Daily Wisdom

 Pro 4:12  “When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.”

The Lord never builds a bridge of faith except under the feet of the faith-filled traveler. If the Lord built a bridge across great divides for the eye to see, it wouldn’t require faith; that which is seen isn’t of faith. Country bridges utilized self-opening gates. If the approaching wagon stops at the gate it won’t open. Yet, if the wagon continues to move straight ahead the wheels press the spring-loaded lever and the gate opens; such an illustration for the child of God… “when thou goest.” Meaning obstacles are only illusions that cause the believer to swerve from the path the Lord built, causing them to stumble.

Fix your eyes on God and you’ll be less likely to try and fix things yourself… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Num 13:33  “And there we saw the giants…”

Yes, they saw giants, but Caleb and Joshua saw God! There are two consistent perspectives in such life matters: those who doubt say, “We be not able to go up” and those who believe say, “Let us go up” and possess what God has for us. Stalking giants plague life and they cause the believer to overcome or be overwhelmed. Understand it’s when we are in the way of duty that we find giants; Israel was moving in the Lord’s will when the giants appeared. Recall that Paul in his missionary journey’s was not carried by some mighty providence above the power of storms and enemies (2 Cor 4:8-10). One cannot fail if only they dare to believe, stand fast and refuse to be overcome. Spiritual perspective is the ability to not focus on the giants, but rather the promises of God. 

David wasn’t concerned about Goliath’s strength; he already knew God’s… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

Psa 85:10 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

The psalmist recounts the favors God has brought forth to Israel when they placed themselves in God’s righteousness and truth. In (vss 9-10) it describes what God has promised for those who welcome His herald – righteousness. Meaning the greater we seek God’s righteousness and His kingdom, as Jesus stated (Mt 6:33), the more we will see everything work out for good in God. But we must be cautious not to return to folly (vs 8), and make sure we’re dwelling in the shelter and the shadow of the Almighty who is our fortress (Psa 91:1). Today’s circumstances bring clarity to this, we are not in control and man dies. The greatest response to such truth is by placing ourselves in the presence of Him who is and determines all!

One cannot be in the presence of God and powerless. You may still have problems, but you now have the power and promise to prevail… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Php 4:19 “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 

If God called you to it:

                   He will grace you in it.

                   He will equip you in it.

                   He will empower you in it.

                   He will strengthen you in it. (c. caine)

He is our provision... (2 Cor 9:8 “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.)  We can trust that God will always meet our needs. He allowed David to face giants, Paul to face death. Provision is God’s promise that allows us to persevere and find prosperity in His will.  

Faith at any given time is strong or weak depending upon our perspective of provision… 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

Isa 40:12 “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” 

What imagery… that all of creation, from me to the vastness of the heavens and everything in between, can fit into the hollow of God’s hand.

Ch. 40 of Isaiah describes God’s power to create, His provision to sustain, and His presence to help.

The Lord is encouraging His children that even though they were in captivity in Babylon, know that Babylon is likewise still in the hollow of His hand.

And thus promises “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom…” (vs 11)

Showing me that nothing can be likened to Him (vs 25), yet I can quickly limit my understanding of His glory and might when I compare Him to what I experience on earth.

Point being: I must not define God through my life, but rather define my life through God.

More imagery… He challenges us concerning who can view this celestial globe and the heavens and not be astonished by its vastness. And (vs 12) says the Lord meted (measured) heaven with the just the breadth of His hand.

We must not be foolish and self-discouraging to equate God’s sufficient ability to provide for our needs by measuring the size of our burden before us to our immeasurable God! (Eph 3:17-20)

The cross shows the serious of my sin, but it also shows me the immeasurable love of God.

Don’t limit what is limitless by doubt!

HSAY… Todd   

Daily Wisdom

Psa 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…”

Our society is good at utilizing scripture and graphics to design and market products that bring monetary profits. In doing so making such verses as (Psa 46:10) easily quotable but lacking the fullness and power of its context within the whole chapter.

This verse is beautiful when quoted by itself and does bring a hope for comfort and peace. But, many people believe it simply means to “rest or relax” in God.  And while it does cause one to reflect on who God is, there is more to this Psalm than the simple popular quoted form.

In the full context of (Psalms 46), there’s a more powerful statement of awe in who God is than simple rest. The words “be still” is written during a time of trouble and war; therefore, changing its fullness to much more than simple rest.

Looking at the words “be still” in the original language (raphah) is the Hebrew word meaning to "cease or forsake" in striving to do.  Meaning more specifically "stop fighting" the enemies before you. The Psalmist is encouraging us to "stop fearing and warring" and acknowledge who our God is "be still and KNOW that I am God."

And while (vs 10) has something to say to both the enemies of God and the people of God, it’s written to His children. To grasp the fullness, start in (vs 1) “God is our refuge and strength, (emphasis added), a very present help in trouble.”  Going on to tell us, we shall not fear even though the earth be removed, and mountains carried into the sea… (vs 2).

Keep in mind this is a Psalm, a song sung by the choirmaster. Sung as a promise of security in God and our eternal hope despite what wars around us. The Psalmist throughout the eleven verses, describes the Lord’s characteristics and attributes: He is our refuge, strength, presences, His voice melts the earth. The imagery of who God is and what He provides during the heights of our wars should cause us to simply “be still” and stop battling the enemies that surround us and allow His promises to subdue our spirit knowing He’s sovereign and we’re protected by His strength.

The full promise of Psalms 46 is that the people of God are always secure no matter what environment they may be living in – war, turmoil, fear, hopelessness, doubt, etc. – God has secured the souls of believers through Jesus Christ. It’s our faith that requires us to stop fighting and start singing of the promise the Psalmist wrote for us over 3,000 yrs. ago.

Peace Prevails in the Power of God’s Promises.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 107:9 “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

While it comes across harsh there is a great measure of validity in stating, your hunger for God is often determined by how full you are of yourself or the world. The deepest need for man is not what clothes him, feeds him or surrounds him, it’s that which dwells within him. The temporal resources man is prone to consume only temporarily sustain, but he who longs after the “bread of life” will never hunger, and he who believes will never thirst (Jn 6:35). Don’t try t fill a heart created by God with resources created by the world. Understand it’s the soul that’s truly hungry, not the body. “You don’t have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body.” Remember Paul stated, “what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Phl 3:7)  In Christ alone our hope is found, and our soul satisfied. Causing one to sing, it is well with my soul!

Don’t be more devoted to the promise of the world, than you are the promise of His word.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Deut 32:15 “But Jeshurun (Israel) waxed fat, and kicked: thou are waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”

Be careful what you seek to obtain, it might be outside your obligations to God (Pro 1:32 “… the prosperity of fools destroy them.”). Israel were upright people (so some), wisdom in the knowledge of God, a seeing people first hand of God’s goodness and provision. But they fell in two areas. (1.) They grew fat and thick in their indulgence and all manners of luxury and self-gratification. In doing so they grew wieldy and unmindful concerning the source of their provision, blinded by their worldly girth. Causing them to “kick” in their pride, as if lifting their heel against God. When God rebuked them by either the prophets or His providence, they “kicked” back like an untamed heifer and a yoke. (2.) They fell into worldly idolatry, which the former lead them to. Forsaking the God that made them (vss 16; 17) and replaced Him with strange worldly gods that entertained and indulged them.  As absurd as a new god would be, they chose new paths and forsook the old ones (Jer 6:16 “… seek and ask for the old paths, the good way…”) causing them to fall for the necessity of newness. Both issues drove Israel to “lightly esteem” (let wilt, faint, fall way) their “Rock of salvation” (Isa 17:10-11). Such causes one to forget how good it was, until they realize how bad it is (prodigal son Lk 15:11-32).

Don’t let God’s provisions be misapplied, producing a prideful and pompous heart!

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

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” Psa 34:19

Life’s greatest of opportunities are often in the face of the greatest of opposition. This is what Elijah faced, one of the great prophets used of God, a man who destroyed 850 false prophets, and now himself is spiritually and emotionally destroyed and wanting to die (1 Kg 19:3-5).  Don’t get caught in your disappointment, don’t expect to reign without resistance. It’s hard to understand, but pain was necessary for salvation. Be patient in your affliction it reveals God’s grace that is missed in times of prosperity. Often disappointment and expectations are correlated in such a way that if you expect the wrong thing you end up disappointed because you went in delusional. Elijah was wanting to die because of his position in life. But God told him to “go return” (1 Kg 19:15) back to the wilderness where you came. Change your position and return to the provision that is already waiting in God’s promise to deliver you in the place the enemy is fighting you the most! But this time with the expectation of grace, not just personal gain.

Don’t miss the greatest provision by fleeing the place you fear, that’s often where God placed it.

HSAY… Todd