Daily Wisdom

 Eph 5:20  "Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Negativity is a social cancer: it's difficult to contain and it rots the spirit of man. However, the real danger is that the flesh is so easily influenced by it. That part causes the contagious infection. It's passed on and on until some brave soul enlightens an infected spirit with the hope and promise in Jesus; that brave soul refuses to bite the apple and let the apple eat him. That spirit who refuses to accept doubt and fear is able to amputate it in another through the strength of God's love.  In other words, their hope in Jesus becomes more valued than the lie of negativity is believed to be true.

There's nothing more contagious than the laughter of a spirit that has hope... HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Rom 15:13  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” 

The human spirit longs for hope knowing one’s own limitation for all of life’s matters. This is the Father’s hope. Hope is magical, Hope is a gift, like a raft we cling to in the midst of a storm. Hope by nature is independent of logic. Hope is power outside of the facts; Hope is not rational. Yet who needs rationality when God is on our side? The capacity of hope is the most powerful fact in our daily life. The only way we’re going to reach places we’ve never been, is if we trust God’s direction to do things we’ve never done. God will fight our battles; we just need to dwell in His promised hope. Without hope in the Father, what do we have to hold too. 

Hope is the belief that the promise will be fulfilled… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Eph 1:5  “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

We neglect the gospel when we neglect our adoption and think that we're just a hired servant. The Father doesn't let us come to him on those terms. We'll either come as His adoptive children or we will stay with the swine. He won't let us earn anything from Him because there will be no boasting in His presence. It will either be that Jesus and His glorious gospel has the preeminence or we will go it alone. It requires only our faith in the gospel to foster a personal significant relationship with the Father, every choice we make either elevates human life or heavenly hope in the Father.

Spiritual adoption is the excellency and apex of God’s salvation, not our doing… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1Pe 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

When a believer shares their faith story of Jesus’ great love, provision and faithfulness, the beauty is that others get to listen without working; they rest. There’s nothing to fix, nothing to labor in. And another soul is quietened as they listen, certainly burdened. . . but still resting in the knowledge that the same promise of hope is indestructible and unmovable in meeting their need as well. It needs only to be nourished and released in the same manner they’re hearing it. Spiritual success is greatly measured when one’s faith story begins to change others’ lives eternally.

Let others know how Jesus transformed your test into a testimony, mess into a message, and your misery will become a ministry – lives will be changed eternally… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Psa 32:7  “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” Selah 

Faith is the acknowledgment and recognition of the cross as the substitute for man’s inability to save self. Faith saves, because the cross affords the complete salvation of another, and not because man contributes anything to that salvation. Today everybody admits that something is wrong with the world, and the critics of Christianity are the very people who feel this most. The most violent attacks against truth come from those who are most anxious to change the world, and yet they attack the very truth, that like generations past has rescued the soul of man from life’s difficulties. The truth of God’s Word is the only hope man has against life’s troubles.

Losing faith is losing strength; we are twice armed when we fight with faith… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Psa 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Our greatest fear as believers and as a church should not be failure in our efforts of faith; the Father knows our failure thus offers us repentance and His mercy to move forward. Through that process of working out our faith we grow and mature in the Lords’ strength. But our fear should be succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter, it offers a false hope and a measure of worth that can blind us to our need for Jesus. It’s a good thing to meet opposition and struggles in our faith; We should fear when we don’t, because we’re probably not living in our faith.

The moment one realizes this world cannot sustain them, they are left with two conclusions concerning hope; life is simply cruel or Jesus is greatly real… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Act 12:11 “When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod….”

Often our greatest obstacle is overcoming self and humbly turning to God. Just like the prodigal son in (Lk 15) as compared to Peter here in Acts, when we humbly “come to ourselves” great peace and provision comes with it; the old saying know who butters your bread. Humility drives the soul to thanksgiving and provides patience in the Lord’s provisions. Thanksgiving can’t be an annually scheduled dinner to practice humility, but rather practiced daily by “coming to ourselves” and knowing our provisions are promised only in Him who provides them. 

Humility doesn’t promise a place of perfection, but a place of perseverance in His promised hope… HSAY  

Daily Wisdom

 Gal 5:5  “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” 

There are times when things appear very dark to me, so dark that I must wait for hope. This is the truest test of my faith; to have a vacant place in my heart and yet, not to allow that place to be filled by an interfere presence – that’s the grandest patience that exist. It’s Job in the tempest, Moses in the desert of Midian, even our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. There’s no patience so hard as that which endures, waiting on the invisible for their hope. Yet, it’s the promise of that very hope that allows me to hold on to a cup, appearing to be full of sorrow, knowing my Lord sees beyond. Give me this divine power, when the very joy that was before me is gone, to stand unconquered amid the nights doubt, knowing my hope is not in my vision but my Savior's!  

Hope without faith is only a dream. Faith with Hope changes the circumstances… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Hosea 2:14-15 “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness… and I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope...”

 A strange place to find a vineyard, in the wilderness! And that the riches a soul needs would be obtained in the wilderness, which means “lonely place.” And it’s located in the Valley of Achor, which means “bitterness.” Not the two places that come to mind concerning one’s hope. The Lord knows the wilderness experience can bring out that which is enduring. When our soul becomes adulterous, rebellious, self-willed, or damaged God will call “allure” us into the wilderness and speak to our soul, which brings forth hope. We never know where God hides His vineyards that spring forth our hope, even in the “lonely, bitter place” of the wilderness at times.

The Lord calls us into the wilderness not to abandon us – but to be alone with us… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Lk 1:45 “… for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Mary only had a prophetic promise from the angel, and now Elizabeth, concerning her caring the Messiah in her womb. What hope, strength, and faith we can all have knowing we can depend on the performance of the promise and not requiring our own; confidently knowing, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2 Cor 2:20) A promise is only as good as the one who made it, including our own.  Thank you, Lord we don’t have to depend on any of them spiritually speaking, we can trust in Your performance!

Find hope and strength in that the power of God’s love for you will never be based on your performance for him, but rather His towards you… 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

Job 35:10  “But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night.”

The story of Job is hard to fathom. Yet, Like Job, you may wonder where is God when you need Him most? Elihu spoke to this very point. His conclusion was that God is still concerned even though He doesn't intervene immediately in every situation. In your sleepless nights, or the oppression that comes with some mornings, ask the Holy Spirit to fix your eyes on your Maker, knowing He can and will fill your soul with a song. In our bereavements, discouragements, even actual failures God draws nigh and closest to the brokenhearted (Psa 34:18) and who lacks a song to sing. His song offers hope and is harmonious with His providence. Seek the Father’s face and you’ll find songs that will strengthen your soul.

Trust in the Father and He’ll tune your heart to sing to His grace and salvation… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Exo 14:21 “… the LORD caused the sea to go back… all that night…”

This small excerpt from (vs 14) offers great comfort by showing us that God is still working in our darkest hours. When life situations are the darkest, don’t be fearful or doubtful just because you can’t see the Lord’s hand working amidst the darkness. The next day of your life only manifests what the Lord had been doing that night! In your dark times you believe to see, but you are not seeing… don’t forget it was “all that night.” Your joy by way of the Lord is revealed in the morning (Psa 30:5); a result, even though you don’t see it, from the Lord “all that night” working in your life.

In the darkest times of your life should come your loudest praise, knowing God is clearing a path to walk… HSAY  

Daily Wisdom

 Rom 4:18a;19a  For Abraham…“Who against hope believed in hope… And not being weak in faith…”

George Muller responded to a question concerning great faith: “the only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials.” Faith is established and measured by the ability to trust/obedience when faith is all you have. Don’t overlook the opportunity when passing through great affliction, you’re in the very presence of great faith working in your life. If only you will let go and grasp the garment of Jesus (Mt 9:20), He will teach the mightiest hope in faith you can hold to. Faith isn’t about just letting go, it’s about choosing what to hold on to. Hope and faith are unavoidable in life; the question is, what do we place it in?  That’s established in every choice we make!

Faith fosters a hope of expectancy when things are otherwise hopeless… HSAY  

Daily Wisdom

 Isa 28:12  “To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

Why do we worry ourselves? What use does fretting bring us? We’re aboard a vessel which we could not steer even if the Lord put us at the helm. We have no knowledge of the reefs that destroy, or where they are before us. Be still, the LORD is on the throne. And though the enemy may come in waves crashing over us, the Lord calms the seas (Mk 4:35-41), and if need be, affords us to walk on top of the waves (Mt 14:29). Don’t give way to despondency, it’s only a ploy of satan that withers the heart, making it unfit to receive the Father’s abundant grace!

Keep your eyes on the Lord and you don’t have to fear what’s before you… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Col 1:27  “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Hope hinges on what we choose trust in. In (Psa 20:7) we’re told “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses” meaning those who put their trust in the physical world around them; the scripture goes on to say, “but we will remember the name of the Lord.” True hope is not what we hold to, but who holds us. This is revealed in the glory of Christ, who manifests Himself in and through our lives, that when we find situations in which Christ is all we have, we experience that Christ is all we need.

Faith climbs the stairs that glory has provided and looks out the window which hope has opened… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Col 1:5 “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.”

Our hope is gospel based (1 Pt 1:3-4), and with it is our hope established. Hope is the spiritual antidote to that which afflicts the soul; hope heals what the world brings hurt to. But the power of hope is determined by what we hold on to. Whereas the first two chapters of Colossians relate primarily to “principle” (doctrine), the last two chapters relate primarily to “practice” (behavior; manner of life). Paul didn’t treat the subject of “behavior” until he first treated the subject of “belief ” (doctrine). Hope isn’t based on behavioral modification, but spiritual transformation.

What you believe determines how you behave… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” 

The greatest pieces of art are recognizable not only by the signature of the artist, but just as much by the artist style and how they utilize the canvas and brush strokes. As a believer are you recognizable as a piece of God’s work; can others see His traits of goodness, faithfulness, love, hope in your own life? By God’s design we’re called to good works that show forth His traits. We shouldn’t have to sell ourselves as a valuable piece of art, others should be able to recognize whose we are, and whose hand is on our life!

We’re created in Jesus to provide great works, don’t live like a starving artist by selling yourself short… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Eph 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

The word “edifying” comes from the Greek word (oikodome), meaning architecture, construct, confirmation. God has given His church an enormous responsibility - make disciples (Mat 28:18-20). Just as a building can’t be constructed by one individual, neither can the work of the church. It takes a spiritual crew, a body who is working to build up, construct, and confirm the purpose of the church. It takes maturity, adulthood to faithfully labor in the body of Christ for the Lord. It requires focusing on the structure and not self, can’t edify both!

Our edifying of others in Christ should make them question any lack of hope in Christ goodness for their life…HSAY