He Knows Your Walking!

February 7, 2023February 6, 2023Leave a comment

“He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” Deuteronomy 2:7

He knows your walking. Every step you take has His attention. The wilderness comes with many perils. The wilderness can be a place of lack, yet God reminds His people, “thou hast lacked nothing,” Deut. 2:7.

What wilderness are you in right now? Our God knows. Does your desert place bring tears? Is companionship missing in your world? Nothing is hidden from the eyes of our Father. The steps you take in this weary land are marked with His supreme knowledge.

When Moses rehearsed their traveling through this land, he reminded them of the good times and the bad – and yet, through it all, God saw their walking. As His beloved, He knew where they were and what they were dealing with.

The same can be said for each of us. God sees the paths we take. He sees the trudging through the murky times. He sees the hard roads traveled. He recognizes that every trip is not a time of prancing through the peaceful meadows, but there are hills to climb, some slippery, some steep. He recognizes the sweat and the effort it takes to keep going. He sees every choice, every footfall.

My friends, some days when we walk it seems we are walking through a river of tears, walking in waters too deep with currents that are too strong. But the encouragement for our souls is it is not lost on our God and no step we take is wasted. Every step in the right direction, regardless of how hard it may be, will lead to our place of promise.

Some days it may seem that we are walking in circles – not sure what we are doing or where we are going. But while we are walking, we can walk with hope. We can walk in faith (yes, even if you can’t feel it, we can still step out in faith by just moving forward). We can walk in the confidence in the victory that lay ahead for us.

In the unsure moments, the disappointing moments, and the hurting moments, He sees it all.

Knowing that God sees me walking through this great wilderness brings a special measure of comfort to my soul. The wilderness may take its toll on you, and it may even make us question some things along the way – but, even then, and even there, our steps are known. Our hearts can be filled with this great truth even in the wilderness.

My friends, we hold so much in us while we are walking through this wilderness. We experience so much in this dry place. Each of us has encountered a wilderness area we may be walking through, have walked through, or are about to walk through. It is in this season of life, that the struggle from day to day can be overwhelming. For some, you have walked so long and so far, that you may feel like you are lost in a desert. But, no matter what stage of your walking, God still sees you. His eyes have not left you and His heart is for you.

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.

Please Note: Ads below or referenced on this site are prefabricated and mass-produced (of which I currently have no control over) and DO NOT necessarily represent the views and/or beliefs of this site and its admin.

“Interruption of Peace” — Word For Life Says…

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023Leave a comment

The Bible declares, “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blessed His people with peace,” (Psalm 29:1). Peace is a divine blessing. It’s something that is the right of every child of God to have. Refuse to let it go!
“Interruption of Peace” — Word For Life Says…

You Are Not the Only One

February 1, 2023February 1, 2023Leave a comment

You are seen. You are heard. You are not alone.

Photo by Gabriela Palai on Pexels.com

“. . . knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:9

Sadness. Sorrow. Pain. Sickness. Disappointment with others. Disappointment with yourself. Hurt. Betrayal, and more, can make anyone feel like they are living on an isolated island of despair. While others may be physically near, the trials and troubles we encounter in this world can often make people feel alone, as if they are the only ones going through anything adverse or hard at the moment.

But the truth is, no matter the smile that splits across a face, and no matter how a social media post may read, people, every day, are suffering behind the façade. Some are excellent at grinning and bearing it, while others will show you only what they want you to see. Different people handle their different circumstances in different ways, but it does not mean they are not going through hardship or dealing with adversity.

It is easy to feel alone in the midst of trials. The enemy would like nothing more than for you to think this way because when we feel alone, we tend to pull back into hiding, and we pull back our trust. We don’t share with others what we are going through, carrying the burden and the weight of the moment on our own shoulders.

The beauty of the Bible is it does not hold back. It shows us the good and the bad and lets us know the reality that comes with this life, that whether they show it or not, there are perhaps others around you who are experiencing afflictions of their own.

Jesus gave us no illusion that every day would be an awesome experience. He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33; emphasis mine). We may not like to say or think about it, but there may be some things that come your way that will not put a smile on your face. It may even leave you wondering, crying, “Why is this happening to me?”

While the words “you are not the only one” may not make you personally feel better, know that any affliction you face for your Lord will come with a promise that you are not alone (Hebrews 13:5). It comes with grace and strength to say, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

In times of personal pain, all of this may be hard to digest. And I, for one, never want to brush off the realness of what others are going through. But I do hope to encourage you, dear blessed one, that you are seen, you are heard, you are not alone regardless of what it feels like, and you matter so much to our heavenly Father.

What you are going through is not a trivial thing and we are not brushing it under the rug of Scripture or a well-placed verse. But I personally pray that your heart will be full, knowing God’s love for you, and knowing the body of Christ is rooting for you. We love you, dear one, and God loves you more.

Defense Against the Tongue-Waggers

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023Leave a comment

“And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn,” Isaiah 54:17

Where to begin! The Bible covers so much about the tongue, its power, and its effect that you would think we wouldn’t have to keep teaching about it and relearning these lessons over and over again.

Yet, here we are. Why? Because the tongue can be so hard to control (Ja. 3:8). Which of us is not guilty of having loose lips at one point or another? Which of us has not felt the sting of a sharp tongue?

God guards His word, but He also hears our words and how they are used. More than that, He sees how words are used against His people.

The hurt that tongues let loose on others can be described as lashing or scourging (Jb. 5:21) in the pain they cause. The psalmist recognized that the “strife of tongues” is something we need to be protected against (Ps. 31:20) because of the damage wrong words, especially words of accusations, can cause.

While it is easy to remember that God is mindful of us (Ps. 8:3-4), we must also remember that there is not a foul word spoken against us that gets passed Him. God is the protector of not only your life but your integrity.

When David experienced the wicked schemes of others against himself, one thing he prayed about was the hurtful way they used their tongue like a serpent’s bite, full of poison (Ps. 140:3). Demonstrating faith in God, he prayed, “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor,” (Ps. 140:12).

Yes, dear friend, the same God who knows even the very hairs of your head is the same God who is aware of every word spoken against you, and God will defend.

In the meantime, let us be mindful to choose wisely our own words with wisdom from above (Ja. 3:8-17).

“For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.” Psalm 31:13-14

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” Proverbs 11:13

“A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.” Proverbs 12:23

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

Is the Familiar Holding You Back?

January 13, 2023Leave a comment

Photo by Sebastian Arie Voortman on Pexels.com

Is the familiar holding you back? Has the comfort of where you are now satisfied you into a state of complacency and false ease? Has fear paralyzed your progress forward?

Unknown. Unfamiliar. These words are areas that we don’t know like the place where we are now. But the plans of our life and the order of our steps were never really ours to begin with (Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 119:133).

I will admit, there are some things where I wish the curtain were opened a little wider so that I can see more of the picture hidden behind. But that is not what faith demands (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith asks for trust (Proverbs 3:5-6). And faith asks for our obedience to move forward even if we don’t quite know all the steps or how it will turn out in the end.

The familiar is all around you every day. It can snuggle you like that comfy blanket you drape over you when you want to settle down for the evening and have a nice read or watch a favorite show. But settling is not a place to set up shop when you feel God calling you for more.

Do you feel Him calling? If so, seek His face for guidance, ask Him for help, and when He prompts you to, walk forward in faith.

Blessings to you on your journey to break the chains of familiarity.

More Inspirational Articles to Encourage Your Journey:

“Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone”

“You Don’t Need to Know Everything!”

“Be Progressive”

I Say to You, Arise!

January 9, 2023Leave a comment

“I say unto thee, arise.” Mark 5:41

It’s too late. The time for a turnaround has passed. The episode of this life is gone and there’s nothing we can do about it.

“There is nothing we can do about it.” Sound familiar? How many times in our lives have these words been spoken by others, or even by us? These words surface when we are at a loss for how to handle what’s before us. It could be that we have tried, perhaps multiple times, to work on a solution in the midst of a mess, but our trying has fallen flat, and it just didn’t come together as we had hoped.

At this point, the white flag of surrender is raised, and we give up. Looking at what seems to be irreversible and impossible, a solution unrecognizable to us, it is easy to believe that the time of hope is no more. “Why troublest thou the Master any further?” (v. 35). For them, they knew what death looked like and the time for help has gone by according to what they believed to be true, so they spoke, “Thy daughter is dead.”

But when you invite Jesus to your house. When you ask for Him to get involved with the problem, there is nothing too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17, 27).

“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe” (v. 36). Jesus stepped in and took immediate action against anyone who would try to stand in the way of this miracle from going forth. As soon as He heard the negative report, He countered it with His own promise: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Their news was dismal, and they were ready to close the case on the possibility of something good coming from this hurt, but Jesus had better in mind.

There is no situation that is beyond His power to help when it is relinquished into the hands of our God. Instead of holding on to what you see and feel, hold on to your faith. During these crucial moments, give Jesus space to work a miracle. Others may not understand, and the full revelation may escape you, nevertheless, “let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6) and believe.

“I say to you, arise” (NKJV). The command for life to return to this daughter speaks hope: “It is not too late!” Where we may see the end, Jesus sees a new beginning. In what area are you hoping to see a turnaround? Believe, trust, and arise!

Father God, we are praying for Your touch in the midst of whatever we are facing. Healing, deliverance, or just circumstance – Father God, we need You. We believe that You can work the impossible. We believe that Your favor and blessings and miracles are still in effect today. And whatever it looks like, it is not too far gone for You. Father God, we believe that You can restore, you can bring it back to wholeness and healing, and cause us to arise. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1, 2) is my heart’s prayer, and it is in Your hands, O God, we place it all. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray, AMEN!

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

A Truth You Must Know

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022Leave a comment

Perfection. Innocent. Pure and undefiled is how the world stood. It was beautifully unmarked and untainted from heaven’s sky to the dirt on the ground.

Then came sin with all the diseases that follow its wrong course. There was now pain and sorrow, hurtfulness and despair. Perfection has been injured. What was beautiful has received a scar. The world was fallen – utterly torn apart (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12).

Torn apart from its innocence. Pure no more.

Torn apart from its Maker. What would happen now?

Would He turn away and erase it all? Could the shattered love that spoke of its good still see hope in the end?

He did.

God didn’t leave the fallen world without an answer to its depravity. He refused to forget His love for the ones He made. He made a choice and had a plan to redeem what was broken. In Jesus Christ, He had the cure: “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:4).

We can look around and measure the world by the wickedness we see. Or we can look at how much grace was bestowed on you and me.

In the world, we were far from perfect or right. In the world, we too groped like people in the night. But His plan shone a light to help us see that this is not the end of the story for us or humanity (Jn. 3:16).

Friend, if you have fallen, may your eyes upon Him turn. He has not forgotten you. God is waiting for your return. There is salvation ready in His redemptive plan. Something that could never be earned by any woman or man. But because His love for us is so real, His only begotten Son became our everlasting seal:

“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel . . .” (Col. 1:19-23)

When we believe, we are redeemed, covered by the ransom’s cost which His holy and undefiled blood has bought (1 Pet. 1:18-19). That is the truth you must grasp today. The question is, will you accept the Gift that saves (2 Cor. 9:15; Jn. 3:16)?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Image by Suanpa from Pixabay

Before the day was, I am He!

November 18, 2022November 18, 2022Leave a comment

“Yea, before the day was I am he . . .” Isaiah 43:13

There is a time and a place for all things, that is what they say. Some will argue their disbelief in God because they have trouble with not being able to pinpoint His beginning. This life, this walk of faith demands that we believe God for who He says He is: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8), meaning there was never a time God was not. He was before all and will continue to be, forever and ever. The psalmist celebrated this by saying, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2), a truth repeatedly recognized throughout Scripture (Job 36:23; Psalm 93:2; Isaiah 41:4).

The Bible begins with the very words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). God is responsible for all of the Creation events. He “laid the foundations of the earth” (Psalm 104:5). When “the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2a), God was already there moving: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2b). Before light (Genesis 1:3-4), and even before there was a day or a night (Genesis 1:5), there was God. He has always been and will always be.

“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things” (Isaiah 40:25-26a). God is the Creator of all things. Knowing who laid the foundations. Knowing He who was before all things, solidifies our faith in the one and only true living God.

There is no one like our God. He testified of Himself before Moses and said, ““I AM THAT I AM,” (Exodus 3:14), meaning just that. He has always existed before anything else, and He has always been before even one day was ever noted in history. He is God all by Himself: “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6).

God has no equal! There is nobody that can be measured up to Him! There is no comparison, no rival, no match, and no substitutes – none that can be even remotely like God! There is only one God, and from before the foundations of the earth, God has been, and He has been in control. All we need to do is simply put our trust in Him, believe in Him, wait on Him, and watch Him work: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

The eternal nature of God cannot be understood by pinpointing days, only by believing in faith: “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27).

Weeping and Washing

November 16, 2022November 16, 2022Leave a comment

“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he could eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke 7:36-38

Regardless of how they looked at her or what they thought of her, she came.

They scowled, they scorned, they didn’t like her – but she still came.

They counted her unworthy, undeserving, and disqualified. Even then, she came.

Her sin met her Savior. And though they said she shouldn’t be there, Jesus did not deny her access. So, she came.

The atmosphere hung heavy with her guilt and shame, but His forgiveness erased all that blame. She couldn’t help it. She had to come to Him without delay.

With weeping and washing, her gratitude and love, He did not turn away. She came with a gift so precious, more than what she poured that day.

A heart surrendered. A heart that had been freed. A heart delivered and determined to show how much He meant indeed.

A year’s wages was the cost, nothing compared to the weight of sin she gladly lost. She lovingly poured upon His feet, weeping and washing with her hair. Of their opinions, she did not care.

This repentant heart that was humbled and healed. She would not let the judgment of others, her joy to steal.

She came to Jesus, and poured out her best. With weeping and washing, she blessed, and was blessed.

Weeping and washing, humbled hearts so true. If you come, Jesus will welcome you too.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

While We Were Yet Sinners . . .

November 9, 2022November 9, 2022Leave a comment

Forgiveness is something none will make it to heaven without. It doesn’t matter who you are or what one has done in life, from the highest to the lowest, without accepting the life Christ offers through His salvation and forgiveness, we will not make it in. The Bible records, “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Psalm 130:3-4).

Who could stand? Absolutely no one! (See Romans 3:10). Without His covering and remission of sins, the pathway to heaven will be blocked; access denied! It doesn’t matter if one’s walk of life is a Pharisee or a prostitute, there is no an individual who is worthy enough to enter the gates of glory without Jesus’ forgiveness.

Question: What would happen if today God sat down and took account of all the wrongs we have done? What would it be like if we stood before Him unable to pay what we owe? We were there! Jesus knew the predicament that humanity was in. He knew that mankind could never get himself out of the debt of sin, so through Him, we obtain that freedom along with grace, mercy, and compassion as people who don’t deserve it.

The Bible reminds us, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8). I guarantee if we were to look at ourselves, we could not fathom how many times our accounts would have gone unpaid had it not been for the blood of Christ. But thank God, He acted in love to save us! Not just us – but everyone who comes to Him in faith regardless of the background of sin.

The price has already been paid. You are free to turn to Jesus today and accept Him for yourself:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” Ephesians 1:7.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” Colossians 1:14.

“While we were yet sinners,” Jesus fulfilled the requirements the cross demanded on our behalf. He paid the price we could never pay. He didn’t wait for us to “get our act together,” for without Him, without the power of His Holy Spirit, we were never able to do this on our own.

So, with the preciousness of His life, He laid it down, so that we can experience what it is like to unload the heavy burden of sin from us and live joyfully in grace knowing how much we are loved by Him.

Adapted from the previous article: Sunday School Lesson – “Saved by Faith” Luke 7:36-50

Word For Life Says…

God's Word for Your Life Today!

Tag: Inspirational Bible Devotions

He Knows Your Walking!

“Interruption of Peace” — Word For Life Says…

You Are Not the Only One

Defense Against the Tongue-Waggers

Is the Familiar Holding You Back?

I Say to You, Arise!

A Truth You Must Know

Before the day was, I am He!

Weeping and Washing

While We Were Yet Sinners . . .

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: