Trust in the Midst of Trial

10-18-07

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
Job 3:1

It is even in the midst of depression that Job trusted in God and believed. Job mistakenly felt he was the object of God's anger when he was in fact a special blessing to God.

In all the troubles that the enemy can send my way, it should not effect my trusting in God. There are several reasons that trials come and in all of them, God has a plan and purpose.

I again, trust you in this time God, and pray that I continue to do so. I pray I do not fall away as Peter did and that I'll continue to praise You and give honor where it's due no matter what dangers I face. No matter what attacks are coming at me, I trust Your ways are mightier than my finite mind can comprehend. Please cover my family and help me to bless You! In Jesus name! Amen.

Fearing God

10-17-07

So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?"
Job 1:9

God is sovereign and is the interceder and permitter of things that may or may not come into our lives. We must continue to reverence God in all things - in trouble and in good.

I trust you in this time God. No matter what attacks are coming at me, I trust Your ways are mightier than my finite mind can comprehend. Please cover my family and help me to bless You! In Jesus name! Amen.

Obedience to God

10-16-07

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Acts 5:29

We all reserve the right to say no to things that we consider oppressive or immoral.

Through wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit, I must obey the government in accordance to the Word of God.

Father, please give me wisdom and power to discern appropriately in Your Will. I am obedient to whatever you'd have me do. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Separate to bring Unity

10-15-07

So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
Nehemiah 13:3

Because of mixed teachings of other religions with the pure Word f God, His people were getting into a lot of trouble. By doing so they were polluting God's Word. Therefore they went back to the Book of Moses and decided to separate themselves from these other people and ideas; going back to the basics and gleaning from God's Word.

I don't want to believe something simply because those I trust and love are; I must learn in the Word - continually bringing it back to His pure and flawless Book.

Lord, in the words of Nehemiah, "Remember me, O my God, for good!" Send Your blessing and goodness into my life. Help me to complete the work under Your direction and bless me! Fulfill my life and the life of my family with joy, happiness and good things. I know you can be trusted in all times... so I surrender to Your Way once again! In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Fruitful Word

10-14-07

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:2-3

We are to find a quiet place to read and focus on God's Word, to concentrate and think on what God is saying, and to quietly repeat the scriptures while utterly abandoning outside distractions.

My focus must remain on the flawless Word of God. I must do by faith what God says and seek Him alone. When I do... God will.

Lord, may my life be a tree that bursts with fruit and doesn't wither. Bless us in the way You would have us go and help us to be fruitful. In the authority of Jesus' name. Amen.

Covenant of Commitment

10-13-07

Now the rest of the people... all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughter, everyone who had knowledge and understanding... these joined with their brethren... and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law... and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes...
Nehemiah 10:28-29

Areas needed change and so God's people entered into a covenant with Him. They had to choose not to be distracted by the things of the world. They entered into an oath to stay and walk in God's Law and if they disobeyed the Word of God, they knew the consequence would be a curse; and if they obeyed it, it would bring blessing. It is comparable to Adam and Eve and the Garden - if they disobeyed they would be cast out of it.

I enter into this covenant. I am to separate myself from the world and adhere my life to the Law; to God's Word. Doing all in my knowledge and understanding and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to do good works alongside the faith He's given me. We must continue to bless the church and teach the dynamic principles of God's word to our children.

Lord, thank You for continuing to talk to me. It is so crucial to the commitment you've called me to. I pray I would continue to turn to You and lean on You... and keep my end of the covenant. Bless me and keep me, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Be Called; Understand; Do

10-12-07

So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
Nehemiah 8:8

In the Old Testament, understanding was needed for the spiritual revival to occur; in the New Testament, spiritual revival is needed for the understanding to occur. The New Covenant brings mercy on God's people; a love for those who long for undertanding.

I must continue to allow the Word to explode with meaning in my heart and obey the call.

Lord, I am determined to do what You would have me do. Help me to move; do Your will. It is not enough to know the Call and understand it - but to also do it. That is the fulfillment of the commitment. Thank You Jesus, for fulfilling your commitment to us; may I be in Your likeness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Petty Distractions

10-11-07

...when [they] heard I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not [finished it completely], [they] sent to me,s aying, "Come, let us meet together... but they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying "I am doing a great work, so that I canot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?" But they [pursued] four times, and I answered in the same manner.
Nehemiah 6:1-4

Satan tries to involve us in arguments, strife, and problems as a way to shift our focus from God's purposes. If he succeeds, he also succeeds at keeping us from finishing what God has called us to do.

"I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go [to a place that will derail what must be accomplished]?"

Lord, again, please continue to humble my prideful heart. I don't want to be caught up in pride nor confuse a curse for a blessing. You know just what needs to be done in these circumstances so please help me be sure of what I must do. Help me; comfort me; be the one I turn to in my moments of loneliness. Continue to bring my family closer together, and give me strength to follow the call. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Armor AGainst the Enemy

10-10-07

Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
Nehemiah 4 (v.14)

In the will of God, the enemy will come against us with discouragement and mockery in attempt to defeat us and our commitment to accomplishing God's will. We should always put on our spiritual armor - stand and fight, build and do not be afraid, wear the armor and carry the weapon while building (Eph 6:11-18). Pray continually and God will send supernatural strength to overcome the enemy attempts to discourage and pressure. With God we can be victorious.

Lord, I meditate on Your Word; I remember Your grace and mercy, provision and protection. I ask for You to continue guiding this family down Your path of righteousness. May no discouragement of the enemy distract the journey. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Restoring the Home

10-09-07

Then I arose in the night... I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at [home].
Nehemiah 2:11-20

Pray, prepare, and plan. When these three are accomplished confidence in action occurs.

When I rely on God, He'll give me the necessary information. After the cost is considered and facts gathered the next steps are outlined. When buiding begins attacks will come because when in God's Will, I become a threat.

Father God, may I be humble, trusting, and teachable. May I serve my family as Jesus served us; laying down His life. I know the cost, I know what is necessary; help me to organize what I need to accomplish Your purpose on my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.