Tag: Christianity

Vintage Discovery: Hope for the Hurting August 26, 2026

Leave a comment

My friend, are you hurting today? Has the load become too heavy to bear? Do you need a healthy dose of encouragement?

In this week’s installment of Vintage Discovery, I pray that in your hurting, you will find hope as we revisit Dear Bruised Reed…

Dear Bruised Reed, God’s got you.  Some days may be harder than others, but He’s here for you.  You may stand in need of restoration; that’s okay.  He is able to provide that too.  If peace has moved away from you, He is able to call it back into your life.  If love has sidestepped you, He Himself is love, and has satisfied all the requirements of love, and is able to make it reign in your life again.  He can turn all the hurt and disappointment you are feeling into joy.  Everything may not always work out the way we want it to, but it will work out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Dear Bruised Reed, I’m not promising you there won’t be days of tears and that everything will always be alright, for Jesus Himself said in the world you will have trouble (John 16:33). But what I can promise you is that when you are God’s child, you can still have hope in the midst of whatever it is you are facing.  You are not forgotten.  He sees everything.  And you are so incredibly loved through it all.  Restoration is always in His hand for the heart that will turn to Him for healing today.

Dear Bruised Reed, whatever it is, take it to the Lord and let Him in on what’s going on (1 Peter 5:7).  Pour out your heart before our Savior who cares.  He loves you and wants to see you walk in the victory He has secured for your life through our Lord Jesus Christ.  As quick as it is to worry and complain, with the same quickness we can unload the burdens of the heart and be free.

Dear Bruised Reed, trust in His judgment today.  He has never failed a case, and He won’t start now.  Nothing escapes His notice, and it is His truth, His will, and His way that will always win out in the end.  Never lose hope in what God can do in your life.  His mercies and compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22).  We are here today because of God.  We are loved by God.  We are covered by God.  And God is the one who will see us through when we rest our lives in His grace.

Dear Bruised Reed, Jesus Christ is waiting to be your ultimate source of true peace today (John 16:33).  Turn to Him.  Trust in Him.

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” Isaiah 42:3

“But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” Matthew 12:15-21

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Vintage Discovery: Encounters With God August 12, 2026

Leave a comment

I have been blogging now for over 13 years. Throughout that time, I have published hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces and articles. Some you may have seen before, some you may not have.

They say sharing is caring, and in Vintage Discovery, I am using this space to share pre-published treasures that are old but may be new to you. I hope you find them just as insightful, encouraging, and a blessing as when they were first published.

Today, come with me as we revisit Walk Away Differently:

Never!  And, I mean, never leave the presence of God the same way you came.  Anybody who has had a true, real-life encounter with God walks away differently.

  • Moses’ face shone with the glory of His brightness (Exodus 34:29-35).
  • Jacob left with a limp, but a new name (Genesis 32:22-32).
  • Abraham left with a promise (Genesis 12:1-3).
  • Paul was knocked off his beast but had a new mission in life (Acts 9:1-16).

I could really go on and on with example after example (way too many to mention).  Any time we come into the presence of God, we should not leave the same way we came.  There is something supernatural that should take over this holy encounter as the Spirit that dwells in you, dear believer, hooks up with the Source of all life.

When meeting with God, there is an awe-inspiring reverential feeling that takes over the atmosphere of your heart.  Whether it be a physical meeting of something more, or if we are speaking of meeting with Him in prayer, worship, reading the Word, and the like – there should be some manifestation that you have been where He is.

Am I talking about walking away with a physical expression causing you to walk funny the rest of your life?  No.  Unless that is His will.  But what I am talking about is there should be a change of some sort that takes place; something that attests to the fact that He and I have communed together on a personal, spiritual level.

Perhaps a situation that looked hopeless was comforted in prayer, leaving you with a calm you didn’t feel before.  Maybe sorrows grabbed your heart, but through His Word peace was revealed and hope renewed for another day.  In any way, shape, or form that we have an opportunity to hook up with God; to be where He is and to be filled up of Him; we should be fully spiritually awakened to that specific moving of the hour and take full advantage of time spent with Him.

Things can be changed when we meet with God!  We don’t have to leave the same way we came!  He can do a complete turnaround in the hearts and minds of men.  He makes the impossible become possible.  He can speak, and things come to pass that never existed.  Or, just being where He is can renew faith, lift spirits, and dawn hope on a future path that once appeared dreary.

If you come to a service, make up your mind you won’t leave the same way you came in.  There should always be a better impact of being where He is.  There should always be a holy impression made on you and your life from drawing nigh unto the Almighty.  If we meet with Him in life, prayer, praise, or whatever and wherever – do so with the same ambitious, determined mentality: “I will walk away differently than I came.  I am going to benefit from my encounter with God Almighty.”

And, please, hear me really clearly – I am not referring to selfish benefits, dear friend.  For the world and the church hears too much of that these days.  The benefits I speak of are things only He can do in your life; they are workings only He can perform for those who come to where He is.

Yes, some of the examples above show physical blessings of holy encounters.  How much more blessed if we walk away with spiritual benefits abounding?  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” John 10:10 proclaims.  Sweeter still if that abundance is overflowing with the beauty of who He is working on the inside of someone like you and me.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Toss It or Keep It?

Leave a comment

 

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…” Hebrews 10:23

A couple of times a year, I feel like I play a game called toss it or keep it. This is because a couple of times during the year I am forced, due to clutter, to reevaluate what I have and decide whether it is worth keeping or not.

There are many things we work hard at keeping. They either have sentimental value to them, or my personal favorite, a just-in-case motive that keeps them hanging on.

It could be broken – but it comes from…

It could be out of style – but just in case…

It may be something I don’t use right now – but just in case…

It could have lost its value – but just in case…

“Just in case” has gotten me more times than I care to admit. Now, I am eyeing some things that definitely need to be tossed.

Like, why do I still have this here?!

But one thing that should never be tossed aside or treated haphazardly is our faith. It will never lose its power or value; it will never go out of style, and it is something that we will always need.

Our faith fuels our Christian journey. Without it, there is no Christian journey!

You cannot drive a vehicle without the proper fuel, can you? And yet, many treat faith as if it is optional in propelling us forward.

When Scripture tells us to “hold fast the profession of our faith,” it is encouraging us to anchor ourselves in the very core of Who and what we believe. This is not an optional, maybe we’ll use it here and there application, to question our need for. This kind of anchoring becomes the steady ground we stand upon even if everything around us is shifting.

Friend, don’t give up on what you have. Your faith is the most precious thing you could ever possess (1 Peter 1:7).

Faith opens the world of possibilities for you. Faith allows you to see beyond circumstances that appear to be less favorable. Faith speaks encouragement to your heart when the noise of the world gets ugly.

The best way to lean stronger into your faith and increase its effectiveness in your life is to open God’s Word and see what it says to you (Romans 10:17). This is where our faith is fed, strengthened, and grows. This is where our hearts can see what our eyes cannot now (Hebrews 11:1). This is where possibility pushes past impossibility, leading us in ways we never could have imagined.

The Lord has opened the door of faith for us (John 10:9; 14:6). All we have to do is walk through it. And once we have it, we need to keep holding on to it and never let it go.

Many toss the word faith around as if it’s inconsequential, but it is the very thing we are to live by (Hebrews 10:38). Hold on to your faith and keep holding on, no matter what. Because as the Apostle Paul proclaimed, so we can too: “… I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Image by Pexels.com

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

 

 

Resistant to Change?

4 Comments

 

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” Genesis 12:1

Well, are you, my friend? Are you resistant to change? For so many years, I have been. It’s like when I get comfortable, settle in, and establish a good routine in one area, the winds of change begin to blow, and, truthfully, I did not like it one little bit.

But every time I faced certain challenging changes, I found something on the other side of change: a newness I longed for and didn’t know I needed, and didn’t know how to obtain it.

Here’s the thing: in so many areas of life, if we hold on to the old with a tooth-and-nail grip, we actively resist the new that God wants to show us. That which is comfortable may feel good (or not), but it doesn’t mean that’s where you can grow and be everything God has for you.

Abram was uprooted from everything he knew to walk into everything he didn’t know (Gen. 12:1), but it was in this season of change that his life would be radically altered. He would be prosperous beyond his imagination. If he had resisted this change, imagine the domino effect that would have had on history and salvation’s story.

But because he was willing to walk where God was leading him, he became known as the father of faith (Galatians 3:7), God’s friend (James 2:23), and the line through which the story of our salvation would be fulfilled (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8, 14, 29).

The plan that God has for you may not be Abraham’s plan, but it is still monumental and important for what He wants to do in your life, and through you.

Change can be joyous, but it can also, at times, be difficult and unwelcome. No matter what side you lean on, lean on God in trust and faith as Abraham did while He works your story out.

During times of uncertainty and change, the prayer of my heart is, “Here I am, Lord. I don’t know what’s going on or what will happen, but here, I am.”

How do you handle times of difficulty and change?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5

“Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalm 40:4

Text-free Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

A Simple Thank You!

Leave a comment

Father God, Thank You for the simple things, and yet, the not-so-simple things:

Thank You, for waking us up this morning.
Thank You, for the life we live.
Thank You, for every provision
Your loving hand, to us, gives.

For this salvation that lifts our souls
Each and every day.
For the Holy Ghost within us.
Who forever came to stay.

No elaborate or grand gesture
There ever needs to be.
A simply genuine thank You
from our hearts to Thee.

We have so much to be grateful for.
We could never count each one.
But, Lord, we thank You anyway,
With love, from Your daughters and sons.

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalm 9:1

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Conversion, Change, and Commitment | Why Discipleship Matters part 2

Leave a comment

Picking up on the previous post, the ultimate goal of every conversion story is to eventually be “conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:29). When we think of the word “conformed,” it gives the impression that there is a mold or a model.

I have been blessed to acquire many handmade pieces from my grandmother. There was a time in her life when she learned how to work with molds. After the pouring and curing process, she would hand-paint these items that have become family treasures. One of my favorite works of hers is in our nativity scene that I put out every Christmas. Although many pieces are broken and some are missing, the work she did on those molds will always be a treasure to me.

Friends, we are being pressed into a mold so that the end result of our lives is to be like the original, to be like Jesus. What a great treasure that is!

Perhaps that’s why the Apostle Paul taught, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). But change from an old nature to a new nature doesn’t just happen with a snap of the fingers. It comes from walking with one throughout their conversion story, guiding them, and helping them to see the way.

This is the example Scripture repeatedly gives us (as already noted in the previous post). Even the Apostle Paul was aided in conforming and learning about this new life, first and foremost by our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself (see Galatians 1:12; read Vs. 11- 24 for Paul’s testimony of this time).

People left to their own devices, unaided, are susceptible to lies, discouragement, doubt, and being uprooted from the very conviction that caused them to seek conversion in the first place.

Therefore, those who are already members of the body of Christ want to make sure this new member has the tools and support not only to hang on, but to grow and see their lives through the eyes of the Lord.

For when they see their value according to Him, they will fight all the more (and yes, sometimes it is a fight) to daily shed off the old nature from where they came and put on the new nature of who they are now, and where they are going.

Most infants and toddlers don’t begin to take their first steps in learning to walk without holding on to something. Often, what they are holding on to is the loving hands of a parent who is guiding them, caring for them, and supporting them so they do not fall.

How much more support does a new believer need who is trying to walk in a whole new life than the one they came from?

I’m not negating the need for personal holiness or the work that needs to be done for this mindset change (see Ephesians 4:22-24; Matthew 18:3; 1 John 1:6; Colossians 3:9, 10). But people do not know how to do new things without being taught, without examples. One of the reasons YouTube is so popular is that if you are trying to do something new, fix something, or the like, you can almost always find a video on their platform that will walk you through how to do what you are seeking, step-by-step.

Discipleship is God’s answer to the lives that want to change but don’t know how. It is the place where they get one-on-one help, the place where they can see examples of what it means to be in a thriving, loving relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

People cannot go from conversion to change to commitment without knowing how to get from point A to C (see chart below).

There is a lot of space in between, open to all kinds of stuff. What that space is filled with will be determined by what is being poured into the person. Again, this does not negate personal holiness or responsibility, but how much better would the turnout be with proper guidance and exposure to the right things to fill that space?

Every believer has this commission on their lives: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20; emphasis added).

Discipleship is not just witnessing; it is teaching people how to live the Christian life, how to recognize and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He leads them.

Jesus felt we were worth it and had people who invested in us. Now, may we see the worth in others and invest as well.

The Bible calls us the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), and it’s time to share the flavor.

Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Anja from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Conversion, Change, and Commitment | Why Discipleship Matters part 1

Leave a comment

Conversion without change is not really conversion, is it? Yet, this is something we see play out time and again.

People may come and hear a message that stirs their hearts, prompting them to want a new life. They are tired and fed up, and they know that there must be a change. So, upon hearing a message, they make the decision for Christ. Maybe even going so far as to be baptized, but when they rise out of the water and put their clothes back on, they also put back on everything they needed to change from.

Walking into a new life will not happen by accident. A dip in the water could very well just be a dip in the water without the determination within to seek and learn about those things that will foster and grow this new life; to “do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20).

For a real conversion to take place, there must be a real change (Matthew 18:3). Ephesians tells us, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (4:22-24; emphasis added; see also Colossians 3:9, 10). There is a measure of personal responsibility in those verses.

A hunger and thirst for righteousness should begin to grow within the spiritual appetite, wanting something more than what one has always done.

Yet, true growth takes time. As a baby moves through the process of learning to take on food and behaviors that will support its growth, so too does the new Christian who has a true desire for a new life.

Unfortunately, we have seen instances where some just dip and are done. They believe that is all there is. Sadly, this causes one to return to life as usual, with no further commitment or intention to search for or long for more. They believe that they have covered the basic requirements of salvation, and now they are free to live life as they desire, do what they want, even if it contradicts the Word, and will still be fit for heaven.

But here’s what 1 John 1:6 says: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”

My friends, true conversion should produce a real and notable change. Even if it’s not fully mature (and we don’t expect that immediately), people should be able to see that there is something different there now.

There is an old expression: “Come as you are, but don’t stay as you came.” And how true is that?

But, without truly explaining this to people, they are left floundering like a fish out of water. They wonder why B, C, and D aren’t falling into place when A hasn’t been taken care of properly.

This is where discipleship comes in. It is ushering people’s hearts closer to God through guidance and walking with them through those initial steps.

Our greatest example of this comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, who invested His time and care heavily into others who not only had a true change in their lives but were also able to do the same for others.

We must not be content with saying we brought people in. But when they come in, we want to invest in and nurture them as the Lord did with His disciples.

Discipleship is a key ingredient missing in most churches today. We must go back to doing things the way Jesus did to get the results He and the disciples did.

Yes, it will require time. Yes, it will mean sacrifice. Yes, it will often ask you to step out of your comfort zone. But if you truly have a heart to see people walking in a vibrant Christian life, I will say it would all be well worth it.

After all, a heart that is turned to God is a heart that has truly been changed.

Due to the length of this article, I invite you to come back and join me on Friday, July 17, 2026, for part 2.

Blessings~

For more inspiration, check out:

“Ornamental Christianity” 

Top Text-Free Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

The View That Will Change Your Life Forever

Leave a comment

 

Some views will change your life forever.  The scenic wonder as you look out over the mountaintops. The sun that sets below the horizon daily.  The waves that crash on the ocean shores where land and sea collide.  Seeing and feeling the peace of a forest walk as nature saturates your senses.  When our eyes meet places like these, there seems to be an extraordinary pull within us that longs for us to want to relive that experience day after day.  What your eyes see and what you experience have a way of moving you on the inside.

But what about what your heart sees?  How do you respond to the vision of Jesus before you today?  When you look at Him, who do you see?

One day, Jesus had a private moment with His disciples. In that moment, He wanted to know what they saw, not with their eyes, but with their hearts.  After asking about the opinions of others (Mt. 16:13), He wanted to know what those around Him thought for themselves: “But whom say ye that I am?” He asked (Mt. 16:15). 

With that questioning digging into their personal understanding of Him, only one spoke in revealed truth that centered itself in his very being and wouldn’t let go.  Only one man, by the name of Peter, saw Jesus for so much more.  “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16), he said without hesitation or flinching, being fully confident in his answer.

In Jesus, I believe he saw not just the miracles, wonders, and powerful teaching.  He saw Him for who He was: “The Son of the living God.”

When you see Jesus for who He really is, your life will be filled with wonder in a way you have never experienced before, and you will be changed forever.  When the veil of truth is pulled back, and revelation dawns upon your knowing heart, and heaven shows you the Son, things will never be the same. 

As your eyes of faith look upon Him and your soul is drawn to Him, you find in Christ what you have been searching for all your life.  Forward, you walk.  Closer to thee, O Lord, I must be, becomes the craving of your inner man, and it cannot be satisfied with another.

I know how the world views Him.  They call Jesus many things and have many opinions.  But as I rise this day and every day, I see your glory.  I see Your hand in the very details of my life.  I feel You in my heart, and as with Peter, I see the Son before me.  That is the view that has changed my life forever. 

Blessings ~

Father God, we are praying today for many souls to see You for who You are.  We are praying for eyes and hearts to be opened to the eternal truth: salvation can be found in no other, but only in Jesus Christ can lives be truly changed forever (Jn. 14:6). May many grasp this truth today and believe and receive Him for themselves.  In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

Text-free image by David Mark from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com articles/lessons/worksheets may not be copied or redistributed without the express written permission of WordforLifeSays.com.  Please see the COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.  Blessings to you.

Be Kingdom-Minded

Leave a comment

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of  Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

Who better to teach us this lesson than our Lord Jesus Christ?  We celebrate and remember the major aspects of His life:  His birth, death, resurrection, ascension, miracles, healings, and such, but we forget the ministry of His mission.  We take for granted all the times He walked up and down the shores of Galilee, or from town to town, drawing to man’s attention the main reason for His visit to planet earth: the kingdom of Heaven and His great desire to see each of us there one day.

All of those major events are rightly to be celebrated because every one of them is tied to the same purpose – to give us a chance to be a member of that great kingdom one day.  Our Christian life seems so one-sided, but Jesus often encouraged us to be more mindful of life on the other side of eternity.  Sometimes, we flush that out of the process and lose focus on the destination we want to reach when that day comes.

My previous pastor always used to tell us that nobody preached more hell-fire than Jesus.  He continually put in contrast the rewards of one who was on the right path to gain entrance to that kingdom and one who was not: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 5:19).

Sometimes, I can imagine Jesus sitting upon that Mount, teaching the crowds. Or, the daily walks He would take through the cities, while once in a while, turning to His disciples to pass on a tidbit of information for that glorious kingdom.  We would do well to remember throughout our days that everything we do or don’t do will either gain us entrance or prohibit us from entering that kingdom.

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should come short of it,” (Hebrews 4:1).  This is why I believe it is important for us to remain kingdom-minded.  When we take our eyes off the prize, so to speak, we lose focus of our ultimate goal.  And nowhere does that ring more true than in the dealings with our eternal destination.

I want to see God.  I want to see Him on His throne.  I want to witness the glories of heaven.  I want to see the multitudes gathered together without a care.  The only purpose left will be enjoying His presence and praising His holy name!  Can you really imagine what it may be like over there?  Boy, if we could only peel back the curtain of what our natural eyes currently see to view the glorious – Awesome!

Thankfully, we have been left with visions of that splendor by people like John, saying, “I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,” (Revelation 21:2).  Ezekiel also said, “. . . that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God,” (Ezekiel 1:1).  And Daniel left us with this description: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion in an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed,” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Wow!

The call to be kingdom-minded has gone out.  One should not take lightly all that the Lord has prepared for us.  I don’t want to miss the “promise of entering into his rest” (Hebrews 4:1).  May the manner of our lives today be a deposit for the eternal glory that is to come.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc., to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

The Power That Never Goes Out!

Leave a comment

When I woke up this morning, the clock was blinking at 4:40 am. It didn’t make sense because the sun was shining through my bedroom window. Confused, I grabbed my phone and realized the clock was off by several hours. At some time during the night, a transformer blew in our area, and the power went out.

We didn’t know anything had happened until we woke in the morning. While sleeping, we were oblivious to anything that was going on.

Although nothing dramatic came from it, this truth leapt in my heart: God’s power never goes out!

Whether we are lying down at night or walking throughout our day, are we ever truly cognizant of how many times God’s power has kept us, protected us, preceded before us, and provided for us?

How many seen and unseen things could have happened but were halted? How many schemes were made to cease? Dangers averted? Plans revealed?

While our clocks can be blinking the wrong time, God is always on the clock and always on time. The Bible assures us that He never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4). There is never a moment when He is unaware of anything, and with that, we can rest assured that His power is always engaged.

Oh, what confidence we find in this truth! In our times of frailty and lapse, God is completely steady. When we are unconscious of our ways, He is very intentional. When we are asleep, He is vigilant.

And let’s be sure that I am not merely referring to our physical awareness and sleep. God is God at all times. He can never change who He is. His power is as infinite as He is. It cannot be stopped or muted. And it most certainly can never go out.

Dear one, rest your heart and still your mind in the confidence of that truth. When we don’t have it all together, God does. There is nothing that can happen in this world or in our lives that shakes, rattles, or dismisses the power of God! Therefore, in Him, we can trust.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Jeremiah 17:7

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” Psalm 28:7

“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalm 9:10

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:5