Contentment Is At Hand, Regardless Of My Circumstances

In review of Matthew 13:45-46 it says, “The Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant... who, when he has found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Bottom Line:

Heaven is better than the choicest pearl, do whatever you can to obtain it.

What this means to me:

The Kingdom of heaven is much like the best pearl imaginable. It is wise for me to give up all I have in order to have it.

Today's verses are the second part of two parables told by Jesus regarding the value of Kingdom. In both parables we see something of immense value is found, high enough that it is worth making major change in this life to order to obtain it.

Jesus tells me that the Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have. The man who discovered the treasure hidden in the field stumbled upon it by accident but knew its value when he found it. Although the transaction cost this man everything, he actually paid nothing for the priceless treasure itself. It came free, with the field. Likewise, nothing is more precious than the Kingdom of Heaven; yet God gives it to us as a gift.

Today’s verses are a reminder that often what we need is right before us, we just don’t always recognize it. We may be continuously searching for what is perceived to be the best in life... and we find it right there in our midst. Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to open my eyes so that I can see what I already have. God has given me great provision, the perfect answer to the problem. He knew would come before I even knew it existed. And He has given me hundreds of promises in His Word to guide me through the problem toward the provision.

So am I giving away my most valuable assets because I don’t recognize their worth. Heaven’s highway is paved with gold, so God knows a little something about great wealth. He says that all the riches in the world are His, and He promises to meet each and everyone of my needs.

I can stop scrambling. God can find a way to provide for me in any of my circumstances. I just need to be willing to hand Him what I have. He will lead me toward the greatest treasures I could ever see.

Ready to Listen And Do

In review of 1 Samuel 3:10 it says, “Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel answered, ‘speak, for your servant hearts.”

Bottom Line:

When God calls, your response should be readiness to do what He asks.

What does this means to me:

When God calls me, my response should be to listen and then be ready to do as He asks.

This verse comes from a time when Samuel is still a younger child working with, and serving Eli. It would be natural to expect God to speak to Eli and not young Samuel. However, I see that God's chain of command is based on faith, not on age or position. In finding faithful followers, God may use unexpected channels. Therefore I should be prepared for the Lord to work at any place, at any time, and through anyone he chooses. When I hear Him speak into my life, my response should be to listen fully and be ready to do as He requests.

Also, I’m reminded to ask myself if I’m making any progress on my path, or am I just going around in circles? It can be easy to confuse activity with progress. After all, even a clock that doesn’t work is right twice a day. Still, hitting the mark once in awhile doesn’t mean I’m on the right track.

So, If I’m unsure, I should just stop and wait on the Lord. Get a clear idea of where God wants me to go, then start moving in that direction. God saw this day coming. He knows my start from my conclusion. So I shouldn’t be afraid. Like Samuel, I can say, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

My trust should always be in the Lord. I should listen for his guidance, and then go. Just because I don’t understand how it will turn out doesn’t mean that I don’t need to head in the direction God is leading. Faith is starting out before you know how it’s going to turn out. God has brought me this far. He will not fail me now.

Consider What I’m Clinging To

In review of Matthew 18:18 it says, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Bottom Line:

What we bind here on earth will be bound in heaven, what we loosen hear will be loosened there.

What this means to me:

What I bind here on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever I loosen hear on earth will be loosened in Heaven.

Today's passage reminds me that whatever I cling to here on earth will be what I have in eternity. This can be good and heavenly things of God or selfish things today that will end up separating me from my heavenly father.

Ideally, any decisions I make in this life should be God-guided and based on discernment of his Word. As a believer, I have the responsibility therefore to use God's guidance in making decisions, and seeking to resolve conflicts. Handling problems God's way will have an impact now and for eternity. Therefore, I should be binding myself to the clear teach of Scripture.

Overall, God wants me to have complete victory in every area of my life. I have absolute authority by the power of Almighty God to put my foot on the neck of my enemies. I am the triumphant one. He has given me the power to bind things on earth so that my enemies will scatter!

I can start by writing down the things God gives me to accomplish and get to it! Don’t let any naysayers or even my selfish desires hold me back. I can, with God’s help, determine my future. I can act as if I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, because with God on my side, I will!

Forgiving Others, Because God Forgave Me Through Christ

In review of Ephesians 4:32 it says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Bottom Line:

Be kind, compassionate and forgiving of each other, just as God forgave us through Christ.

What this means to me:

Regardless of the situation, I am to be kind, merciful and forgiving of others, just as God forgave me because of Christ.

Today's passage comes from the last part of Ephesian chapter 4, where Paul is teaching us living as children of light. He tells me to no longer live as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Minds full of darkness; they have wandered far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame, instead they live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But this isn't what I learned about Christ. Therefore I should throw off my old sinful nature and former way of life, which was corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Put on a new nature, one created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.

Stop telling lies. Let me tell those around me the truth. Don't sin by letting anger control me. Use what he has given moe for good hard work and to give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything I say be good and helpful, so that my words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

I am to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all type of evil behavior. Instead, be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving of others, just as God through Christ had forgiven me.

Today’s is a great reminder of how my life was before I made Christ the Lord and Leader of my life. It is also a good picture of how my life is evolving as I learn to live with integrity and treat others as God has treated me.

Developing A Confident Assurance

In review of John 14:27 it says, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Bottom Line:

Unlike what the world offers, He gives and leaves us with a peace that we don’t need to worry or be afraid about.

What this means to me:

Christ has left me with the gift of peace of mind and of heart. This peace isn’t something fragile like the world give. What He gives me no reason to be troubled or afraid.

Jesus had promised us (his disciples), that the Holy Spirit would help them remember what we had been taught. The disciples were actual eyewitnesses of Jesus' life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their individual perspectives. I can be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did. The Holy Spirit can help me in the same way. As I study His Word, I can trust Him to plant truth into my mind, convince me of God's will, and remind me when I stray from it.

The end result of the Holy Spirit's work in my live is a deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ's peace, I have no need to fear the present or the future. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within me. The peace of God has moved into my heart and now lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer me comfort in place of the conflict. Jesus will give me that peace when I am willing to accept it from Him. Therefor, when I feel stressed, I should allow the Holy Spirit to fill me with Christ's peace.

In this world Satan may present himself as the angel of light, when in fact he is the prince of darkness. He presents himself as the answer, when in fact he is the source of great lies. Since time began, Satan has been telling people there is something better waiting for them that God doesn’t want them to have. He lured Adam and Eve with an apple. I need to consider what he may be dangling in front of me (better job, more stuff)?

What lies have I believed that have caused destruction in my life and robbed me of God’s peace? God’s Word tells me that God wants to give me His peace. However, I may have settled for a counterfeit kind that the world gives and the world can take away. With God’s peace, I can put my head on my pillow at night and sleep well, even when walking through the darkest of days. With this peace I can sing my triumph song from jail, as Paul and Silas did. The peace of God is all encompassing and all-consuming.

I can learn to live the life that God has designed for me, not one of my own making. When I follow Him closely, He will give me the victorious life that he intended for me to have.

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener On The Other Side

In review of Luke 15:20 it says, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Bottom Line:

God forgives and we welcome you back into his family with open arms.

What this means to me:

Like this Son, I too had wandered off on my own, spending what I had on my own desires. However God got my attention and I came back to Him. I’m certain that God also had compassion on me and welcomed me back.

Today's passage comes from Luke 15, the parable of the lost son. As I've seen from the two prior parables, God is keenly interested in bringing the lost back to him. When the lost son decided to humble himself, ask for forgiveness, and return, the father welcomed him with excitement and open arms.

Also in the two previous parables, we see a seeker actively looking for the coin and the sheep, both of which could not return on their own. In this third parable the father was watching and waiting. He was dealing with a human with a will of his own, however he was ready to greet the son if he returned. In the same way, God's love is constant, patient and welcoming. He will search for and give anyone the opportunity to respond, but he will never force someone to come to him. Like the father in this parable, God also waits patiently for us to come to our senses.

In the first two parables, the sheep became lost because it foolishly wandered away; the coin was lost through no fault of it's own; and the son left out of selfishness. God's great love reaches out and finds us sinners no matter why or how we get lost.

Interestingly enough the prodigal son went out in search of something more wonderful than what they already had, only to find it to be an enormous disappointment, much like the “grass is always greener” syndrome. Many including myself often lose sight of what really matters. So we set off to search the world over, only to find that what we yearn for was right in our own backyard all along.

I can use the parable of the prodigal son to remind myself of anytime I tell God I have a better idea for my life, or that I want to follow my own path instead of the one He has painstakingly designed just for me.

Today can be the day I give up my pursuit for something else out there (for me today, this would be a hope for a newer work role to find significance in) and return home and receive the gifts my Father has reserved just for me. He is patiently waiting for me to stop wandering through the far country and come to Him so He can bless me with abundance I cannot contain.

God will let me wander as long as my heart desires. Perhaps I should realize how tired I am of doing things my way and go home.

Power For Today

In review of Matthew 28:18 is says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

Bottom Line:

Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth.

What this means to me:

Jesus can do anything. He has the power and works out the circumstances that I need in order to accomplish his will.

Today's passage comes from the last part of Matthew 28, where Jesus leaves us with the great commission. The eleven remaining disciples met up with Jesus on the mountain. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted and were not sure whether to fully commit themselves or not. Jesus told them that "he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Therefore, they were to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands Jesus had given us. And we can be certain of this, that he would be with us always, even to the end of the age.

On the basis of this authority God gave him, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they went along (lived their lives.) With this same authority, Jesus still commands us (me) to tell others the Good News and make the disciples for the Kingdom.

The mission is worldwide. Jesus is the Lord of the earth, and he died for the sins of people from all nations. Therefor we (I) are to go whether it is next door or to another country, and make disciples. It's not an option or a suggestion, it was a command to anyone who calls Jesus "Lord." While we are not all evangelists in a formal sense, we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the great commission. As we (I) obey, there is comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us (me.)

If there are times when I feel like God isn’t hearing my prayers, I should consider if I’m truly submitting myself to God’s authority. When God asks me to do something, do I always follow His lead or do I go in the opposite direction?

Just be still for a moment and think about the earth shattering power that God has made available to me. I can either keep doing what I’m doing, or learn to tap into it. Perhaps, it's time to surrender and allow God to have His way in my life.

Afterall, God want’s to share his amazing power with me. Unlimited power is not just for when the church is raptured and we taken up to heaven. His unlimited power is for today!

Getting Over the Things That Hold Me Back

In review of Psalm 25:2 it says, “O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.”

Bottom Line:

I trust in you Lord, do not let my enemies defeat me.

What this means to me:

I put my trust in you Lord. Please help me not be disgraced or let my enemies have victory over me.

Today's verse comes from Psalm 25, which represents David's prayer for defense, guidance, and pardon. As I trust in God, he will grant me the same. Enemies are those who not only oppose me, but also God's way of living. I can view temptations; money, success, prestige, and lust as my enemies, with the greatest enemy being Satan. In this psalm David asked God to keep his enemies from overcoming him because they opposed what God stood for. If his enemies succeeded, David feared that many would think that living for God was futile. David wasn’t questioning his own faith, he knew that God would triumph, but he didn't want his enemies' success to be an obstacle to the faith of others.

I can turn loose the things that tend to hold me back. I ask God to open doors in my favor, and close ones that would cause harm to me. I can trust Him to handle things without trying to micromanage the details of my life. I can turn loose the reins and allow God to have His way in me.

With the help of the Almighty God, I can get over the things that hold me back. I can learn to release any resentment or bitterness. I can turn it all over the the Lord and watch as my life becomes filled with Joy. I can let any issue or misery melt away. I can let the “Son” shine in.

Eliminate Worry And Learn to Trust God

In review of Matthew 6:34 it says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day  is its own trouble.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. Just deal with what you have in front of you today.

What this means to me:

I do not need to worry about what will happen tomorrow, for I have assurance that God will take care of it. So rather I can learn to live one day at a time and deal with what’s in front of me.

Today's passage deals with the concern we all tend to have about the future. What I'm learning is that planning for tomorrow will be time well spent; but worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is the thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can actually help me alleviate some worry. A Worrier, by contrast, will be consumed by fear and they find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. I shouldn't let worries about tomorrow affect my relationship with God today.

Today I will consider what’s on my “to do” lists and if there is something that occupies my mind. Something that I waste my time on thinking and worry about. God tells me not to be anxious about anything. For when I worry, I’m essentially telling God that I don’t trust Him to handle things on my behalf. Is this the message I want to tell God?

Today, I can start living a more joy-filled life that comes with the knowledge that God is in control. Concentrate on making today be the very best day it can be. God who created this world and everything in it says that He wants me to have the absolute best every single day of my life!. I am so incredibly important to Him that He sent His only Son to dies just for me. So I can lift my head high and believe that God has great blessings on order for me. Live each moment as if were my last, for I never really know when it will be. No one does.

God has this day completely under His care, so go ahead and give up my job as the general manager of the universe. The world will not stop rotating, and I might just find that I’ll enjoy my life on a whole new level.

The Lords Name Represents Strength and Safety

In review of Proverbs 18:10 it says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Bottom Line:

The name of the Lord represents a strong tower. The righteous find safety in Him.

What this means to me:

The name of my Lord represents a strong tower and fortress. I can run him and be safe.

Today’s passage comes from Proverbs 18. It speaks of security. People often look to other things for security and protection, such as their wealth. While we think it can, money cannot provide ultimate safety; there are too many ways for it to lose its power. For example the government may cease to back it; thieves may come and steal it; inflation may rob it of all of it's value. However God never loses his power. He is always dependable. So where will I look to when I need security and safety? I need God to move on my behalf each and every day keeping watch over me, protecting me, leading me and guiding me.  

God is my strong tower! I can run to Him in my time of adversity for rescue. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. I will never face an enemy that could not be defeated by the almighty God. When things appear grim for me and I’m surrounded by adversity, I can look to the ONe who holds the world in the palm of His hand, who knows my every thought and counts my tears. I can then rest assure that everything is going to be alright.

Following His Plan

In review of Deuteronomy 6:3 it says, “Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.”

Bottom Line:

Listen, follow and obey so things will go well with you.

What this means to me:

I must listen, follow, obey and keep in mind what the Lord tells me. If I do, He promises that life will go well.

God established commands, decrees, and regulations that he wants us to know about. I must obey them and fear the Lord as long as I live. If obey, things will go well with me and I will enjoy my life.

The Lord alone is my God. I must love the Lord my God will all my heart, all my soul, and all of my strength. I must commit myself wholeheartedly to his commands. I am to repeat them again and again to my family. Keep them close at hand, write them down as needed. Wear them as reminders.

When I do the Lord will bring me into a place he has sworn to provide. Places rich with essentials. I am cautioned to not forget the Lord, rather I must fear and serve Him. I am to  keep away for devoting myself to worthless idols.

In today’s passage from Deuteronomy, Moses warns the people not to forget God when they entered the Promised Land and became prosperous. Prosperity, more than poverty, can dull my spiritual vision because it tends to make me self-sufficient and eager to acquire still more of everything, except God.

Sometimes God doesn’t give me what I want, not because I don’t deserve it, but because I deserve something better. God has a great plan in mind for me, and He is just waiting for me to get on board. So If I’m engaged in behavior that is self-defeating, stop it. Don’t set myself up for failure. This is not the life God wants me to lead. He wants me to be fulfilled and filled to overflowing with joy. He wants my cup to run over!

In order to stay on track with receiving His bounty, I should continue to read His Word, follow His commands, Pray and seek His face. And when God tells me to do something.. Go out on a limb and Just do it! Don’t think about it or take a poll: just do it. I’ll be in for the greatest ride of my life as I follow God’s lead.

It is only when I am completely submitted to Jesus that I am truly free. As I invite Christ to take over, He makes all things new. He give me houses I didn’t build and vineyards I didn’t plan. His love will restore and refresh me each and every day.

Sticking Together With Other Believers

In review of Matthew 12:25-26 it says, “Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.”

Bottom Line:

Jesus knows our thoughts and our heart. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

What this means to me:

Jesus knows my thoughts and my heart. If I’m not working with Him, them I’m working against Him. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Today's passage comes from Matthew 12. In it the Pharisees in hearing about Jesus' miracle of healing a demon-possessed man, who could not speak or see, explained it by saying that Jesus was getting his power from Satan, the prince of demons." However Jesus knew their thoughts and told them that if Satan is casting out Satan, then he is divided and fighting against himself. His kingdom will not survive. However if He (Jesus) was casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. Anyone who isn't with Jesus opposes Him, and anyone who isn't working with Jesus is actually working against him.

When Jesus came to earth, He gave up complete and unlimited use of his supernatural abilities. But he still had profound insight into human nature. His discernment stopped the religious leaders' attempts to trick him. The resurrected Christ knows all of my thought. Given this, I can be comforted because he knows what we really mean when we speak to him. It can be threatening because we cannot hide from him, and he knows any selfish motives.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. Loyalty is the key to church survival and growth. I must stick together with other Christians, refusing to be intimidated by the world, the flesh, and the enemy.

God’s law supersedes man’s law. I need to resist doing or saying anything that is contrary to the Word of God. God see’s my predicament. He will guide and protect me, drawing me to the exact place I need to be at the appointed date and time.

I should always surround myself with loyal, God-fearing friends. This way we can lift each other up in times of trouble and bear each other’s burden. As we gather, he will be there in our midst. In God’s presence, love abounds.

It’s Not What I Say, But What I Do That Matters

In review of Matthew 5:13 it says, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”

Bottom Line:

You are salt, but salt is worthless if it has lost its flavor. It cannot be made salty again. You can only throw it away.

What this means to me:

I am much like salt, which adds flavor and even makes one thirsty. But what good am I if I lose my saltiness. There is no way to make salt, salty again, therefore it can only be thrown on the ground and walked on.

Today's verse comes from Matthew 5, where Jesus teaches about salt and light. He tells me that I am the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can it be made salty again? Rather it would be thrown out and trampled underfoot as being worthless.

If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If I make no effort to affect the world around me, I am of little value to God. If I am too much like the world, then I'm am worthless. Rather than just blend in, my life should affect others positively, just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.

He also tells me that I am the light of the world. In reality, no one lights a lamp and then puts it under something. Instead, it is placed where it can give light to everyone around it. In the same way, I am to let me good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone can praise the heavenly Father.

If I truly live for Christ, I should grow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. It's not good for me to hide my light. I can hide my light by:

. being quiet when I should speak

. going along with the crowd

. denying the light

. letting sin dim my light

. not explaining my light to others

. ignoring the needs of others

I should look to be a beacon of truth and not shut my light off from the rest of the world.

Overall, It is not what I say but what I actually make happen. Actions speak louder than words. Am I stepping up and doing my part for the Kingdom, being salt. I am not to live by the world’s standards but by the commands presented in the Bible. I am to be in the world, but not of the world. I am to be set apart for a higher calling. I am too be so saturated with the love of the Lord that people want to be like me. They too want to know more about Jesus because of what they see in me.

So I should rise to the challenge of the higher standard set before me and know that God’s richest blessings will infiltrate my life in an all-consuming way when I choose to be Kingdom minded.

Asking In Faith

In review of Jeremiah 33:3 it says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Bottom Line:

Call on Him and He will answer

What this means to me:

God wants me to call on Him. He wants to bring blessings to my life.

Today's passage comes from the first part of Jeremiah chapter 33. In it Jerusalem is about to become under attack. God speaks to Jeremiah. God assured Jeremiah that he had only to call to God and God would answer. This reminds me that God is ready to answer my prayers, but I must first ask for his assistance. Surely God could take care of my needs without my asking. But when I ask, I acknowledge that he alone is God and that I cannot accomplish in my strength all that is his domain to do. When I do ask, I must humble myself, lay aside my willfulness and worry, and determine to obey him.

In this situation, God would restore Jerusalem, not because the people cried, but because it was part of his ultimate plan. The Babylonian disaster did not change God's purposes for his people. Although Jerusalem would be destroyed, it would be restored again (after the 70-year captivity and in the end times when the Messiah will rule). God's justice is always tempered by his mercy.

What I’m learning is that God doesn’t only want to do great and mighty things through me, He wants to do great and mighty things through me. He will do this by answering my prayers. He is just waiting for me to call on His name and believe that it shall be done. There is no limit to what I can ask God to do, and no limit to His grace.

God’s Word tells me to, ask and receive. It’s that simple, so why do I complicate things so much. Just ask according to God’s infinite mercy and power. Knock Him off His Chair, so to speak, with a faith that would excite him. When I do, I will certainly see His mighty hand beginning to work in and around me.

I serve a big God! So I can be assured that I can ask for something big and know that God will deliver all that I need according to His glorious riches.

When God makes a promise, he will keep it.

In review of Genesis 17:2 it says, “I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”

Bottom Line:

When God makes a promise, he will keep it.

What this means to me:

God’s covenant with me will greatly bless me.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him and said, I am God Almighty. He asked Abram to serve him faithfully and live a blameless and He would make a covenant with him, giving him countless descendants. God also told him that He would confirm his covenant with him and his descendants after him.

I serve a God of covenant who always keeps His word. The Bible says there is no shadow of turning in Him. This means nothing about the Lord changes. What He Says, He will do, and what He promises, He will loyally honor and uphold in a covenant relationship.

If I had ever been hurt in the past by others’ betrayal, I can turn it over to God and know that He will fight for me. I am to just focus on being loyal and to let God take it up with everyone else. My life will be rich with contentment and peace when I concentrate on the good things God has in store for me and not the wrongdoings of others. Learn to walk in covenant with the Lord. I will never find a greater friend.

God Longs To Comfort Me

In review of Psalm 63:3 it says, “Your loving kindness is better than life.”

Button Line:

Your love and kindness is better than life itself.

What this means to me:

Your love and your kindness are even better to me than life itself. I will praise you for it.

Today’s passage comes from Psalm 63. In it David speaks of his desire for God’s presence, provision, and protection. David proclaimed how he would earnestly search for God, and how his soul thirsted and his body longed for Him in a parched and weary land where there seemed to be no water. For God’s unfailing love is better than life itself. David said he would praise God as long as He lived, lifting up his hands in prayer. For God satisfied him more than the richest feast.

David wrote this as he was hiding from his enemies in the barren wilderness of Judah. While there David found himself very lonely. He longed for a friend he could trust to ease his loneliness. During his sleepless, uncomfortable nights, David thought about God. He reviewed all the ways God had already helped him. And he greeted the next day with songs of praise.

In my own life I too can experience times when I can’t sleep. What I’m learning is that sleepless nights can be turned into quiet times of reflection and worship. I can use them to review how God has guided and helped me thus far. I should make it a point to count examples of God’s faithfulness to me.

Today is the day for me to proclaim the Good News, because my God Reigns! He is the God of good and bad days alike. He hears me when my heart cries out. When I feel lost and alone, He is the God who sustains and blesses me even though I don’t deserve the rich blessing of the Kingdom. He is the all-knowing and all-powerful. Jesus is alive and sitting at the right hand of God the Father, just waiting to overflow my life with His loving kindness.

Today, the peace that surpasses all understanding can be mine. Whatever is concerning me, leave it at the Cross! Claim my blessing. Seize my victory. Move on to a bright tomorrow with nothing holding me back. My needs will be met, and whatsoever I ask should be done in Jesus’ name. I am blessed and highly favored. So no matter where I find myself, my desire should be for God, for only he can satisfy me fully.