Words [ Proverbs 12v25 ]

In Proverbs 16v24, we read, Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body, it is James who writes about the negative side of words, and the importance of controlling what we say.Lets be honest we have all said things we shouldnt have, and we have all without exception been hurt by words spoken to us. So today let us speak kind words , people are struggling with many things, they are no different to you and I, behind a smile there is often hidden hurts, worries. So today let us speak kind words,consider what Solomon wrote, and how positive kind words are , to those who hear them.[ Father I thank you for the kind words you continually speak to me, help me to to be like You with those I come in contact with, in Jesus name we ask this Amen.]

A bargain.[ 2 Samuel 24v24]

I wonder are you like me? you like a bargain, you watch with anticipation for a sale at your favourite store, and then you hurry there, hopefully to get something you really like ,cheaply. In 2 Samuel 24 , we read how King David was offered a bargain for free, and he would not take it, why?, here is his answer. The bargain was a peace of land that David wanted to erect an altar on, so he could sacrifice an offering on to God, the owner of the land wanted to give the land to David, for nothing. Consider Davids reply, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing. Joyce Meyer, says this ,Jesus does not offer us a Cross-less Christianty. The Gospel is the greatest bargain of all, we are saved freely by His grace, but being a Christian involves a cost, there are Christians to day who are in prison, there are Christians today who will die, for Christ. [Father sometimes we forget that there is a cost in being a Christian, forgive us, and give us grace this day ,to take up our cross , and follow our Saviour, Amen ]

Oh no not another giant.[ Ephesians 6 v 10-20 ]

Facing one giant is bad enough, but we read in 2 Samuel 21v 15-22, of four more giants that Israel had fight, let us be realistic , there are many giants, we have to face. Consider some of the giants we have to face, fear of failure, discouragement, etc, giants, but here is the good news, those four giants were defeated. Let us remind ourselves that God will not leave us on our own , no matter how many giants we have to face, and we can know the victory, so be encouraged. [ Father life is on going, each new day brings new challenges, we ask that You would give us the grace we need, to overcome the giants we have to face, we ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.]

Our dont know times. [John 13v 7]

I woke early this morning, and sought to do my usual readings, but struggled as my eyes were still in the sleep mode, the words were a blur. This brought to mind what the apostle wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 v 12, Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror. What he was saying was,that there are many things we dont understand in life, the apostle had great spiritual gifts, great understanding, but he was not all knowing, only God knows all. The apostle goes unto write,but then we will see everything with perfect clarity, in other words ,in eternity we will understand, we will know. [Lord there are things we dont understand, which cause us pain, we ask why and there is a silence, help us to trust You, in our dont know times, Amen.]

Eternal Glories [ 2 Corinthians 4]

The old spiritual says, nobody knows the trouble I have seen, nobody but Jesus, as I read the lives of the saints in the Bible , people like David, Daniel,and Paul, not forgetting Job, they all have one thing in common , they all experienced a fair amount of troubles. Life is like this for many people, mybe even you , well what do you do ?. Let us consider what the apostle Paul wrote in relation to the troubles he was experiencing. In 2 Corinthians 4, he writes of being hunted,knocked down, living in constant fear of death, all this was happening because he was serving Jesus, inspite of all these things he did not give up or despair, because he weighed everything up in the light of eternity .he looked at the eternal glories , and so must we. [Father help us to look beyond our difficulties, to weigh everything up in the light of eternity, in Jesus name we ask this, Amen.]

Kept alive. [Psalm 54 ]

In psalm 54, we read these very meaningful words, The Lord keeps me alive[v4], David feels under threat, his very life is in danger, so he declares, But God is my helper, The Lord keeps me alive.I am 64 yrs, how have I survived this far?, how have I not contacted some disease ?, how have I not been killed on the roads, apply this to your life.What is the answer ? God has kept us alive, He is the Sovereign One, until He sees fit we will live, and then in His appointed time, He will take us home. [Father thank you for looking after us, bringing us through so much, things that could have destroyed us, the dangers in life have been many, You have kept us alive, we praise you for this, in Jesus name, Amen.]

Confidence.[Hebrews 10v35]

We are all different, some of us are more confident than others, there are people who appear very confident, but in reality are quaking inside. When watching a person taking a penalty kick in a football match, I look at their faces to try and see if they are confident. We are all called to do certain tasks at times which we dont feel able to do, mybe in reality we can , but we lack confidence. Here is a word on confidence , from Proverbs 3v 26, The Lord shall be thy confidence. as you face problems, as you are called to do certain tasks, whatever , let the Lord be your confidence,today. [Lord so often we feel insecure, things appear to overwhelm us, and we feel anything but confident , so today we ask that you would help us in every situation, in Jesus name we pray this, Amen.]