Post by mommadee48 on Feb 26, 2023 6:49:21 GMT -5
OUR DAILY BREAD; by Charles Stanley, Read (PSALM 32: NLT BIBLE).
MORE THAN SKIN DEEP; Jos'e, a young believer in Jesus, was visiting his brother's church. As he entered the sanctuary prior to the service, his brother's face fell when he saw him. Jos'e's tattoos, covering both arms, were visible since he was wearing a T-shirt. His brother told him to go home and put on a long-sleeved shirt, for many of Jos'e tattoos reflected the ways of his past. Jos'e suddenly felt dirty. But another man overheard the brothers' interaction and brought Jos'e to the pastor, telling him what had happened. The pastor smiled and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a large tattoo on his chest---something from his own past. He assured Jos'e that because God had made him pure from the inside out, he didn't need to cover his arms.
David experienced the joy of being made pure by God. After confessing his sin to Him, the King wrote, "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!"(Psalm 32:1NLT). He could now "shout for joy" with others "whose hearts are pure!"(v.11 NLT). The apostle Paul later quoted Psalm 32:1-2 in Romans 4:7-8, a passage declaring that faith in Jesus leads to salvation and a pure standing before Him (see Romans 4: 23-25).
Our purity in Jesus is much more than skin deep, for He knows and purifies our hearts (1Samuel 16:7; 1John 1:9). May we rejoice in His purifying work today.
1) Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3) When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4) For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6) Therefore, let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7) You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving on you.
9) Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10) Many woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11) Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart.
A LETTER FROM PASTOR CHARLES STANLEY;
Dear Friends,
Once, on a wilderness photography trip, we had traveled up a trail for about three hours when I suspected we were lost. The guide assured me we were on the correct path, by my uncertainty didn't go away. I pulled out my compass to check, showed it to the guide, and he finally greed---somehow we had veered off course. By the time we reached our destination, the light was fading as evening approached. I was disappointed because I probably missed some great shots.
Mayb e you've sometimes wondered if you were going the right way. If having the right guide was that important for a photography trip, imagine how much more important it is in daily life. It's a complex world full of obstacles and deceptive ideas along the way. Even your own desires, dreams, and plans might cause you to veer from God's course. How much better it is to trust and follow your Savior, who died to rescue you from sin and give you abundant life (JOHN 10:10).
Are you on the path the Lord has prepared for you today, or have you decided to direct yourself?
One of my favorite passages about divine guidance is Psalm 32:8-9. It contains a promise and a warning. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with MY eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near you."
Sometimes it may feel as if the path ahead is uncharted===after all, you've never been alive before. You have your own calling and you're uniquely made in God's image, as all HIS children are. However, you're not the first person to with Lord. And though the world has changed, the human condition hasn't. Many faithful believers have gone before you, and there's much to learn from their examples (Hebrews 12:1-2).
I've always found it to be a tremendous comfort knowing the Lord is always with us on this journey, and that He gives us the company of His saints as we go. For as long as you and I are on earth, He'll receive each of us with open arms into His glory (Psalm 73:23-24). To appreciate what a blessing this is, let's look at how He'll lovingly guide your life---if you follow.
God carefully watches over you. "Lord, YOU have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 139:1-3). Jehovah God knows you better than you know yourself, which means He's mor qualified than you to guide your life. He understands all your weaknesses, is familiar every facet of your personality, and takes all these things into account as He directs your steps.
The Lord always chooses the best path for you. We know this in our minds, but sometimes we look around and doubt that the path we're on could possibly be the best. Suffering, illness, loss, trouble, unfairness, and hardship certainly don't seem good to us. That's when we need to remember the words of the psalmist. "It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes"(Psalm 119:71). Even when times are hard, God's plan is still good. He hasn't failed you.
The Lord Jehovah chooses experiences for us that work for His eternal purpose of making us more like Christ. The question isn't whether His is the right path, but whether you'll trust Him in the midst of the storm, dark valleys, dangerous passages, and rough terrain. Wherever you are in life right now, the Lord is right there with you, guiding and strengthening you to walk through it.
God's provides everything you'll need as you follow Him. "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter1:3). The Lord Jehovah gives strength when you're weary, hope when you're discouraged, comfort in loneliness, and wisdom when you lack understanding. No other guide can do all this, and you'll find it in no path but His. God's grace is sufficient for every need and situation.
God guides you with His Word. "Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Perhaps the reason we don't sense the Lord's guidance is because we aren't looking for it. Or maybe we're looking in the wrong place. The best way to recognize His direction is through consistent reading of His Word. That's where you'll find His voice. as well as exemplary stories of saints who've gone before you. The more familiar you become with the Bible, the better you'll be able to perceive His leading.
The Lord is willing and able to guide you on the best path if you'll heed His directions and follow where He leads, but a stubborn spirit only makes the journey harder for you. The key to following your Lord is developing a humble, teachable spirit that's willing to submit to Him at every stage of the journey. Remember, He alone knows the trail. And He'll never, ever lead you astray.
"You have an opportunity to develop your walk with Christ, in a way you thought that couldn't even get better, not harder." God Bless!
MORE THAN SKIN DEEP; Jos'e, a young believer in Jesus, was visiting his brother's church. As he entered the sanctuary prior to the service, his brother's face fell when he saw him. Jos'e's tattoos, covering both arms, were visible since he was wearing a T-shirt. His brother told him to go home and put on a long-sleeved shirt, for many of Jos'e tattoos reflected the ways of his past. Jos'e suddenly felt dirty. But another man overheard the brothers' interaction and brought Jos'e to the pastor, telling him what had happened. The pastor smiled and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a large tattoo on his chest---something from his own past. He assured Jos'e that because God had made him pure from the inside out, he didn't need to cover his arms.
David experienced the joy of being made pure by God. After confessing his sin to Him, the King wrote, "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!"(Psalm 32:1NLT). He could now "shout for joy" with others "whose hearts are pure!"(v.11 NLT). The apostle Paul later quoted Psalm 32:1-2 in Romans 4:7-8, a passage declaring that faith in Jesus leads to salvation and a pure standing before Him (see Romans 4: 23-25).
Our purity in Jesus is much more than skin deep, for He knows and purifies our hearts (1Samuel 16:7; 1John 1:9). May we rejoice in His purifying work today.
1) Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2) Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3) When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4) For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6) Therefore, let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7) You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving on you.
9) Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10) Many woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11) Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart.
A LETTER FROM PASTOR CHARLES STANLEY;
Dear Friends,
Once, on a wilderness photography trip, we had traveled up a trail for about three hours when I suspected we were lost. The guide assured me we were on the correct path, by my uncertainty didn't go away. I pulled out my compass to check, showed it to the guide, and he finally greed---somehow we had veered off course. By the time we reached our destination, the light was fading as evening approached. I was disappointed because I probably missed some great shots.
Mayb e you've sometimes wondered if you were going the right way. If having the right guide was that important for a photography trip, imagine how much more important it is in daily life. It's a complex world full of obstacles and deceptive ideas along the way. Even your own desires, dreams, and plans might cause you to veer from God's course. How much better it is to trust and follow your Savior, who died to rescue you from sin and give you abundant life (JOHN 10:10).
Are you on the path the Lord has prepared for you today, or have you decided to direct yourself?
One of my favorite passages about divine guidance is Psalm 32:8-9. It contains a promise and a warning. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with MY eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near you."
Sometimes it may feel as if the path ahead is uncharted===after all, you've never been alive before. You have your own calling and you're uniquely made in God's image, as all HIS children are. However, you're not the first person to with Lord. And though the world has changed, the human condition hasn't. Many faithful believers have gone before you, and there's much to learn from their examples (Hebrews 12:1-2).
I've always found it to be a tremendous comfort knowing the Lord is always with us on this journey, and that He gives us the company of His saints as we go. For as long as you and I are on earth, He'll receive each of us with open arms into His glory (Psalm 73:23-24). To appreciate what a blessing this is, let's look at how He'll lovingly guide your life---if you follow.
God carefully watches over you. "Lord, YOU have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 139:1-3). Jehovah God knows you better than you know yourself, which means He's mor qualified than you to guide your life. He understands all your weaknesses, is familiar every facet of your personality, and takes all these things into account as He directs your steps.
The Lord always chooses the best path for you. We know this in our minds, but sometimes we look around and doubt that the path we're on could possibly be the best. Suffering, illness, loss, trouble, unfairness, and hardship certainly don't seem good to us. That's when we need to remember the words of the psalmist. "It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes"(Psalm 119:71). Even when times are hard, God's plan is still good. He hasn't failed you.
The Lord Jehovah chooses experiences for us that work for His eternal purpose of making us more like Christ. The question isn't whether His is the right path, but whether you'll trust Him in the midst of the storm, dark valleys, dangerous passages, and rough terrain. Wherever you are in life right now, the Lord is right there with you, guiding and strengthening you to walk through it.
God's provides everything you'll need as you follow Him. "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter1:3). The Lord Jehovah gives strength when you're weary, hope when you're discouraged, comfort in loneliness, and wisdom when you lack understanding. No other guide can do all this, and you'll find it in no path but His. God's grace is sufficient for every need and situation.
God guides you with His Word. "Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Perhaps the reason we don't sense the Lord's guidance is because we aren't looking for it. Or maybe we're looking in the wrong place. The best way to recognize His direction is through consistent reading of His Word. That's where you'll find His voice. as well as exemplary stories of saints who've gone before you. The more familiar you become with the Bible, the better you'll be able to perceive His leading.
The Lord is willing and able to guide you on the best path if you'll heed His directions and follow where He leads, but a stubborn spirit only makes the journey harder for you. The key to following your Lord is developing a humble, teachable spirit that's willing to submit to Him at every stage of the journey. Remember, He alone knows the trail. And He'll never, ever lead you astray.
"You have an opportunity to develop your walk with Christ, in a way you thought that couldn't even get better, not harder." God Bless!