Daily Wisdom

Zec 8:23  ‘Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass… men shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.‘

Those days concern the Father’s deliverance and restoration of Jerusalem. A name that was once mocked by the heathen was now a place man was drawn to because she bears fruit, gives increase and has become a blessing; causing other men to take hold of her knowing the Lord’s goodness was upon Jerusalem. As a believer are we living in a way that shows evidence of the Lord’s deliverance and restoration and encourages others to grab hold and walk the same direction as well, knowing the Lord is with us?

You may be the only bible an unbeliever reads; are they encourage enough to keep reading… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 2Ki 20:13 ‘Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things…’

Hezekiah’s faithfulness had been blessed with the Lord’s healing and granting him (15) more years. But Hezekiah fell victim to powerful appeals of the flesh. Rather than using the opportunity to praise the Lord for His goodness, Hezekiah showed forth his accomplishments (vss 12-19). Every day the Lord give us is His investment in us; is our offered return for His glory or our greed?

With every encounter we have one of two things to promote, our Saviour or our self… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 2Ki 7:9  “… this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: … now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.”

When we prosper don’t fail to prosper others. Our blessings are not gained but given by the Lord’s favor, (Jms 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…”), thus we’re to keep on giving what has been given to us. In this passage the lepers were in the greatest of need, and yet they understood the importance of paying forward the Lord’s goodness. Realize that like the lepers we’re all dying, some with Christ and others without, if you’ve been blessed with knowing Christ, don’t hold your peace, you must be quick to share Him and bless others!

True prosperity is not in what you possess, but in how you help others possess it as well… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 “God, even our own God.” Psa 67:6

 It is strange how little use we make of the spiritual blessings which God gives us, but it’s stranger still how little use we make of God. Though He is "our own God," we apply ourselves but little to Him. How seldom do we ask counsel at His hands! How often do we go about our affairs, without seeking His guidance! In our trials how constantly do we strive to bear our own burdens, instead of casting them upon the Lord, that He may sustain us!

 We’re self-defeating by not seeking the riches of our God. An eternal friend inviting us to draw from Him daily. Promising we’ll never be in want, fearful of a fight, or doubtful in a duty. But we must learn the faith of making God all things to us, and not just a safety net for us. Not only can He supply us with all, or better still, He can BE to us instead of all.  Let me urge us, then, to make use of our God. Make use of Him in prayer. Go to Him, because he is our God, and has good for us.

 Don’t let what you have become more important that what God has for you… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 "And thou said, I will surely do thee good." Gen 32:12

When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God's protection, pleading, ‘You said, I will surely do you good!” Jacob was holding the Father to His Word, ‘You said.’  The attribute of God's faithfulness is a splendid promise in which we can hold to, shall not every word He spoke be measured as truth.

When a man gives a promissory note, his oath is engaged; he signs his hand, and he must discharge it when the due time comes, or else he loses credit. It shall never be said that the Father dishonors His credit and oaths. The credit of the Most High never was impeached, and never shall be. He is punctual to the promise and the moment: He never is before his time, but He never is behind it, (Jos 21:45) ‘Not a word failed from any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.’  Paul as well spoke to the Lord’s righteousness, (Rom 3:4) ‘Let it not be! But let God be true, and every man a liar; as it is written.’

Think not that God loves us because we are good; He will make us good because He loves us…HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 ‘she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.’ – Mk 5:28

She found her hope and healing in the hem. We have seen Jesus touch the sick and healing occurred.  He has simply spoken, and healing occurred.  But now Jesus spoke not a word nor laid a hand upon a soul and the power of His healing still flowed from Him. Understand, the goodness of Jesus/God does not require premeditated efforts on His part as it does us. Jesus’ goodness is an innate and inseparable characteristic that is driven by His pleasure to do good. He’s not a “sci-fi” character requiring him to muster up his power to be put to use. Jesus is good by nature, not command.

But, in the same light He is not unaware when His virtue/goodness is applied, flows from Him. This prompted Him to stop and inquire. But not because someone had taken from, but because someone trusted in Him. Jesus asked, ‘who touched my clothes?’, not that he might blame her for her presumption, but that he might commend and encourage her faith. As secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are under his eye. Yet, while knowing she was cured, she fell down fearing and trembling when Jesus enquired, not knowing how He would respond.  As Christ’s children, and patients as well, we often come before the Lord trembling, when we have reason to be triumphing in His virtue/goodness.

If you desire a thread of hope, make sure it comes from the hem of His garment… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Rom 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Let’s be ever mindful of our eternal inheritance and know that fear is a liar!  Not called to be debtors to the flesh (vs 13), but sons of God empowered with authority by the Spirit of God (vs 14). And while the glory and fullness of our inheritance is beyond the grasp of our full understanding, know in every difficulty we face, and every waiting place, we’re given the chance to trust in the things unseen (Heb 11:1) and patiently hold to the promise of His abundant blessings.  

Fear corrodes our confidence in Christ goodness by hiding our inheritance… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Psa 31:19 “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee…”

God is good … extreme are the counsels of it! rich are the treasures of it! and extensive are the imparting of it! What man loads with slander God loads with blessings. Such blessings of goodness are laid up for those who rely upon His grace and promise (1 Pt 1:4 “To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”). God’s goodness spills forth in this world as well, just as one would benefit today from a father’s future inheritance.

We don’t have the capacity to exaggerate God’s goodness, only to doubt it… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1 Tim 1:5 “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”

The fulfillment of God’s Word through Jesus Christ was rooted and wrapped in charity (love). Likewise let us be conscience about personal evidence of Christ presence in our life with a pure heart and unwavering faith. These efforts require a daily exercise in love and faith: (Acts 24:16 “herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”). Be cautious not to undo subconsciously what God did consciously; doing so blinds others to the love of Jesus.

Action speaks louder than words; words teach actions speak. The cross is love, and little was said upon it… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see you good works, and glorify the Father which is in heaven.” Mt 5:16

There is no darkness that light cannot overcome, as long as your switch is tuned on. We must be willing to allow God’s promises to shine on our problems, allowing others to see His glory! Showing others that His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path (Psa 119:105). The beauty of light is that it doesn’t require us to shout about it. A lighthouse doesn’t fire cannons in offering direction, it just shines its light and others are drawn to it.

When Christ’s goodness fills your heart, it shines through your eyes… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: thou hast wrought all our work is us.” Isa 26:12

If any kindness has been shown us, or our affairs be prosperous and successful, it’s God that works it for us (Jms 1:17). And whatever good work is done by us, it is owing to a good work wrought by the grace of God in us; it's He that puts good thoughts and affections into our hearts that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for, He died to make them worth it (Rom 5:8).

It was the work of Christ that determined the worth of man… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“… take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted…” Isa 7:4

God’s promised Judah that evil will not prevail against them. Doesn’t mean the enemy won’t try, just that they won’t prevail. One mustn’t let their spirit weaken and fail when attacked, be patient and courageous in the Lord (Psa 27:14); the evil man has no future (Pro 24:20).  In our patience in the Lord, no matter the evil, we’re to respond and overcome it with good (Rom 12:21). It’s out of a good heart, that good things prevail amidst evil (Mt 12:25). In the sorrow, faith draws the string of good out of the enemy’s garment.

Even in the darkest of valley, God promises the brightest of victory (Psa 23)… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“… they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.” Isa 5:12

Man is failing concerning his regards towards God’s providence; the good things by which man abuses for his lusts. Refusing to acknowledge “the work of the Lord” and instead redefine what is good in man’s own eyes. But, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil” (vs 20). Man must bring every thought captive and subject unto Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Godly- Goodness has already been defined by the Author, man is called to act the part not rewrite the script. Goodness is defined in God’s promises not man’s pleasures, know the difference.

A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about Him... HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the Glory of God by us.” 1 Cor 1:20

Know that neither life nor man can never disrupt God’s promises for us, only we can do that.

It’s not what others have done to you, but what God has done for you that must capture your focus!

Never let another’s actions control your reactions; man may interfere in our plans but never God’s promises.

While Joseph was forced to live within man’s selfish actions against him, he was never without or removed form God’s promises and blessings for him.

God doesn’t give us our plan for life, He gives us our purpose for life. Man can disrupt our plans,

but we should never let it disrupt His purpose in us and the promises that come from it.

What man plans for evil, God purposes for good. (Gen 50:20)

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” 2 Cor 11:30

Catch the perspective Paul testifies to, he glories in what God has done, not on what He will do.

Paul found his strength, testimony and glory in the numerous afflictions God had faithfully brought him through. This fueled his faith and witness for God and kept him encouraged for tomorrow knowing God has the final say in all trials we face. 

Christians are prone to focus on what they fear or the desired outcome they want rather than what they have been given and delivered from. This creates a consumer Christianity mindset that if we are getting from God we find glory in God.

Be cautious in letting your glory in the Lord to be based on what He’s going to do rather than what He has done. Rejoice “of the things” God has done.  This is your testimony that allows others to see God’s favour (Grace) in His children.

In doing so, you’ll find that what concerns you today will tomorrow be one “of the things” He’s done for you… again!

Live (testify) in a way that allows others to see the goodness “OF” God in you!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

Jere 32:41 “Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”

With our endless failures in view, it is such spectacularly good news that God himself is utterly committed to our everlasting joy in him. God is righteous, and thus not indifferent to his glory. And by way of our salvation in Christ, God is not indifferent to our joy. In Christ, not only is God no longer against us in omnipotent wrath, but now he is for us – and our deep and enduring joy in him. Yet, in this fallen world we are fundamentally unhappy and prone to bouts with unhappiness. We are made “happy” by possessions and participation. Whereas, God is happy or better said, joyful by his essence: he is not joyful by acquisition or participation of something else, but by his essence. Don’t fall entrapped in thinking “God will finally be happy with me when X, Y and Z all goes his way.” God’s joyfulness is not based on our accomplishment, but rather his essence. Zeph 3:17 “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” God is so “JOYOUS” that he finds joy even in us! Let that land for a moment. God’s song of joy over his children is not merely the sum of the joy we cause or attract from him, it’s his abundant joy that exponentially expresses itself over us! Unfortunately, if we miss this we miss our needed strength (Neh 8:10). Joy is not the icing on the cake of a dutiful Christian life, but an essential ingredient in the batter itself.  And no matter how the cake appears at times or even may taste, there is a deep reservoir of God’s joy that runs through it.

Joy is the fitting response in the receiver to the goodness of Giver.

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

1 Sam 24:17 “And he (Saul) said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.”

It’s surprising how much patience Saul had towards David’s plea in ch. 24, considering how outrageous Saul was against him. But, God restrained Saul’s heart which had to have been struck with amazement when Saul found how much he had lain at David’s mercy. Leading Saul to weep at the sound of David’s voice and kindness (vs 16). David’s love for the Lord, righteousness and Saul showed forth in two ways: 1.) David knew Saul was anointed and placed as king by the Lord, and thus only the Lord would remove him in his time (vs 6). 2.) David understood that his purpose was to act righteously and let the Lord be the judge between him and Saul (vs 15 “The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee…”).  It should not be surprising that the Lord used David’s humility to shine forth the needed light on Saul’s heart, and allowing him to find humility in the Lord as well. God made good such hope through David’s righteousness, Psa 37:6 “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Always be quick to offer up good towards evil, often it’s the only light available and desperately needed to shine in a dark situation (Rom 12:21), and then let the Lord do the judging between thee.

Man’s ability to do good lies in his humility and God’s righteousness.

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

Lam 3:25 "The Lord is good unto them that wait upon him, to the soul that seeketh after him."
Lam 3:26 "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."
Lam 3:27 "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

In these three verses, each beginning in the Hebrew word “good” (̣tôb – tobe), we have the fundamental idea and truth that God Himself is good, and if good to all (Psa 145:9 “The Lord is good to all…”), then especially is He so to those who being in adversity can wait in confidence upon His mercy and deliverance. This “goodness” of God is the same good God Himself realized in Gen 1:4 “And God saw the light, that it was good…” If God’s goodness is good to Him, we must be able to see His goodness towards us as well in all matters. Understand, like David, God may reveal His goodness in your life while facing a giant!

The giant in front of you is never bigger than the goodness of God within you!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” 2 Cor 11:30

Catch the perspective Paul testifies to; his glory is in what God has done, not predicated on what He will do. Paul found his strength; testimony and glory in the numerous afflictions God had faithfully brought him through. This fueled his faith and witness for God and kept him encouraged for tomorrow knowing; God has the final say in all trials we face, just as Peter was delivered from the hands of Herod.  Christians are prone to focus on what they fear or want rather than what they have been given and delivered from. This creates a consumer Christianity mindset; as long as we are getting from God we find glory in God. Be cautious in letting your glory in the Lord to be based on what He’s going to do rather than what He has done. Rejoice “of” the things God has done, this is your testimony for others to see God’s goodness (faithfulness) to His children.  

Live (testify) in a way that allows others to see the goodness “OF” God in you!

HSAY…Todd