Day 89  God Has Your Answers

Psalm 119:13 (The Message)

I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth;

Do you have a question that you need an answer to?  Do you need direction?  How about help with sorting out a situation?

In the above scripture we see that “counsel” comes from the mouth of God.  Again, I will say that God is not trying to keep things from you but He keeps things ­for you!  He has the answers to all your questions and He wants to give them to you.

Let me break down the religious mindset that we may have developed when reading the Bible.   In doing so, I am hoping that the scriptures will become more personal to you.

Instead of this:          Insert this:

law                              revelation

statutes                     direction

precepts                   prescription for success

ways                           steps

command                counsel

law                             God’s way of doing things

decrees                     instructions

Instead of saying God’s "commands," I read it to say "God’s counsel for me."  It makes it way more personal!

One of the beautiful things that comes out of these daily “meetings with God” is that we are developing a relationship with Him.  It would be difficult to have a relationship with someone if you weren’t talking with each other. 

GPS

1.       Open your journal and write down a question.  It may not be answered immediately or even today but I promise you that if you turn to it each day and ask it, there will be an answer.

For example:  Today I was reading a scripture and I wrote a question:  “Could this possibly be true for my situation?” 

I went on about my day and later came back to the computer and opened a daily devotion that comes to my box.  Here was the title:  Your Answer Is In The Word.  God was speaking to me and saying, “The scriptures you were reading is your answer.”  I was thrilled!

2.      Read the following scriptures and make them your own:

Proverbs 4:20-22

Deuteronomy 29: 29

I Corinthians 2: 9-16

Prayer Focus:

Invite God to be personal to you—to instruct you and give you direction and even to correct you.  Thank Him for giving you His counsel on a personal level.

Day 88  The Fresh And New Has Come

2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁷Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Read the entire verse above and then go back and read the words that I have put in bold.  Those are the words we are going to focus on today.

When we made Jesus the Lord and Savior of our lives, we were at that time “made righteous” (Romans 5:19) and came into right standing because of the finished work of the cross.  What an act of grace on God’s part!!

Above we learned that “the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away.”  That is a fact!!  The truth is we are still not thinking or acting as we should.  We have old wrong attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, etc., based on our past experiences.

As we renew our minds to what the Word of God says about us, our lives begin to line up with the righteousness that Jesus imparted to us when we humbly came to Him and asked forgiveness for our sins and asked Him to be LORD of our lives.

We don’t look at ourselves as sinners, but as the righteousness of God because of what the Word says.  

As we look to the cross and God’s grace towards us, It makes us want to live our lives in accordance with His gift of grace.  The wrong attitudes, beliefs and behaviors now become detestable to us and we want to make the necessary changes so our lives reflect our heavenly Father’s love.

God is calling us to a new place—a place where we can live in the “fresh” and the “new” and where we can bring glory to Him!!

GPS---  God’s Positioning System

NOTE:  Since this blog is called “You Can Get There From Here,” it seems appropriate that we use the analogy of a GPS.  God is positioning us right in the middle of His truth as we get into His Word.

·         Romans 5: 18-19—We are made righteous

·         Romans 12: 2--Renewing our minds

·         Ephesians 2:8—Grace is a gift

ANOTHER NOTE:  If you are new to my blog, I encourage you to go to the Archives and click on Day 1.  A journey always begins at the beginning!

EnJOY your ride!!

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for His grace today.  Thank Him that His grace is poured out for each and every day that we live on this earth.  Stop during your day and turn to Him for your answers and don’t forget to thank Him!!

Would love to hear your comments!!

Day 87  Standing Firm In The Faith

1 Peter 5:8-10 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

After you have read this verse in its entirety, go back and read the words that I have put in bold print.  The emphasis is on these particular words today even though all the words are important.

·         First of all, we must know that we have an enemy.  The phrase, “what we don’t know won’t hurt us” does not apply here.  We must recognize what we are up against so that God can help us overcome it.

·         Secondly, God is instructing us to “stand firm in the faith.”  How do we do that?  We must know the will of God so we know what we believe.   Here’s an example:

God does not anyone to die without Christ.  (I Peter 2:14, Matthew 18:15, John 3:16)

If we have friends and family members who have not given their lives to Christ, then it is God’s will to reach them with the Good News.  That Good News is that God’s arms are wide open to them!!

That’s where we are “standing firm in the faith” that God will reach them with this truth. 

·         Thirdly, whatever we are going through, God Himself promises to restore us and make us strong.

Now that is some good news!!

Today’s focus:

1.       Read the following scriptures and relate them to your situation:

John 10:10  Amplified Bible

Romans 10:17 NIV

I Peter 1:13 NIV

2.      Ask yourself some questions about these scriptures.  For example:

Am I enjoying my life?  (John 10:10)

Am I hearing what God is saying to me?  (Romans 10:17)

Am I self-controlled?  (I Peter 1:13)

Prayer Focus:

 Ask Him to help you to understand what He is saying and be able to carry it out in whatever you are facing today.

Day 86  Abide In My Love

John 15:9 (Amplified Bible)

I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].

The word “abide” means:

to remain

to continue

to stay

to live and dwell

Jesus has a love relationship with God and He is calling us into that relationship ­with them.  It’s like God and Jesus are embracing as Father and Son and they turn to us and say, “Come here.  Join us!”  Amazing, isn’t it??

Something inside of us says, “I didn’t read my Bible this week,” or “I was supposed to get up and pray and I slept instead.”  Or how about this, “I yelled at the kids….okay I screamed at the kids” or “I ate nearly half of the chocolate cake in one sitting.” We judge ourselves with the help of the accuser, and then we do not come into this group hug (for lack of better words) when Jesus invites us.  As a result we stand on the periphery and try to go it on our own.

Sometimes we don’t realize we do that until it is brought to our attention.  The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, has to show us what we are actually thinking.

Today’s Focus

1.      Read the following scriptures and let God speak personally to you.

Revelation 12:10b  NIV

John 15:7 Amplified Bible

John 16:13  Amplified Bible

2.       Think about those areas of your life where you are trying to do things on your own without the help of God.

Prayer Focus

Thank Him for His love and His patience toward you.  He is a loving Father who always believes the best about you and wants a love relationship with you.

Day 85   Finding Your Own Path Of Life 

Psalm 16:11 (New International Version, ©2011)

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Remember God is not hiding anything from you but He is hiding it for you!!  He has marvelous plans for you and He holds all your answers in His hand.  He wants you to come to Him as a child and He will show you your “path.”  It’s not hard!  I think we make it too hard.  Just go to your meeting with God* and say, “Father, reveal to me my path.  What is next for me?”

Then just wait and do not try to fill up all your empty places with your own plans and your own activities.

It’s like when I go shopping and buy some new clothes.  The first thing I do when I come home is look through my existing clothes and see what I can give away.  I am making room for the new.

God has new things for you…..new ideas…..new activities……new relationships……and maybe you need to take a good look at what you have.  Hold on to what is good and let go of the rest.  Sometimes things are right for a season but not necessarily right for this new season in your life.  In doing this, you are making room for the new!!

Today’s focus:

1.       Ask the Holy Spirit (your Counselor) to show you the things that He wants you to let go of so you can make room for the new.  Take some time to re-evaluate:

Your activities

Your obligations

Your responsibilities

Your priorities

Your relationships

2.      Ask the Holy Spirit to show you your “path of life.”

3.      Looking up the following scriptures will help you:

Ephesians 2:10  Amplified Bible

Acts 2:28  Amplified Bible

Psalms 119: 32  Amplified Bible

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God will open your eyes so that you can see “exactly what it is He is calling you to do.”  (Ephesians 1: 18)

*See “Day 1” in the Archives for an explanation of “meetings with God.”

Day 83 and 84

These last five days we have looked at just a few “power words” that God has used In His Word.  Everything God does is on purpose.  He doesn’t just throw words around carelessly.  If it is there, you can believe it and embrace it. 

If you are not sure, you can ask God to reinforce it to you.  In fact, you can ask Him every day and every day He will confirm His power words to you.

Take some time and review these last five days.  Let God’s words saturate your heart.

Here are a few more:  (Be sure to highlight the power words!!)  Use the Amplified Bible for clarification.  If you do not have an Amplified, you can find it at www.biblegateway.com

Matthew 6:33

I Timothy 6:17

James 1:17

Luke 10: 19

 Acts 10:34

Luke 1:37

I John 4:18

It is my intention to make you more aware of these small, but powerful words.  As you are reading, these words will pop off the page and wrap themselves around your heart.

Prayer Focus:

Father, today I ask that you illuminate these power words to the reader’s heart.  Speak to them in such a personal way that they will feel like you are sitting right there beside them.  Father, thank You that You always minister to our hearts in a very personal way.  Amen.

Day 82  More Power Words- Part V

3 John 1:2 (New International Version, ©2011)

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

“…..that all may go well with you….”

Do you think God really means “all??”

Psalm 84:11 (New International Version, ©2011)

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Do you think God really means “no good thing???”  He’s not withholding anything from us that is in the “good” category!!  Imagine that! 

It’s important to support scripture with scripture so in “Today’s Assignment” I have listed several of the many scriptures that talks about the lavishness of God.  He is generous and loves to bless His children.  He longs for us to come to Him with our whole hearts so that He fulfill His Word of not holding back the good things He has for us.

Today’s Assignment:

Read the following scriptures and make them personal and real for you:

Psalms 145: 11-21  NIV   (all and every)

Proverbs 3: 5-10 NIV   (all)

Ephesians 1: 3-8  NIV  (every and all)

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for His goodness towards you.

Day 81  More Power Words- Part IV

Psalm 144:13 (New International Version, ©2011)

Our barns will be filled
   with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
   by tens of thousands in our fields;

Really……God is not holding out on us??  His promise to us is that He wants to provide every kind of provision!!  Whew!  Stop and think about that awhile! 

Here’s another:

Psalm 84:11 (New International Version, ©2011)

 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
   the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
   from those whose walk is blameless.

None of us are perfect but we are not” blameless” either  because Romans 5:19 says, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Luke 1:37 (New International Version, ©2011)

³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

These are some very powerful power words!!

Today’s Assignment:

Read the following scripture and dare to let them sink into your heart.  Remember these are words of life and they are for you!!

Isaiah 54:13  (power word- all)

I John 4:18  (power word- no)

Psalms 37: 25-26  (power words- never and always)

Prayer Focus:

Thank God for what you have just read!

Day 80  More Power Words- Part III

Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version, ©2011)

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

   “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”

What are the power words in the scripture above?  If you said, “never” you are absolutely right!  Do you really suppose that God actually means “never???”

I always say,  “God, You shouldn’t have said that unless you meant  it!”

Hebrews 13:20-21 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

If you made a list of “everything good” for doing His will, what would our list look like??  What would it take to accomplish His will??

Good health and vitality

Money and resources

Wisdom and understanding

Divine Connections and directions……etc.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (New International Version, ©2011)

⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Doesn’t sound like God is holding anything back, does it??

2 Corinthians 9:11 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

God wants us to be enriched in every way so we can be generous to others. How about if we just believe that God wants to supply our every need so we can do what He wants us to do??

Today’s Assignment:

 Look up Mark 5:36 and take it to heart.

Prayer Focus:

Look up Mark 9:24 and make it your prayer.

Day 79   More Power Words

Romans 3:23 (New International Version, ©2011)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The scripture say that we are all sinners, and so we all need a Savior.

When we ask Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, then we leave the sinful life and enter into the family of God.  Jesus opened the door for us through His blood that He shed on the cross.

When we ask forgiveness for being sinners and accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives, the next verse becomes activated on our behalf.

Romans 8:37 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

That doesn’t mean that we will never have problems because as long as we live on the earth, there will be problems.  But one thing it does mean is that when we bring our problems to Him, He will instruct us in how to move through them into victory.   Just as we wouldn’t want our children to be defeated, God doesn’t want us to be defeated in any way, but He’s waiting for us to come to Him.

Today’s Assignment:

1.       What do these scriptures mean to you?  Write the answer in your journal.

John 3: 1-7

I John 1:9

Ephesians 1: 3-5

Hebrews 4:16

Prayer Focus:

Ask God to examine your life (like a spiritual MRI) to see if there is anything that is displeasing to Him.  If He shows you something(s) in the next day or two, ask Him to forgive you and to help you live for Him every day of your life.