"God speaks to you" By Diane Webb

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“God speaks to you” By Diane Webb

Exodus 23: 22  “But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.”

God promises the Israelites he will be their enemies’ enemy and their adversaries’ adversary if they listen to Moses and follow God’s instructions.  This verse plainly lays out God’s promise in response to our obedience.  As long as we follow God’s will (instructions), we do not have to worry about our enemies for he will take care of them.  God promises “I will send my angel before you” (Exodus 23:  23).  For the Israelites, God spoke to Moses first then Moses spoke to them.  God still speaks through people sometimes yet through the Holy Spirit he speaks to each of us personally as well.  We do not have to have a spokesperson before God like the Israelites did (Jesus took care of that).  Listen carefully to hear God’s voice in your life.  Sometimes it is a still quiet voice (1 Kings 19:12) while other times it may seem he is slapping you in the face (Jonah).  God speaks to all of his children yet all of his children do not listen as well.  When we do not listen, God still continues telling us what he wants us to do (or not do as the case may be).  He will also work in our life to give us as many opportunities as it takes to understand and obey.  When we do listen and follow God’s instructions, we feel a sense of peace and security because we know God would not lead us wrong.  When fearful of enemies, review your life to determine if you are living within God’s will or if you are not listening to his voice.  Ask God to show you those areas you need to address and begin addressing them.  It could be God is leading you to move to South Dakota but you want to move to North Dakota because that is where you have been offered an excellent job or position.  This does not mean you will be punished for moving to North Dakota. It just means you may end up wandering around trying to figure things out much longer than necessary.  It might take you, say, forty years to decide to go to South Dakota instead of three months if you had listened to God.  Perhaps God had prepared the way for you to go to South Dakota and had been working there to remove obstacles in your path yet there you were in North Dakota.  By listening to God and following his instructions we save ourselves much pain, suffering, aggravation, and fighting of enemies (removing of obstacles).  If we go where God has prepared for us to go and do what God has asked us to do the way is smoother and we are less likely to be delayed by enemies (obstacles).  We really have only one enemy (Satan) and that enemy has many agents.  Their goal on earth is to make it as hard as possible for us to do God’s will and they do not want us to accomplish God’s goal for our life.  This is why it sometimes seems we are being punished for doing what we believe God has told us to do.  If it is, in fact, what God has told us to do we have nothing to fear—just stand firm and let God do the fighting.  Begin each day asking what God wants from you today.  End each day asking God to tell you of any area you did not listen in and to give you a way to make it right (damage control).  Do not spend your mental energy in fear—especially fear of others (the enemy).  Spend your precious time and energy fellowshipping and communing with God.  He will advise you in every area you seek his guidance in.  Remember today’s verse and God’s promise. Let God take care of your enemies for you while you work on developing your listening skills.  You do not need to fear when God is your life coach.

Dear Lord, help me today to recognize any area of my life where I did not listen to you.  Help me make these things right in your sight and get my life in order with your instructions.  Help me, Lord, to do what you say and to learn how to listen.  In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

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“God is your friend” By Diane Webb

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“God is your friend” By Diane Webb

Exodus 33: 14 “And he said, my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

In Exodus 33, God has informed Moses he will not go with the Israelites into the Promised Land because the people had broken the covenant with him.  He referred to the Israelites as “stiff necked people”.  Moses reminds God of their personal relationship and the promises God made to him.  He attempted to argue with God in order to convince God to stay in their midst.  Moses basically says he did not want to go anywhere God was not.  He would rather stay in the wilderness with God than go into the Promised Land without God.  Moses felt confident in his relationship with God and he therefore talked openly with God about how he felt.  He eventually is reassured by God--“And he said, my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest”.   Moses and God were friends and talked as such (although Moses never forgot God’s authority and power).  Moses spent time with God every day and they conversed for hours.  When God met Moses on Mount Sinai, they talked for 40 days.  Moses came away with a glow on his face that frightened the Israelites.   God came up with a way for Moses to see him.  God protected Moses by covering him with his own hand.  When the Israelites worshipped the golden calf the covenant between them and God was broken.  God, at this point, could have left them in the wilderness and never lead them to the Promised Land.  God chose to fulfill his earlier promise to Abraham and Jacob by allowing the Israelites to have the Promised Land but he was not going to remain in their midst as originally planned.  Through Moses’ intercession, the covenant was restored between God and the Israelites and God agrees to remain with them.  When the Israelites first heard God tell Moses he was not going to go with them into “the land flowing with milk and honey” they went into mourning and repented in their hearts.  They, too, were upset about the prospect of being separated from God.  Once you have been in God’s presence, it would be unbearable to be separated from God.  Many people refer to their lives as “heck on earth” (but they don’t say “heck”).  This accurately describes a life without the presence of God and the Israelites feared this.  Moses, after being in constant fellowship with God, did not want to live separate from God and neither did the Israelites.  Moses considered that worse than death.  Jesus’ disciples felt the same way.  Before his ascension, Jesus reassured his disciples that his presence would remain with them as well (Matthew 28:  20).  They, like Moses, did not want to be separated from Christ having lived, worked, walked, and talked with him as friends.  God promised Moses his presence would always be with him and Jesus promised the disciples that his presence would remain with them.  We are also disciples of Jesus and therefore are assured, like Moses, of God’s presence with us.   Romans 8:  31 asks us “if God is for us who can be against us?”  Do we forget our relationship with God and therefore begin to fear, like the stiff necked Israelites?  Or, like Moses, do we hold fast to God and refuse to let go?  God is God yet he wants to be our friend.  He wants to spend time with us, walk with us, talk with us, and live with us.  Jesus’ death and resurrection makes it possible for God to remain with us in our midst just like he did with Moses.  Throughout this day, look for God’s presence and hold fast to it.  Never forget he is your friend and wants to be there with you and for you.  Call on his name just like you would a friend.

Dear Lord, help me remember today that you are here with me and you are my friend.  Help me be worthy of your friendship and your presence.  Help me have a glow on my face that shows others I have been in the presence of God.  I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

“Confidence in times of trial” By Diane Webb

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“Confidence in times of trial” By Diane Webb

Micah 7: 7 “Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation:  my God will hear me.”

Micah is referring to a time of great trial for Israel when both Jerusalem and Samaria are in the midst of judgment and destruction.  He warns of unethical religious practices followed by severe consequences.  He then speaks from the point of view of the church (those who remain faithful) when he talks of hope.  During this time, he suggests, the righteous need to pray through the turmoil and wait for God to save them.  Micah is letting those who are walking with God know not to worry even when it seems they will be destroyed during the time he is foretelling.  There are times when we find ourselves caught up in the consequences others bring on us.  When so many unbelievers are in positions of power it can be frightening for Christians.  Most of us recognize sooner or later there are negative results from unethical practices.  The news and papers often report the dramatic downturn of events when years of deceit, vice, or greed finally catch up with the individual involved.  However, during the time leading up to exposure there are people being hurt by the behaviors or decisions.  When living under the authority of unethical leaders it would be easy to get discouraged especially if their decisions lead to your suffering.  This may be why it was important to Micah for people to know what was going to take place and be able to spiritually prepare.  The essence of Micah’s advice is “look to the Lord” and “wait for God”.  When in times of difficulty, look to the Lord.  Turn your eyes up and see where God is in the process.  Talk to God.  Ask for strength, courage, and comfort.  Pray for guidance and then wait for God to answer your prayer, lead you in a direction, or resolve the problem altogether.  Do not be disheartened when your answer is “wait”.  Waiting is the most difficult part for some.  Waiting often requires enduring hardship or a negative environment when your impulse is to leave.  Waiting for God to release you from a situation can seem almost unbearable at times.  The only way through is to pray, wait, and trust.  Sometimes it takes months or years for a situation to resolve or for you to begin to see God’s purpose.  Many times the resolution may not be obvious or God’s purpose may not surface in a way you can feel closure.  Christians are, at times, not meant to run in times of trial—we are meant to stand firm in our faith.  To pray and wait in the midst of turmoil is the message of Micah.  Too often we, out of fear, leave situations too soon.  There is conflict at work so we find a new job.   The church family is divided so we break off and start another church.  The problem with running is you have to start over when the situation is meant for your training.  It’s easier to see the situation through in the long run than it is to have to start over from the beginning and live through it all over again in a different setting with different people.  There is great confidence in the phrase “my God will hear me”.  Perhaps this can be used to ward off worry or fear—“my God will hear me”.  Repeat this phrase several times if you are feeling frightened about what’s going on in your life right now.  My God will hear me!  Demonstrate confidence in your Lord who can and will deliver you in his own time and in his own way.  Take encouragement from Micah whose words are just as applicable today as they were then--“Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation:  my God will hear me.”

Dear heavenly father, help me learn to look to you in all situations.  Give me the ability to wait on you and not flee when you would have me stand firm.  Give me confidence in your plans and be able to trust you know what you are doing.  I submit myself, Lord, to your will.  In Christ’s name I pray--Amen.

"A Reluctant Hero" By Diane Webb

“A reluctant hero” By Diane Webb

Jonah 2: 7 “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord:  and my prayer came in unto thee, unto thine holy temple”.

“When my soul fainted within me” is very vivid.  Life was slowly ebbing away.  He was dying and he could feel it.  Dying when living outside the will of God is a bleak, abandoned feeling.  It was at this point so close to death Jonah cried out to God and God heard him.  Those who are as close to death as described here are most often changed in some way when they recover.  Jonah too was changed—for a little while anyway. He went on to preach to Nineveh as was his original mission.  The people of Nineveh were saved (God had pity on them in their ignorance).  Then Jonah seemed to regress back to his old self.  You’d think Jonah would be pleased his message was fruitful—his mission a success.  Instead he sat under a tree and pouted.  The tree died and he became suicidal—asking for death himself.  From the outside looking in he certainly seemed to either over-react or under-react to the various situations.  First, he runs from God because God asked him to do something he did not want to do (over-reacted).  Then, he slept while a storm raged (under-reacted).  Then, when tossed overboard and swallowed by a whale he finally turns back to God (almost too late).  He was not exited to have been a tool of salvation for an entire city (under-reacted).  He didn’t seem to notice the miracle of the tree growing overnight (under-reacted).  He wanted to die because the tree he was sitting under perished (over-reacted).  Jonah’s great successes were related to surviving his ordeal with the whale (under-reacted) and succeeding in his objective to Nineveh (under-reacted).  Yet somehow it seems he did not fully appreciate the presence of God’s influence in his life.  We can all identify with having a pity-party over something that, later, seemed petty or wrong-minded.  We can also relate to missing the point—not noticing God’s work in our lives.  On the one hand Jonah was afraid of death and prayed for life (in the belly of the whale).  On the other hand he was afraid of life and prayed for death (when he was hot and thirsty in the sun).  He did not seem to really know what he wanted.   He appeared to go from one extreme to the next and had few, if any, admirable qualities.  He would be described today as “wishy-washy”, “cowardly”, and other unflattering terms.  He is none the less a hero.  He did what God told him to do (although reluctantly) and Nineveh was saved.  Not much is said about the people of Nineveh after that.  It flourished for a while according to history but eventually was defeated and destroyed in battle. Some inhabitants, amazingly, escaped to the nearest Assyrian stronghold and the rest were massacred.  Ancient Nineveh is now in ruins. However, the Iraq city of Mogul is considered the re-built city of Nineveh by Aramaic speakers.  There are, interestingly, Christians in Mogul (modern day Nineveh)—Assyrian Christians who could be the survivors who fled to the nearest Assyrian city when ancient Nineveh was attacked.  It is estimated that 3% of the population of Iraq are Christians today and they are mainly Assyrian. (3% of Iraq’s population would be 69,000 people).   Jonah’s message to Nineveh likely led to a persistent group of individuals whose descendants are still living in that area as well as a core group of Christians in the troubled area.    This is not a bad legacy for an unlikely hero like Jonah!  God’s heroes are often regular, flawed, at times unstable, people who are willing to do his will and allow him to use them for his glory and his kingdom.

Dear Father in heaven, help me today to listen and obey everything you tell me to do.  Let me be a tool for your glory and the kingdom of God.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

“Giving to God what belongs to God” By Diane Webb

“Giving to God what belongs to God” By Diane Webb

1 Samuel 2: 9 “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.”

We cannot, in our own strength, overcome the wickedness of this world. No matter how wise, intelligent, or emotionally strong we are. Anything we do is through the power of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us. Anything we have is because God has blessed us with it. If not from God, the gains we make are only illusions--temporary. Sometimes we overlook that the very blessings we are enjoying are because God answered our prayers. It’s wonderful to have prayers answered especially when it’s for something important like a child or a home. The seemingly small answered prayers are special too. Anytime you see the hand of God working in your life it’s an affirmation he will “keep the feet of his saints”. God loves for us to trust him enough to ask him for help throughout the day. The day goes by much better with God’s strength pulling you through. Sometimes we forget to ask for God’s help, guidance, and protection throughout the day. Scheduled, disciplined time with God is important. However, the ongoing dialog with God is special in and of itself. It demonstrates trust and relationship with God to recognize his presence in the mundane tasks of the day. This psalm, written in Samuel, is by Hannah (Keil & Delitzsch) who recognized God’s presence in her life and God’s work in the miracle of birth. She had been childless for many years and felt ostracized by others who had children. She wept and prayed so profusely in the temple the Priest thought she was drunk. When the Priest realized she was not drunk he understood the sincerity of her prayers and he, too, asked God to hear her. God granted her request and she gave birth to Samuel whom she then dedicated to the Lord’s service for the rest of his life. She got the child she prayed for and immediately (when he was weaned) gave him back to God. She, obviously, put her trust in the Lord and recognized he answered her prayers. Did you ever wonder what good it did Hannah to have a child just to give the child up? Was it that important to her to be able to say she had a child? Did it not matter to her if she were able to keep the infant? Was Hannah motivated by pride? On the contrary—Hannah desperately wanted a baby of her own to love, care for, and nurture to adulthood. When her prayer was answered, Hannah demonstrated thankfulness, obedience, and faith when she dedicated Samuel to God’s service. It must have been very difficult to leave her toddler in the care of the Priest. Hannah’s act demonstrates her deep relationship with God. She recognized everything we have already belongs to God. The first of everything gotten most especially was to be given back to God specifically for his service. Hannah respected this spiritual law and was blessed even further. Many Old Testament laws were replaced when Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for us. We are no longer required to kill an animal to God in atonement for our sins. We are not restricted in diet as the Israelites were. Are we still required, however, to give back to God our first fruits? Would it make a difference in how you live or the decisions you make if you did dedicate your first fruits back to God—the first of everything you get? If you believed everything belonged to God anyway, would you worry so much about losing the things you have or the people you love?

Dear heavenly father, help me today to remember that all things belong to you. Help me put my trust in you and cease from worry over those people I care about and the things you have given me. Help me give back to you those things that are already yours. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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God will sing with joy over you today By Diane Webb

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“God will sing for joy over you” by Diane Webb

Zephaniah 3: 17--“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing”

Zephaniah, which means “Yahweh has protected”, wrote a series of prophecies which end in an oracle of salvation of which today’s passage comes. He is referring to God living among the Israelites when the Israelites remain faithful to his word. He foretells the salvation of those who are righteous during the reign of King Josiah. Israel had gotten away from obeying God’s law once again and had engaged in many of the practices forbidden in Deuteronomy. At this time they were under the rule of a King who did not uphold the laws of God as given to Moses. Zephaniah warns of the wrath of God and the ultimate destruction of the world because of the many ungodly practices. He goes on to speak of the protection of those who remain loyal to God and the great joy it gives God for them to do so. He promises God will save them from destruction and celebrate over them. God will rest in his love (or quiet their fears) and will joy over them with singing. What a lovely picture—God rejoicing and singing with joy. It’s hard to imagine God would be so happy to save us. It shows how important we really are to him and his great love for us. This passage is meant to encourage those who are living among the Godless and are remaining true to God’s word. How difficult it is to be the only Christian in a group of non-believers or those who believe in no God at all. It is easy to slip in with the crowd which happened many times to the Israelites. Imagine living in a country where the King discouraged your religious practices or you were commanded to worship another God. At times the Israelites were threatened with death for worshiping God or not worshipping the god of the day according to the King of the day. To maintain your faith when the leadership of your country is against it would be great cause for rejoicing especially if you faced death for doing so. Many times we are subtly persecuted for our faith (made fun of, talked down to, or treated as if we are simple). We may, without thinking, fall into the old practices just to fit in—telling racist or off-color jokes, making fun of someone else, or using foul language. The more you are around a group of people the more you tend to act like them in order to belong or at least not stand out. Being subjected to social ostracizing is minor compared to what Israelites historically faced and many Christians in countries all over the world still face. God’s rejoicing over these individuals is understandable. To face possible death and still be able to hold on to your faith in God and God’s word is worthy of singing about. We must always be mindful of those who are not fortunate enough to live in a country where they are free to practice their religion. We are called to pray for our brothers and sisters in these dark places of the world. We also need to remember to pray for ourselves when we are living, working, and playing among those who do not believe in God. We honor our God by holding to our beliefs and practices in spite of being different or looking strange to others. Be encouraged by God’s love and his joy over you when you remain loyal to him. Imagine you hear singing every time you resist the urge to fall in with the crowd around you. Feel God’s joy when you avoid fitting in and instead embrace the differences that make you a child of God and a Christian.

Dear Lord, help me remember who I am today. Give me the courage to hold fast to my beliefs and to resist the urge to fit in with the world. Help me to hear your voice, to experience your joy, and to feel you singing over me today. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

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When Enemies Prevail

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“When enemies prevail” by Diane Webb
Psalms 13: 2--“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”
The despair demonstrated in Psalms 13 is described by Keil & Delitzsch as “when hope turns to despair and despair turns to hope”. The contradiction is a conflict between the flesh and the spirit. The dejected heart (flesh) feels God has forgotten them. The spirit knows God is working in the situation in some way and understands the despairing part is only temporary. The persecution of David by Saul increased and Saul then has people searching for David by going from place to place. David felt he could only survive by remaining alert and watchful. It began to wear on him. David, after all, was human. As strong as our faith is, there are times we too wonder “why”. We try to be good people, we feel we are doing all the right things, and we still suffer at the hands of enemies. We gaze in disbelief as our enemies prosper and get away with all kinds of deceit. David, through the psalms, mostly demonstrates strong, unwavering faith. He has times of despair yet they do not last long. Deep in his heart he knows without doubt God loves him and has a plan for his life. It does not stop him from thinking, “how long will this persecution go on”. He asks “when will God step in and help me”? Either personally, nationally, or globally, we have all experienced the “why”—why do people have to be hungry, why do the unjust seem to have so much power, why do the ungodly seem to have so much wealth? Sometimes we really can’t understand the overall plan. What we go through does not always seem fair. We, too, like David, may begin to feel abandoned by God. Our heart is telling us one thing (hold on, trust God) and our mind is telling us something else (this is not fair). “Having sorrow in my heart daily” must be a forlorn feeling. There was a family a couple of years ago who tragically and unexpectedly lost their son who, at the age of 13, died of a massive heart attack. It was determined to be a birth defect that had gone undetected. This family must have suffered with great sorrow in their hearts daily. After one year the mother put a notice in the local newspaper letting everyone know the family was doing fine and how they made it over the past year. She gave the Bible verse she had come across during her despair—the one that reminded her to listen to her soul—that God is always in control and knows what he is doing. What an inspiration to hear from one who had suffered a mother’s worst fear—the loss of her child! How kind of her to share with the rest of us mother’s who were experiencing an undercurrent of anxiety—“if it could happen to them then it could happen to us”. How comforting to know that in the midst of her sorrow she found comfort from the God she trusted. This is what David experienced, this is what we experience. We are human and we will lament from time to time. God will provide comfort and peace when we trust him in spite of the pain we experience. Anyone who ever experienced long term suffering can attest to how David must have felt so many years ago. He did trust God and that was why his soul provided counsel. David held on to the faith that God would eventually turn things around—and God did.
Lord, thank you for being there for me and thank you for having a plan for my life. Help me to trust in you and your plan even when my life seems out of control or I am being treated unfairly. Give me the comfort and peace of knowing you are a just God and you never make mistakes. I pray in Christ’s name, Amen.

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Knowing God's Name By Diane Webb

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Knowing God by name? By Diane Webb
Psalms 9: 10
“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
What is so special about knowing and using someone’s given name—a first name? There once was a group of women who worked in setting that involved serving the public. These women became unnerved by unwanted attention from male customers. To provide an extra measure of security they decided to switch name tags routinely so no customer really knew their true names. For some reason, it was less frightening to them for their true names not to be used. People from past cultures were given two names—one to tell people and one not to. It was considered dangerous to tell your secret name. The second name was given at maturity. We, as Christians, will get a new name one day as well—at our maturity in our relationship with God. The Bible indicates God will give those who overcome a new name that only God & the receiver will know (Revelation 2: 17). God revealed his personal name to Moses so the Israelites would believe God has spoken to him (Exodus 3: 15). The name of God was considered so holy it could not be spoken or written. God’s name given to Moses is often depicted as Yahweh. In earlier translations it is written as Jahve or Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. Others use Jehovah as God’s name. These are names used for God in the Bible to represent the name written down by God for Moses--God’s true name. The name revealed to Moses was represented by only some of the letters because the name of God was considered too sacred to write. The translators were left to “fill in the blanks”. Is the passage today trying to encourage knowing what this specific name is? If it is, how can we possibly know God’s name for sure? God never asks us to do something we are unable to do. More likely the psalmist is referring to knowing God intimately—his character, what his nature is rather than a given name. Knowing a name alone does not tell us everything about a person. However, knowing someone “on a first name basis” usually means you know the person well. This is not to say we are to be irreverent and casual with God, our creator. It does mean we are to know him well enough to trust him. To know God by name is to know God’s character. The more you know someone, the more you know their qualities. The better the character traits are, the more you trust them. God is the highest standard of character—he created the standard. To know God’s character is to trust God in your life—with your day to day decisions and concerns. God promises to never forsake those who seek him. God keeps his promises. He has not made it impossible to achieve his protection and favor. Notice the verse does not say “those who find him”. It says “those who seek him”. Seeking God is a lifelong process. As long you are seeking God he is with you and you can depend on him not to abandon you. Seeking is the continuous development of closeness and understanding between you and God. To seek God is to have God with you. God likes to prove himself to us. He enjoys demonstrating his love. He is praised and worshipped when we trust him. Honor God by spending enough time with him in order to know him. The benefits will be a natural consequence of knowing God.
Father, help me get up early enough and make time for you throughout the day as well. Lord, give me wisdom to understand your nature and your character. Lead me in seeking you in all things. I ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen

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"God is your refuge and your stronghold" by Diane Webb

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“A Castle or a Cabin--God is there” (God is your refuge and your stronghold)  by Diane Webb

Psalms 9:  9 “The Lord will also be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”

An earlier translation of the King James Version of the Bible uses the word stronghold instead of refuge.  A stronghold is a refuge but all refuges are not strongholds.  Bring to mind a castle which is a stronghold.   On the other hand think of a quiet cabin in the woods which can be a refuge but certainly not a stronghold.  In either case, one must “go to” for safety.   You would have to go to a castle to benefit from its safety and you would need to go to a cabin to experience its safety.  God is both a stronghold and a refuge and is not limited to time or space like a cabin or castle would be.  Blessedly, we can experience his safety without necessarily going to him ourselves.  He does protect people at times in spite of themselves—when they are outside his will for the moment.  Haven’t you experienced the hand of God keeping you from harm when you were not necessarily living in accordance to his will?  This, most likely, was the result of someone else praying on your behalf.  Many Christian mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sisters, and brothers have watched over wayward loved ones through prays of protection.  Sometimes we are oppressed in times of trouble and do not even know it in our arrogance or ignorance.  We mistakenly believe we are safe in our choices outside the will of God.  The false believe is reinforced because of apparent safety.  Rest assured, someone, somewhere petitioned God on our behalf during these times.  This brings us to you--today.  Have you forgotten the power of intercessory prayer?  There is no greater weapon available to Christians.  Miracles abound in response to prayer—daily, hourly.  Surely you can remember a time you prayed in desperation to have that prayer answered almost instantly.  You don’t have to wait until desperation.  You can pray every day, all day and remain in fellowship with God inside the stronghold of his protection.  While there, you can pray for God’s protection of others who are not within the stronghold at the time—you can extend the walls of the stronghold to include them.  This, some would say, is both your power and your duty as a Christian.  You are never helpless in any situation at any time.  You have the power of God’s entire army on standby—just waiting for you to initiate the battle call.  You do have to ask for assistance.  The laws of heaven and earth strictly enforce God’s decision to give humans free will.  Therefore, a human has to exercise free will before God intervenes.  There were once two young girls in the 1970’s who foolishly skipped school one day and somehow ended up in the middle of nowhere—intoxicated and walking on the side of the road.  At that point both were in danger of becoming a headline in the newspaper without even realizing it.  As they were walking on the back-country road, one of them decided it would be a good idea to hitchhike.  A pick-up truck comes rolling down the road with a lone man driving—no one else for miles in either direction.  The girls stuck out their thumbs and the truck stopped.  The silly thirteen year olds jumped in without a second thought.  Fortunately, at least one of these girls had a praying mother who, although at work thinking her daughter was safe at school, routinely included prayers for her children as part of her day.  So, it was a kind, elderly gentleman who stopped and took these girls back into town to a place of safety (a refuge); but because of the prayers of a loving mother, they had been within the walls of a stronghold the entire day.

Dear heavenly father, as I go throughout my day today, please bring to my mind those for which you would have me pray.  Keep me mindful of the power of prayer and help me to always pray within your will.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's Grace (by Diane Webb)

“God’s grace” by Diane Webb

Psalms 7:  10

“My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.”

God’s protection and moral excellence go hand in hand.  Those with fear, worry, and anxiety can look to the Lord as a shield and with the Lord defending you what need is there to be afraid?  Moral excellence is a high standard.  Perhaps we are unsure of our own ability to maintain an upright heart and therefore become insecure about God being there for us.  Generally when the bible refers to the heart it is referring to our spirit.  It’s not referring to flesh which, as we all know, is weak.  Having an upright heart is to have a moral spirit.  The spirit is the part of us which strives to do the right thing and truly loves the Lord.  Being human, we do not always succeed.  However, we can recognize our failings, repent, and work towards a closer relationship with God.  “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:  41) speaks to the human nature of a Christian--as does, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:  23).  The closer we walk with God the more temptation we will experience because Satan is threatened when we are under God’s protection and influence.  God does, however, give us the ability to resist temptation and overcome Satan’s influence.  Satan lost his claim on us when Jesus died on the cross.  The problem is many of us do not claim the victory.  Satan is constantly whispering in our ears things that may frighten or upset us.  Once we recognize the voice in our ear is not of God, we can resist.  When we resist Satan he will flee (James 4:  7).  Often the second we realize an anxiety producing thought is coming from Satan it disappears.  Satan knows he has no power over us unless we give it to him.  Therefore, he tries to keep doubt stirred up which then weakens our resistance.  However, God is our defense if we accept.  To accept God is to submit to God’s will.  It’s a simple strategy—if something is of God, submit; if something is of Satan, resist.  Often we get these backwards—we give in to Satan and we fight with God.  There was a woman once who had backslidden badly.  At a mature age she started smoking, drinking, and going to parties.  While she was outside smoking, she became grieved in her spirit because she knew she had lost her closeness with God and felt utterly desolate because she was alone (being away from the presence of God is the most alone a person can feel).  She had been struggling with temptation and now, an addiction.  As her heart grieved and she was sorry (repentant) she immediately became aware of the pressure of one hand on each of her shoulders from behind—as if someone were standing behind her and offering support and encouragement.  The only problem is there was a wall behind her so it was not humanly possible for anyone to be standing there.  She knew instantly God was there and was letting her know, “I am here, I still love you, and I’ve got your back”.  She cried because this is the kind of love she never knew existed.  In an instant of clarity she understood grace.  Here she was in the very act of disobeying God yet in her sorrow (her upright heart) God let her know he was behind her (defending her).  She went on to repent and get her life back in line with God’s will.   The important message to her was this:  “my defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart”—saving them even from themselves.

Heavenly father, help me today to recognize and resist the lies of Satan.  Help me develop and keep an upright heart and with your help align my actions according to your will.  I thank you Lord for your defense and I accept it and submit to your will.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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"Quiet confidence in the face of slander" by Diane Webb

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“Quiet confidence in the face of slander” (by Diane Webb)

Psalms 7:  1

“O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.”

Most scholars agree this psalm was written by David during the time of his persecution by Saul (the King).  During this period many of Saul’s relatives were slandering David to Saul and, unfortunately, Saul believed the lies.  David, however, is assured of the eventual overthrow of those who are enemies of God--those who try to interfere in God’s plan.  Therefore, David’s psalm, in the face of being maligned to the King he has so loyally served, is full of joy and confidence.  How many of us would have this reaction to being intentionally lied about to an important person of authority, especially if the lies were believed and could result in losing a job or an important relationship?  How much time would we spend in trying to defend ourselves or prove our innocence?  If unsuccessful, would we then feel sorry for ourselves, pout, file lawsuits, and continue the fight to “clear our name”?  David provides us with a valuable truth.  God is the only Judge we need to be concerned with.  We need to all submit our petitions to God and God alone and trust he will deliver us from those who persecute us.  God has the power to deliver us from slander.  Slander includes gossip, rumors, back-biting, spreading tales—whatever you chose to call it and is common today as it was in Saul’s reign.  It goes on in churches, in families, and in work settings.  Picture going to work one day and getting a termination letter based on untruths told by jealous co-workers.  Imagine a friend telling you to never call them again because they believed a rumor.  Think of a relative breaking all ties with you because of vicious gossip.  As upsetting as all of these would be none compare to what David faced.  Because Saul believed the lies told about David, David’s life was in danger.  Eventually he had to flee and hide out in a cave for many years.  He lost his home, his best friend, his wife, and seemingly his future.  But David had his priorities straight and he placed all his faith in God.  He knew his life was ultimately in the hands of God not Saul.  It must have been very hurtful for David to experience Saul’s mistrust and anger since it was completely unjustified.  After all, David was a young boy when he became part of Saul’s household.  He fought Goliath for Saul’s army, he played the harp when Saul needed soothing, he married Saul’s daughter, and he left his own family as a young boy to serve in Saul’s household.  It’s a betrayal far greater than what we experience when a mere acquaintance believes falsehoods about us.  Most of the times we get upset about what others are saying about us and it involves people who really are not that important to our future.  Certainly our life is rarely in danger due to falsehoods.  The challenge here is to let God fight your battles and not to waste a lot of time or energy running around to defend yourself when people spread false rumors, lies, and gossip.  The mark of confidence in Christ is to stand before those of authority with the assurance God will deliver you in the end.  The truth does have a way of rising to the surface over time and if it doesn’t then God must have a reason for allowing it.  We can all learn from David who, in spite of the injustice, stood firm in his faith and trusted God to deliver him from his persecutors.

Dear Lord, I pray this day, for the confidence and trust of David.  Help me Lord to depend on you to defend me from those who persecute me.   Help me Lord be strong in the face of enemies and to believe in your justice and give you authority in my life.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

"Gaining happiness & prosperity by obeying God" (by Diane Webb)

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“Gaining happiness & prosperity by obeying God” (by Diane Webb)

Psalms 5:  12

“For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield”. 

To be righteous is to be free from sin.  Sin is an act which goes against God’s will and separates us from God.  If God is leading us to do something and we do not do it then we have sinned.  God leads each of us to do different things at different times.  For example, if the Holy Spirit is leading us to say “hello” to a total stranger and we willfully disobey, we have just committed a sin and have stepped outside God’s presence until we repent and step back.  This is a very simple illustration to point out sin is disobeying God.  By disobeying God, we separate ourselves from his presence which is the natural consequence of sin.  (He does not leave us, we leave him).  Once we have separated ourselves from God’s presence we are also outside the circle of his favor.  When we are outside God’s protective shield, we are open to attack by Satan which invariably leads to harm of one kind or another as well as yet more sin.  The more we are under Satan’s influence the more danger we are in.  It is therefore important to stay under God’s influence for safety as well as fellowship.  This scripture emphasizes the benefits to those who stay within God’s influence and favor—the righteous.  The righteous will be blessed (given prosperity and happiness). The righteous will be surrounded with favor (privilege, great kindness, gentleness).  The passage indicates surrounded with favor—as with a shield.  The word for “shield” here is a shield of the greatest dimensions—greater even than the shield of Goliath who stood 9 feet 6 inches tall.  As noted earlier, favor is gracious kindness, privilege, and gentleness.  So let’s read it this way:  for you, Lord, will give prosperity and happiness to those who obey your will; you will surround them on all sides with kindness, gentleness, and privilege.  Sometimes people are living outside the will of God and then blame God when bad things happen.  It does not seem to be obvious to these individuals they are the ones who moved outside the circle of God’s favor.  Conversely, these same individuals compare themselves to people who are living within God’s will who are prosperous and happy.  This is not to say those living within God’s will never experience hardship or suffering.  However, if it is part of God’s plan, God gives us the strength to endure and a sense of peace in knowing there will be good from the experience in the long run.  There is a different feel to a situation that is within God’s will versus one that is not.  There is a sense of “I am in training” or “I am being tested”.  Sometimes it becomes clear rather quickly the overall good of the situation.  Examples might include—learning patience, learning compassion, learning humility, overcoming pride, overcoming anger, and so on.   With discernment (understanding and knowledge) you can begin to recognize the patterns and understand if your pain, hardship, and suffering are the result of disobedience or are God’s way of molding you into the person he wants you to be.  If you know you are living within God’s will then you can be certain whatever is going on in your life is his will and you can trust the end result will be positive—no matter how difficult it seems now.  The happiness and prosperity will come because that is God’s promise to the righteous.

Heavenly father, I pray you will help me recognize those areas in my life where I am unknowingly disobedient.  Help me hear the Holy Spirit in my life so I can always obey and always be within your will.  I humbly ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Trusting God in the midst of the storm (by Diane Webb)

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“Trusting God in the midst of your storms” (by Diane Webb)

Psalms 5: 11

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:  let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:  let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee”.

The verses prior to this one are asking God to remove those who have willfully and knowingly rejected God’s mercy leaving those that put their trust in God to celebrate.  Imagine a world without Satan’s influence and without people who resist God!   In other words, a world filled completely with Christians who put their faith in God 100%.  To trust is “to allow without fear” and to have “complete confidence in a person or a plan”.  One distinguishing feature of an individual who has complete trust in God is they have no fear.  They believe God is in control and they understand God has a greater plan than may be revealed on any given day.  Those who have no fear are happy, relaxed, and confident.  Today’s psalm is a prayer for those who put this kind of trust in God—that they may rejoice.  Rejoicing is a combination of great joy and celebration.  When a person is rejoicing it would be hard not to notice.  They would likely be jumping up and down, smiling, shouting, and singing out of happiness.  Those who put their trust in God are joyful and have great cause to celebrate.  The psalm goes on to include those who love the name of God “because thou defendest them”.  The word used in psalms 5 includes the word for a shield of “the largest dimensions”—even larger than the shield of Goliath (who was over 9 feet tall) according to Keil & Delitzsch.  People who love God are defended by God with the largest shield possible.  When something gets past this shield it is because God allowed it or we stepped from behind the shield.  When your life is lacking in joy, look at your love for God and your trust in God to see where you may need to grow.  Have you stepped from behind the shield or are you resisting God’s work in your life?  When both love and trust are complete in God, joy is an obvious result—even in the face of danger or enemies.  When you love and trust God you will believe he is in control and knows what he is doing.  You will not resist his plan.  When Simon Peter met with Christ on the beach following the resurrection, Christ told Peter he would be crucified.  Peter did not express fear.  He demonstrated great joy in being called as part of God’s greater plan.  The scriptures do not promise an easy life free of suffering.  God does promise that all things work for the good of them that love the Lord (Romans 8:  28).  As example--there once was a ship bound for America in which a terrible storm threatened.  All on board considered themselves Christians.  However, one group was crying and screaming in fear for their lives.  The other group was smiling and singing hymns as the storm raged around.  The frightened group noticed the other group’s lack of fear and realized that group had something they did not—complete trust in God.   Let your life demonstrate joy, complete trust in God, and a total lack of fear.  Be a living testimony for Christ.  It is possible others may come to know Christ simply by watching the way you face hardship, suffering, and peril.

Father God, I pray wholeheartedly that I can increase my love and trust in you so it will be complete.  I pray my life will demonstrate such faith in you that others may want to know you as well.  I ask this in your son’s name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sleep peacefully in spite of enemies (by Diane Webb)

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“Sleep peacefully in spite of enemies” by Diane Webb

Psalms 4:8

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Keil & Delitzsch describe the 4th Psalm as “evening hymn of one who is unmoved before backbiters and men of little faith”. David, the psalmist, says through this psalm that in spite of his powerful enemies and in spite of having no guards, he will sleep peacefully because the Lord is watching over him while he sleeps. David, if you remember, has been betrayed by his own son, Absolom, and the aristocratic party of the day uses this betrayal to their own advantage. David’s small group of supporters is becoming discouraged and fearful. In spite of the seemingly hopeless situation, David is making it clear in this psalm he puts his trust in God. His enemies are trying to kill him so Absolom can take the thrown. The aristocrats believe they will be able to control Absolom whereas they were unable to control David as the king. David put his trust in God and prayed over decisions and followed God’s will. You will find, when you are obeying God’s will for your life, you too will have enemies who want to destroy you one way or another. Why? Because Satan wants people who can be easily controlled in positions of power and influence. If you have enemies then it’s certain you are a threat to Satan’s plan. It is important when this happens to remember David’s trust in God even when surrounded by enemies. Satan’s goal is for you to disobey God and not follow God’s will for your life. Therefore, Satan will use other people to scare or discourage you (like David was betrayed by his very own son) and to get you off track. Many people’s first reaction to being betrayed or finding out someone is “backbiting” them is to “try to work it out” or confront the person. There are times when it is more appropriate to not deal directly with an enemy or a “friend” who turns on you—even if it’s family members. Trust God to protect you in the midst of people who want you to fall. Sleep the sleep of one who is safe in the Lord and has no reason to fear. Trust in the understanding you are doing God’s will and God will handle your enemies. He will lead you to speak when he wants you to speak and he will lead you to silence when he wants you to be silent. Tune in to God’s voice and pray when you are faced with a betrayal or with discovering a friend (or family member) is attempting to undermine your achievements. No matter how many enemies you may believe you have, there is really only one—Satan. All the rest are simply under Satan’s influence. It is important to pray for your earthly enemies to remove them from Satan’s influence. Without the aid of people, Satan can accomplish little, if anything. Once an enemy stops listening to Satan and starts listening to God through the Holy Spirit, the enemy is no longer an enemy. As you fall asleep each night, do so by praying one by one for all of those individuals who are trying to hurt you or who have betrayed you—in Jesus’ name.

Dear heavenly father, please help me recognize the tricks of Satan as he uses those in my life. I pray for those who are my enemies—those known and unknown. Remove the influence of Satan from their hearts, minds, and souls and help them do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray.

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The Lord will protect you (by Diane Webb)

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"The Lord will protect you"

Psalms 3: 3

“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

To cry out to the Lord “thou art my shield” shows a desperate need for protection.  This scripture fully accepts there is danger in our world. Fear is based on peril or likely peril.  Therefore having a “good reason” to fear is not disputed.   We all have “good reason” to fear most every day in one way or another.  It is often we experience risk in our lives.  Who would debate that?  However, with the Lord himself as your shield—your protection—you are protected indeed.  What could be a better cover? Think a moment about a shield.  The only way for a shield to really protect is for you to stand behind it and keep it in front of you.  A shield is placed directly between you and danger.  It really does not work well if it’s lying on the ground beside you (or put on a shelf in the closet).  Keep the image of the Lord standing between you and danger (or perceived danger) as you face the day.  What if you forget to use your shield and fall?  The last part of the scripture “lifter up of my head” brings to mind the image of a soldier lying on the battle field.  The Lord steps forward, kneels down, and places the soldier’s head on His lap offering comfort and guarding him from further harm.  Think of having your head lifted and laid in the Lord’s lap—placed there by His own hands.  Imagine feeling the warm comfort of laying your head there--having fallen in battle, or simply needing rest.  Now, take a look at the middle section of today’s verse.  “The Lord is my glory”.  What does this mean?  According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary glory means praise, honor, or distinction.  In other words, the Lord Himself is your validation.  Glory additionally refers to the halo of light often depicted around the head of Christ and saints in the Bible.  In the sense of battle and danger, you can think of this halo of light as a shield around your head which is the most vulnerable area of attack.  So, the picture is complete in this passage and the message is clear.  The battle we are in is real and there is, in fact, danger.  We have a shield for protection which is Christ if we will allow him to.  We are further protected by the glory of Christ about our head when we accept and, finally, we can rest our head in the lap of God Himself when we become weary or if we are wounded because we chose not to use our shield.  What a wonderful Savior and what a wonderful shield!

Dear heavenly father, help me today to remember you are my shield, my glory, and the lifter up of my head; I fully accept Lord.  Please give me the confidence to face the battles before me today and trust you to protect, honor, and comfort me as your word says.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, your son, Amen.

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