BECOME HIS LITTLE CHILD?

God says, "Unless you become as a little child you shall not enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 18:3

Sometimes, it is hard when you are an adult, to understand that verse. What does God mean, become as a little child.

Something happens when we become adults. The ability to trust and believe seems to disappear. We have been exposed to the world and in that world there are people with hidden agendas, who are not trust worthy. Let's face it, we have encountered by the time we are twenty years of age, people who tell us one thing and do another. People who promise to be there, but leave. It's no wonder it's hard to be as a little child in our hearts.

When we are children our world consist of our parents. We are surrounded by people who love us and take care of us; people we can trust and depend on. When our toy is broken we go to daddy and hand it to him and ask him to fix it, we know he will. It is a safe haven.

When we need or want something we tell our parents and they provide it.

That's what it is with God. A safe haven. Becoming as a little child means we trust and believe in and on him knowing he will provide for us, protect us and help us in our daily lives.

My prayer for today is:

Lord, help me become as a little child in believing your word, trusting in you so that I may receive your blessings and be able to enter your kingdom. Amen

Know Refuge Behind His Shield?

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We all have times in our lives when we need a shield put in front of us.

God is our help and our shield.

I have a secure feeling knowing that my God is my refuge and he also is my shield. He shields me from things to protect me when I need protection. It gives me a peace knowing this.

In Psalm 18:30 it says, " As for God his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."

I don't doubt that God's word is flawless. His words are true. Yet there are times I have to remind myself that my trust should be put in Him and that I should walk by His words.

In our world today, with all the violence we would do well to remember that He is our refuge. He shield is in front of us, His children.

Perhaps in the morning we could pray this prayer.

Oh Lord my God, I know your way is perfect, that you are leading me today and that your words you say are flawless. You are my shield today and I will take refuge in you. Amen

WINGS LIKE EAGLES

Eagles are beautiful birds, majestic in their appearance. They are large and powerfully built. Longer with broad wings and faster in flight than most birds.The bald eagle is noted for having flown with the heaviest load verified to be carried by any flying bird.

Knowing this about the eagle it somehow gave a deeper meaning to the section in the verse of Isaiah 40:31 where it says..."they shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..."

By waiting upon God for direction and His instruction it gives us the time to renew ourselves physically––reading and meditating on His word renews our spiritual strength. Then we can mount up with wings AS eagles.

Like eagles, we will then be able to soar.

God Bless.

THE JOURNEY WE ARE ON

By now, most of us comprehend that the life we are living is a journey. The journey starts at birth and continues until we get to our destination. There will be many stops along the way. Some will last for a few minutes, days, weeks, and some will last for a few years.

The stops remind me of doors opening. Some look enticing and some don't, depending upon my state of mind, yes, but mostly dependent on the center of my heart.

This traveling from one place to another can drain us of energies we need for our trip. This means we need to make sure we replenish ourselves.

I think Isaiah 40:13 says it best..."they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." For some of us it is hard to wait. Waiting is not conducive to our fast-paced world. For the most part, it's an alien concept. Many people think waiting is simply being inactive. But is it? What do you do with the time you are waiting?

For me waiting upon the Lord simply means don't run ahead of Him. Wait for Him to show me what to do. What direction to go. This gives me the time I need to renew my strength. I am depending on Him not me.

He Knows the best path for me. Therefore, it stands to reason I need to seek Him and ask His direction.

What about you? Do you wait? If so, what do you do while waiting? Does the waiting give you time to renew your strength? Or are you running ahead of Him? 

GOOD OR BAD DESTINY

Psalm 119:65   Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, Oh Lord, according unto they word.

 Thomas Carlyle, December 1795 –  February 1881 was a Scottish satirical writer.  He wrote, "Evil, once manfully fronted, ceases to be evil; there is generous battle-hope in place of dead, passive misery; the evil itself has become a kind of good."  Somewhere along the way it was said Carlyle lost his faith. 

Some think people make their own destiny, maybe it is true. But one thing for sure, we do make choices and with those choices they will lead to good or they will lead to bad. So to be sure there are consequences. In our conduct we can either prepare good for us or we can prepare bad for us, kinda like we draw to us the consequences.

Prayer:  Lord God, give us wisdom to day to make the proper choices for ourselves that will lead to our good. Amen

The Stones

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house.

 Samuel Longfellow, clergyman and hymn writer wrote:
One holy church of God appears
Through every age and race,
Unwasted by the lapse of years,
Unchanged by unchanging place.

We are the lively stones the verse in 1 Peter 2:5 is referring to. Whether here on earth or in heaven we are part of God's temple. Therefore, we must make sure we surrender and allow God to work in us so we will fit in the temple.

Prayer:  Lord God, you know our hearts, make us right with you. Amen

IN HIS HANDS

Psalm 34:9  "O fear the Lord ye His saints for there is no want to them that fear Him."

  John Newton wrote "What thou shalt today provide, let me as a child receive. What tomorrow may betide, calmly to thy wisdom leave. Tis enough that thou wilt care, why should I the burden bear?"

All too often we become anxious and start stewing about situations that have not taken place. None of these things will bring about the desired result. So instead of becoming upset it is better to rest in God, trusting in Him to provide for today and putting in His hands tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord God, I give you my today. I choose to trust you with it. To bring about thy desired will in my life and to provide me with everything I need for today. I leave tomorrow in your hands, for you know what will come and what I will need. Amen.