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

Num 21:17 "Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!"

What a strange song. Israel had been traveling over the desert's barren sands, no water was in sight and they were famishing with thirst. Then God told Moses, "gather the people, and I will give them water", and consider how so. They gathered in circles and with their staves began digging in the sand, while singing "Spring up, O well, sing ye unto it." Upon which the ground gurgled and water gushed forth. The digging of the well is a beautiful picture of God's blessings that flow in our lives, and we have only to reach by praise and faith. Yes, they labored in obedience, but reached the needed water by praise; they sang upon the sand in faith. Our Praise and Faith will still open fountains in our desserts. There is nothing that pleases the Lord so much as faithful praise. Are we PRAISING GOD enough, Even in our desserts?

Know the very spot upon which we doubt, fear, murmur could be the very spot where blessings are flowing under us... HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Jere 1:16 ‘And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.’

While this warning is about Judah and Jerusalem’s eventual fall to Babylon in (586 BC), we too must be cautious in our thoughts of good fortune. Be cautious in looking to your own hands as worthy praise. The only hands worth praising are the nailed scarred hands of Jesus! (Psa 90:17 ‘And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us.’). Our hands are to be lifted in praise and offering to the Lord’s use, not for ours (Psa 134:2).

My hands have possessed many things, of which I’ve lost them all; but whatever I placed in God’s hands, I still possess… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”  Psa 118:6

Henry Ford once noted: “Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the American Government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian.”

In the same light David expresses the opposite concerning man, “what can man do unto me?”

What man “meant for evil against me, God meant it for good…” (Gen 50:20)

This Psalm declares the power of God’s protection, provision and providence against our enemies (vs 10-12).

Causing David to sing, “The Lord is my Strength, Song and Salvation” (vs 14)

It was the Lord that strengthened him, helped him, and gave him the victory.

The Lord is the author and giver of strength, natural and spiritual; he is the "strength" of the hearts and lives of his people, and of our salvation; and therefore, is our "song".

David had his heart full of the goodness of God. He loved to think of it, loved to speak of it, and was very solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it.

The more our hearts are impressed with God's goodness the more they will be enlarged in all manner of humility, love and praise.  Then others can come to sing to His strength and salvation.

“Find your strength one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Jn 9:1 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

It’s interesting to see the illusions that offer two images in the same picture (Old Woman – Young Girl). That’s often an accurate interpretation when it comes to life when looking at the hurting and evil around us.

Depending on my perspective, I’ll either find purpose or pain. 

When I hurt physically I understand there is something that needs to be addressed or corrected.  The pain is purposeful and helpful despite the discomfort and pain I must endure.

The disciples decided to focus on the hurt and sin instead of seeing the picture of God working through it. I can do the same thing. Why did God allow this to happen in my life?  I must stop focusing on the “disease” and should focus on the cure that is in Jesus.

Stop looking for something to blame and start looking for God in praise!

I can’t be blinded by the problem pain brings, instead of seeing God’s glory displayed through it.  If not, like the disciples I’ll miss out on the wonderful works of the Lord.  Knowing in the worst of pain, “God’s glorious works should be manifest in it.”

I often think of Joseph (Gen 50) when facing painful and difficult problems. The darkest of evil was perpetrated by his brothers, and yet God turned the pain into a glorious work that even blessed the evil who were responsible.

Sometimes the greatest pain inflicted upon those around me, as well as myself, can manifest the greatest blessing. I must choose the right perspective, I can focus on the hurt or the Healer!

The right perspective keeps me from living in the shadows of yesterday and allows me to walk in the light of today and the promised hope of tomorrow.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

1 Sam 2:1 “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

Hannah’s prayer is one of thanksgiving and praise towards the Lord’s mercy to open her womb (1 Sam 1:11). While her prayers started with her former wants, she was quick to turn it to God’s goodness. Her mouth spoke out of an abundant heart deeply affected, and when she had received mercy she owned it, and turned into thankfulness to His praise. Let’s be cautious not to abandon our prayers after the Lord’s mercy arrives like the nine lepers in (Lk 17:17). Praise is our spiritual rent, our tribute, and we would be slack in our obligation not to pay it. Hannah’s mercy was an answer to prayer, what we win by prayer we must wear with thanksgiving and praise. But also notice her prayer was mental, private and unheard in the Lord, but in her thanksgiving spoke with a “mouth enlarged” that all may hear her testimony to the Lord’s great mercy and goodness. Her supplication even with groanings was not uttered, but now her lips were opened to show forth hope and encouragement for those who are weaker or slack to attend the throne of grace with proper worthy praise (Psa 107). Gratitude must be more than a feeling, God wants us to show it forth by giving thanks and praise to the Lord with our lives.

Before you can dance in the rain, you must learn to praise Him in the storm!

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

Psa 144:9 “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God…”

David acknowledges his need to record a “new song” of praise to the Father of mercies, temporal and spiritual; a new song of praise as His mercies are new every morning, and are renewed day by day (Lam 3:22-23). Such songs of praise are to be recorded every morning and continually, as the N.T. states all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). This is the promise of the new covenant of grace, thus calling for a continual song of grace written from our heart daily. With this new year let’s focus on the new songs we will record and lift up, and worry less about what new will come down.  The Father will take care of the new we need (Isa 43:19), let’s focus on the new/continual praise He deserves… (Psa 105:2) “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him; talk ye of all his wondrous works.”

Sing in your sorrow, sing in your strength; sing unto Him that is worthy to be praised. (Psa 18:3)

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor on that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isa 55:2

Finally, something fattening that is good to delight in and good for you at the same time!  Isaiah warns us about laboring to spend money on that which is not bread (life… Jn 6:35) or satisfies the soul. While a man must work to live, he shouldn’t live to work for worthless gain. One will never find more than temporary happiness in worldly things. One toils, and expend the avails of their labor for that which does not produce satisfaction. What a striking description of the condition of the world! The immortal mind will not be satisfied with wealth, pleasure, or honor. It never has been. Where is the man who is satisfied with his wealth, and say, it’s enough? Where is there one who is satisfied with pleasure, and vanity? There is a void in the heart which these things do not, cannot fill. There is a consciousness that the soul was made for higher and nobler purposes, and that nothing but God can meet its boundless desires.  Where is the man who has ever been satisfied with ambition? Alexander wept on the throne of the world!  But, Isaiah does say eat, consume.  They were invited to partake of that which would nourish the appetite of the soul that sustains it with joy. Fatness in the scriptures is used to denote the richest food (Gen 27:28-39; Job 36:36; Psa 65:11) and is an emblem of the richness, blessings resulting from the favor of God “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.” Psa 63:5

The only one who can fill the human heart, is the one who created it!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

“And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.” 1 Sam 16:23

It’s said that music is the prayer the heart sings.  Nothing connects the moment like music. It brings you back or more importantly it brings truth forward. The music that Saul heard did for him what he could not do on his own, focus on the Lord.  The music wasn’t magical, but it was moving for his mind, heart and will to see what he had been missing. The music got him to where he needed to be which was in the presence of the Lord, then his soul was refreshed by the Lord’s presence and not the performer. Acts 3:19 tells us the refreshing of the spirit lies only in the presence of the Lord. But don’t get lost in the performance and miss the purpose, David was instrumental (no pune intended) in getting Saul where he needed to be back focused on the truths of God. Like Jesus temptation, it was the word (truth) Jesus spoke that rebuked Satan and made him depart from him.  The emotions of music itself can run empty but God’s promises prevail eternally, that’s the only thing that will truly renew, rejuvenate and refresh your soul.

Entering his presence and praising his truth, invites him to enter your circumstances with his power.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psa 16:8

By night as well as by day; be it private meditation and public profession I set myself in the presence of the Lord, he is my right hand causing me not to move. Unfortunately many opt for proximity Christianity, keeping God in spiritual eye shot not necessarily in their presence. Knowing God has benefits they don’t want to eradicate any vestige of religion, even at times offering a positive anecdote to God’s goodness.  But, their presence and position is often void of God, and are prone to move their belief in truth when ever it’s conveniently necessary. Man rejects the presence of God and his word not because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.  But, when man enters God’s presence with praise, God is then able to enter man’s circumstances with power. He doesn’t call us to his presence to keep us from pleasure, it’s a call to allow us to experience the fullness of pleasure in his presence. By walking in the presence of Jesus and you’ll bring his presence to everyone around you.

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

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in the do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Psa 143:8

 David seeks to hear God’s pleasure in him; overcoming a night of discouragement his hope is to awaken in the assurance of God’s love and enlightened to His will and direction for him. David was not seeking comfort in his walk, but wisdom in the right direction.  The only thing new with each morning is your opportunity to live in the love God which is never new, but everlasting. Declare each morning the praises of God (Psa 59:16), asking Him to enlighten your mind with truth; inflame your heart with His love; inspire your will with courage; enrich your life with faith and servitude; pardon what you’ve been; sanctify what you have. Don’t start your day picking up the broken pieces of yesterday, live in the promises God has for you today; He has a key for every problem, a light for every shadow, relief for every sorrow and a plan for the day!

You must learn to live in your promised hope, not out of your forgiven past

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift my head. I am full of confusion; and again thou shewest thyself marvelous upon me.” Job 10:15 & 16b

We know God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33); Job’s confusion is the work of satan.  In either state, wicked (woe unto me) or righteous (I will not lift my head), Job knew the place of humility before God. Our Creator will not allow the works from the hands of the humble to be destroyed, but will renew them in holiness (Jas 4:10; 1 Pt 5:6). It can be strange how in a moment we can lose sight of Heaven, and suddenly find ourselves groveling in confusion at life, and yet come to realize God shows Himself wonderful still. Confusion is only a doorway in which wisdom travels through; but, until God shows you the door, praise Him in the hallway!  

Those who leave everything is God’s hand, will see God’s hand in everything!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Lk 2:30

The greatest gift man will ever come to obtain is when he realizes the great love Christ has for him!  Simeon and Anna, both of these godly saints recognized such a gift when they encountered Jesus in the temple and was able to identify Him as the Messiah.  We don't know how surprised he was to discover the Savior as a baby in Mary's arms, but we do know that he recognized Jesus and gave God praise for his faithfulness (vs28). When Simeon saw the baby, he considered his life complete (vs 30).  Such fullness and completeness of life can only come with the understanding of Christ eternal love for you.  Nothing else will ever be obtained or accomplished that will measure in worth. By exercising their faithful anticipation of God’s promise, they didn’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge Christ love for them.  Don’t become spiritually blinded in recognizing the same promise, if so life will never find its fullness and worth elsewhere.

Unfortunately what we are prone to see depends mainly on what we are looking for!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom...Praise

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”  Psa 30:12

Let all that is capable of praise within us, all our powers, be employed in enduring celebration to the goodness of God. Isaiah states himself in (Isa 38:20) we will sing the song of praise all the days of our lives. This Psalm states the purpose of such praise, noting God is worthy through the dealings with him (and us) in the varied parts of our lives and the prosperity in which He has bestowed upon us (vss 2-3 and vss 6-7), the reverses of trials and afflictions that oppressed us. In due time, like the Psalmist, God will deliver us from all our troubles; “weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning” (vs 5).  Wise for us to start singing His praises now!

HSAY…Todd