Daily Wisdom

 Psa 68:28  “The Lord hath sent strength for thee… “

The Father has manifested and imparted His strength to appear within us, our inner man. He strengthens us “to go” and traverse the Hill of Difficulty or descend the Valley of Sorrow; but don’t grow weary, fearful, or doubtful but with perseverance in His promise and power to provide, hold to your strength. As well the Lord is our strength to sit still in a season as difficult as that is to attain, “if only I could do something.”  When the child is ill, and the mother stands in impotence, how severe is the test! But our strength and sufficiency is of God; if we must climb, descend or be still, His strength is imparted to us to do so!

Don’t let yesterday steal or tomorrow borrow of the strength the Lord’s given you for today… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Mat 15:23 “But he answered her not a word…”

Why did Jesus appear to have such a hard reproach? We’ve all, like the Canaanite women, felt the fear, sorrow, pain that’s led us to cry for mercy that seems to find no response. Picture an image of three persons knelt in prayer. As Jesus approaches the first, He bent over them in tenderness and grace with a smile of love speaking softly into the ear. Leaving and approaching the second He but only placed His hand on the bowed head and gave a look of approval. The third He passed abruptly by without stopping. With the first person we see His great love, the second we see His approval, and the third we can assume His disappointment. But what do we miss in this scenario? The first needed all of Jesus’ love, thought and help in the moment. Without they would fail and fall. The second has a stronger faith and deeper love which Jesus can trust them to trust Him however things may go. The third, whom Jesus seemed to be disappointed in, Jesus said I’m training them by quick and drastic processes for the highest and holiest of service. And they know and trust  me so intimately that they don’t require an outward approval. They are not dismayed by circumstances, but prayerful knowing Jesus is still working without words spoken. When Jesus speaks to you, it’s out of His great mercy knowing it’s needed. Feeling His presence, He’s assuring you to keep walking the path your own. Silence, He’s preparing you for a great opportunity and work due to His great faith in you!

When God is silent, pray to be still and what for His great power to work through you… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 1 Pt 4:7b “… watch unto prayer.”

A hard day’s work offers a kind excuse for shortened prayer and quick night; then rising to a late morning and your devotions and prayers done in haste… no “watching unto prayer.”  There has been that done which cannot be undone. Prayer surrendered, exposes yourselves to suffering. Temptation will never be too tired or late in its attacks against you, it’s ever-present lurking and watching for moments of weakness in your spiritual armor (Eph 6:10-18).  Jesus, God in flesh, felt it necessary to rise before the breaking day to pour out His heart to God, how much more ought we to “watch unto prayer?” A prayerless life is a powerless life!

If you are too busy to pray, you are busier than God calls you to be… 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

Zech 4:6 … Not by might, nor by power, but my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Zerubbabel was given the responsibility of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. As the work was being completed, the prophets encouraged Zerubbabel and told him of a time when spiritual apathy and foreign oppression would be overcome. Many believe that to succeed/survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says, "Not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit." The key words are "by my Spirit." All that man accomplishes or builds by his hands eventually falls. It’s only through God's Spirit that anything of eternal lasting value is accomplished (Hos 1:7).

Real strength isn’t found in a man’s hands, but in the feet of those who steps are led by the Lord’s Spirit… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

2Ti 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Paul encourages Timothy concerning his personal ministry not to succumb to fear and the anxiety associated. It was fear that the servant buried his talent (Mt 25), illustrating the poor stewardship, in fear, of the gifts God’s given us in order to minister to others. God counters our fears through the power of His Spirit, the promise of His Love and a sound/peaceful mind. Like the promise of His “power” which comes from the Greek word (dynamis) from which we get the word dynamite; God has given us an explosive spirit in which to overcome our fleshly fears.  

Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Jos 1:5

Christianity is not man surrendering to the power of God but surrendering to the love of God. It’s not that man’s will is crushed, but that man’s heart is broken. Doing so is not a sign of weakness, but acknowledgment that God can bring a power into our lives that can accomplish greater things than we can in the flesh. Which then empowers our faith that He will never fail us or forsake us!

God can only work with what you give Him, don’t expect a mansion if you only give Him a brick to work with… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Mt 8:26 “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

Would you be willing to venture into a storm with a captain whose never weathered a storm? I can assure you a captain’s ship without a few scrapes and repairs to its hull has no experience in sailing. Sometimes the Lord allows us to go through storms in order to teach us how to navigate so that we can show others likewise during their storms. Don’t focus on your scars and damaged goods, rather focus on how the Lord led you, protected you and provided wisdom through it. It’s then you’re able to help others sail their ships effectively.

Your purpose in God and value to others is learning to stand in the storm and let the Lord adjust your sails. Remember ships aren’t designed to float in the calmness of the harbor… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.” 2 Sam 22:33

Consider, to an ant on the ground an airplane would look like an ant. It’s said an ant on the move does more than a dozen ox. Strength doesn’t have to appear as a lion’s roar… it’s also the silence of an ant working patiently, persistently in the power and promises of the Lord. Like the ant, it’s not about doing great things but rather do small things in a great way. The matters that lie behind us and before us are of little value compared to what lies within us.

When our capabilities are of God, we’re never incapable… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Mar 10:27  “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

The disciples had just seen the encounter between Jesus and the rich man desiring heaven.

The rich man he had everything except heaven and was faced with understanding that with man alone many things are impossible… especially eternal life!

We love stories about the victorious underdog, about the person who is told he or she can’t do something, then works harder than everyone else around him or her and accomplishes it.

Movies and novels about events like these are often heartfelt, wonderful and uplifting. But what do they really tell us about ourselves?

Jesus clearly stated that there is such a thing as “impossibility” for man “but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

What this means is that ultimately, God is the Hero.

We, as His creation, have a part to play in His story, as little “h” heroes. We are the supporting cast that may have a brave scene or a series of profound lines, but in the real story, the real big “H” Hero is God.

The great thing about not being the hero is that we never have to worry about not being good or big enough to play the role.

God graciously brings us into His wonderful story and gives us far more than a supporting role, He gave us His Son and His shed blood, and ultimately fulfilling a role we could not pull off!

God’s miracles are birthed out of man’s impossibilities!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

2Ki 5:12  “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” 

Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Syria, but he was a leper who wanted to be healed of his leprosy. Naaman heard about the prophet Elisha and was told that Elisha would cleanse his leprosy.

Imagine yourself in this situation. You’ve had a crippling disease for your entire life. You’ve finally arrived at the place where you know you can find healing! And what happens next? The prophet is a no-show! The person standing before you: the messenger of Elisha who only offers instructions.

“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” (vs 10)

Naaman is angry! The Jordan is a dirty river; the waters of his own home are much cleaner. If all Naaman wanted was to be clean, he could have just as easily stayed home and bathed. In a rage, Naaman starts to turn away, unwilling to heed the words of the messenger.

Naaman had certain expectations of how his story was going to begin, continue, and end.

But, often God’s purpose is brought about by a process quite different than what man expects.

I must be careful not to reject God’s process just because I don’t understand His purpose.

The instructions like Naaman got may appear to be a dirtier process. They may require me to be patient, humble or broken, that’s fine I won’t waver from my faith knowing He’s my healer.

God has a purpose for my pain, process for my struggle and a blessing for my faithfulness.

While I may not understand His purpose today, through my faithfulness my spirit will see clearly tomorrow.

Often God will put a problem in my path for me to see the purpose of His power for my life.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Eph 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined in him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

If one truly understood God’s sovereignty, that He has the authoritative final say according to his will, would it not be wise to go ahead and give him the first say! Knowing God was in control during histories darkest hour, at the cross, know He’s as well in control at your darkest hour. It’s the Father’s divine intervention that directs all things, animate and inanimate, seen and unseen, good and evil towards His eternal purpose. Meaning His will prevails. So, what appears as a problem to us, is also purposeful for us or God would not permit it. Instead of a river, God may provide us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in the blesser Himself!  If God’s not sovereign He’s Not The God, just another god that can be worshiped, but not counted on! (1 Kg 18:27).  While we do have free will and with it determine our own choice, we don’t determine the results. That belongs solely to the divine will of the Father.

When you go through struggles, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which to lay your head!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Eph 1:18-19 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

The power in the pronoun, the attributive ownership of the Hope, Glory and Power offered to us in Christ Jesus (vs 20).  And it’s Paul’s prayer that we don’t miss any of it.  Praying that our eyes be enlightened; “what the eye is to the body, that is the mind to the soul” compare Mt 6:22 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Paul, and Jesus in (Mt 6) and illustrating our spiritual vision to see clearly what God, the attributed owner of what we need, has for us. Calling us to a knowledge and understanding of the Hope in HIS calling in our life, the promised eternal inheritance in His glory for the saved, and the exceeding greatness of HIS power we can possess. Again, Paul is saying, and praying, don’t miss HIS Hope, Glory and Power; let God’s promises shine on your problems.

Don’t get caught up in the theatrics of church instead of the truth. It’s not about the entertainment, but rather the enlightenment.

Many will miss what they need to see because they are more focused on what they want.

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

So far you’ve survived 100% of your worst Days… Your struggle is part of your story, the truth is part of the test. Stay strong because things will get better. It might be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever because God gave us that promise.  It takes a strong soul with purposeful heart to develop smiles out of situations that make us weep.  No matter how long it takes, it will get better for those who plant themselves in God’s purpose. Keep going, tough situations build strong testimonies. But, there can’t be a testimony without the test. As a child of the King, the only thing eternal you’ll endure is his presence. Job never saw his storm brewing or the cause of it, but he did find its purpose for his life. His testimony is eternal because he owned it, lived it and glorified God through it. And we preach it today!  You may feel like a lighthouse standing alone in the storm, maybe so but you may be the light someone else needs to see; make sure they can see it! Live in His purpose, and you’ll dwell in His power.

Let him who steers the storm steer the vessel.

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil… At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me… Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” 2 Tim 4:14-18

Paul shares with Timothy in the closing of his epistles three profiles he, as well as all of us will be faced with while in defence of our faith.  Know that this is nothing new for one’s faith, it has been dealt with by Christians for generations. 1.) A Strong Enemy, while Alexander may have been a friend at one time, Paul was now in need of warning Timothy about him. Alexander “greatly withstood” the words of Paul, and made it personal in attack. Which Paul said: “the Lord reward him according to his works.”  2.) Weak Friends, Paul said, “no man stood with me,” With his testimony and life on the line, and in need of support and strength his friends faded away. To stand up for Paul was too costly for those with a faint-heart.  Yet, Paul like our Lord  in his compassion said: “I pray God that it may not be laid against them.” (Lk 23:34). 3.) A Strong Friend, While appearing Paul was forced to stand alone, the Lord stood with him as he faced his accusers. While not physically, every bit as much powerfully.  Paul knew the presence of the Lord was there, prompting Paul to assuredly proclaim, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” and declaring he was delivered from the mouth of the lion.  You’ll always encounter three personalities in your life, a true foe, a want-to-be friend and the promised Saviour Jesus Christ! And only one matters when it comes to your needed strength to live for Christ, rest assured he is there to stand before you.

The enemy fights the hardest when it knows the Lord is hard at work in you.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph 6:13

It’s very much in the Devil’s interest that we despair. If he can get us to believe any of these three demoralizing lies he likes to whisper into our thoughts, our power for Jesus is greatly diminished. And each one to us seems quite plausible.

Lie #1.) You’re a hypocrite! Your serving Jesus, but you don’t really mean it.  You’re as much a sinner as anyone else, it’s really about you. You might as well give up!

Answer: “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” (1 Jn 3:19-20)

“For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” (1 Cor 4:3-4)

Lie #2.) You’ve ruined your life! You’re damaged, you’ll never amount to anything. You might as well give up!

Answer: “the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek,... brokenhearted,... captives,...that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isa 61:1-4)

Lie #3.) You're too insignificant! You’re buried under the debris of the world today, you’ll never make an impact. You’re making no difference at all.  You might as well give up!

Answer: “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Cor 1:28-29)

Each lie is believable, in its way. But we don’t defeat the lies by pushing back in our own strength, which is of little benefit. We push back by declaring God’s promises in His Word, which is a decisive final authority in Jesus.

It’s not as much as what you say, as it is who said!

HSAY… Todd

“TGC”

Daily Wisdom

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor 12:10

It’s been an argument and belief in humanity that the stronger dominate the weaker and in some warped justification even determine who lives and who dies, and yet they can’t make their own heartbeat; arrogance.  The power they desire and claim, they possess none of it, it’s the mercy of God that sustains man even when God is hated. The proclaimed weakest among us have a story, that when told through the mercy and power of God gives hope to the so called strong. Though it appears foolish to many, it’s still empowering “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Cor 1:25)  Man often gets confused in his efforts by mistaking them as his success, and becomes obsessed with his own glory, rather than obsessed with the glory of God. Paul realized that in both his physical and spiritual weakness, he found the power and glory of God that sustained him better than life itself.  Your only real strength comes from what you stand upon, and that will define the story you tell. So, is it about what you built or is it “Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” Eph 2:20

Strength can’t come from you and God, it’s either you or God!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For he is our peace…” Eph 2:14

Peace, like grace is a gift which is given to us through Jesus: (Jn 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you…”) how simpler can Jesus make it! Jesus illustrates it with two views, “I leave you peace” and “not as the world gives”... you have two choices, satan has a dog in the hunt as well, and he’ll promise you the world to go along with his peace.  Here’s crux of the matter, the peace of God only exist within the presence of God, can’t obtain true peace with proximity. When you choose to enter the presence of God, God is then able to enter your circumstances with his power which brings with it his peace.

Peace is not the absence of circumstances, but the presence of Christ.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Acts 19:15

Power does not exist in what you claim, but in whom you claim it. Certain Jews, sons of Sceva the high priest travelled town to town making a living claiming to drive out demons; proclaiming power by using Jesus’ name in effort to match Paul’s power. By the response of the evil spirit you can see they were misinformed as to whom controls such power that Paul possessed. Even as Christians we don’t possess the power of God, it possess’ us. To proclaim Jesus and to know Jesus are two greatly different things; like ones salvation it’s not what you know, but whom you know that provides all that you need.  The power of God, which resonates by our faith, does not operate in the realm of the possible; there is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Power and faith begin where man’s ability ends.

God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, not our boasting.

HSAY…Todd