Daily Wisdom

Zec 3:2 “And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee” is not this a brand plucked out of the fire.”

Don’t fall prey to the same miss guided thoughts of satan and allow yourself to be led into self-defamation. Satan greatly miss understood God’s great mercy as he stood before the Lord and levied charges to resist Joshua (vs 1). Not denying truth amongst satan’s attack, it did not outweigh the Lord’s mercy. Prompting the Lord to command Joshua’s filthy garments (unrighteousness) to be removed showing that Joshua’s iniquities had passed from him (vs 4). While satan obviously was blind to the depths of God’s mercy and love, don’t you fall to satan’s tactics, and cause yourself to doubt your worth to the Lord. Instead transcend the negative response towards yourself worth that leads to self-defamation and attacks your faith. We must learn to understand God has “plucked us from the fire” that would’ve consumed us, and instead has clothed us in His righteousness and crowned us with His head dress (vs 5).  Don’t listen to satan’s efforts to create doubt in your daily life when it comes to your worth. You are worth it, just ask the Lord!

Satan knows your name and calls your sin; God knows your sin and calls your name.

HSAY… Todd  

Daily Wisdom

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Know that God’s investment is eternal. Not only going forward, but from the beginning (Jer 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…). It continues through our lifetime sanctifying us to be more like Jesus daily and will come to its fullness when we’re in the presence of glory. But, God’s work “for us” began when Jesus died on the cross in our place. Consider the most valued gift someone has given you, the work that took place long before you received it.  The blessing already took place before you ever became the benefactor. Zacchaeus found himself in need of a blessing, being unable to see the arrival of Jesus due to the crowds and his short stature (Lk 19).  But, like our salvation, God had already provided (“began a good work”) in Zacchaeus by planting the tree that was the needed blessing in order for him to see Jesus and his salvation. God’s “good work” for us and in us has already been established.  Just because you can’t see the tree (needed blessing) know it’s already been planted and waiting for your arrival. The question is, are you willing to “run before” (vs 4) in anticipation or are you spiritually stagnant with apprehension?

Don’t fear what you can’t see; fear what you’re unwilling to see… the tree is already planted!

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

Jer 33:6-7  “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.  I will cause the captivity of Judah and Israel to return and will build them, as at the first” 

The Lord directs Jeremiah to call/pray unto Him and He’ll answer. But, the Lord is not as interested in restoring the physical (vs 4), as He is the spiritual.  There can often be a big difference between what the Lord wants to accomplish, and what we want to attain. The Lord clarifies He’ll accomplish an abundance of peace and truth without need of the physical. Like our desire to replace a wrecked or damaged car by attaining a new one, while the Lord is going to restore what we have to its right condition, starting with what’s under the hood first (vs 8). The Lord is always looking at the heart of the matter before the appearance of the matter. It’s not as much about what it looks like as compared to how it runs. Stating “I will cause them to return and build them, as at first” (vs 7). God is more worried about peace and truth than personal treasures.  

When you feel things have reached the end of the line, go back to the first and start with prayer, and the Lord will take from there!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Gal 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

Success and failure are on the same road, one’s just little further down. In what can appear to be an “Impossible” situation, through God you can state “I’m-Possible” to overcome.”  The greatest difference between success and failure is not knowledge or strength, but the will to press on. Let the fire within you burn hotter than the fires around you (1 Pt 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”). God didn’t bring you this far to only come this far (Jn 4:34).

Your faith will never get far if you only fight on days you feel good!

HSAY…Todd  

Daily Wisdom

Eph 2:14 “For he is our peace…”

Peace, like grace is a gift which is given to us through Jesus (Jn 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you…”).  How simple can Jesus make it!  Jesus illustrates it with tow points, “I leave you peace” and “not as the world gives.” You have two choices, because satan has a dog in the hunt as well, and he’ll promise you the world to go along with his peace, just as he did Jesus (Mt 4).  Here’s the crux of the matter, the peace of Jesus only exists within His presence, you can’t obtain peace with proximity.  When you choose to enter His presence, He is then able to enter your circumstances with His power which brings with it His peace and comfort.  The greatest comfort that arises out of trials, is coming to the assurance and understanding that God’s still in control, and therein lies your peace (Col 2:2)!

Peace is not the absence of circumstances, but the presence of Christ.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Pro 11:26 “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

“The poorest person has it in his power to make his offering/s as acceptable to the Lord, by simplest of intention, and pure affection, as the millions given by the affluent.” The value of what is giving is not determined by its economic root but rather by the source it truly originated from, the heart! Consider, the most generous financial gift mentioned in scripture had little to almost zero monetary value “The Widow’s Mite” (Mk 12:41-44). What she gave was the smallest coins used by the Jews at the time, amounting to possibly one cent. Yet when measured by the Lord, there’s not enough zeroes on a calculator to add up it’s value eternally. Because the Lord considers the motive. In other words, the “widow lady” forfeited the temporal value to herself in exchange for the eternal value to God. It was sacrificial and humbling, which is the basis for faith (sacrificial, humbling, obedience). Sacrificial given goes beyond tithe/money, and involves one’s investment in the eternal. One can be just as broke as the “widow lady” when it comes to compassion, time and servitude. While one’s tithe is not truly open for discussion, for it’s a commandment (attitude/opinion irrelevant). Giving in all spiritual aspects above and beyond what worldly opinion and the heart understands, is a gift as priceless as the “widows” when given from the same source; an eternally motivated heart!

Sacrifice is giving up something that matters for something that matters more!

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

Psa 107:7a “And he led them forth, by the right way…”

The Psalmist records four types of people: Wanderer (vs 4-9); Prisoner (vss 10-16); Distressed (vss 17-20, and Storm-tossed (vss 23-30). Despite how extreme the calamity, God still has a path set forth that leads to His goodness (vs 9 “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.) This promise goes beyond just the physical need, and delivers the soul out of spiritual distress (vs 6). We know Jesus is the way (Jn 14:6); bread of life (Jn 6:35); living water (Jn 4:10-14), and the giver of rest (Mt 11:28-30). The path which leads to the Lord’s goodness is the same one you set-forth on in your salvation. The path hasn’t changed, if you’re wandering, in bondage, distressed or stuck in a storm, it’s because you changed or redirected your path in another direction. Your hope is promised in vs 1 “Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” He’s already redeemed you from the enemy (vs 2), and is directing you towards an eternal inn, habitation. Just as the Lord led the Israelites (Deu 32:10) for forty years, so will he direct your path in the right way. But we must direct our soul in that path which longs and thirst for His goodness (9). This is applicable to our condition in this world, we are here as in a wilderness, a journey knowing this isn’t our eternal habitation. But, if we hold to his path, the right way, we are under his guidance, provision, mercy and His goodness we can dwell in… “let the redeemed of the Lord say so” the Lord is GOOD!

Over every mountain God has a path, you just may not be able to see it from the valley!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 1:3 “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in the season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Everyone seeks a return on their efforts. But, the phrase “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” does not guarantee immunity to failure of difficulties. Nor guarantee health, wealth and prosperity. What it does mean is that by applying Godly wisdom, the fruit (results of God’s work through us) we bear will be good for us and those around us. This is determined by what we take in.  “Like a tree planted by the rivers” we absorb/soak up God’s wisdom through His Word that produces actions and attitudes that honor God, and bless others. Plant yourself elsewhere (vs 1) and what is absorb can become an obstacle, not an opportunity for God’s good works.  The eternal good that comes out of our life is directly determined by where, and in what we are planted. Though man is capable of both blessing and cursing, it should not be, such does not occur in works of nature (Jm 3:10-11). Sweet waters heal and bring forth good fruit (Exo 15:25).

Be patient and bloom where you are planted; trees that grow the slowest, bear the best fruit.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Jos 7:10 “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?”

Often and easily we can find ourselves like Joshua after his men were defeated by Ai, face down ready to give up. But Israel’s problem wasn’t their enemy, it was their own heart and the sin they let permeate within that was their obstacle. Yet, God’s response is one of encouragement not condemnation; (vs 13) “Up, sanctify yourselves” To make things right again, is to simply get things right with your heart before God. It starts with wanting what is right, and humble yourselves spiritually. We can’t pray for our situation to change, and be unwilling to sanctify (set apart) our heart towards God’s will. Like Israel, we all make mistakes (sin), struggle, and even have regret. But don’t allow satan to define you by such and drive us to the ground. God’s Word is a promise of restoration, healing and love. We must be willing to get up, look up, and never give up in that promise. Our ability to overcome our past is not in our power, but His promises and our humility… “I Can” is far more important than “IQ.”  Man is not made to mourn, he was created to rejoice in the Lord’s love. The worlds view calls one to reflect on life’s past performance, and look for the coming sorrow. God’s promises empower the believer to “Arise and Shine” (Isa 60:1) even during sorrow, foreseeing the promise victory coming through Jesus. Don’t live in the shadows of yesterday, walk in the light of today and its promised hope of tomorrow. Don’t dwell on the battles lost in life, nobody is undefeated, focus on the promised victory that no matter what satan wages against you, the war has already been won!

It’s not happy people who are thankful, its thankful people who are happy!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

1 Cor 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

While temptation will test you, it tests everyone, it has no dominion over you. It can only become destructive when you entertain it instead of escaping it. Your ability “to bear” temptations antics is laid out in God’s escape plan… “make a way to escape.”  Your ability to do so will be predicated on your first step, as Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Tim 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts…  out of it’s presence out of it’s power. Effective spiritual escape plans don’t include resistance and resolve, but rather flee and flourish; ready to fight again. The counter-intelligence is recognizing the enemy, acknowledging wrong, respond in what is right, pray for strength. But, the assurance of victory occurs when you chose to take the first step to escape. But, it’s advantage to the enemy for those who seek to resist temptation rather than fleeing it!

Temptation is the devil looking through the key hole, yielding is opening the door seeing what he's up to.

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

Jer 31:34 “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

God is speaking concerning His new covenant (vss 31-33). Replacing the stone of the old commandments with the Holy Spirit and man’s heart. A covenant depending not upon external sanctions, but upon a renewed heart. Eternal, because it’s God’s based on his promise, not man’s actions (vss 35-37). Accomplished by Christs redemptive work on the cross bring about regeneration, forgiveness, justification and the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Man is inept to perform or accomplish such righteousness, but by God’s grace which is free for any man who is willing to accept what Christ did (2 Cor 5:21), not what they are doing! Any good that comes from man, from his salvation and his justification, is only possible by God’s redeeming work through him. It can never be about what we’re doing for the Father, but what he is doing in us that shines forth the righteousness and beauty of the new covenant. Replacing the stony heart man accumulates in his efforts and works towards righteousness. Don’t replace God’s will with your works, it was Abel who worked in God’s righteousness while Cain brought his works of righteousness. (Gen 4:1-4)

Righteousness comes by him who wore a crown of thorns, not our accomplished works!

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

Jn 7:37 “In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

Jesus stood and freely offered salvation for any who thirsted (Jn 4:13-15). But here’s a second thought?  If Jesus was able to redeem the soul, which He was and is, can He not restore the soul He’s already redeemed?  Doesn’t make sense that a collector would purchase an old car just to keep it from the scrap yard, and not be willing or able to restore it to it’s original beauty. Don’t hinder the power of Jesus in your life by limiting Him to the redemptive work of the cross, and not rely upon Him for your restoration. This is what David called upon… (Psa 51:22 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” And what Job depended on… (Job 42:10 “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job…” And God promised through Jeremiah… (Jer 30:17 “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…”) Let Him who loves you more than you love yourself restore you (Psa 23:5).  You’ll find a beauty within that will resonate a love that causes others to thirst for!

He purchased you to restore you (Joel 2:25)

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Exo 1:17 “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”

A moment matters. Often a decision of righteousness produces a miracle moment in which eternal rewards come forth. Characters such as Moses often garner praise and attention when it comes to God’s work in their lives, and rightly so. But, truth be known the greatest miracle occurred so far behind the scene, names unknown, that it’s seen as unimportant, yet it was a miracle. The widow lady who feed Elijah (1 Kg 17) with such limited resources she couldn’t provide for her son and herself. And, yet in her moment she was faithful to God’s purpose towards His prophet. This woman, the midwives choose in their moment a humble response to God that mattered eternally. The greatest of works done through Moses and Elijah only occurred by humble obedience in a moment that mattered.  When your moments come make them matter eternally, and leave the revealing of them to God.

Miracles come in moments, be ready and willing to make them matter!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

1 Jn 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Jesus never promised His children that following him would be absent of temporal problems, but in doing so would be full of eternal promises. Despite the difficult seasons that blow our way at times, the hard work and self-discipline of serving Jesus is given a temporal promise. That when our load starts to feel heavy or too burdensome, we can always, in our faith, trust Jesus to bear it with us (Mt 11:28-30). In the 23^rd Psalm, David describes the Lord as a shepherd, wrote out of his own experience as a shepherd in his early years. Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. Thus, we are His sheep – not frightened, passive animals, but faithful obedient followers, wise enough to follow the One who will lead us, deliver us in the right places and in the right ways. The eternal victory is promised, a fight we don’t have to encounter, that was won and provided on the cross. But, how we experience and “overcome” the battles along the way is directly determined by our willingness and “even our faith” to follow our Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11; Heb 13:20; 1 Pt 5:4).  You're a victor, not a victim; VOICE IT!

Victory belongs to those who are the most persevering, in God’s promises!

HSAY… Todd  

Daily Wisdom

Pro 27:7 “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

Those who have everything, nothing is truly satisfying (Pro 30:7-9). But, the wise seek substance that is for convenience, not comfort: vs 9 “Lest I be full, and deny thee and say, Who is the Lord?”  The only problem with prosperity is that one often loses their spiritual priorities. Paul was both prosperous and poor, but claimed no matter what state he was in, he was content in what God had for him (Phl 4:11-12). The Hebrew word used for convenient in (Pro 30:8) refers to provision for a need, to be applied both to physical and spiritual. That’s the key, don’t get more interested in your desires than your needs. God promises to meet every need, not so much your desires. Don’t be confused in thinking prosperity makes life painless! It may fix a temporal physical need, by has no affect on one’s spiritual and eternal needs; just ask the rich young ruler (Mt 19). The greatest form of wealth one can amass is contentment in God’s care (I Tim 6:6).

Contentment is not found in the fulfillment of desires, or in the lack of desire. It’s only found in the surrendering of your desires over God’s for your life!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisodm

1 Thess 1:3 “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”

Don’t fall prey to being popular with man over being purposeful for God, sameness over strangeness. Christians are called to be a peculiar people (Tit 2:14). You can’t be more focused on fitting in with the world, than following Jesus. Following the rules for popularity will cut you off from Christ-likeness, popular and purposeful are often an oxymoron. Popularity is self-obsessiveness, you become more concerned about building up your personal brand than building up those you enter act with. You start using people for jolts of personal self-esteem instead of loving them as Jesus loves you. And just because something is popular does not mean it’s truth, wrong can be done in popular ways (Isa 5:20). It’s not about what’s publicly popular, personally profitable or politically correct. Paul shows us that our works are to be motivated in Faith, Hope and Love towards others. It’s not about your ability to appear popular, Jesus doesn’t need you to be popular to be eternally productive. But, He does ask you to produce Faith, Hope and Love in others.  You may not be trendy to the world, but you’ll be treasured in Heaven!

Don’t let trendy contradict truth, don’t fold to foolishness.

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

Rom 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The word use for “transformed” is the Greek word (metamorphoō) were we get the word metamorphosis.  This word is used two other times in the N.T. once to describe Jesus transfiguration before Peter, James and John, and the other use Paul illustrates our coming glorification when we are transfigured into the image of Jesus eternally. Paul’s warning is to be transformed, not conformed. But more than the avoidance of worldly conformity, Paul calls us to let the Holy Spirit transform our mind: “Let God transform what you think.” Transformation goes far beyond how we appear and what we do; it’s deals with the essence of one’s spiritual change. It’s possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn and arrogant. It’s only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates and redirects our mind are we truly transformed. Give God your mind, and He’ll give your life meaning concerning the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.  God’s word was not given for information, but transformation. You can allow it to change you or look for loop-holes, so you don’t have to.

Change starts in your thoughts; your actions will catch up… You don’t get healthy then change your eating!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 144:9 “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God…”

David acknowledges his need to record a “new song” of praise to the Father of mercies, temporal and spiritual; a new song of praise as His mercies are new every morning, and are renewed day by day (Lam 3:22-23). Such songs of praise are to be recorded every morning and continually, as the N.T. states all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). This is the promise of the new covenant of grace, thus calling for a continual song of grace written from our heart daily. With this new year let’s focus on the new songs we will record and lift up, and worry less about what new will come down.  The Father will take care of the new we need (Isa 43:19), let’s focus on the new/continual praise He deserves… (Psa 105:2) “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; talk ye of all his wondrous works.”

Sing in your sorrow, sing in your strength; sing unto Him that is worthy to be praised. (Psa 18:3)

HSAY… Todd