The God Shaped Hole

So many people are looking for GOD and don’t even know it. They have an emptiness in their heart that they can’t fill; although they might try to fill it with sex, drugs, alcohol, food, or anything they can buy, the hole never gets filled. They don’t realize that only GOD can fill that hole and only GOD can make them complete.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13 NLT)

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. (Psalm 119:73 NIV)

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV)

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer and Creator:  “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets as liars (Isaiah 44:24-25a NLT)

GOD created us and this world, our purpose is for HIM, our purpose is for sharing GOD with those who don’t know HIM.   

             

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV)

Let me explain the difference between religion and relationship – religion is what Jesus explained as the cold ritual of following rules and regulations but without a heart for GOD. The Pharisees were pious and religious, judging and condemning others; Jesus told them they didn’t know GOD because they didn’t have a heart for GOD, but only for themselves.  Jesus was so angered at how the teachers of religious law had become, He let everyone know:

 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. “Everything they do is for show…And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.  They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces….

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites!  For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.  Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!  You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.  

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.   (Matthew 23:1-7, 13-15,23 -28 NLT )

Jesus came to set us free, not to condemn us and imprison us with rules and regulations that complicate our lives.The Laws haven’t changed, they are the morals that we are born with. The Laws that were given after the Ten Commandments were meant to protect GOD’s Chosen people from themselves. The more the Israelites began to assimilate with the nations and cultures around them, the further they fell away from GOD. The further they fell away from GOD, they began to try to fill that God shaped hole with other things, the more they tried to fill that hole with the wrong things, the more they fell away – a vicious cycle that only caused more pain and suffering.  

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31 NLT)

Jesus came as GOD, He came to show us that GOD loves us, HE loved us when we were full of sin. HE wants us to love him, HE won’t force Himself on us; we have to come to HIM. Jesus wants a relationship with us, He wants us to make Him the Lord of our lives, to spend everyday with Him because we want to, not because we feel we have to. Jesus died on the cross for us because we could never get ourselves right with GOD unless we have Jesus; so we don’t need to try and wait until we’re good enough to come to GOD (since without Jesus, that's impossible)!

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

"This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."  (John 3:16-21 MSG)

Once you have GOD in your life, you are a new creation, you are made right with GOD. This doesn’t mean life has become perfect and there will be no pitfalls, detours or mistakes. The difference is now you aren’t living for yourself, you are living for GOD, you WANT to please HIM. When you WANT to make changes and become who GOD created you to be, life is different, because your focus is different. You will know the difference in your life when you've discovered that God shaped hole, isn't empty, it's being filled and the more you spend time with GOD and in HIS Word, the more that hole is filled and you you experience a comfort, joy and peace you've never known before!  

image from :http://hixdei-love.deviantart.com/art/God-Shaped-Hole-196152428

Day 5 of 21-Day Challenge: Accountability

I’m going to pick up my 21-day challenge with accountability. Who are you accountable to? Do you have a Girlfriend in GOD  that you can go to and request her to stand in the gap for you? Have you ever thought of asking someone to help you with the areas of your faith or life that you struggle with? GOD created us to lean on HIM, yet HE also created us to need one another. Although my husband is my best friend, I still need girlfriends (sisters in faith) that can relate to our struggles and issues, but most importantly that we can encourage each other in our walk with GOD and have some accountability with.

I was on fire, I was doing so great with my 21-day challenge (well at least I thought I was), but out of the blue I was given the opportunity to go spend time away with my husband while he was at training in the states. It was wonderful since he was only going to be in country for 3 weeks and already had been gone for 3 months! I was encouraged by my mentors in my church, when they assured me that it’s okay to take time off from my blog, my FB page and my volunteer work at my church when my husband is home.

Unfortunately, I let that lack of accountability go a bit overboard during that time; I didn’t read my Bible or say my prayers during that time (I usually spend about an hour a day praying for others and reading my Bible and devotions). I learned this Sunday that the reasons for my behavior was rooted in fear.  I was afraid I was disappointing GOD, and ended up letting the enemy whisper his lies to me, I felt shame and guilt, so I avoided GOD, instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness.  I know I’m happiest when I’m close to GOD and following HIS will, so why did I allow myself to listen to those lies, was it the lack of accountability? If I had a girlfriend in God that I could be honest enough with and say, "I haven't been praying or reading my Bible, I feel terrible, I want to, but I keep coming up with excuses" maybe if I had someone to nudge me and say, "I know your hubby is home for a short time, but what if you just take 30 mins a day for GOD instead of your usual time...". In the end, the blame is all mine, but it's something that has been a burden to me and now that I'm getting back into my routine again, I needed to share this, to keep myself accountable and to hopefully encourage you if you've ever 'fallen off the wagon' before or if you ever do in the future. I’m comforted knowing that God never left me and because I have a repentant heart and spirit, I’m just as much a beloved child of GOD today as I was before. I also know that GOD teaches us, even when we don’t see a teachable moment or event in our life, GOD can use any circumstance to build up ourselves and others. 

Miracles and Encouragement

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.”  (Mark 6:4-6 NLT)

Jesus performed miracles everywhere he went, sharing GOD’s Word with all, healing and showing loving kindness to all. The only place Jesus was limited was in HIS hometown.  A person has to be receptive to GOD’s Word; they have to be able to receive GOD’s message and healing. If a person has placed a wall up and closed their ears, they cannot receive what GOD has for them. It’s like a water hose that has a kink in it, causing the water to only trickle out; if you get rid of the obstruction, the water pours out - the obstruction/kink being the people (unbelievers and even some Believers whose faith is weak) unable to receive GOD’s message. If GOD’s Son was unable to perform miracles due to the unbelief surrounding HIM, then we Believers will have the same results when we are surrounded by people who do not want to hear or accept the Good News.

The reason for the people’s unbelief is they knew Jesus before HE started HIS ministry. They watched HIM grow up in their town, they knew HIS parents and it wasn’t possible for them to conceive that someone they knew would be sent from GOD, let alone be of GOD. Consider this in your own life, once you become a new creation in Christ, you want to share with others, but those who knew you before – they have a much more difficult time accepting this ‘new you’. Your old friends are probably attached to the old lifestyle you shared with them and if you are now living a life for Christ; this will ‘convict’ them (this isn’t you judging them, we as Believers are never to judge anyone). A non-believer will feel ‘conviction’ because they do not have the Holy Spirit in their lives. The HOLY SPIRIT’s process in dealing with one’s own conscience, alert and sensitizing us to GOD’s Word BEFORE we have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior. Once we are saved, we no longer are convicted, we may feel guilt and need to repent for a sin we have not confessed, but we are never convicted or condemned.

“If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely. Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God. When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.”  (Romans 2:12-16 MSG)

The HOLY SPIRIT is a comforter and encourager in Believers, HE is not a convicter or condemner!

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  (John 14;15-18 NKJV)  The Amplified version of this scripture explains the HOLY SPIRIT’s role; “If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.” (John 14:15-18 AMP) 

When you read about Jesus’ ministry throughout the Bible, you see that HE was always telling the people, to not fear, to have faith. He would always encourage others before HE performed a miracle, it was always a ‘just wait, hold on to your faith, and it will be rewarded greatly’ kind of message.“While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.  Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”  And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.  (Mark 5:35-42 NLT) 

Another thing I’ve learned from this scripture is that Jesus cleared the room of all the unbelievers; he got rid of the people who would block the miracle HE was going to perform.  GOD can perform any miracle in our lives, but we have to receive that miracle.  In the scripture John 14:17 it explains the word ‘receive’, The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. It’s not that we just hear the Word, but we have to ‘receive’ the Word of GOD as well. Notice to be able to 'receive' we also have to 'know GOD', that is, you must be a Believer! That’s why so many times Jesus would say, “He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.” (Matthew 11:15 AMP).

When a person is bringing down your faith, distance yourself from them. This doesn’t mean you are no longer friends, but you can tell them that you cannot allow their disbelief to be part of your life. Hardened hearts and disbelief will block GOD’s love and message from being received in a person’s heart, that’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with GOD’s promises and fellow Believers. The Bible tells us often how we need to always encourage one another, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT). 

When Jesus was walking on the water towards the disciples and they feared it was a ghost, “But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.” (Matthew 14:27-30 NLT)  Notice that Jesus told them to have courage, to not be afraid –  HE was ‘encouraging’ them.  Peter was able to perform a miracle and walk on the water as well, that is until he took his eyes off of JESUS; when he took in the surrounding circumstances, the pressures of the world, that’s when he lost his faith and began to sink. So keep your focus on JESUS, surround yourselves with fellow Believers, and encourage others - this will open the doors of GOD’s blessings in your own life and receive the miracles GOD has for you!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving week is upon us, Thanksgiving is an American tradition where we acknowledge all that we’re thankful for.  It’s become a tradition that many people don’t realize that it was natural in the days of the Pilgrims to have a day of Thanksgiving after a harvest, it was a custom to give thanks to GOD for their blessings. So much was it custom for people to recognize where their bounty came from that during the Civil war, Abraham Lincoln instituted Thanksgiving as national holiday. Below is part of the Proclamation that President Lincoln wrote when he issued our national observation of Thanksgiving day:

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God…..

 No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union."

What I love about Thanksgiving, is so many people publicly acknowledge what they are thankful for, even on Facebook, people have been posting everyday a different reason for their thanks. Being thankful is so important, when we stop and give thanks we are no longer focusing on our problems, situations, issues or anything negative that we are experiencing. Instead our focus is now on, what we have received as a blessing, and when your focus is on the positive your heart is able to be enlarged.

When we give thanks, we allow our hearts to soften and not harden. If you’ve read my devotions before, you've read about the dangers of hardening your hearts.  I quoted my Pastor on my Facebook page, Stir Me Up Lord, ‎"When you have confidence in GOD, you focus on the potential and not the problem". When we focus on GOD; our thanksgiving will increase, when we acknowledge GOD as our source, when we give HIM all the praise and thanksgiving that HE deserves, that’s how and when everything falls into place. I love the Message translation of 2 Corinthians 9:8-9, “God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.”

“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.” (Psalm 107:21-22 NLT).Here the Bible tells us to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, a sacrifice means giving up something of value. The ‘value’ means that our thanksgiving is of ‘value’ to HIM. The fact that we are ‘giving up’ something is the part where it’s not easy on our part, which makes it all the more valuable to GOD. When we stop and give thanks to GOD, we are acknowledging HIM, we are putting our focus on HIM, and we are giving our time to HIM.  

When our hearts are hardened we are no longer able to give thanks, we begin to have the mindset that everything we have is of our own merit and our own hard work.  Our focus is negative, unable to see the light in any situation. We begin to become callous and stiff, unable to see the good, instead we start focusing on the bad and develop a poor attitude towards life and everyone around. We think we are owed; that we deserve this or that, to the point where giving anything, much less offering thanks becomes almost impossible.

There is only one incurable condition in the whole Bible; that is the heart that has become so hardened that it will no longer listen, it is full of rebellion, stubbornness, and self-righteousness. Pharaoh was a good example of a man so full of himself and his pride; he refused to listen to any wisdom or counsel. How many plagues were set upon Egypt and he kept his heart hardened, Exodus 8:15 “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.” Each time a plague was delivered, Pharaoh would tell Moses that he would let his people go if GOD would stop the plague, GOD would end the plague and Pharaoh would forget the ‘source’ of his relief and go back on his word. Pharaoh was seeing miracles, he would even admit that the events were from GOD himself, and yet he would stiffen his neck, rebel against all that he saw and believed, yet still he refused to obey GOD.  This constant hardening of his heart, led to Pharaoh’s destruction, “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Proverbs 29:1 NKJV)

The key to being tenderhearted is thanksgiving, if we are continually thanking GOD we are keeping our hearts pliable, moldable, and we are able to enlarge our hearts for GOD.   “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15) I’ve written before on this verse and the act of sacrifice, but right now I just want to point out that we are to ‘continually’ offer thanksgiving of praise to GOD.  Continually, means we are always offering thanksgiving, not just once a year, or even just at meal times (saying grace).

A good start to continually giving thanksgiving, is to practice this, Psalm 119:164 (MSG), “Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right.”  My pastor’s wife, said when she started doing this, at first it wasn’t natural to her to do this seven times a day, but after a while it became habit and just second nature for her.  Today is my first day to undertake this task, they say after 21 days most people are able to form a habit from a routine, so hopefully I will be posting that in 21 days the results of my new ‘habit’. If you are not in the habit of always thanking GOD (not just when things are going right, but during the typical day to day activities, and even the tougher times), would you consider joining me in giving thanksgiving to the Lord seven times a day? 

The ONE

So many people hurting

So many tears

So many lives in pain

So many

So many

The answer you’ve been seeking

HE has a name

HE has always been there

The One who heals

The One who gives you hope

The One who created you for so much more

The One who calls you HIS Masterpiece

The One whose love never fails

The One whose arms are wide open

The One who understands

The One who paid the price

The One who holds you in HIS right hand of righteousness

The One who was, who is and who is still to come

Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD GOD, the Almighty

The ONE

Grace

2 Peter 3:18

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.”

We are to grow in grace, we are to give grace to others if we are to receive it. The word ‘grace’ used here was the Greek word, ‘charis’ comes from the same root as ‘chara’ which means ‘joy’ and the ‘chairo’, ‘to rejoice’. Charis causes rejoicing. It is the word for God’s grace as extended to sinful man. It signifies unmerited favor, undeserved blessing, or a free gift.  Just as we benefit from GOD’s grace by giving us the gift of salvation, we are to bestow grace to others. We are to be Christ like here on earth, which means all the things Jesus did, we are to follow his example. We can extend grace to our family, friends, co-workers, acquaintences, and even strangers! So when someone says or does something to you, instead of giving them the deserved response; try responding with grace.

In reading 2 Corinthians 12, Paul, said he received wonderful revelations from GOD, “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) The explanation my Bible gives to this is too great not to share: “His Grace is Sufficient- Godliness and Moral Purity; Grace, God’s unmerited favor, is that indeed a manifestation of His power exceeding what we could achieve or hope for by our own labors. And not only is it mightily in effect at our salvation, it is also a God-given resource that makes possible “holy living” when our life, circumstance, or character is under fire by the adversary.  God’s grace becomes His enablement or empowerment to achieve His plan, endure hardship, or access Him. His grace is powerful and all-enabling to the believer. His grace facilitates our abilities to conquer every weakness as we yield to an absolute trust or reliance upon God, trusting His heart even when we cannot trace His hand. Also the Greek ‘arkeo’ for ‘sufficient’ suggests the idea of ‘raising a barrier’ or ‘warding off’, God giving us the grace – the supernatural ability or miraculous faculty to sustain, endure, or maintain our call-for all He is enabling us to become in Christ.” (Jack W. Hayford, commentary, New Spirit Filled Life Bible )

Wasn’t that awesome, grace, is not only some gift we can bestow upon others, but it’s a way we can endure and sustain ourselves when we are under attack! GOD wants us to grow in grace, not just so we can be stronger Christians, but so we can lead others to Christ. HE wants us to share our experiences to encourage others. Some people don’t want to let anyone know that they have a weakness or struggles, but those very issues are what can bring people to Christ. Some people believe because we’re Christians, life is perfect and fair-weather. They need to know that yes we have struggles, BUT those issues don’t define us, we are strengthened through our trials, we still have joy regardless of our circumstances, because we have Jesus!

Sacrifice of Praise

Psalm 136:2

“I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. “

Praising GOD and giving thanks for every day. Being thankful for the moment we have, not dreading the next, troubles come and go, and whether we’re on the mountain top or in the valley, we’re to give GOD praise. We don’t praise GOD just because life is good, we praise GOD because HE is so good! “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-24

Praising GOD when life is great and everything is going our way, not so difficult, yet we’re to praise GOD even when that’s not the case.  “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrew 13:15 Notice this verse says to ‘continually offer the sacrifice of praise’, we’re to ALWAYS offer praise, our situation doesn’t dictate our praise, our praise is to be unconditional. 

The Greek word, thusia, was used for sacrifice, which comes from the root word, ‘thuo’. ‘Thuo’ is a verb meaning “to kill or slaughter for a purpose”.  So when we offer GOD a sacrifice, it can be that we are killing our pride, fear, or even laziness. When we’re suffering, the last thing we want to do is to thank GOD for HIS blessings, it’s not natural, and that’s why it’s a sacrifice. Praise isn’t always what we want to do; it’s what we need to do.  The sacrifice might also be related to pride, for example, if we get rewarded for some achievement, instead of telling everyone, "yes, I worked really hard for this", try saying, "thank you GOD, I couldn’t have done this without you".

Also in Hebrews 13:15, “the fruit of our lips”, we all bear fruit with our actions and our words. Remember Jesus’ words, “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”  Matthew 12:33-36  No word that leaves our mouth is without profit or loss, the words we speak do not disappear, they will be remembered (unless we repent of those words and ask GOD for forgiveness).  Don’t you want your words to be remembered for encouraging and praising GOD?!

The good fruit and bad fruit, makes me think of it this way. We feed GOD the good fruit, when we praise GOD through the tough times, we’re feeding him the fruit of our words, we’re allowing HIM to grow larger in our lives, and we’re giving HIM the praise HE deserves!!  BUT when we give bad fruit, we’re feeding the devil, we’re feeding him the negativity and misery he thrives off of, we’re giving him a foothold into our lives, we’re allowing the enemy to steal our joy and letting him defeat GOD’s will for our lives. 

So we have to train ourselves, it isn’t natural for us to give praise when times are tough (remember our bodies are only flesh, it’s our spirit that is the new creation, and our minds have to renewed to match our spirit). “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 The saying, ‘garbage in, garbage out’, speaks true here. We get out of ourselves, what we put in, the same goes for our diet, exercise, the TV shows we watch and books we read.  This is why reading our Bible every day is so important; if you keep putting GOD’s word into you, it will come out of you. You will find it easier to speak encouraging words and your outlook on life will change dramatically. If you listen to praise and worship music a little bit each day, you will find joy in your spirit even when the day is going wrong, you will discover that offering those sacrifices of praise are less of a sacrifice and more of a gift. Once we have conditioned ourselves with praising GOD and we are praising HIM out of habit, we will be able to bless others (and ourselves) by speaking words of encouragement and not defeat.

Here's a final thought on how we will ALWAYS have a reason to be thankful, regardless of our circumstances: We can ALWAYS be thankful for Jesus Christ . We can remember HIS sacrifice, HE came to earth, bore our shame and punishment, HE saved us before we ever knew HIM, HE loved us before we loved HIM, HE died for us before we gave HIM our hearts. And we can be thankful that today, HE sits at the Father’s right hand and righteousness is HIS, we have HOPE, we have FAITH, we have the Father’s LOVE, we have a comforter, the Holy Spirit, we are never alone and we know that no matter what we may go through on this earth, we are GOD’s children and we will overcome any circumstance and situation, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus! So we can offer a small sacrifice to HIM, we can offer HIM a sacrifice with praise and thanksgiving in any circumstance we are going through, because the price we pay is nothing compared to the price HE paid for us.

Shelter

Psalm 9:9-10

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,

a refuge in times of trouble.

Those who know your name trust in you,

For you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”

In times of trouble, when we are under attack, or when we start to fear, turn to GOD. Instead of picking up the phone to call someone, drop to your knees and call out to GOD. Words from friends can sometimes help, but only the name of GOD can save.

In the verse, "Those who know your ‘name’..."; name is a poetic symbol for the total person and personality it represents. Here it stands for the reliable character of GOD. We have to have faith to believe in the name of GOD and all that it stands for. GOD is waiting for every individual to know HIS name and to experience HIS love. Only one name can save, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). To trust in the Lord is to confidently believe that HE will never leave you or abandon you.  It’s a walk of faith and in that walk; we learn to trust in GOD and not ourselves. We trust in GOD to fulfill his promises and to believe HIS word.

Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 7:7-8: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Notice how Jesus told us to ‘keep on asking’, keep on, if you haven’t received.  This is faith, to keep on asking for something that we haven’t received yet, Jesus told us to keep on asking, because HE knew we would get weary. HE told us to ‘keep on’ knocking as well, but the last part of that verse shows the outcome: And to EVERYONE who knocks, the door will opened.” We might not receive immediately or even weeks, months, years, but if we ‘keep on’ GOD is faithful and we will receive, that’s the walk of faith.

“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles and the rulings he has given,” Psalm 105:4-5 In the verse "if we 'continually' seek him," the word 'continually' is translated from the Hebrew ‘tamid’, which is also translated to: all times, always, constantly, ever, perpetual, regularly. As long as we do our part to ALWAYS seek HIM (that means in the good times and not just the bad), HE will be faithful, “He always stands by his covenant- the commitment he made to a thousand generations.” Psalm 105:8. 

The original Hebrew word ‘misgab’ is translated to refuge, stronghold, an unassailable lofty/high tower. In military strategy; a place of complete safety, once you have entered that stronghold, you are sheltered from the attacks of the enemy. This doesn’t mean you won’t be attacked, but once you are in the Lord’s shelter, you will have GOD’s peace while the enemy attacks. Jesus told the disciples in John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Once we receive HIS peace, then our faith is able to grow even stronger because we see that what happens around us doesn't matter anymore! Because the peace that GOD gives us is not effected by the surrounding circumstances, HIS peace is based on trusting in GOD and HIS word.

”The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11

When we keep searching for God; when we remember HIS promises, HIS mercies and HIS grace he has given us; that is the place where we will find HIM. We must keep our hearts tender to HIS word and thankful for HIS blessings. By keeping our hearts open to HIM and HIS word, we will always have a place of refuge when those storm waters rise and the winds howl. We can have peace in GOD’s shelter, we will have strength for the enemey's attack, because we have clung to GOD’s promises and have put our trust in HIM. The Christian walk requires strength and faith and GOD has given us all we need to persevere. We were never promised that our life would be easy; we were just promised that we would be able to overcome.

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Enlarge our Hearts

2 Peter 1:3

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”

Everything we need to live our lives for Christ has been given to us, when we were saved and became a new creation in Christ. ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 Our dead spirit became new, alive, so like a newborn baby must be nourished and fed to grow and develop into a mature adult. We must also nourish and feed our new spirits with the Bread of Life, the word of GOD. We were created in God’s own image (see Genesis 1:26-27), our spirit (God’s own image, not my physical body) has the capacity and ability to love as Christ loved us, our spirit or hearts can be enlarged and increased to love all!

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

I love the Amplified version of this scripture, read this and let it really sink in:

“May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” What an awesome prayer we can pray over ourselves!

God wants our hearts to be enlarged so that we can receive the outpouring of blessings he has for us, if our hearts are hardened and narrowed, we are unable to receive and grow, thus unable to share our hearts with others. A narrow rigid heart has fear and selfishness, where as an enlarged heart is fearless and selfless. When you live in fear, you are not having faith, but the greater your faith, the larger your heart! "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4

We are to read the word of God, feed on it, not just read a verse or chapter, but read it, study it, think about it, seek and pray for understanding. We are to pray, talk to God have communion with him and not just when we need something. Share your heart with Him and get to know him intimately, pray that he will enlarge your heart, soften your heart and keep your heart tender to God, His word, and others. He loves you and longs to spend time with you. Give him praises of thanksgiving, thankful for all that we do have and have been given, every day is a new day to serve God and to share God’s love with others. 

“When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15

A child believes and receives without difficulty, because they are open, as we age, we harden our hearts, our thoughts, and we adapt to the world around us, by reasoning and rationalizing. But we can receive so much more than we could ever imagine with our spirit than our minds even know to ask.“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 A child doesn’t think about “what if’s” they just accept what they are told. While our minds try to reason with the promises that God has given us, we try to make things impossible by what we know, instead of imagining GOD's limitless abilities. How beautiful it is to have childlike faith, pray for that kind of faith.  

Healing by Faith

1 Peter 2:24

He personally carried our sins
      in his body on the cross
   so that we can be dead to sin
      and live for what is right.
   By his wounds
      you are healed.

Did you catch that last sentence in this scripture; By his wounds you are healed. By faith we accept Jesus as our savior and by faith we can accept our healing.  One of my friends pointed out before, Jesus isn’t going to crawl back up on the cross and die for you again, HE’s already done it once, and it’s your job to accept HIS healing by faith. 

Isaiah 53 shows the Messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus 700 years later. Isaiah 53:5 But HE was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, HE was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.  The Bible shows many instances where Jesus healed people of their sickness and before Jesus went to the cross, HE told his disciples that those that believed in HIM could do as many miracles and good works as HE had done.  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12 NLT) 

My Bible has this blurb about ‘The Walk of Faith’: A key word in John’s Gospel is “believe”. Faith is important to our understanding of Scripture and to the Spirit’s activity in our lives. Faith, like love, evidences itself in obedience. Faith approaches God boldly to receive from HIM.

GOD’s word and faith in HIS word heals, but you have to put it in you. When you go to church (hear the word, be stirred up, apply to your life, be encouraged by others around you), read your Bible & meditate on those words (get the word in you, pray for God's revelation on HIS word, dwell on HIS word), speak the word (in prayer to God , yourself and to others, encourage and uplift) and BELIEVE the word (when you read it, say it out loud, speak it BOLDY), then KEEP the word in you (when you have doubts, repeat a scripture you're clinging to and believing in, as a promise for you). 

Now saying all that is simple, doing is not, that is why; it’s a constant step of faith. One of my most favorite authors, Kenneth E. Hagin, refers to God’s Word as God’s Medicine. His example is that if you went to the Dr. because you were sick, the Dr. gave you a prescription for medicine, you went and got the prescription filled, then set it on your nightstand but never put it in you, you wouldn’t get any better would you? 

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.  Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

Attend to my words:  (concentrate on, devote oneself, keep one’s eye on, heed, look after, look on, mind, note, notice, observe, occupy oneself with, pay heed, see to, watch) HIS word.

Consent and Submit: don’t just read the word, listen, believe, and then DO what HIS word says.

Let them not depart from your sight: Repeating again because it's so important to keep HIS word with you ALL the time.

Keep them in the center of your heart: In your most inner being, keep near and dear to you.

For they are LIFE to those who find them, HEALING and HEALTH to ALL their FLESH!!

Sounds to me like GOD’s plan is for us to use HIS word to heal us, wouldn’t you agree?

My Pastor gave us the example that if our earthly father, being a good father, would never purposely injure his child to teach them a lesson. He gave the lesson of burning a child’s hand on the hot stove to teach them it’s hot and to not play near it. If we know a good father, would never do such a thing, then why do we believe our Heavenly Father, who loves us SO MUCH MORE, would do such a thing? (Read Matthew 7:11 AMP) That’s why it’s another lie of the enemy, that GOD wants us to suffer. You cannot believe that GOD is love and believe that GOD gave you (or someone you love) a sickness, if you are stuck on that, then healing cannot be yours.

The enemy would have everyone believe that healing isn’t for them, that God chooses people to suffer through these sicknesses for HIS teaching. But that’s not the case, HE (GOD) doesn’t want us to suffer, the devil (who comes to steal, lie and destroy) is the one who wants our suffering. The devil knows that if he can keep GOD’s people down with sickness that he can keep them from GOD’s purpose and glory. Even though the devil can bring tribulation into your life, remember, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called accordiing to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)  GOD can take whatever the enemy meant to destroy and bring new life and purpose, if you would only BELIEVE and have FAITH.