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This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NLT)
Because I believe in the God of Genesis and believe that everything He makes is good,
I am resolved to have a good day.
Because I believe that nothing, absolutely nothing that happens today has not passed through the screening of His perfect will,
I am resolved to have a good day.
Today, if I am misunderstood, I know that my Heavenly Father knows the truth about me and my motives. Therefore,
I am resolved to have a good day.
Today, if I suffer from the consequences of my own poor choices I know that I will not walk alone because even then His hand of love and compassion. Therefore,
I am resolved to have a good day.
Today, if I suffer from the abusive hand of evil people, I know that my Father will comfort me and heal me with the healing salve of his love. Therefore,
I am resolved to have a good day.
Today, if I rebel and find myself in a situation I never thought I’d be in I know I can confess my sin to Him and will be forgiven. Therefore,
I am resolved to have a good day.
Today, if I am harassed because of my beliefs or mocked for my stand for Jesus, I will be comforted by the fact that Jesus Himself was also mistreated. Therefore,
I am resolved to have a good day.
I may not always agree with the things that come my way. My prayers will not always be answered in the way I hoped. Tragedy will come. Pain will happen. I will be rejected by my friends. I will lose loved ones. But because my faith rests in the God of Genesis, the creator/sustainer of the universe, who loves me beyond measure,
I am resolved to have a good day.
PRAYER: Father God, I don’t know what is ahead for me today. I may suffer loss, or victory. I may suffer pain or experience healing. I may be afraid or courageous. Whatever comes my way I ask that you would empower me to live my life in the realization that nothing can happen to me unless your loving hand allows it. I may not agree or understand but I trust you. Therefore I am resolved that since you made this day, it will be a good day. Amen.
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” 2 Chronicles 16:9
After Solomon was King of Israel, the country was divided by civil war into two nations, Israel and Judah. Although these two nations were of the same ancestry, they fought continuously. One day Asa, king of Judah heard that the King of Israel was planning to take some of Judah’s land and perhaps attack.
Asa went to the temple, but not to pray. He went to the temple to take some of the gold and silver that belonged to God and use it to pay off a neighboring king to help defend Judah from Israel. God spoke to Asa through a prophet. In effect, God’s words went something like this.
“Asa, don’t you know that I am sitting here in heaven looking over the entire world just looking for people who need my help? Don’t you realize that I want nothing more than to help you in the battles of life? Haven’t you figured out yet that I’m waiting here for you to ask for help? Yet you still go to other kings, other places to get your protection. From now on you will be subject to those around you and you will face many struggles.
Now, one would think that Asa would have listened to the prophet and confessed his lack of trust in God, but that wasn’t the case. Asa became angry with the prophet and with God. He threw the prophet in prison and tortured him.
Years later, Asa got a serious disease. Once again he refused to ask God for help in healing him and he eventually died.
The tragic story of Asa is played out everyday by people here on earth. We may think that God isn’t interested in our ‘small problems’. I was talking with a woman one day who was telling me her problems. I asked if she’d prayed about it and her response was, “He’s got plenty of bigger problems in the world to deal with. He can’t be bothered by me.” The sad thing was, she really believed that and sometimes we do to.
We may be like a stubborn child who refuses a parent’s help to get dressed. Even though we may struggle with life’s problems we are convinced that if we just try harder we will be able to conquer what ever it is that is troubling us. We may change jobs, or end relationships, or blame others all in an effort to get through this journey called life. We’d never admit it, but in a sense we are saying to God, “I know how to do this better than you. Step aside and see how it’s done!”
Regardless of what you are going through today, realize this. Your Heavenly Father is like an eagle soaring high above the earth, watching your every move and seeing what lies ahead. He not only sees your struggle, He sees your heart. He is waiting for you to let go and trust Him. He may allow you to go through consequences and pain to make you stronger, but He will never leave you alone if you call on Him and walk in relationship with Him.
Your Heavenly Father longs to be involved in every decision of your life because of His great love for you. Invite Him to walk the path of life with you.
PRAYER: Father God. I confess to you that there are many times I have taken matters into my own hands and never even thought of asking for your help. I praise you for the lesson of Asa and the reality that you are watching my every move and know my heart and desires. Right now I’m struggling with life and with consequences of my own choices. Forgive me from forgetting you and empower me with your Spirit to walk in such close relationship with you that you are involved in every decision of my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Americans spend over $100 Billion on multi-vitamins every year. We spend huge amounts on health clubs, fitness equipment and other things to keep us healthy. New laws are passed every year to protect us from dangerous products, threatening situations and even ourselves! Why do we spend so much time, money and effort on these things? Because we want to be protected and feel the need to protect others from things that will harm or even kill us.
We need protection from water, so we require Personal Flotation Devices. We need protection from the sun so we’ve developed sunscreen. We need protection from people that are irresponsible so we’ve created laws and entire agencies to protect us from evil minded people. Protection is on the minds of all of us and is not only big business but an important part of our society.
What’s ironic about the whole protection issue is that we often go through our days unprotected from the most important things that threaten us. Virtually all of the money we spend to protect ourselves is geared towards protecting our lives. It’s time and money spent on keeping us healthy, wealthy and able to function in society.
At the same time we neglect protecting ourselves from the spiritual dangers that lurk in the shadows. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells us to put on our spiritual protection every day. We are to arm ourselves for battle before we step foot out of our homes, or even our beds. Still, we have to admit we often start our day vulnerable to all kinds of spiritual attack.
Why do we avoid protection?
- We can say that time is a factor, but if we really realized how dangerous our enemy is we wouldn’t think twice about being protected. The Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. He’s cunning, wise and very real. His purpose in life is to destroy us and keep us from the joy we have in Jesus.
- For some of us, protecting ourselves is a sign of weakness. “Praying, reading God’s Word, fellowshipping with like-minded believers is okay for some, but I’m pretty self-sufficient. I can handle whatever is coming my way today.” God never, ever intended us to walk alone. That’s why He sent His Holy Spirit and gave us the Bible and tells us to pray. He wants to be involved in every part of your life and knows you will need him for battle.
- Sometimes we go unprotected because, if we are honest with ourselves, we lack of faith in the equipment God has given us for life. He’s given us His Word. He’s proven to be powerful, honest, caring, loving, full of grace and mercy, able to heal and provide. We can trust God even during the times when we doubt His presence.
If you are a great swimmer and going out into the ocean on a boat you take your PFD (Personal Flotation Device). On a calm, sunny day you lay it on the deck, in plain sight but don’t plan to use it. If a storm comes up you may pull it closer in case you need it. But if your boat is in danger and land can’t be seen, you know to put on that PFD because it is your tool of survival in the storm. Think of your faith in Christ as a PFD. Life is a storm and our lives are fragile. Wear your PFD, your trust in Christ. He will help you weather the storm.
PRAYER: Holy Father, I thank you for the many ways you have protected me during my life. I acknowledge that there are many times I’ve been protected without even knowing it. I confess to you that I often go into my daily life unprotected. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to take life seriously and to protect myself with the truth of your Word on a daily basis. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’ Deuteronomy 20:3-4 (NLT)
Everything is easier when you can do it with someone. When we are very young and afraid of the dark we feel safer walking hand in hand with our father, or better yet being carried. Visits to the courtroom or the doctor’s office are easier to take when we know that there is someone waiting for us outside the door. Someone that will comfort, support and encourage us along the way regardless of the outcome.
Not only are we comforted when we have someone beside us. We are strengthened in spirit when that person is stronger than us, or our enemies, and wise enough to know what lay ahead and how to guide us to victory.
As Israel was making its way towards the Promised Land God gave them many instructions concerning the road ahead. A constant theme to the Israelites and to us is that He, the God of Heaven, would fight our battles for us. He didn’t require large numbers of troops. He didn’t require strength. The only thing the Father really sought obedience and trust. He promised to fight our battles for us.
As you go into battle today, don’t let the battles of life surprise you. God has never told us we’d be without conflict. It’s the conflicts in life that strengthen who we are and allow us to see God work in us. Those conflicts could be physical battles of health or people with real names and faces. The battles could be emotional/spiritual battles within us that cause us to doubt or worry. Whatever attacks you today, remember that it’s not a surprise attack. Your Father knew exactly what would happen and how it will be resolved.
Not only does God ‘assure us’ there will be adversity along the way, He promises to go along with us. He never ‘sends us’ into battle. He GOES WITH US. He’s by our side. He’s ON our side. He will fight the enemies in our lives whether they are visible ones or hidden, spiritual and emotional ones.
Also, rest on the promise that your Father in Heaven wants you to be victorious. He’s not an old, uninformed and feeble man with a white beard, squinty eyes and hard of hearing. He’s a mighty warrior, trained in battle and armed beyond any enemy you may face. He will not let you down although at times the battle may seem to great.
You will endure hardship. You will NEVER be alone. You will be victorious as you trust in God for victory. Three great promises to see us through our day!
PRAYER: Father God. I look ahead at the things that lie before me and have to confess to you that I’m scared. I’ve tried to trust you completely and at times feel totally alone in the battle. I’ve failed you, myself and others so many times. I see no way out. I ask that you would give me wisdom to make wise choices, strength to carry through and trust so that I can know You are walking beside me and will see me through. Amen.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3
He was just an obscure shepherd. His family and his story suddenly appear in scripture out of nowhere. Abraham was untested when God promised him that he would be father of a great nation. In fact this promise was made before Abraham lied to the Pharaoh by telling him Sarah (his wife) was his sister to save his own skin (he did this twice), slept with his maid to produce his first son and abandoned his first son! Yet Romans tells us that Abraham believed in God and it was his belief, not his worthiness the caused God to look upon him as righteous.
Abraham was also chosen to be a blessing. God’s blessing upon Abraham resulted in those around him being blest. The source of this blessing was God’s work, not Abrahams. He did nothing to solicit the blessing others received nor did he do anything to deserve God’s using him as a tool of blessing. Scripture implies that Abraham really had no part in who was blest or who was not.
God’s protection was upon Abraham. Those that cursed Abraham were cursed by God. Again, Abraham had no part in this. When God’s protection is upon us we have no need to defend ourselves. God’s protection does not mean we will not endure attack. It does not free us from adversity. It does not guarantee that tragedy will not be a part of our life. What it does mean is that when we trust in God fully, He will build a shield around us. Nothing can separate us from the love and protection of Almighty God.
While none of us will be ‘a father of a great nation’ there are lessons each of us can learn from this story. First of all, God doesn’t wait for you to clean up your act or prove yourself or get an education or reach a certain age or place in life before he can use you. He is able to use you no matter what your past, regardless of mistakes you have made or the place you find yourself in life.
Secondly, where ever you go. Whatever situation you find yourself in. Regardless of how you got to the place you are in life. God’s protection is upon you. He is a passionate lover who will go to any length to make sure you are protected. You have no need to defend yourself. It isn’t up to you to ‘get even’ with those who attack you. God will take care of them in His time, in His way.
Lastly, you are blessed by God. Abraham looked forward to the promise of a great nation and a son who would be an eternal King. You can look back to the coming of that promise in Jesus Christ. His love and forgiveness will carry you through today and tomorrow, just as it did yesterday. Not only can you look back to the cross, you can look forward to that day when Jesus will come again to right the wrong and to end death, sickness, greed and hatred forever.
PRAYER: Father God. I’m once again humbled as I realize how much You love me. Like Abraham I, in no way deserve the life you have given me in Jesus. I fail miserably in what I say, do and think. I get angry at those who mistreat me. I defend my actions and retaliate in my own subtle ways. I hereby give you permission to do what you do best; protect me from my enemies, rid me of the past guilt and shame and bless those around me by the life you live through me. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 