong we are, consider how God didn't just forgive you, but He died in your place - so that you can live in Him. Now consider how Jesus rose from the grave and has given us his Holy Spirit to live, and abide. How does this joy change your outlook on your family, community and situation (it's a wonderful life!).

• For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. - Psalm 30:5, Hebrews 12, Romans 5
• Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. - Psalm 90:14 
• “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, - Job 38:12
• My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. - Psalm 130:6 
• But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. - Psalm 59:16
• For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. - Psalm 91:11

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