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

Jer 1:6  ‘Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.’ 

Jeremiah was only a youth 20-21 yrs. old. Yet the Lord encouraged him not to be fearful of his youth or inability to serve the Lord’s will. Don’t succumb to fear of inadequacy, what the Lord calls us to He’ll provide the power and provision to deliver it. The Lord doesn’t need your knowledge, skills, or personality, He just needs your faith and your mouth, and He’ll provide the rest (vs 9 - LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.) Don’t doubt what the Lord can deliver through you if you’re willing to be used.

Boldly open your mouth concerning Jesus, and you’ll be surprised yourself what comes out… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die…” Isa 51:12

The Israelite’s feared the power of Babylon greater than the promise of God.

In 1933 Roosevelt, amidst the U.S. depression, stated: “we have nothing to fear but fear itself!”

Fear traumatizes and paralyzes creating a desire to avoid or escape a present situation.

Fear is an ever-present emotion; real or imagined. It’s unrealistic to think we can live without fear.

Psa 56:3-4 says, “When I am afraid, I trust in God…” (it doesn’t say “if”, but “When”)

It arises when we feel helpless in a given situation.

As God’s children we must learn to walk from fear to faith, and the loving arms of our Father!

David faced such a fear in (Psa 27), having enemies desiring to devour his flesh (vs 2).

But David’s words in (vs 3) changed the direction of his circumstances from fear to faith.

“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” (Psa 27:3)

David understood the promises of his heavenly Father and found comfort in his fear.

We often feed our fear with false assumptions, thus starving our faith in the same manner.

Courage is not a man who doesn’t feel afraid, but he who feels assured in God’s promised comfort.

Faith or Fear, one brings comfort and the other concern… but the one that flourishes depends on which one you feed! 

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10

This chapter contains a summons to the enemies of Christ to come and try their cause between God and his children before him, who has declared from the beginning, that we may know and say He is righteous (vs 25). So, as his children we are faced with a fight or flight option. We stand on the promise that his righteousness will prevail in us by his strength or we take flight being dismayed and fearful that our enemies will overcome the strength of his right hand and destroy us. Isaiah said, “fear not” fear has one of two meanings: Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise. Gal 6:9 “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” You must avoid weariness and faintness in your walk. Satan, like the roaring lion he is, looks to cut the weak from a pack to separate and isolate them, thus forcing them to run until they become weary and faint, and then he devours them. God declares his omnipotent power and promises to strengthen, help and uphold you in your weary state by the power of his right hand which he uses to “dash in pieces the enemy.” (Exo 15:6). If you feel like quitting think about the cross and why you started, then determine if there is a better option.

Standing with God will cause others to ask why you’re doing it, to only later ask how you did it!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

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

Joshua laid in mourning, anguishing in fear over his men being defeated by their enemy Ai; Joshua would rather leave the Promise Land God gave them and retreat. But Israel’s problem wasn’t their enemy, it was their own heart and the sin they let permeate within that was their obstacle, not their enemies.  God’s response was one of encouragement not consoling; “get thee up” address the problem, don’t dwell in it. Often we pray for our situation to change and God is waiting for our heart to change first. We all make mistakes (sin); have struggles, and even regret. But that’s not who you are; don’t let it define you by living life prostrate in the dust of such problems. Live in the promise of God’s love. The greatest victory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising in Christ every time you fall. Every day may not be a good day, but there’s good in every day; but you have to “get thee up” to find it! Look up, get up and never give up, because Christ got up, and never gives up on you!

I CAN is far more important than IQ

HSAY…Todd