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

Heb 12:12 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

This is the Father’s exhorting us to lift up our hands of faith, and bend our knees to fervent prayer. Often faith grows weary losing force and effectiveness; discouraged and timid with obstacles that frighten us. But in such obstacles the Father is ready to heal us, but the exertion of faith reaches our limit and we seek another path around the obstacle rather than walking through it. We use excuses such as: “I’m not ready to deal with this now.” Yet our Father encourages us to walk through the flood with hands lifted high and let Him part the waters. Just don’t let our feet find a different path because we fear getting hurt, when the Father’s ready to heal.

Remember, every healing started with a little hurt. Keep your faith in the great Physician… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Isa 7:11 “Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.”

Keep praying, then wait in the Lord with patience and perseverance, until you hear the rain falling. This means you move forward in your worship, servitude and all that lies within your power (not kicking down doors). While you can’t create the wind in your favor, you can set your sails to catch it when it comes. “Cannot the same wonders be done now as old? Where is the God of Elijah? Is He waiting on an Elijah to call on Him?” The same power that worked through Elijah is the same power you have access to today! But do you have the same faith, hope, and love exhibited by such saints? 

The issue isn’t the ability to whom one Prayed, it’s the faith of him who prayed… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Psa 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God;  for my expectation is from him.”

This passage brings great peace. Man spends excessive time worrying about the outcome of a thing rather than relying on the One who provides for it. We never find Jesus rejecting a single supplicant who came to Him for mercy, so we too should find contentment in that the Father hears our supplication and will work everything to His glory and our spiritual welfare. The seed of prayer that lies under the ground is taking root preparing to bloom though unseen and appearing dead. Wait on the Lord and place your expectations in Him, knowing the Father is never delayed, but diligent and perfectly timed in your need.

Faith can expect from God what is beyond expectation… 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

 Mat 14:18  “And he said, “Bring them here to me.””

We all have great needs or soon will, or find ourselves overwhelmed with difficulties, trials, burdens. These are all divinely provided vessels for the Holy Spirit to fill and opportunities for receiving blessings and deliverances (Eph 3:20) which you can get in no other way. Bring these vessels to God and hold them steadily before Him in prayer and faith, and keep still, and stop your own relentless work and allow the Father hands to hold them. Every trial, burden that threatens to overcome you with discouragement and disaster, will become testimonies of revelation of His grace and glory in our life, as never seen before. Bring them before the Father, and leave… but don’t leave with them! Don’t expect God to work with what you won’t let go of.  

Put everything in God’s hands, and you’ll see God’s hands in everything… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

1Ti 2:8 “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

Paul calls the believer to submissive prayer, not only in church but in daily living. With hands lifted in supplication as Moses (Exo 9:29; 33), but also indicating hands that are not defiled by sin, pure and holy in nature. Paul adds without “wrath” within one’s spirit. That’s why Jesus said that we should interrupt our prayers, if necessary, to make peace with others (Mat 5:23-24). This is seen in the word “doubting” (dialogismos) meaning, were not to approach God in prayer in the midst of clamorous disputing's and angry contentions with others. Wrath and doubting, are a prayer hinderance to the Father’s ears.

Don’t build barriers against your prayers with angst and anger towards others… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Zec 10:1  Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. 

In Zech 10 (vss 1-4), Israel is directed to keep their eyes upon the Lord. They had done the opposite and by removing their eyes wondered away and became lost. But now the redemption of God had found them, and as they cried out in prayer for rain (restoration) the Lord favored them with such so that every man had fields of grass. But the ‘latter rain’ shows the extent of the Father’s mercy, when they needed it the most, when their souls were the most parched and dry. We must keep our eyes on the Lord, remain humble in prayer seeking His mercy and favor continually. Don’t let pride cause your eyes wonder towards supposed greener fields.

The grass over the fence may appear greener, but often it’s lying over a septic tank… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Ezr 8:23 ‘So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.’

Ezra knew God's promises to protect his people, but he didn't take them for granted. He also knew that God's blessings are appropriated through prayer (Lk 11:3), so Ezra and the people humbled themselves by fasting and praying. And their prayers were answered. Before making any physical preparations for the journey, Ezra made spiritual preparations. Know the source of your success and prioritize it and seek after it before taken a step. The hardest part of our faith is not in God’s deliverance but rather in our dependence on it!

Only move forward in prayer and faith like victory depends on it… because it does!… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 ‘I beseech thee, O Lord’ 2 Kgs 20:3

We must be cautious in concern to our want.  Desiring more than what the Lord has for us, can often result in being more than we can handle and thus dangerous for us. Hezekiah was blessed by God and wise in his rule (2 Kg 18:3). Yet, when Isiah told him to get his house in order, the Lord was finally calling him home, Hezekiah wanted a little more. Hezekiah knew the Lord was right, he just didn’t want Him to be right, right now. Prompting him to pray for more years which the Lord gave him. Sadly, Hezekiah was unwise with those extra fifteen years (vs 14-15), which brought about the eventual fall of Jerusalem to Babylon and more so brought about the rule of his son Manasseh, the worse king Israel ever had.  

Desire what you will, just make sure it’s not outside of the Lord’s will for you. Hezekiah’s testimony faltered in the end because he desired a little more.  Be content in the Lord’s will, it will always work to His glory and your good. More is not always better; it can sadly be more than you hoped for.

There’s a difference between desiring what is best, and what is best for you!... HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 ‘And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.’ Exo 17:12

So mighty was the prayer of Moses, that all depended upon it. The prayers of Moses made inept the enemy more than the fighting of Joshua. Yet both were needed. The prayers of Moses already showed its power when pleading with the Father over the need of water, and the Lord directing him to strike the rock (vs 6). Now Moses holds up the rod, a token of the covenant of the Lord's  promise to Israel, as a war cry for deliverance and victory. 

Yet, Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur had to assist him. When at any time your prayer weakens, let faith support one hand, and let hope lift the other, and prayer seating itself upon the rock of our salvation, will persevere and prevail. Don’t worry, war but not alone, it only leads to faintness; our greatest strength comes in worship/prayer, it’s the more spiritual exercise leading to victory.

Hands raised until the setting of the sun and the evening of life is or’, with the rising of a better sun, then the glory of the Father’s promise shone… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Phl 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Imagine never worrying about anything! With our current situation it seems to be an impossibility; we have jobs, finances, family that are compounding effects. Paul directs us to turn our worries into worship through prayer. If we want to worry less, then pray more. The peace we long for and search after cannot be found or obtained among ourselves. Not positive thinking, absence of conflict or in just feeling good. The sustaining peace we need in such trials is only found in Christ Jesus and knowing that God is in control. If one is confident in the sovereignty of God, then their peace comes from relying on Him who controls every situation.Anxiety is the lack of assurance in the promises of God, and that He is in control. Need more peace, practice more prayer!

Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its trials, but only empties today of its strength… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Lk 1:20 “And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

Doubt can be debilitating, ask Zacharias!  When Gabriel appeared before him in the temple speaking good tidings concerning God’s promise to deliver them a son, John the Baptist, it was Zacharias’s weak faith that worked against him. The prayer he had obviously often made shall now receive an answer of peace, “Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard.” (vs 13). But, again his doubt was debilitating.  A few thoughts to consider, if one doubts why is one praying (Jam 1:6) “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” Consider the source James the brother of Jesus who doubted his Lordship (Jn 7:5).  And second, God’s sovereignty will be fulfilled in His timing and even if it occurs at your expense to some degree. Jonah’s angst against Assyria! Maybe Zacharias’s doubt came in the passing of time due to their older age. But, consider Isaac and Rebekah though their children were delayed he didn’t approach the handmaid’s bed like his father (talking about doubt being costly)! God, in His mercy and sovereign will, can look a great way back on His promises and our prayers. Prayers made while young coming into the world may only be answered when old and going out of the world, Simeon (Lk 2).  Doubt your doubt before you doubt your faith!

Faith can move a mountain, but it’s doubt that creates them.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lam 3:41 “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”

In this passage (vss 39-42) we’re guided to respond properly to God’s faithfulness through prayer (lifting of the hands is a prayer gesture – Psa 141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”). Just as parent’s discipline children to produce right behavior, God disciplines us to produce right living and true worship. Our prayer must not be towards complaining about corrective or instructive discipline in our lives but learn from it, and be willing to trust and allow God’s actions to make a change. But the heart must go with the gesture, or it’s of no avail; the soul must be lifted to God in earnest desire towards Him in faith, hope and love (1 Th 5:8). The scripture urges man to search out his faults and amend them, like your child, if their willing to change and correct their actions, you don’t have to do it for them.

Pride is not pride because it hates being wrong, but because it hates to admit it’s wrong: to hate being wrong is to change your opinion when proven wrong; whereas pride, even when proven wrong, refuses change and decides to continue being wrong.

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

“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

“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Job 3:25

One overcomes their fear only when they begin to walk in it.  Job’s first reaction was to regret the day he was born, that without it he could’ve avoided his greatest fear. He had been careful not to worship material possessions but to worship God alone. Here he was overwhelmed by calamities that mocked his caution, and he complained about trials that came despite his right living. All the principles by which he had lived were crumbling, and Job began to lose his perspective. Trials and grief, whether temporary or enduring, do not destroy the real purpose of life. Life is not given merely for happiness and personal fulfillment but for us to serve and honor God. The worth and meaning of life is not based on what we feel but on the one reality no one can take away—God's love for us. Grace teaches us in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its greatest crosses, to be willing to live. Let it be our care to be ready for another world and leave it to God’s care when He’s just to call us home.   

Don’t think of that which you did not get after praying; think of the countless blessings He gave you without praying!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

God Bless America?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…” Isa 5:20

What have we become? A once blessed nation has resorted to systematically aborting children and selling their body parts!  We’re walking away from God and into judgment.  America has the largest abortion rate in the world and most incarcerated humans, God bless America?  We are more concerned about keeping up with the Kardashian’s than keeping up with God! We honor athletes who have been an abuse to society and caused death all because they can entertain us on the weekends, God Bless America?  We’ve taking God out of our schools, facilities and society, yet when killing sprees occur we hold vigils praying for God to help us, God Bless America? We take prayer and the bible out of schools, but incorporate them into prisons? We will not stand before God with an American shirt on or a flag draped over our shoulders, but we will stand before Him and He will ask what we did with Jesus? In Isaiah ch. 5, God condemned Israel’s actions for: (1) Exploiting others (vss 8-10), (2) Redefining God’s moral standards (vs 20), Pride (vs 21), Perverting justice for gain (vss 22-24); this greatly illustrates our society today, and because of these same sins God brought judgment upon Israel. How can we say or even ask for God to bless America if we are unwilling to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge our sin?  Woe unto America who calls evil good and good evil! 

What are you doing with Jesus?

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive your trespasses.” Mt 6:14

Consider the depth and power that can be projected when one is able to speak with a masterful and eloquent use of words.  Yet, within the vast array of words that can be used to paint a picture some of the most powerful are a simple two letter word.  Most of us have read, heard or spoken the Lord’s Prayer. Consider what Jesus says here in Matthew when instructing the disciples in prayer “For if ye forgive men of their sins the Father will forgive you.” The “if” implies we should not be asking for forgiveness until we ourselves are willing and able to forgive others.  Jesus makes it explicitly clear in the next verse that if we are not willing to forgive, neither will the Father be on His part.  Forgiveness is a commandment many are quick to gloss over in their Christian life.  We play a spiritual game of verbal forgiveness, yet our hearts are still hardened towards those individuals who have hurt us.  Some of us have been deeply wounded by others, but the depth does not compare to the wounds Jesus endured for our on sins.  We must be as quick to offer forgiveness as we are to ask for it.  Jesus would never ask us to do something He has not already offered and given us the ability to do.  Unforgiveness is the symptom that leads to bitterness which will eventually kill the soul.

Bitterness is the poison we swallow, hoping the other person dies.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find none occasion or fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.” Daniel 6:4

Such quality of character, as found in Daniel, grows in direct proportion to the time we spend in God’s presence and in His word.  Daniel longed for his time alone with God while others spent their time trying to find his faults. His outward life was a direct reflection to his investment in God.  It is impossible to spend quality time with God and not be changed within. Jesus exemplified this for us as well, continually spending time with the Father alone. Accordingly, if we desire to live the life Christ has for us then we too must do the same.  By continuing to invest time in God’s word and prayer, we cultivate the very moral character of Christ.  Jesus said, “Abide in me, and my words abide in you…you shall bear much fruit” (Jn 15:7-8).  Any desire to grow progressively in the likeness of Jesus requires two ingredients, His word and His presence. The greater the influence, greater the character!

Character is like tea, its real strength appears when things get hot.

HSAY…Todd