Morning Devotional November 25, 2023

 

Psalm 106:1

“Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Traditionally in our country the Thanksgiving Season lasts from Sunday-Sunday with Thanksgiving Day being observed on Thursday. One short week we as a nation hold as a time of giving thanks to our Creator. But for many the time of thanksgiving is short lived each year. It's concentrated around the noon time meal on Thanksgiving Day and maybe around the leftovers for supper then all focus changes to the most pagan of holy days observed by God's people.

Sometime back in the 1980s retailers in the USA began referring to the Friday after Thanksgiving Day as Black Friday. Known as the busiest shopping day of the year due to the sales put on by most major retail stores and now online outlets as a start to the christmas season. But as the popularity of this day has grown, a lot of businesses now start their Black Friday sales a few weeks or even a month before the actual day arrives and the christmas season now starts in August. Essentially shortening the Thanksgiving Day Season to one day. And for sports fans, Thanksgiving Day is shortened to just a few hours surrounding the noon meal.

We have become such a self motivated society we can not concentrate for more than a few hours on giving thanks to the one who has blessed us beyond measure. God's people have become so filled with the things of the world we will not take the opportunity to proclaim our Lord and Savior to our friends and relatives at a time when He is fresh on their minds from the day we have set aside to give Him thanks.

The Psalmist in our text verse wrote “for his mercy endureth for ever.” As God's people, we must remember if it were not for God's grace and mercy on us we would be on our way to the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

So, where are your thoughts today? Just two short days after Thanksgiving Day, have your thoughts gone from thankfulness to who's playing football this weekend or are your thoughts gone to observing a season which is filled with lies and deception about the birth of the One who we were just giving thanks to two days ago? Do you give more thanks to the things of the world or to our Lord and Savior during this time?

Hebrews 13:15 - “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 24, 2023

 Psalm 103

“1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 23, 2023

 Jonah 2

“1 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,

2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.

7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

10 And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

The Lord instructs us to give thanks for everything. The good and the bad. Certainly, in the lowest point in Jonah's life he had plenty to feel sorry for himself about. But, even at his lowest point, physically and spiritually, Jonah found plenty to give thanks to God. How about us today? Are we giving thanks to God as we should? If not, why not?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 19, 2023

 

1 Chronicles 29:13

“Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 16, 2023

 1 Chronicles 29:10-20

“10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

20 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.”

Some say this is the last public appearance of king David before the people of Israel. But notice a few things here.

1. Notice in the first verse and the last verse the word “congregation”. When this word is used in reference to the people of Israel in the Old Testament it is speaking of God's people within the Nation of Israel. Not all of Israel was saved by God's grace. Not all of the Nation of Israel were God's elect unto salvation.

2. Notice king David commands the congregation to pray to God and to give unto God thanksgivings. Since those who are spiritually dead can not pray then certainly David was talking to only those who were saved by God's grace.

3. Notice the humbleness of giving thanks to God started with the king of the Nation. King David used himself as the example of how the people of God were to humbly pray before God for all the blessings God had bestowed upon the Nation as a whole.

4. When is the last time we have witnessed a national leader so humble to lead God's people in his nation in prayer of thanksgiving?

   Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 14, 2023

 

James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 5, 2023

 

Hebrews 13:15

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

The continually means always or never ending. Our praise or God must be always and never ending. Even in the toughest of trials and tribulations. Even in times of despair and grief. We must continually praise God.

And not just within ourselves or to ourselves. But, out loud for others to hear. Part of our witness of God to others is for them to see and hear our praise for His everlasting grace and mercy upon us His children.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 2, 2023

 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Again, we are told to give thanks for everything. Why? Because this is God's will in Christ Jesus for His people. People often wonder what God's will is for their life. Well here's your answer. Humble yourself in your prayers and supplications and go to God with prayers of thanksgiving. Give God all the praise and the glory for everything. Then go to Him, seeking His will for your life.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 1, 2023

 

Colossians 3:15-17

“15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Over and over again, throughout God's Word we are commanded to give thanks to God. Why have we strayed so? Let us pray; God forgive us for this inexcusable sin.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 31, 2023

Philippians 4:6

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Notice how Paul tells us to pray in this verse. “With Thanksgiving”. If we truly desire sweet communion with our Heavenly Father we do not go to Him demanding our every whim. Nor do we start with seeking self pity. We should begin our prayers with humbleness of heart, praising God and giving thanks for all He is and has done, not just for us, but for everything! For it is only after we have humbled ourselves and sought forgiveness for whatever sin is in our lives and sought His presence, it is then and only then that we should let our request be made known unto God.

We often forget, God seeks the attention of His children. He seeks our communion and our praise. But, how can we go before the Most Holy God in our pride. He commands us to humble ourselves first. Oh, how much sweeter the communion with our Heavenly Father is when we come to Him in humbleness of heart and seek His loving kindness toward us!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 30, 2023

Ephesians 5:20

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

“Give thanks always for all things”. Think on that. Do we really give God thanks a much as we should, for everything we should? Notice He says “for all things”. Not just the pleasant things. But God oftentimes will use the unpleasant to teach us a lesson in life. Oftentimes He will use that lesson to draw us nearer to Himself. It can be a number of things. A death of a close loved one, the changing of jobs, having to move to a new location, a financial change we are not prepared for, a health issue, etc. As God's children we should be able to see the good in these matters. Maybe not in the beginning. But we certainly should be looking for God's goodness in every trial that comes our way. We should be thanking God for His mercy on us during these times.

It maybe, He is using us to teach someone else a lesson or even to bring them to Himself for salvation. So what should be our reaction when going through a trial? “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 29, 2023

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

“14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”

Without Christ we are nothing to God. It is by the love of God that He saved us through Christ. The reason we are a sweet savour unto God is because of Christ.

What more reason do we need to offer unto God thanksgiving continually?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 27, 2023

Matthew 6:25-34

“25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Verses 32 and 33 are the answers to all the questions asked in verses 25-31.

What a glorious thought that God knows our every need. In our daily walk in this life, we must keep our eyes on the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 26, 2023

 

Lamentations 3:19-26

“19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

Wise words from the Prophet Jeremiah! Even with all that Jeremiah had suffered because of his faithfulness to God, he still saw God's mercy in his life and praised and offered thanksgiving to the Lord for His mercies through it all.

How are we today? Certainly, I doubt any of us have suffered as Jeremiah did, but we are put through trials and persecutions for our faithfulness in the Lord. But, are they trials and persecutions for our faithfulness or chastisement for our lack of faithfulness? We must examine ourselves in such times. When our Lord returns, will we be found faithfully serving Him or following the world?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 25, 2023

Isaiah 12

“1 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

In the Old Testament we see the Nation of Israel being instructed by God to hold a day of Thanksgiving as a nation at many different times. But there is coming a day in the not so distant future where the Nation of Israel will once again praise the Lord as a nation. They will sing His praises and offer up thanksgivings to the One who was angry with them but in that day His anger will be turned away and once again the Lord Jehovah will comfort His the people of Israel.

Chapter 12 is a prophecy of things to come during the Thousand Year Reign of our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. What a glorious time that will be for the remnant He will save out of the Nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation. Once again they will possess the Promised Land and the King of kings and Lord of lords will rule with a rod of iron from the throne of David in Jerusalem. For a thousand years. What a glorious time!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 24, 2023

 

Psalm 136:1

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

In Psalm 136 we see a whole chapter devoted to reminding us that God's mercy is everlasting. The words “for his mercy endureth for ever.” are at the end of each of the 26 verses. Do you think the Lord might have been wanting to get a point across to the readers?

This very quote seems to be a favorite of king David as several of the psalms he wrote start with or contain this very phrase. If we look at the life of this most favored of the kings of Israel, we would see he certainly knew something about the mercy of God upon his own life.

We also see a great example in the life of David. Look at all the times he wrote of giving thanks to the Lord for His goodness toward him.

How is it with us today? Are we giving thanks to the Lord for His goodness? Are others seeing our example of such? Certainly we have experienced the mercy of God upon our lives. We have much to be thankful to God for. But do we show that thankfulness?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 23, 2023

 

Psalm 116:12-19

“12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

19 In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.”

In verse 12 David asks a question that perhaps we have all asked from time to time. What shall we give the Lord for all the blessings He has given us? How do we repay the Creator of all things? How can we repay the one who died for our sins and loved us so much He gave us eternal life?

In verses 13-18 David humbly answers the question the best way he knew how! And OH what an answer!!!

In verse 19 king David advises the Lord's people to do the same.

Oh what glorious instruction from our Lord on what He expects from His people. Nothing difficult. Just follow His commandments, give Him all worship and Praise, go before Him with thanksgivings, and call upon His name in prayer and communion. Nothing difficult for the child who truly loves their Lord and Savior!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 21, 2023

Psalm 107:1

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

The whole reason for these devotionals is to remind us to give thanks to the Lord and why we are to do so.

So many times we forget to give thanks as often as we should. But then there are those times we go before the Lord with thanksgiving and we are so thankful for so many different things we can't even begin to get out of our finite little minds all the many ways we are thankful to Him for all He has done in our lives.

Here is a question I just thought of: If our Lord is good and His mercy endureth for ever, then when does our giving of thanks to Him start and when does it end?

Think on these things.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 20, 2023

 

Psalm 100

“1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 100 has been one of my favorite chapters most of my life. I can remember, it was the first multiple verse memory verse I learned in Sunday School as a child.

Notice in verse 3 who God is talking to. “It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;). The “us” and the “we” are God's people. Not the whole world as some would falsely proclaim. This is a reminder to us, as God's people, as His sheep, God and only God is to be praised.

As we enter into the Thanksgiving season in our country, we must remember who God is and what He has done for His people through His Son Jesus Christ. It is only by the mercy of God upon His people that this old rotten world is still in existence. And it is only by the mercy and grace of God that His people will not end up in the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

Never forget verse 5. “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” The reason we should be praying without ceasing and be giving thanks for all things, continually!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 19, 2023

 

Psalm 95:1-6

“1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.”

No explanation necessary.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 18, 2023

 

Psalm 50:14-15

“Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

If we are not giving unto God thanksgiving and following through with the vows we have made unto Him what makes us think He will listen when we cry out in our day of trouble? All throughout the Old Testament we see Israel rebel against God over and over again. Then when God sends chastisement upon His people they begin to cry out for mercy. Oftentimes they are crying out to God while still living in their sin. It is in those times of despair that God would refuse to hear the prayers of the people except it be through the prayers of one of His prophets.

The Old Testament prophets acted as mediators between God and His people. Similar to how God's Son Jesus does for us today. If we will give unto God the thanksgiving He desires and we will follow the vows we have made with Him, He will hear our cry in our day of trouble, He will deliver us from that trouble. But, we must not forget the last part of these verses: “and thou shalt glorify me.”.

Do we glorify God as we should after He has delivered us from some trouble? If not, why not?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 17, 2023

 Psalm 7:17

“I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.”

With this verse I believe we can see how weak man is in his praise of the Lord. We are told to “praise the Lord according to his righteousness”. I don't believe we can fully know the depth nor the height of our Lord's righteousness while in this life. These old sinful bodies we live in are blinded to such things. We may have a small glimpse but that is all. But, even in that small glimpse, oh what glorious righteousness is revealed unto us!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 16, 2023

 

Psalm 31:19

“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”

In a little over a month from now we will observe what is supposed to be a day of Thanksgiving in our country. Originally, set aside by our forefathers as a day of Thanksgiving to our God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us as a nation.

It has been many years since this day of rememberance has been truly honored as such in our land. And yet, we still pride ourselves on being “One Nation Under God”.

Read and study and contemplate the text verse above. Then we all should examine ourselves accordingly.

In the coming days and weeks I will be writing on this all but forgotten holiday. Giving Scriptures and my thoughts as the Lord permits.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 30, 2023

 

Ecclesiastes 1

“1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

As I have set for well over an hour this morning, praying and meditating over these verses and the rest of this book written by the wisest of God's men, trying to settle on what the Lord would have me write concerning the thoughts of king Solomon, I believe it best to leave it as it is written. Our dear brother in Christ, “the Preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.” said it best and said it very clearly in what he wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 16, 2023

 

1 Corinthians 2

“1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.”

In his first letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul addressed several problems in that church. One was the preaching and teaching of false doctrine. This false doctrine had come about by studying and following after the ideas and thoughts of men rather than following the Word of God.

We see God's people doing the exact same thing today. There are many self-taught theologians out there today, proclaiming the words of man over the Word of God. Searching the books and sermons of men for the answers rather than leaning upon the guidance of God's own Holy Spirit to teach us from God's Word, as we are taught over and over in God's Word.

Again, don't misunderstand or misquote me in this. I am not against good commentaries or sermons. But when we rely on those things for understanding of God's Word more than God's Word itself then we will surely open ourselves up to all kinds of false doctrine.

There is no better teacher on the Word of God than the Holy Spirit. No words of any man can come close to reaching the wisdom and knowledge we can obtain from the teaching of the Holy Spirit of God.

There is nothing sweeter and more precious to a child of God then when we have the Word God opened unto us by His Holy Spirit and He reveals unto us some glorious truth about our Lord and Saviour.

Go back and study on verses 9-13 in our text. It will do us all some good.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 29, 2023

 

Galatians 2:20

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Without Christ we are nothing and we have nothing. No matter how prestigious we may be in this life. No matter how much earthly wealth we may have accumulated. We are nothing in the eyes of God without Christ.

Have you received the call unto salvation? Have you responded? If not, why not? Why do you wait? Answer the call today and begin a new life. A life living for Christ and leave behind the old life of sin and of self.

You say you want true peace and true joy in this life? You will not find it in the things of this world. True peace and true joy can only be found in Christ Jesus.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional June 24, 2023

 

Philippians 2:4

“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Remember the old saying “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”? This is a much forgotten teaching in our world today. We have seen over the past few generations people getting further and further away from this much wise teaching. Our society has become so selfish in it's everyday doings that one can no longer recognize “One Nation Under God”.

It has been about 60 years since our Supreme Court officially demanded the removal of the Bible from the classrooms of our public schools. Now, look around us and see what that has gotten us. Without Godly principles being taught to the youth of a nation eventually that nation will collapse. This is what we are seeing today. We are currently witnessing open rebellion against God and anything/anyone having godly values like we have never seen.

It seems as each generation comes along the more ungodly they are. And yet, sadly, it appears some of God's own children are following right along with much of this. 60 years ago God's people stood by silently as our Supreme Court enacted an unconstitutional law which would affect the future of our nation like no other law. 10 short years later, 50 years ago, our Supreme Court approved the murder of millions of innocent children. Again, God's people stood silently by. By these two court decisions and by God's people not standing up for right we have what we have today.

The lack of respect for others is all over the place. People have become so self-centered they believe that whatever they deem as right is right and what you believe does not matter unless you agree with them. Hard cold facts have been thrown out the window. If a person's personal believes defies common sense and even the laws of science then so be it. All in the name of rebellion against truth.

I remember when I was in college hearing instructors teaching there are no absolutes in anything. Everything is open to interpretation. This is what happens when there is no God. This train of thought has been taught in schools for several generations now. This doctrine of “no absolutes” is the most ignorant and Godless doctrine to ever come along. And to think, people who are highly educated actually believe this garbage! And yes, even some of God's people have come to follow this doctrine of devils or some aspect of it.

I often hear people praying for a revival in our land. But are we willing to follow what God said:

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

We know by reading the context of this passage that Israel would grow worse and worse from this point on. There would be short times of them turning back to God but never totally. And we see how God dealt with Israel. What makes us think God would deal with us any less?

We are a nation built on the principles of God's law. We are a nation whose founding fathers turned to prayer and supplication and to God's Word with everything they did to set up a republic like no other in the history of man. Now those very principles are almost non-recognizable by the current generations who are beginning to take up leadership positions in our country.

Because we have become a self-centered society in which we are told to go after whatever we want and don't worry what others think or don't worry about whomever gets in our way, we are a nation on the decline morally, socially, and godly. The things of God's Word do not fit our narrative so we forget God and follow the god of self. Jeremiah 5:31 “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional May 27, 2023

 

Luke 6:46

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Notice the word “things” in this verse. How often do we have a one track mind when it comes to the things of God? How often do we become so Pharisaical towards one single sin of a brother that we forget or refuse to see the multiple sins in our own lives.

How many times have we heard those who seem to be on a personal crusade to change the world to fit their narrative and proclaim the sins of others but fail to follow the commands of Christ themselves. They will twist the Scriptures to fit what they want. Their non stop attacks on their own brothers and sisters in Christ show a lack of Christ like love He often warned against. Yet they trudge through life with their nose in the air and with their “holier than thou” attitude. All because everyone they know is guilty of the one sin they are not. If the truth be known, if they would just stop and truly observe the ones they complain about, they would see the sin they have accused others of is, for many, nonexistent.

As God's children, we must be careful of not being as the Pharisees, changing and/or adding to the laws and commands of God to suit what we want or how we think others should act. We must make sure we are in line with God's Word. It is one thing to proclaim the truth. It is another to proclaim the truth in love.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional April 23, 2023

 

Psalm 28:7

“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.”

Are you praising the Lord for Him being who He says He is? Are you rejoicing in Him for being what He promised?

Where is your trust this morning? On whom is your rejoicing and praise focused? On the Lord or yourself or the world?

If you are a child of God these questions should have but one answer. But do they?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional April 16, 2023

 

Psalm 3:3-5

“3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional April 8, 2023

 

2 Timothy 4:1-5

“1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

With every worldly holiday season that comes around each year it seems more and more members of the Lord's Churches “turn away their ears from the truth”, and follow “unto fables”. Roman Catholicism has “christianized” every pagan religious holiday they can. They have taken some of the most loved stories in God's Word and butchered the telling of and blasphemed God in the process. And yet there are those in the Lord's true Churches, who are supposed to be the ones who uphold the truth of God's Word, the ones Jude told “ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”, it is within these that leaven has entered into many congregations.

In I Corinthians 5:6 and Galatians 5:9 Paul warned Churches of this very thing. There are Pastors who know better but due to not wanting to offend anyone and possibly lose numbers in membership and dollars in the church's bank account will preach what the people want and not the whole counsel of God. The time of “when they will not endure sound doctrine” is here and now! Church members who do not wish to hear sound doctrine will oftentimes leave and find a place where their ears can be pleased by false teachings. In some cases Pastors are run off and another brought in and“after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

The downward spiral in church attendance and even the seemingly lack of those being saved in our day and time is concerning. I know these matters are part of the reasons Pastors and Churches think they need to make changes to what is preached and taught and even changes in the type of music and the songs sung. But, this is no excuse for preaching false doctrine and for letting the world and pagan traditions into the Lord's Churches.

Paul instructed in our text to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” If change is needed then do it, but it better be for the glorifying of God according to His Word and not for the itching ears of the hearers or the ego of the speaker or singer.

I wonder how many of us have “left our first love”? Remember, the first love of a Bride is her Bridegroom. Do we love Christ enough to follow His commandments or would we rather follow after other gods? I hear a lot of people talking about the end drawing near. But where is their love? Who is their first love? Christ or themselves?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional March 26, 2023

 

Psalm 55:22

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

No matter the burden. Our Lord is there for us. What a glorious thought!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional March 11, 2023

 

Proverbs 3:5-8

“5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

The biggest problem with God's people in our day and time is the lack of trust in the Lord. You may think I am being rather bold in making that statement. But, I challenge you to not only look around you at the Lord's people you know personally but also look in the mirror and I believe you will wholeheartedly agree.

The problem I see most is the fact that we all seem to want to please our fellow man more than our Heavenly Father in one way or another. Even though we read and study and hear preached the warnings from God in His Word against this very thing. We still put more trust in things and people who we know are not perfect rather than trusting by faith the One who is perfect.

Ask yourself this question: “Do I lean on my own understanding or on the advice of others or do I trust in the Lord in the daily decisions I make?” Do we pray about a matter and seek God's direction before acting on our own? When God's direction makes no sense, humanly speaking, do we push it aside and follow after our own wisdom or the wisdom of others? How often do we think God's answers to our prayers are not what would work best for us? How often do we let friends and family direct our path rather than following the Lord?Though God's direction may not make sense to us at the time, it is always for our good and His glory. And isn't it His glory that we should be more considered with?

Notice the last verse in our text. Worry and fret over what direction to take in life can lead to mental and health problems. Depression leads to the breakdown of health if left alone. What better depression relief is there than simply following God's direction for our life. What better health cure is there than faithfully following our Heavenly Father and knowing we have pleased Him?

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional March 5, 2023

 

Colossians 1:16-23

“16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

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

20 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.

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

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

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

Praise ye the Lord!!!