Be careful [ Galations 5 v1 ]

I wonder how sensitive we are to the Holy Spirit?, to His prompting,to the fact that we can grieve Him and even quench Him. As Christian we resent rules , after all whom the Son sets free is free indeed, yet that freedom is a freedom to resist and over come evil, and reject those things that could cause us harm. In 1 Corinthians 6v12, the apostle Paul is writing on freedom, he writes,/You say, I am allowed to do anything- but not everything is good for you. And even though , I am allowed to do anything, I must not become a slave to anything./ My study Bible comments,/Be careful that what God has allowed you to enjoy doesnt grow into a bad habit that controls you./ Let us be sensitive to what God is saying, even about the legitimate things, that we do not become slaves to them. [ Dear God we thank You for setting us free , help us to remain free, in Jesus name Amen ]

Everything to God in prayer.[ Matthew 7 v 7 -11 ]

Sometimes we may be reluctant to pray about something, we may think it is being selfish,after all ,there are so many people God has to look after. The hymn writer wrote of carrying everything to God in prayer,prayer of course is not just about my needs, when we pray we should be praying for others needs as well.Yet having said that, we are at liberty to pray about those things that concern us, with a confidence, and not be filled with condemnation. Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, and present our petitions and requests, to our loving heavenly Father, the hymn writer wrote,/ If earthly parents hear their children when they cry, if they, with love sincere, their childrens wants supply. Much more wilt thou Thy love display, and answer when Thy children pray./[ Dear loving Father grant us confidence to bring everything to You in prayer, in Jesus name Amen ]

Old age. [ Psalm 91 ]

We read in Deuteronomy 33v25 av,/ as thy days, so shall thy strength be/,as one becomes older,one becomes more conscious of the weakness of our bodies, mybe even of our spirits, so here is a wonderful and encouraging verse. God will not forsake us in our old age ,He will grant unto us, the strength we need, in Isaiah 46v4 we read,/ I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you/. We can look into the future with fear, or we can look into the future with faith, the choice is ours. Whatever our condition now or in the future, God will be with us, even when we are old,not only to strengthen us but to guide us, /For this God is our God for ever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death [Psalm 48v14 ]. [ Dear God help us when our natural being is declining to trust in You, and your faithfulness, in Jesus name Amen]

Those inward battles. [Deuteronomy 33v27 ]

Let us not be fooled by appearances,the wealthy and famous may be seen to be free from all troubles ,as they appear on the cover of O K, mag,appear to have everything, but behind the glitter, they have their problems,Bing Crosby had a son who suffered from mental illness,Kenneth Williams who made us all laugh ,was a very unhappy soul. What I am saying applies to all humanity, everyday people have their secret battles to contend with, insecurities to cope with. Being a Christian does not mean we are free from the inward battles, some give the impression that they are, but they are not, but for us who are Christians, we can know the peace of God, we can experience a strength that is not our own, through Jesus.In the words of an old hymn ,/God has not promised skies always blue, / but He has promised to be with us in all our inward battles, and to uphold us with His everlasting arms [Deuteronomy 33v27] [Dear God you alone know us fully, nothing is hid from You,and You know how much we struggle inwardly, so today, grant us grace, and peace, and that inward strength we need, in Jesus name Amen ]

Not just theory. [ 2 Corinthians1v 3-4 ]

There are times when the truths we hold become more meaningful to us, this happens when we are experiencing different things. Indeed it is only as we experience , bereavment, do we appreciate the comfort of God more fully than we did, or when we are in need do we appeciate , God supplying our needs.When we feel our unworthiness because we fail to overcome some temptation, we find we really appreciate the truth, that we are saved and accepted by the grace of God. Many of us know in theory the truths of God,but God wants us to know them in our hearts, and in our lives,because only as they affect our lives will we be able to sympathize,and understand the sufferings of others,instead of a cold indifference to others.[ Soften my heart Lord, soften my heart, from all indifference set me apart, to feel Your compassion, to weep with Your tears, come soften my heart, O Lord , soften my heart. Amen ].......[Words by Graham Kendrick]

Gods providential care for His own. [Psalm 57v2]

One of my favourite books is,/The mystery of providence, by John Flavel/, I would commend it to you, it is published by ,Banner of Truth, and is well worth buying, and reading. The Providence of God reminds us that ,that God is working ,watching,caring, for all His children,overruling in every situation. Flavel has so much to say of worth,he writes,/Does God perform all things for His people? Do not distrust Him then when new or great difficulties arise/ The difficulties will only increase if we distrust,and let us not act in panic , we must pray and trust God to undertake.We may not see with our natural sight, we may not understand, how God will work for us,let faith arise,to our sovereign God,a God who loves us, a God who cares, a God who hears, a God who sees, and a God who will not fail us. Isaac Watts wrote,/ Thy providence is kind and large, Both man and beast Thy bounty share, The whole creation is Thy charge. But saints are thy peculiar care./ [ Dear God we praise You for Your fatherly care, we ask that we will trust Your providential care for us, in Jesus name Amen ]

The Lord is. [Psalm 18 ]

In Psalm 18v2 , David declares what the Lord is,[i] My rock,when we know the Lord Jesus, we are standing on solid ground. [2]My fortress, the powers of hell may attack us ,but we will be safe. [3] My Saviour, He and He alone can save us, from our sins,and from all those things that would destroy us. [4] My shield, He will protect us from harm.[5]My place of safety, on the road,in our homes, in our jobs. [ Dear God we thank You that You are watching over us, and that You will never fail us, in Jesus name Amen ]