Daily Wisdom

 ‘Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church.’ Col 1:24

Paul’s statement here shows us that suffering is unavoidable in bringing the Gospel about. When we suffer, Christ feels it with us. But this suffering can be endured joyfully because it changes lives and brings people into God's Kingdom (1 Pt 4:1-2; 12-19 & Phl 2:9 ‘For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.')

Our convictions compel our actions and help us complete the course. Allowing us to endure and find encouragement in that which we endorse. But, Paul found himself in non-encouraging moments. But the Lord strengthened him to endure, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12). It was the Lord’s ever-present Grace which provided the power that sustained Paul; being more apparent because of his weakness – not in spite of it. Suffering for the sake of, makes the Gospel more evident when we’re not reliant on our own abilities.

You’ll find that if you focus on the right thing, you won’t be searching for things… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

"All the days of my appointed time will I wait."  Job 14:14

Nothing makes rest so sweet as toil; nothing renders security so pleasant as exposure to alarms. Our battered armor and scarred countenances will render a more glorious victory above, when we are welcomed into the presence of those who’ve already overcome the world. Such tarrying is worth the wait, allowing us to appear as worthy heirs with Jesus, for He was baptized with a baptism of suffering (Lk 12:50), and we must be baptized with the same as His heirs. 

Such fellowship with Jesus is so honorable, for our lingering here is for His glory and the good of others. We should not wish to enter heaven till our work is done. Our prolonged stay here is doubtless for God's glory. A tried saint, like a well-cut diamond, glitters the more in the King's crown. Nothing reflects so much honor of a workman as hands that show severe trial of his work, and its triumphant endurance in Jesus. We are God's workmanship, in whom He will be glorified by our afflictions. It’s for the glory of Jesus that we endure the trial of our faith with sacred joy. 

"If my lying in the dust would elevate my Lord by so much as an inch, let me still lie among the pots of earth and be covered with it, so my Lord can stand upon it.” … HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1 Cor 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul saw life sort of like a "spiritual Olympics" (vs 25) and urged Christians everywhere to stay in spiritual shape (2 Tim 2:5). No race, if won, is ever run without a "training schedule" (bring it into subjection - vs 27). The race will hurt, expect it. You don't train so it won't hurt, you train so you can endure it.

Those who fail to train spiritually run pitifully; you run the race you train for... HSAY

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Rom 12:12

The key to running your race is not the speed in which you run but the patience to endure and don’t stop. At times God will plant you for a season, and like a tree, the deeper your roots grow in your faith the sweeter the fruit. But the growth requires patience, prayer and hope in the harvest to come. Maintain patience in the process and God’s purpose will prevail. And when hard times come and you wonder where the Lord is, remember the teacher is always silent during the test.

Don’t be so impatient with a storm that you miss sight of the Savior in it … HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  Jere 29:11

Consider… for there to be hope in the future there must be power in the present.

In order to have a hope and belief beyond my circumstances I must know and accept the promise that God has an expected end, for my good and not of evil, in all matters of my life.

Without grasping such an understanding of God’s goodness (faithfulness) it is hard to survive and strive in life.

The strength and power of this verse is in God’s promise, but it’s my faith in His promise that activates it in my life.

Again, God knows His thoughts towards me and the desired end for my good, I’m the one living in blind faith.

I must apply my faith to knowing that if there’s really a promised good for my future, then there’s power working in the present to deal with every circumstance in my life which guides and delivers me through the problems.

Point being… I must focus on the promise and trust His power in the present.

God knows the good He wants and has for me; the question is do I have the faith to receive it.

My faith will never see a promised end if it’s focused on a present problem.  

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent form God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.”  Lk 1:26; 31

Ever consider God seems to show up in the interruptions of life more than the plans?

Our brokenness is a great amount of our personality, and broken vessels spill more water!

For many Christians we try to cover up the seeping wounds underneath, hiding the appearance of the interruption they made in our life… and in doing so the appearance Jesus made during them.

If someone is unwilling to show their scars, I’m less likely to want to hear about their trophies.

The scars may be ugly, but the healing that comes from them is beautiful.

The bible is filled with fakes, frauds and failures. If each of them hid the scars and interruption they made in their life how would we see the beauty Jesus in them?

In the cultural setting of her time consider the interruption Mary had in her life as a young child herself, coming to be with child without having known a man.

Yet, it was Mary who silently watched Jesus hang on the cross for her sins as well as ours.

Proving He was God. Because no mother, who knew different, would’ve silently watch such an interruption in their life if they knew it not to be true.

Her silence verified Jesus as Saviour!

Interruptions are inconvenient, but the scars from them reveal Jesus as Saviour… show them faithfully!

HSAY… Todd  

Daily Wisdom

2Co 11:26 “In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 

IT’s obvious Paul’s life was lived in a perpetual Monday status.

Whether you’re working to build or maintain a ministry, sustain a career, raise a family, build a marriage or simply live life no one is exempt from the perils it brings forth.

You may find yourself questioning God, wondering if He made the right decision in choosing you to do what it is He called your to do. After all, if I was meant to do this, wouldn’t it be easier? Wouldn’t there be more support of my efforts?

When looking at the above scripture, I must remember that what Paul is speaking of occurred not only when he was working in his calling, but also when he was working within the will of God!

 He was doing what God charged him with doing, and still he was met with opposition after opposition and trouble upon trouble.

What this scripture shows us is that doing the will of God does not exempt us from trials.

What He does promise us is that He will be with us and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deut 31:6).  And that our reward will be worth the obstacles we face. (Gal 6:9)

If you find yourself feeling discouraged or defeated in your ministry or any area of life, remember Paul’s sufferings and his impact on our faith despite it all. His words are still inspiring us today.

Focus on the fruits of your labor in the Lord and stop looking at the thorns. Endure their pain, you’re provided great promises!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Pro 17:3 “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.”

Different metals purify at different temperatures. But, one must be careful to get the temperature just right, so that you don’t lose any of the precious metal being refined. Otherwise, you’ll burn it too much and it all turns to dust.

In this process it brings the dross (Isa 1:25; Pro 25:4) to the surface, forming a thin crust and is scrapped off. Dross is the concentration of the impurities that were once within the metal, but now they are being separated by the perfect application of heat.

The process is vigilant, requiring the refiner to apply the right amount of fire and heat without scorching the metal, again all the while the dross separates revealing the true value within.

This is the same refinement the Lord uses on our hearts (Psa 119:119).

With just the right amount of heat and trial, the Vigilant Refiner burns away the dross that is not just buried within us but has been a part of us for as long as we can remember. Peter says, "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold" (1Pt 1:7).

If you’re in the Refiner’s Fire now don’t pull away and run, be patient and endure the heat because a greater beauty within is rising to the surface. The Lord will not scorch you but will separate you from that which hides your beauty.

The presence of the Lord was in the furnace for the three Hebrew boys. (Dan 3)

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

2Co 4:16-18  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 

Don’t focus as much on where you’re at and the problems it presents.  Let God’s promises shine on your problems, knowing God will meet you where you’re at and take you where He wants you to go. 

Instead focus on the assurance (Heb 11:1) that our willingness to do God’s work, God’s way will never lack God’s promised supplies. “And If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, keep moving forward with the Lord.”

The journey isn’t always easy, but it can be joyful in the promise that Christ has already traveled it (Deut 31:8) and assures us it will be worthwhile when we arrive. But, it requires a faith that renews itself daily, starting afresh not relying as much on what God has done, but rather on what His promise provides for the morrow to those who stay in His will.

If you believe in a sovereign God who’s in control of everything, then it is up to you concerning what you let God control. That decision will determine the sum of your potential in the promises God has for your life.

The continuous effort in our faith – not strength or intelligence – is the key to God’s promises unfolding in our life.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Pro 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

The strength of your faith lies in the object of your faith.  Faith is the language of God, while doubt talks in the language of man. Know that doubt is arrogance questioning God’s sovereignty.  Don’t be discouraged; you’re almost there. What God is giving you requires faith, patience, and endurance.  And while it doesn’t eliminate the questions, it does direct you to Him who has the answer. Show your faith and God will show His faithfulness. You’ve survived 100% of the worst that has happened to you, you’re doing great. Hold to the promises and trust the process. Your current situation is not your final destination!

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

“… you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food” Heb 5:11-12

Complacency leads to a lack of enthusiasm, which leads to a lack of effort, which leads to a lack of results and eventual regression. One is either green and growing in their efforts or they become ripe and complacent, and regress into rottenness.  Hebrews warns us that due to a dullness of hearing or lack of interest to do so, resulted in regression and back into spiritual adolescence in need of the simplest of diets. When they should’ve been nurturing, feeding and teaching others. Complacency conspires to choke spiritual growth in you, as well as others.  Like working in a gym, your growth remains measurable until you find yourself staring in the mirror and becoming satisfied with what you see.  The cost of complacency is redundancy… “you need someone to teach you AGAIN the basic principles” it’s hard to move forward for good and for God when you’re having to retrace your steps.  Stare in the mirror too long and what looked ripe, now looks rotten and in need of restoration… again!

Hold to the vision of God, follow the voice of God, and you’ll find the victory in God!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” Phil 1:12

One of the most difficult aspects to one's walk in their faith is to maintain and embody the character of Christ during personal trials and tribulations. Paul’s telling us that while he is bound in prison he rejoices in knowing it was for and in furtherance of the gospel. Can we have this mind set to embody the truths of God in a way that while in tribulation the purpose and goodness of Christ is still evident and prosperous in our life? It is said that the strongest and sturdiest trees are found on the edge of the forest where the storms strike with the greatest fury. Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom 5:3-4).

I know enough of God to know I’m willing to endure the trial in order to know more.  

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

Daily Wisdom

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Tim 2:4

Prepare yourself for battle, but let God do the fighting; it’s His battle not yours if you chose to get Him in it (1 Sam 17:47). Your efforts to walk in the righteousness of God is an enduring battle; satan want fight you while your sinning, only when you’re trying to get out of it. “Know that the weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Cor 10.4) Don’t grow worrisome in your battle and ask God to simply change your circumstances, instead turn them into worship and watch Him turn your battles into blessings. Paul illustrated to Timothy the comparison of soldiers and athletes who conditioned and disciplined themselves to sacrifice for what was worthy to fight for.  Battles are typically not for the faint of heart, it requires you to be warrior not a worrier. The greatest battle you’ll face is Faith vs Fear; requiring you stand in the former in order to conquer the latter. Don’t get blinded by a battle and fail to realize God has already won the war.

You can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time it’s a choice.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.” 2 Cor 1:24

Nothing renders God’s promises more certain, nor does anything have dominion over the gift of Jesus. Paul hesitated in returning to Corinth and reoffering the same answer (Jesus) to a new problem; and wrote instead to encourage them that their need of joy started in Jesus (salvation) and will always remain in Him. What you began in faith and the joys that grow from it cannot be maintained in you, but only through Jesus (Gal 3:1).  Endurance is not a means, but a by-product of your faith through a devoted life. In Mt 10, Jesus foretold His followers they would have to endure persecutions, but their hope is eternal knowing they are heirs to His kingdom. Believe the promises of God enough to venture an eternity on them. Nothing great was ever achieved without great enduring.

Faith in Jesus alone gets you to heaven; endurance helps you to find the joy in the journey.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” Eph 3:13

Amazing, Like Christ prayer while on the cross “Father forgive them they know not what they do”, Paul’s prayer “faint not” was for the church, and not his own during his suffering.  Paul’s suffering of imprisonment was caused by him sharing the gospel, yet without his suffering Ephesus would not have heard the salvation message. Just as a mother endures the pain of childbirth in order to bring new life into the world, Paul endured the pain of persecution in order to bring new believers to Christ.  Never grow weary in facing tribulation to help others see the beauty of Christ.  The stars shine the brightest the darker it gets, grow weary and sleep you’ll miss the beauty.  The moment your ready to quit is often the moment right before the miracles occur, don’t faint!

Do you want to be churched or do want to be the church!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” Gal 2:20

Out of suffering comes a prayerful mind; out of salvation a grateful heart; out of trials endurance and out of deliverance faith.  These spiritual characteristics (prayer, gratefulness, endurance and faith) are God’s instruments for the believer’s growth and are foundational to maturity in the Lord and our Christ likeness.  Christian character does not grow when things are easy…”be humble in your confidence yet courageous in your character.”

GOD LOVES YOU!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace…” Heb 12-28

In spite of living in a crumbling world soon to end, God promises an eternal kingdom that cannot be moved. The scriptures call us to an enduring faith to withstand the shaking, sifting and collapse taking place around us, by way of His grace; this is rendered in the original language “we have grace” as the assurance of God’s promise in which we can stand upon (Mt 7:24-27).  Endurance goes beyond the ability to bear struggles, but rather turn them into glory for Christ sake. Know that the hope you long for is derived by way of life trials and your ability to endure them (Rom 5:3-4). There are no shortcuts to endurance; you must find strength and assurance in the long route in God’s grace. Don’t pray for an easy life, it requires no strength, but pray for strength to endure the one you’re living. Endurance is patience concentrating on the promised kingdom.

Life can be like a new pair of shoes, hard and unforgiving, but endure it and they become of great use.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Behold thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it touched thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?” Job 4:3-6

Does thy fear, thy confidence, come to nothing? Does it come only to this, that thou faintest?  Eliphaz – the mildest of Job’s three accusers; by way of Job’s complaints against God led the three to doubt Job’s integrity.  But (Lk 13:2-3) shows that, though there is retribution even in this life for our actions, we cannot judge by a single occurrence or appearance. “All things come alike to all; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked.” (Ecc 9:2); but yet we must take it on faith, that God deals righteously even now (Psa 67:4); judge not by a part, but by the whole of a godly man’s life. “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.” (Jms 5:11).  God brought about trials in Job’s case, so plainly to prove that He is pitiful and of tender mercy.  This did not appear during his troubles, but was seen in the event.  Let us serve God, and bear our trials as those who believe and know that the end offers a crown of life (Jms 1:12) for those who endure.  Our eternal happiness is safe if we trust to Him; all else is vanity.

That which is called to give off light, must endure burning!

HSAY…Todd