“Now I will rise,” says the Lord; “Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up” (Isaiah 33:10).  God rises above the heights of the loftiest mountains. He rises above the ingenuity of the wisest men on the face of the earth. Many have settled for a level of truth based upon what can enter into the minds…

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).  It was not as the result of skills or ingenuity that we were presented on the scene possessing the qualities the world is in desperate need of. In due time, God presents to…

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1Peter 5:10).  The progression that takes place in the life of a Christ-follower begins with the call. He calls us to Himself. Then we can be conformed to the image of…

“Let’s decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine” (1Samuel 24:12 MSG).  We are in a battle for the souls of men. The opposition has the popular vote and has gained momentum over the years. It often appears as if we are on the losing side while vices…

“And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it’s all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward” (Daniel 12:13 MSG).  There are places to go and things yet to be done by those who have put their trust in the Lord. None can predict the future, but we can rest assured that…

“The field is wasted, the land mourns; for the grain is ruined, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails” (Joel 1:10).  There are times when conditions are bleak and the people are called to repentance. Nothing occurs by chance. God withdraws His hand among a people who think they have the abilities to manage their affairs. It is…

“You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance” (Psalm 65:11).  Whatever happens and however it may happen, God ends with the placement of His crown of goodness. That is why He is called good even when things happen that are difficult to explain. When there are valleys there also must be mountains and the deeper…

“The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open; the earth is shaken exceedingly” (Isaiah 24:17).  The earth is violently disturbed as the result of the violent offenses committed against its Creator. It awaits the rule of the sons of God whose aim is to reflect the glory of Jesus Christ. Until then, it is held captive, not willingly…

”The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).  Choices made in relation to lasting friendships: What should we look for?—the importance of having friends. The righteous ought to practice the art of carefully choosing their friends. Once the purpose of friendships is understood, each one can be taken seriously. There are…

“For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? (Romans 3:3).  God is determined to fulfill every one of His promises. Too much is at stake for Him to fail. Yet there are many who doubt Him and question His authority and abandon their post defecting from the faith. Does unbelief negate…

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).  God has the ability to stabilize our walk and keep us from staggering. It is the staggering walk or the unsettled and unsure steps that eventually lead to a fall. We don’t have to…

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God” (Psalm 143:10).  We often look to God with questions of bewilderment and doubt wondering why God does not give more attention to what we want and consider as important. Sometimes it seems as if the heavens are as brass when we pray our prayers and put forth our best…