Put on your hiking boots

Put on your hiking boots

Psalm 43:3

Send out your light [God’s presence in the time of darkness and trouble]

and send forth your truth [God’s certainty in the middle of distrust and disillusionment],

Let them [God’s presence and certainty] guide me;

Let them [God’s presence and certainty] BRING ME TO YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN, [the place of worship to God]

and to Your tabernacles. [the place where God abides]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, it’s beautiful to see how David's longing to be away from the oppression of life always led him to want more intensely for communion with You – realizing no mere moral or physical truths could take him to that ultimate refuge  .  .  which is the place of Your presence and the certainty of Your faithfulness and mercy to us! We really don’t want You to come to our valley (it’s too depressing here) - we’re going to PUT ON OUR HIKING BOOTS and COME UP TO YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN!

Getting good and mad

Getting good and mad

Eph. 4:26-27

WHEN ANGRY, [agitated in your mind with a desire or purpose of revenge]

DO NOT SIN; [do not carry out your vengeance]

do not ever let your wrath (your irritation and exasperation, your fury or indignation)

last until the sun goes down. [when the day is done, make sure your spirit is quiet]

Leave no such room or foothold for the devil. [give no opportunity for him to influence your mind and irritate your spirit, exploit your testimony or dishonor the Lord's name]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, help us in those moments when we’re GOOD AND MAD to be able to let our anger be a brief emotion and very soon dismissed. We know that if we allow our agitations to stay in our mind, they will develop into bad feelings, hatred, or revenge - all of which will rip away our peace of mind, destroy our witness for You and can, ultimately, break our relationship with You.

A budding future

A budding future

Num. 17:5

And THE ROD [which represented his life, his identity and livelihood, but, most of all, his authority]

OF THE MAN I CHOOSE [It’s all about God’s approval]

SHALL BUD, [will become alive, grow strong and healthy, and powerful]

and I WILL MAKE CEASE FROM ME the murmurings of the Israelites, which they murmur against you. [Does this stop the opposition? No. But, God rids Himself of giving them any consideration – they don’t matter to Him!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, when we’re at a standstill in our lives and areas of our identity, livelihood and authority are being challenged, we feel more like a dry, dead stick than a BUDDING ROD. At these times, remove our own doubts and uncertainties and reassure us that You will silence the opposition around us – as we can be certain that we have A BUDDING FUTURE because we are approved by You through Jesus Christ! And, that is all that matters  .  .  .

Finding the entry point

Finding the entry point

Eph. 4:27

NEITHER [not a suggestion – but a command]

GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL. [an entry point in your life from which he can begin his campaign of unleashing his devilish destruction]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, there’s no doubt that the devil is after every region and zone of our lives — money, health, marriage, relationships, employment, business, and ministry. But You are warning us that the devil  starts by FINDING AN ENTRY POINT from which he can begin his campaign of unleashing his devilish destruction in our lives. Help us to not leave the door wide open - complete with a "welcome" mat  - by allowing anger, resentment, bitterness, or unforgiveness to have a PLACE in our hearts.

TOTAL INERANCY

TOTAL INERANCY

2 Tim. 3:15

And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and have been acquainted with the sacred Writings, [God’s Word]

which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation

which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we may not have been raised with TOTAL INERANCY on our parents or spiritual leaders part, BUT we were raised with TOTAL INERANCY from the foundation of our upbringing – YOUR WORD. We want to rediscover the vitality and wonder and INERANCY of the Word of God to inspire and accelerate our faith in this troubled world.

Strong passions

Strong passions

Jam. 5:17

ELIJAH [a prophet of God; who did not die -  but was ‘taken up in a whirlwind into heaven by a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire’]

WAS A MAN SUBJECT TO LIKE PASSIONS AS WE ARE; [a mere human being affected by a nature such as we have with strong feelings, emotions, desires and affections]

and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, If anything, Elijah wore his PASSIONS on his sleeve. His famous ups and downs, successes and failures [at times he spoke Your Word boldly and had instant results and at other times he doubted You] were driven to the highest of heights and the lowest of lows by his STRONG PASSIONS. Show us how to use our STRONG HUMAN PASSIONS balanced with our STRONG PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU to the ‘pulling down of strongholds and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God’.

You are cordially invited!

You are cordially invited!

Rev. 22:17

The [Holy] Spirit and the bride [the people of God] say, COME! [both calling for the return of Christ]

And let him that heareth [the one who is hearing with the ears of understanding and of faith join in with the Spirit and God’s people] and say, COME!

And let everyone COME who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened];

and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him COME, take and drink the water of Life without cost. {Jesus paid it all!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, how could anyone turn down an invitation from the eternal transcendent infinite God of the universe? How incredible  .  .  .  a PERSONAL INVITATION TO COME to Jesus Christ for our salvation [saving AND keeping grace]. We are honored to have already responded and we thank you for providing the resources, authority, and opportunity to respond.

Amen!

Amen!

Rev. 3:14

And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write:

These are the words of THE AMEN, [all that is certain, true and faithful]

THE FAITHFUL and THE TRUE WITENESS, [what He declares is true; what He promises or threatens is certain]

the Beginning of God's creation: [Jesus Christ, God’s AMEN to all His Covenant promises]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, our staunch belief that every word of every promise recorded in Your Word is certain and true is because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, THE AMEN – Who is Your AMEN to all of us that we can be certain all Your purposes and promises are steady and unchangeable. We bow our heads and say our heartfelt AMEN to You!

It’s worth WHAT!

It’s worth WHAT!

I Pet. 1:7

That THE TRIAL [testing and proving] OF YOUR FAITH,

                                

which is infinitely MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD that eventually perishes though it is tested by fire. [the value, goodness, usefulness, and importance is brought out by the extreme heat which separates the low quality metal from the gold, leaving the pure and genuine]

[This proving of your faith is intended] TO RESULT TO PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY when Jesus Christ is revealed. [the Second Coming!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, when You burst through the Eastern Sky to redeem Your people and we hear You say to us, ‘"Well done, My good and faithful servant"; we will surely realize that there was a deeper and far-reaching intention in the fiery trials we went through. May we not view the testing of our faith as an ‘unscheduled disaster that overtook us without the will of God’, but, may we be able to understand now that that the results of the testing of our faith is WORTH MORE THAN GOLD!

Calling yourself names

Calling yourself names

Is. 62:2And the nations shall see your RIGHTEOUSNESS, [not your own, but His attributed to you]
and all kings shall behold your GLORY; and you shall be CALLED BY A NEW NAME which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a CROWN OF GLORY AND HONOR in the hand of the Lord, and a ROYAL DIAMDEM [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.
You shall NO MORE BE TERMED Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more.

But YOU SHALL BE CALLED Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married];for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord].
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Pray the Word:
Lord, children do not name themselves, but the parents do. And the name the parent signifies sticks! Forgive us for the names denoting shame, deficiency and oppression we’ve called ourselves – we love the name You call us  .  .  .  . CHILD OF GOD!

Did God say . . . ?

Did God say  .  .  . ?

Gen. 3:1

Now the serpent [noted for its craftiness that mesmerizes the victim]

was more cunning [skilled in cleverness and deceit; using intelligence and reasoning to get the best of people by using whatever deceitful, underhanded means available]

than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made.

And he [the serpent, Satan] said to the woman, [at an unguarded moment addressing her faith in her Maker in order that her trust might be shaken]

Yea, hath God said, [a half-questioning remark suggesting, ‘We know He said it, but did He really mean it?’]

You shall not eat from every tree of the garden? [a  half-insinuating remark implying the unjustness or unkindness on the part of God, ‘Why was any tree withheld?’]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, could it be possible that we, too, could be so easily deceived by the seemingly ‘reasonable’, half-questioning thoughts that go through our mind at times that challenges Your divine will by offering half-insinuating doubts to Your true love for us? Could we mistake that voice speaking inside our head, offering to lead us to the true interpretation of who You are and how You regard us, as being a heavenly messenger instead of from the pits of hell? Keep us on our toes with divine discernment that we won’t be caught in this trap of Satan and he ‘wins’.

What’s the deciding difference?

What’s the deciding difference?

I Sam. 15:22

Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight [extreme enjoyment and pleasure]

in burnt offerings and sacrifices [outward performances of a religious duty]

as in obeying [following the instructions] the voice [law, rule, and order] of the Lord?

Behold, [observe and consider carefully]

TO OBEY [submit, follow, and comply with]

IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, [offering something to appease]

and to hearken [obey] is better than the fat of rams. [the choicest part of all the sacrifice]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we still face the constant temptation to try to substitute SACRIFICE [something that we decide on] for OBEDIENCE [that which You decided on] – and, in reality, we’re trying to have our own way instead of Your way. Help us to observe and consider carefully our underlying motives before we decide which it will be – it can make all the difference!

IT IS BECAUSE OF

IT IS BECAUSE OF

Lam. 3:22

[Jeremiah – ‘the weeping prophet’ gives first-hand counsel from what he has learned through his extended suffering]

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE LORD’S MERCIES [His undeserved forgiveness toward us based on His pledged covenant promise to us fulfilled and sealed through Jesus Christ]

THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, [cannot be completely destroyed physically, mentally or spiritually]

BECAUSE HIS TENDER COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. [cannot fail and will not stop because of His covenant promise]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, IT IS BECAUSE OF Your mercy being rooted in Your pledged covenant of love through Jesus Christ, that we can count on it . . . It is not fickle, inconsistent or changeable because it is based on a covenant promise  .  .  and we can be as sure of it as the covenant promise that ‘the sun will rise in the morning’ until You come. Great is Thy faithfulness! Help us not to voluntarily surrender our right to Your covenant promise.

Go jump in the lake . . .

Go jump in the lake  .  .  .

2 Kgs. 5:1, 10-11

Naaman, Commander of the army of the king of Syria, was held in high favor as a great man before his peers because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

Elisha [the prophet] sent a messenger to him, [didn’t go himself]

saying, GO AND WASH IN THE JORDAN seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.

But Naaman was angry [offended, his pride wounded, and the delay was causing him ‘time wasted’]

and he went away and said, Behold, I thought [fuming and fussing within his mind]

he [the prophet] would surely come out to me [not send a servant with God’s message of healing]

and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, [would show ‘me’ honor and dignity]

and wave his hand over the place and heal the leper. [didn’t have to touch him; just take away this problem and let him get on with his life]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we, too, have fumed and fussed when You have told us to GO JUMP IN THE LAKE – i.e.; asked us to obey Your Word even though we didn’t understand or agree with it. We’ve found out the hard way that Your commands are given to test our faith and obedience; and the miracle we’re waiting for is not performed until such faith and obedience is openly demonstrated.

Hilarious times

Hilarious times

Eccl. 7:14

IN THE DAY OF PROSPERITY BE JOYFUL [when you receive temporal gifts from God, enjoy them, be thankful and do good with them]

but IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY [when your back is against the wall, feeling that nothing else could be left to possibly go wrong and this time will never end]

CONSIDER [regard it as this]

that GOD ALSO HAS SET THE ONE OVER AGAINST THE OTHER, [has made them both – they are both by his appointment, and are set in their proper place, and come in their proper time; succeed each other, and answer to one another, as day and night, summer and winter, and work together for the good of men]

SO THAT man may not find out anything that shall be after him. [man will look back and find nothing that was meaningless; will understand that it’s not in his power to set his future; finding nothing to blame God for after considering His purpose]

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Pray the Word:                                                       

Lord, why is it that when times are HILARLIOUSLY GOOD [going our way] we take it that You are really blessing us – but, in the times when things are going HILARIOUSLY BAD [nothing is seemingly going our way], we take it that You don’t care, aren’t paying attention and, maybe, You are even a figment of our imagination? Knowing that it is You who has balanced prosperity and adversity against each other; we now understand that were it not so, how easy it would be to put the former in the place of You!

Plowing through

Plowing through

Deut. 22:10

YOU SHALL NOT PLOW [work to cultivate something]

WITH AN OX [considered a clean animal, of great size and strength]

AND A DONKEY [considered an unclean animal, of smaller size and strength] TOGETHER.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~  

An ox and donkey, being of different species and of very different characters, cannot relate comfortably, or join willingly in pulling a plow. The donkey being much smaller and his step shorter would create an unequal and irregular flow of air. As well, the donkey, from feeding on coarse and poisonous weeds, has a putrid breath, which the other animal it’s yoked with seeks to avoid, not only as poisonous and offensive, but producing leanness, or, if long continued, death; and for this reason, it tends to hold its head away from the donkey and to pull only with one shoulder which ultimately causes greater labor and will cause the plow to cut a crooked path.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, there are days when we feel  that while we’re diligently PLOWING THROUGH trying to get things accomplished, it seems that all is going in a crooked path. Could it be that we are plowing [working] but connected with the wrong people, places, or things? Not that any in itself are wrong or bad, but that they just don’t belong together for some reason? We ask for Your wisdom, guidance and understanding as we face each new day that our labor will be profitable and beneficial for us and Your glory.

Which END will we choose?

Which END will we choose?

Jam. 5:11

Behold, [consider]

WE COUNT THEM HAPPY WHICH ENDURE. [have experienced strenuous effort, pain, or hardship without giving up]

YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE PATIENCE [endurance] OF JOB, [stripped of all his worldly possessions, deprived from a touch by all his children, tortured in body with painful disease, provoked by the destructive powers of the devil, harassed by his wife, and accused falsely and slandered by his friends - yet held fast his integrity, resigned himself to the Divine administration of God, and charged Him not unwisely, thoughtlessly or irrationally]

AND YOU HAVE SEEN THE LORD’S END [the purpose to which God brought all his afflictions and trials]

THAT THE LORD IS FULL OF PITY  [much sympathy], AND TENDER MERCY. [giving him children, increasing his property, lengthening out his life, and multiplying to him every kind of spiritual and secular good]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, questions can rise in our hearts – almost like a cry of rebellion – ‘Lord, is this all that life is .  . the accumulation of miseries? Or does this very ache in our heart – this reflex of rebellion against suffering signify that we are made for something more? Something future? Something that requires the strength and perseverance of experiencing strenuous effort, pain, or hardship without giving up? We want to have the endurance to chose THE LORD’S END of mercy and purpose  - and not THE DEVIL’S END whose goal is to drive us to despair and to cause us to turn from our Maker – assuredly leaving us without any hope.

It’ll all come out in the wash

It’ll all come out in the wash

2 Cor. 6:8-10

Amid HONOR [treated with respect] and DISHONOR [discredited];

by EVIL REPORT [defamed] and GOOD REPORT [praised].

We are BRANDED AS DECEIVERS [impostors],

and YET VINDICATED AS TRUE [justified and confirmed by our life and conduct, that we are truthful and honest; having nothing in view but God' s glory and the salvation of the world].

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Pray the Word:

Lord, the old saying ‘IT’LL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH’ (i.e.; the dirt on clothing will be dissolved eventually as it’s washed) is true. So grant us, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, our desire to be able to live influenced by a higher consideration than the need for praise for our efforts or for other people’s approval; and to not allow our purpose for You to be interfered with by such concerns which will cause us to be less faithful because of the great physical or mental effort required to accomplish our service in Your Kingdom. With patience and tenacity,  we wait for the eventual justification and confirmation, by our life and conduct, that we have nothing in view but Your glory and the salvation of the world  .  .  .  .  IT’LL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH!

Blessings and Favor

Blessings and Favor

Gen. 24:12

And he said,

O Lord, God of my master Abraham, I PRAY YOU, [the One, only true, and living God; Who promised Abraham that in his seed all the families of the earth WOULD BE BLESSED]

CAUSE ME TO MEET WITH GOOD SUCCESS TODAY, [encounter BLESSINGS -  through the wisdom, care, and guidance provided by preordained circumstances, which depends not on my will, skill, or ability, but upon the pleasure of God]

and SHOW KINDNESS to my master Abraham. [demonstrate FAVOR – preference, support, assistance, encouragement]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we pray for Your BLESSINGS AND FAVOR in the times that we face situations whose conclusions are of immeasurable significance us .  .  .   where our own strength, wisdom, and discretion can be of little or no benefit and we require particular direction from You. We trust Your grace to work all things out according to Your will.

Death Sentence

Death Sentence

2 Cor. 1:9

Indeed, [to be sure, definitely, without a doubt]

we felt within ourselves that we had received the very SENTENCE OF DEATH, [the ordeal was so unbearable, stressful, overwhelming and lengthy that there seemed to be no hope of escaping death]

but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God Who raises the dead. [who will raise the dead at the last day, and so is able to deliver us when we are in the most distressed condition, and in our own opinion as ‘dead men’]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, help us to stop our griping and complaining and believe that when we’re in dire straits - You have allowed these situations deliberately to show us a better way out and a peaceful way to handle it  .  .   so that our hearts are at rest because we are counting on a living God to do something that we cannot do.

Quit begging . . . and start reminding

Quit begging .  .  .

    and start reminding

I Jn. 5:14

And this is the confidence [our fearless and bold belief]

which we have in Him: [assurance in His declared promises]

that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL [in agreement with what He has spoken in His Word],

He listens to and hears us.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, You have not promised to grant us anything that would be contrary to Your Word [where we find the revelation of Your will]. We cannot ask You to give blessings in violation of any of the laws that You have ordained. Help us to QUIT BEGGING [asking charity, pleading, demanding, arguing our point] and START REMINDING ourselves what You have promised in Your Word. For what we find promised, that we may declare.

Great AND terrible NAME

Great AND terrible NAME

Ps. 99:2-3

The Lord IS GREAT in Zion, [He dwells among His own people and manifests His power and glory in a special manner]

and He IS HIGH ABOVE all the peoples. [all are under the rule of His control]

Let them [those that dwell where they have witnessed the manifestation of His power and glory] praise Your GREAT and TERRIBLE NAME [which is the perfection of justice and power]

[For] It IS HOLY.

[the NAME itself is as pure and righteous as He is, and therefore worthy of praise and honor]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, Your NAME is above and beyond all names. It’s a NAME that cannot be equaled with any other because there is no NAME to compare it with.  It’s a NAME that will not only soothe, still and calm but also heals the brokenhearted and binds them up. It’s a NAME that comforts all who mourn and provides for those who grieve. A NAME that changes even the hardest of hearts and harshest of ways and a NAME that can be called on to save even the vilest of sinners. It’s a NAME that cannot be called upon without something supernatural to happen on the inside of the heart of the speaker.  It’s a NAME that can be called upon in the deepest and darkest of nights when words are not easily found. It’s a NAME that is so powerful that when it is spoken aloud, demons tremble because they know exactly who He is. It’s a NAME that can be called upon for the healing of any need.  And at JUST THE MENTION OF THAT NAME, even though in just a whisper, He will hear us. That NAME that we speak of is none other than . . . JESUS! 

On our knees

On our knees

Ps. 99:1

THE LORD REIGNS, [has, does, and ever will – make no mistake!]

LET THE PEOPLE TREMBLE! [with awe of His majesty and reverence of His word and ordinances; rejoicing with reverential fear]

He sits enthroned above the cherubim, [the seat of divine Majesty above the mercy-seat in the Holy of Holies – The Throne of Grace]

LET THE EARTH QUAKE! [All will fall to their knees - Believers with devout emotion, and sinners with terror when the glory of the Lord is fully perceived and felt]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, when we experience the glory of Your majesty - i.e., being where Your presence is evident – it is not a light or trifling matter, not is it to be taken lightly but should stir the depths of our being and bring us to our rightful position – ON OUR KNEES BEFORE YOU!

Just another book . . you think?

Just another book  .  .   you think?

Rev. 20:18-19

I warn everyone who listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to them] in THIS BOOK:

If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add and lay upon him the plagues (the afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded and described in THIS BOOK.

And if anyone cancels or takes away from the statements of THE BOOK of this prophecy [these predictions relating to Christ's kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions or warnings pertaining to them],

God will cancel and take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness (purity and hallowedness), which are described and promised in THIS BOOK.

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Think about this today:

THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.

THIS BOOK’s doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read THIS BOOK to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

THIS BOOK is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is THIS BOOK’s  grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

THIS BOOK should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read THIS BOOK slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

THIS BOOK is given you in life and will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever.

THIS BOOK involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Knock, knock . . . . Who’s there?

Knock, knock  . . . . Who’s there?

Rev. 3:20

BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK; [take a stationary position at the door of entrance and hit repeatedly, forcefully and loudly in order to get your attention]

IF ANYONE HEARS My voice [becomes aware and seriously considers Who is at the door]

and OPENS THE DOOR, [makes the decision to respond by opening the door]

I WILL COME TO HIM and will eat with him, [have a loving fellowship and a deep intimate relationship]

and he will eat with Me. [a two-way street to have a loving fellowship and a deep intimate relationship with someone]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, to OPEN THE DOOR to You ‘on condition’ doesn’t work - i.e., “You can COME IN AS SAVIOUR because I want to be redeemed from the curse of hell, but don’t go any further than this door. You stand right there. I’ll take care of the rest.”  We soon realize that we need You farther inside than the foyer. We need You to COME IN AS LORD of our lives and take control.  

Look at me ___

Look at me ___

Rev.3:19

Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love,

I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [My reprimands demonstrate I care deeply].

So BE ZEALOUS [not complacent – but burning with eagerness and anticipation]

and [earnestly] REPENT [turn around and go the other way - change your perception of what is real, and above all, your perception of yourself - and LOOK AT ME].

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we’re humbled to know that we’re never too far gone or have messed up too much that You will leave us to suffer through our own mistakes, errors and misjudgments without giving us the direction and assistance needed  .  .  .  let us lose no time in turning around and LOOKING AT YOU!

What it takes

What it takes

2 Cor. 3:5

Not that we are sufficient [fit, qualified and have adequate ability] within ourselves,

but our sufficiency [adequacy, competency, and capability] are from God.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we understand that we have to have a degree of confidence - for people who lack confidence are unsure of themselves and insecure, and go bumbling through life, never making a good impression on anyone and are always failing. But, we have learned, over time, that WHAT IT TAKES to have Your power working through us to work effectively in Your Kingdom has very little to do with any of our own natural skills or abilities of being a self-sufficient, confident, capable, educated, or being a well-adjusted person  .  .  .   and that it has all to do with our dependence on You to be at work in and through us.