“You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (Job 42:3). 

We all have spoken before we had given thought to what we should say. Those words were merely from the top of heads and not words from the depth of our hearts. These words we live to regret if we ever develop a humble and a tender heart. It is the wisdom of God that tames our words enabling us to speak wisdom. When we have taken the time to seek the Lord in prayer and meditate over who He is and what He has done, we are more careful to think before we speak. Many people have been misled by counsel from the hearts of unregenerate men. They have listened to the counsel of the ungodly, even among the religious, and have followed the course that leads to destruction of character and soul. God’s counsel can be obscured by the careless opinions and faulty interpretations of men. The Word of Truth is very precious. When we realize its true value we will seek it with greater diligence and treasure it above the value of silver and gold. 

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). 

It is not merely the exposure to the Word that will transform lives. The Word ingested is the cause for rejoicing. It is able to do its work of transformation remaking the individual into a vessel of honor. It is the contrast from the old to the new that is so amazing. Before the Word was eaten, it was made available. There was no appetite to reach out and take it in. But God allowed the void to become more apparent. Then He shut off the alternative appeals that would in the past bring temporary pleasure. He placed me where the Word may be found and placed within me the desire for something other than what I was accustomed. Then I ate what is true rather than continuing to feed on the lies of the past. Never would I have imagined that what I once rejected would bring me such joy!

“You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples” (Psalm 77:14). 

God is at work among the peoples of the earth. He has ordered the whole of creation to bow at His feet. Nothing is able to remain standing in defiance of Him. He rules in power and in might. The raging of heathens who align themselves as armies will utterly fall. The conspiracies among the rulers of this age will be confounded. God is not troubled by the circumstances that appear to overtake those who have placed their trust in Him. All will ultimately see that God is their strength and their present help in the time of trouble. He will bring down those who exalt themselves, and lift up all that humble themselves before Him. It will be a marvelous sight to see when God arises among those who belong to Him. They would have appeared to be the laughing stock of the world. They have suffered the loss of friends, fame, and fortune. But God, who has placed His Word within their hearts, will speak through them words of deliverance directed towards those who would be saved. A clear voice will be heard through the trials of His saints. None of their experiences will go without purpose. He will use their witness to the world that the weak things and foolish things are stronger and wiser than those who rely on their own strength and wisdom. 

“I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10). 

The Lord looks at the heart of every person and does not merely see its present condition. He looks into the heart at every contributing factor that motivates both mind and heart. We see the world and people through the lenses of past experiences whether good or bad. Our heart is set in a particular direction while our mind searches out new things to explore. God searches the heart in order to remove the debris that hinders our minds from thinking on things which are just, lovely, pure, and good. Our thoughts will determine our actions. Our truest motives are from our hearts, be they pure or impure. What God has ordained will continue to affect the lives of others bringing them to deeper and greater levels of understanding Jesus Christ. He must be seen in all that we do. When He is glorified through our efforts, our work will have eternal rewards rather than merely producing temporary relief. He rewards the fruit of our actions and not our deeds alone. 

“and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” (1Thessalonians 3:2). 

We are encouraged through others who have been well taught and learned the lesson of diligence and persistence in the faith. Timothy had learned much from Paul’s tutorship. His boldness came as result of the encouragement from a seasoned saint who had forsaken all for the cause of Christ. As he imitated his leader he gained a testimony which would do more for a new convert than what might be learned from the Apostle. Much more would be expected from Paul therefore it would more difficult to relate to his experiences. But when young Timothy would stand before a neophyte beginning the long journey from the start, it would be much easier to relate to him. We need the testimony of young men and women if we are to reach this generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they would speak convincingly to their peers, it could turn their generation around. We are praying that God would raise up more youthful and inspiring Timothies. We will send them out if they are willing and ready to go. 

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (Revelation 1:19). 

The revelation of Jesus Christ gave John the insight to write His testimony describing the past, the present, and the future. Time and space no longer exist as divided in His presence. He takes us beyond the moment and brings all things into an eternal perspective. When we are facing challenges, it is impossible for us to see into the future. It appears as if the bulls of Bashan have surrounded us, awaiting the moment to attack and destroy us. He tells us to write what we have seen. Those moments when viewed from eternity were not there for our defeat but rather for our deliverance and future victory. “God Provides” became our testimony. He showed up in the midst of our deepest woe in order to prove Himself strong on our behalf when were at our weakest point. It was His strength made perfect when all that we attempted had failed. He said to John, “Write it down!” In other words, He asked him to mark the spot where he is standing today and watch Him move all things in the direction He alone has determined. Our faith frees us for the journey from here to there. As we learn to trust in Jesus and remain steadfast, unmovable, always basking in the love of the Lord, we will achieve our goals.

“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does” (Job 23:13). 

God is complete in and of Himself. He is not like us with needs that may cause our focus to shift from one thing to another. Those are the limits placed upon the human experience. We navigate through time not knowing the things that lie ahead of us. But God knows the end before the beginning. He is light and in Him are no shifting shadows. Why would He change His mind for such things that may be a fleeting thought within our minds? Instead of His mind being changed by us, our minds are to be renewed by Him. True humility is exercised when we are willing to forgo our will to what another wills. When we trust Him in areas we do not understand, He will give us the will and desire to please Him. We will experience His goodness and grow in our understanding of the dimensions of His love. What a blessing it is to find pleasure in what pleases Him! His uniqueness can then be celebrated. Some may wish to wrestle out of His hands what is exclusively His. He is God alone and infinite. We are but finite instruments of clay. It is His life within us that sets us apart from the rest of the world. Nothing can be compared to the joy that is experienced when our ways please the Lord. He gives us His joy, a joy that the external world cannot receive nor comprehend. 

“All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied” 

(Ecclesiastes 6:7). 

The work of man’s hands may satisfy his immediate but not his ultimate needs. Hard work is required for one to eat his bread and provide for his family. Yet there are needs beyond the immediate but requiring immediate attention. The deep longing within the soul is the discontent appearing to have no solution. It drives many to activities in search of relieving the tension and the endless desire of the heart. The mind seeks new adventures but after the episode has ended, the soul is left wanting more than what it had just experienced. This is the Jesus-shaped void within every man that only He is able to fill. The fulfilled person can find pleasure in life thus integrating all of his labor into worship. God provides for him the strength to work as well as rest. His rest is sweet because his thoughts are established and not left to wander in the direction of things that may bring pleasure for a moment but misery for a lifetime.