Daily Wisdom

 “… is…” 2 Cor 12:9

In one moment, this passage comes to life and rebukes the soul for petitioning such prayers as, “Lord, may thy grace be sufficient.” How dare us ask that which “is?” God cannot make His grace more sufficient than He has made it; get up, believe it, and walk in it and you’ll find it true. The Lord says it in the simplest way “My grace is (not shall be or may be) sufficient for thee.”  That linking verb “is” describes the subject Grace… that it “is” sufficient. The Father defines it more with “My,” “is,” and “thee” which should be indelibly fixed upon our hearts. The truth is, don’t turn facts into hope, or prayers; but rather walk in them as the promises they are, and you’ll find them as powerful as you believe them. That choice “is” up to you!

God’s grace is sufficient for us anywhere His providence places us… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Jn 11:41 “… And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.” 

Consider the unusual order of prayer. Lazarus is till in the grave, and Jesus’ thanksgiving proceeds the miracle resurrection. You would consider that thanksgiving would’ve followed the miracle? Jesus gives thanks for what He is about to receive. The gratitude breaks forth before the bounty has arrived, in the assurance that it is certainly on the way. Israel would sing their song of victory before the battle was fought in the Lord. It’s the sower who is singing the song of the harvest to come. The thanksgiving before the miracle! Is your thanksgiving based on what you got, or on what God has promised? You can tell based on when you choose to sing!

True faith sings amidst the battle knowing victory is forthcoming … HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

Isa 40:31 “… they shall mount up with wings as eagles…”

There’s an old fable of how God made birds without their wings at the beginning. Then God created the wings and called the birds to take them up. And though they loomed heavy and burdensome, in doing so the birds then saw above their challenges and all that the Lord had for them. As a parable we too are spiritually wingless as well. It’s not until we choose likewise to mount up with wings that we’ll see above our own challenges and all the Lord has for us. There is no burden which, if we lift it cheerfully and bear it patiently, will not become a blessing to us.

God doesn’t promise a burden-less life, but He promises a blessing for every burden… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Hab 2:3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Power of patience… There’s an old story of a man who was allowed to see heaven. And while there was shown the “Delayed Blessings Office,” where God kept prayers until the appointed time. It can take a while for believers to learn that delays are not denials!  Isa 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you…” The Father is watching in the hard times/places and will not allow one trial too many. Lift your head and praise Him knowing His promises will not tarry, so neither let your faith. His appointed time, it will surely come!

Don’t confuse redirection with rejection, time is God’s paint brush working His masterpiece in your life… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Num 13:33  “And there we saw the giants…”

Yes, they saw giants, but Caleb and Joshua saw God! There are two consistent perspectives in such life matters: those who doubt say, “We be not able to go up” and those who believe say, “Let us go up” and possess what God has for us. Stalking giants plague life and they cause the believer to overcome or be overwhelmed. Understand it’s when we are in the way of duty that we find giants; Israel was moving in the Lord’s will when the giants appeared. Recall that Paul in his missionary journey’s was not carried by some mighty providence above the power of storms and enemies (2 Cor 4:8-10). One cannot fail if only they dare to believe, stand fast and refuse to be overcome. Spiritual perspective is the ability to not focus on the giants, but rather the promises of God. 

David wasn’t concerned about Goliath’s strength; he already knew God’s… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Rom 3:3 “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”

I can trace the sorrow, fear, doubt that’s resided in my life to simple unbelief. How can one be anything but peaceful knowing their past is forgiven, present furnished with power, and tomorrow full of hope; because the abiding facts do not change with mood, circumstances, or our disbelief. The promises of God stand absolute, despite our doubt, and cannot and does not make void the veracity and faithfulness of God. No praying believer accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time as when they are praying. Yet, prayer without faith degenerates into objectless routine, or soulless hypocrisy. While prayer with faith brings Omnipotence to back our petitions.

Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside our faith and God’s will… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Gen 41:52 “… God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

The beauty of rain is in what we don’t see, the life and beauty it brings forth. As the rain pours the poet stands peacefully at the window, seeing not raindrops, but a myriad of flowers which will soon bloom forth and pens: “It isn’t raining on me, it’s raining flowers I soon shall see.” When the rain in life is pouring down in measure beyond what you can endure, know that it’s not raining on you, but rather for you! IF you’ll hold to the Father’s promises, under the beating down of the rain will spring up beauty you never saw coming! It’s not raining affliction, but assurances of love, hope, and promise which will bloom forth beauty and fruit that otherwise you’d never get to see.

Nothing blooms without a little rain; everything has purpose, even pain… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Hag 2:3 “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?”

Don’t let your eyes, or feelings, convince you of something greater than what God has promised for you. God is encouraging the remnant of His children that even though the rebuilt temple pales in comparison to Solomon’s original temple, don’t doubt the promises it represents in God. Haggai encouraged them with God's promise that the glory of the rebuilt Temple would surpass that of original (vs 9), and some 500 yrs. later Jesus walked into the courts of the rebuilt temple. 

Trust God where you cannot see Him, and don’t fear the unknown; the mystery is God’s the promise is yours! … HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 1Ki 2:2 “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.”

What a charge from a dying King David to his son Solomon. Knowing his dad was a legend even before becoming the king of Israel  – defeating Goliath, leading the Israelites to victory over the Philistines, conquering Jerusalem, enduring suffering, and threats under King Saul against his life. But now David challenges his son with these final words of wisdom. In essence David’s words can be summed up as: Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the willingness to do the next right thing in the face of fear. Thankfully, we are not given this directive to live out in our own strength, God promises to strengthen us through HIS power (Isa 12:2; Psa 145:18-19; Psa 62:1-2; Isa 43:1-3).

Courage finds its faith not in the assurance of the desired outcome, but the promise of God’s protection and deliverance… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Heb 6:14-15 “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee, And so patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”

Be slow in questioning the Father’s love or promises because you don’t see what you want to see or maybe want to feel. Sometimes our challenge can be that we’re not seeing what the Lord wants us to see. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, yet the Lord still loved him, ministered to him, and offered him all he needed for life then as well as eternally. The Father is about what you need, to be more like Christ, not what you want. You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore, or how you want it before you decide to see what the Lord has for you. As it’s said, sometimes you can’t see the forest because of the trees.

Abraham’s patience in the Lord is what unlocked the power of the promise for his life… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Heb 4:1 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Hebrews Ch. 4 is a promise of rest offered in Jesus Christ. Yet, there’s still a danger of losing it.  Hebrew Christians who received this letter were on the verge of turning back from their promised rest in Christ, just as the people in Moses' day had turned back from the Promised Land.  In both cases, as well as today, the difficulties of the present moment can appear to overshadow the reality of God's promise, and cause doubt that God would fulfill His promises. But with such a case the effects of doubt often give birth to an opposite action, man’s trust in his own efforts rather than the Lord’s omnipotent power. When we turn from and step out of the promises God has for us, then we too are turning back to our inadequate self, which in times past often produced the very results that put us in need of seeking God’s promise.

The only time we should turn back is to reflect on the inadequacies of self-will verses God’s will in our life… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 2Th 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.’

If our heavenly Father is the God, He says He is, how many times do we need to acknowledge, confess, and repent of a sin/s? Christianity is the only God who isn’t a god of condemnation, who must be continually appeased so when one dies it doesn’t get worse for them. Knowing the meaning of grace… the kindness, goodness, graciousness of God and nothing to do with our work or merit, a love in spite of what we deserve, and not accessed by begging or pleading… we now have our hope and assurance. Many believers are still dwelling in past sin, still praying, and trying to make (works) amends for a past failure. This impedes God’s purpose and work in and through them. Grace allows God to move forward in what and where He wants you, and I promise you it’s not in your past but His promise for tomorrow. The greatest enemy of hope is forgetting God’s promise of grace!

Repairing the past doesn’t assure the promise of tomorrow, only grace can do that… HSAY    

Daily Wisdom

 Ezr 8:23 ‘So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.’

Ezra knew God's promises to protect his people, but he didn't take them for granted. He also knew that God's blessings are appropriated through prayer (Lk 11:3), so Ezra and the people humbled themselves by fasting and praying. And their prayers were answered. Before making any physical preparations for the journey, Ezra made spiritual preparations. Know the source of your success and prioritize it and seek after it before taken a step. The hardest part of our faith is not in God’s deliverance but rather in our dependence on it!

Only move forward in prayer and faith like victory depends on it… because it does!… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Chron 25:15 ‘Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?’

How foolish for Amaziah to serve the gods of a defeated enemy. We make the same mistake when we run after and trust in money, power, or recognition. This world is a fallen enemy against the Father’s promises. If the world can’t sustain itself spiritually, morally, and financially why would we look to or depend on it for our hope? If man would duly consider the inability of this world to help him, he wouldn’t be such an enemy to his own self. 

Trust God, not people; depend on God, not the world; live for God, not yourself… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Jud 1:5 ‘I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.’ 

While Jude is prophesying about judgement against false teachers, and not threatening believers, he does make a point that believers should consider. What got you right (faith in Christ), is what keeps you right (obedience in Christ). Jude gives three examples of rebellion: (1) the nation of Israel—who, although they were delivered from Egypt, refused to trust/obey God and enter the Promised Land (Num 14:26-39); (2) the angels—although they were once pure, holy, and living in God's presence, some gave in to pride and joined Satan to rebel against God (2Pe 2:4); (3) the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—the inhabitants were so full of sin that God wiped them off the face of the earth (Gen 19:1-29). As the Lord’s children we must realize that the promises of the Lord dwell in His plan and purpose for us. If we as well choose to plan our own path, it’s that very path that will lead us into our own problems as well.

Don’t choose paths based on the ease of its appearance, but rather on the promise it provides… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 "Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again." Gen 46:3-4

You’ll seldom find what the Father has for you until you find yourself where He wants you. Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his father’s and dwelling among heathen strangers. This is nothing new for believers today – called into foreign circumstances or seasons that are untried and fearful. But through Jacob’s testimony we can see by way of his prayers, we’ll find the companion for our walk-in faith, that leads us into His promises.

We cannot hesitate to go where the Father promises His presence; even in the valley of death we can fear no evil, knowing the Lord is with us (Psa 23). Remember the promises of the Lord often dwell in presence of our enemy, not in the comfort of our own dwelling. We must exercise Jacob’s confidence, “Fear not,” in placing ourselves in the Lord’s will, knowing His promise of deliverance awaits us. David passed through his valley of death, Moses through his sea, Daniel through his lion’s den, and Paul his prisons; and each encountered the Lord’s presence and preservation. 

When God calls, it’s always collect… you must be willing to accept the charges… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 ‘I know that my redeemer lives.’ Job 19:25

What comforting words. Job expressed his comfort and hope in that little word ‘My’ – ‘My redeemer.’ Oh! to get a hold of the living Christ. We must establish our presence in Him before we can find comfort in Him. What is prosperity when man holds to his own life and dwells outside of the Lord, even he with gold becomes a beggar for true hope. Of such hope, one is not content until by faith they can say ‘yes, I cast myself upon my living redeemer.’

Proclaim ‘I know!’ Ifs, buts and perhaps are thieves of hope and peace. Doubts are destroyers of tomorrow’s promises, like wasp stinging the soul. If Job, in his misery and ages before the coming of Christ, could say ‘I know’ we shouldn’t speak less hopeful. Don’t allow the promises you’ve been given to be presumptions, let us stand in the presence of Christ, and like Job proclaim ‘I know my redeemer lives’ and that my hope, my promise, and my peace stands in it! When you (allow) Christ’s will to be your only hope and answer, you’ll then see the promises and miracles in your own life that others testify to. 

In every circumstance, get God in it, then let God have it… then dwell in His presence, because that’s where miracles occur… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 "The Amen."  Rev 3:14

The word AMEN solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, forever is "the Amen" in all His promises.  As His children, we should find great comfort with in this. Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (M 11:28). If you come to him, he will say "Amen" in your soul; his promise shall be true to you. He said in the days of his flesh, "The bruised reed I will not break" (Isa 42:3). 

Jesus is the Amen King, yesterday, today, and forever. He is Amen in every single title which he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Amen in all.

And to that, AMEN… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 ‘For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it… who shall turn it back?’ Isa 14:27

The people to whom Isaiah prophesied might ask, “What is this to us, or what assurance shall we have of it?” To both questions Isaiah answers by prophesying the ruin both of the Assyrians and of the Philistines, the present enemies that infested Israel, and that Israel should shortly be eye-witnesses of the Father’s promise. This should be a comfort to us today, and a promise of future deliverance, and posterity. God is to His children the same today that he was yesterday and will be hereafter.

This is what David experienced as well when the Father gave him the ability to defeat the lion, bear, and giants (1 Sam 17) and tread upon the adder (Psa 91). David had cast his love on trusting the Father for his deliverance, as the Father asks, (‘draw near to God… he rewards those who seek him.’ - Heb 11:6). It was David’s trust that empowered him and allowed for the Father to be faithful to His Word, as He was and always is!

No matter how mysterious or unreasonable it seems, the Father always keep His Word – Do we keep our hope? … HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Psa 85:10 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

The psalmist recounts the favors God has brought forth to Israel when they placed themselves in God’s righteousness and truth. In (vss 9-10) it describes what God has promised for those who welcome His herald – righteousness. Meaning the greater we seek God’s righteousness and His kingdom, as Jesus stated (Mt 6:33), the more we will see everything work out for good in God. But we must be cautious not to return to folly (vs 8), and make sure we’re dwelling in the shelter and the shadow of the Almighty who is our fortress (Psa 91:1). Today’s circumstances bring clarity to this, we are not in control and man dies. The greatest response to such truth is by placing ourselves in the presence of Him who is and determines all!

One cannot be in the presence of God and powerless. You may still have problems, but you now have the power and promise to prevail… HSAY