GOD’S TIMING

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV)

                               

Do not be in too great a hurry. There is time for everything that has to be done. He who gave you your life work has given you just enough time to do it in. The length of life's candle is measured out according to the length of your required task. You must take necessary time for meditation, for sleep, for food, for the enjoyment of human love and friendship; and even then there will be time enough left for your necessary duties. More haste, less speed! The feverish hand often gives itself additional work. "He that believeth shall not make haste."

Do not be impatient. He who made you has prepared the successive steps along which you must travel to realize your full human development. God knows what you need and will bring you to its fulfillment, only you must wait for His timing with whom a thousand years are as one day, and one day as a thousand years. He can mature events with marvelous rapidity, and you will find that He will perfect that which concerns you, so that no good thing will fail. He, who feeds the wild things of the prairie and woodland, giving to each its appropriate portion, will not fail any one of us. He will supply us with food convenient for us. The Creator is faithful to the creature.

Do not be cast down. Sorrow and trial are only for a time. They have their seasons, and pass. It is not always winter, and God puts bright and beautiful things into our lives which we need not be afraid of enjoying, it being understood that we do not snatch at them, or use them for our personal pleasure alone. Everything is beautiful after its sort and in its season, and every day has some element of goodwill in it, but we sometimes so strain our eyes towards a distant spot on the horizon that we miss the flowers on which we are walking.

God is in all; find Him there! "Every good gift is from the Father of lights." They were created that they might be received with thanksgiving, and the altar sanctifies the gift. It is only when the gifts of God are severed from the Giver that they do us harm (Ecclesiastes 3:13).

God has set eternity in our heart, and man's infinite capacity cannot be filled or satisfied with the things of time and sense (see Ecclesiastes 3:11).

PRAYER

Cause Your grace to abound toward us, that we may have all sufficiency in all things, and abound to every good work. Help us to fulfill all the duties and responsibilities that this day may bring. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #206:
I am near to you whenever you cry out.

Deuteronomy 4:7 (WEB)
For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, 
as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him?

GLORIFYING GOD IN OUR RECREATIONS

All things areawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10: 23-31 NKJV)

The word recreation is preferable to pastime, for as one realizes the priceless moments, with all their opportunities, getting fewer, one is averse to hear people talk of "killing time." But "recreation" is a good word, and we all need to find some way of re-creating the exhausted gray matter of the brain which is being used up in long application to study or work.

We must not be the "dull boys" of the old adage, but as Christians our faces should shine like the morning sun; we should be quick, bright, intelligent, and in no danger of being reckoned among the "back numbers," of which the piles are generally shabby and dusty!

"All things edify not" is one of the first conditions of healthy recreation. There is really no limit but this to the recreations in which a Christian person can indulge. He may play at manly games, row, skate, swim, drive, sail the ocean, or scale the mountain snows! The more the better, so long as they are recreative; and are not the end, but the means to the end of a healthy manhood and womanhood. That is, they must edify, build up physique, muscle, brain, to be used afterwards in the main business of life. Nothing is a greater curse than when people neglect their real business in order to get to their sports and games. Then, so far from edifying, these in turn begin to pull down and destroy.

Probably the words "edify not" are put in a plea on the behalf of others. We are not to do things which in themselves may be lawful and innocent enough, but which might have a prejudicial effect on those who are watching every movement of our life.

"Do all to the glory of God." So many seem afraid of joy! They fear if they are too happy, God will send them some trouble! How different is the command in Deuteronomy 26:11 and Philippians 4:4. Even when things do not appear to be good, let us dare to be thankful in all things, and give praise for all. All our Father's gifts are good, whatever be the wrappings or packing boxes in which they come to us.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit so fill us with Christ our Lord, that there may be no room in our life for anything inconsistent with His perfect purity and love. In His name I ask it, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #205:
If you enter into My rest, you will find rest from all your striving.

Hebrews 4:9-10 (WEB)
9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 
10 For he who has entered into his rest 
has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

SURRENDER LEADING TO SONG

Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. (2 Chronicles 29:27 NKJV)

                                                                                

The Hebrew Psalmody became famous throughout the world. Even their fierce conquerors recognized the sublime beauty of the Hebrew temple music. By the waters of Babylon they urged them to sing one of the Songs of Zion, not knowing how impossible it was for the captives to sing the Lord's song in a strange land! For sixteen years no song had poured forth from the sacred shrine. Ahaz had shut the doors, dispersed the Levites, and allowed the holy fabric to remain unkempt, unlit, and unused. There were no sacrifices on the Altar, no sweet incense in the Holy Place, no blood on the Mercy Seat, no Song of the Lord!

For too many Christians this, unfortunately, is a picture of their life. The soul, intended to be a holy temple for God, shows signs of disorder and neglect. The lights are not lit, the sweet incense of prayer does not ascend, the doors of entrance to fellowship and exit to service are closed. Outwardly the ordinances of the religious life are preserved, but inwardly silence and darkness prevail, into which bat like thoughts intrude. Thorns have come up in the court of the Holy Place, where the scorpion makes her nest. The Song of the Lord had died out of heart and life.

Why should not this miserable condition be ended today? Why should you not be cleansed from the traces of sin and neglect through the blood of the cross? Why should you not come back into fellowship with God, who waits to receive and forgive? Surrender yourself to Him now. Do not be general, but specific in your consecration. Weld yourself to some life or lives that sorely need help. Give not words only, but deeds and blood. Merge your little life into the life of Christ, as the stream in the wide ocean. And as you yield yourself to Christ first, and next to all who need you for His sake, you will find the Song of the Lord breaking forth again in your heart like a spring, which was formerly choked with debris.

PRAYER

We pray You, Heavenly Father, to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your Holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #203:
I will strengthen you with feet like a deer so you can reach great heights.

Habakkuk 3:19 (WEB)
Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. 
He makes my feet like deer’s feet, 
and enables me to go in high places.

CONFESSING CHRIST BEFORE MEN

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32 NKJV)

Christ's ultimate aim is to secure peace for our sin stricken race, and the proclamation of the tidings of peace is spreading throughout the world. We must not falter in our testimony, or hide in our heart the truth which has been committed to us, because it may bring us to discomfort and suffering. Nothing is so like to promote our own earnestness and devotion as our constant testimony for Christ. The advance of the kingdom of God is determined much less by remarkable missions and sermons, as by each one saying to his neighbor: "Know the Lord!"

We should begin with our next of kin. Andrew's testimony and confession brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-42). And whatever blessing came to the Church, and to the world through the testimony and confession of Peter must be partly credited to his brother Andrew.

We must confess Christ to our nearest friends. Philip found Nathanael. Our friends expect that we should let them share our inner thoughts and experience. Sometimes we can only give our simple testimony: "We have found Christ," but as we bring those whom we love to Christ, we shall ever find Him sympathetic and willing to meet our endeavors with His mighty help and fellowship. How He welcomed Peter, and read the character of Nathanael.

Our personal testimony is invaluable. The woman of Samaria brought the entire city to the feet of Jesus by her confession. Many of the Samaritans believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, "He told me all that ever I did." That was the beginning of a great revival.

It was Mr. Moody's custom to speak each day, personally, to some one about the Lord Jesus. If any shall say that this habit is apt to become mechanical and formal, I can only answer that the days when I have lived like that have been the most radiant of my life. It is not necessary that one should be always spouting phraseology with references to religion, but there must be no coveting of the light within us (Matthew 5:14-16). How great an honor it will be to be confessed by Christ before all worlds, and to be presented by Him with exceeding joy before the Father (Jude 1:24). "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us."

PRAYER

May we so represent Christ our Lord in this world that men may love Him for what they see of His likeness in us. It's in His name I pray it, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #204:
If you share with the needy, My glory will guard your back.

Isaiah 58:7-8 (WEB)
7 Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Yahweh shall be your rear guard.