TRUSTING GOD FOR THE VICTORY

I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock

and my salvation, my fortress

where I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1,2 NLT

When life flows along without too many struggles, we tend to feel that we have things pretty well under control. We don’t realize how many times the Lord has guarded us from struggles we weren’t even aware of. And in our childish self-confidence we took credit for life flowing along smoothly.

On the other hand, most of us have lived long enough to have gone through our share of hard and painful experiences. Hard times the Lord allowed us to go through so He could work His good purposes in us. And as we recall those times, we have to admit that He gave us the victory time after time.

So why should we allow fear to paralyze us now when we are confronted with new threats? Like David we must remind ourselves - victory comes from God. Our part is to trustingly wait before Him. He alone is our rock and our salvation, our fortress where we will never be shaken.(a) When we are confronted with frightening situations, we need to remind ourselves how faithful He has been in the past and trust Him to be the same in this situation.



Let’s Pray -
Father, you are aware of the struggles some people are having today. I ask that you would make today’s Scripture come alive to them. Grant them the grace to believe that their victory comes from you as they quietly rest before you.
Amen


Footnote:
(a) Psalm 62:2 NLT

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THREE KINDS OF PEACE

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

Basically there are three kinds of peace. The absence or cessation of war or hostility, Peace with God, and The peace of God.

The absence or cessation of war or hostility - When newspapers or TV news programs talk about peace, they most likely are referring to the end of hostilities between opposing organizations or countries. In today’s world it seems there are more hostilities breaking out than ending. Yet I would assume that peace is a common human desire - peace to live where and how we want to. But therein lies the problem. Our wants and the wants of others will be in conflict with each other unless we live by the same rules and values. That is true whether we are talking about nations, organizations or individuals. The Bible says, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?”(a) Again it says, “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”(b)

Peace with God – It’s insane to be opposed to God! He is the creator of heaven and earth and every living thing. He knows everything there is to know. He has absolute power. He makes the rules and enforces them. God has never been our enemy. He has never been against us, it’s we who have been against Him and need to make peace with Him. By opposing Him we bring destruction on ourselves. But if we surrender to Him and are reconciled to Him through Christ, it brings us life eternal! “If our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”(c) By surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus as our Savior allows us to experience the third kind of peace.

The peace of God - God’s peace is “perfect.” It lacks nothing. It is full and complete. It never fails. It is not affected by outward circumstances. It is always the same, like God, it never changes. It is always “perfect.” The peace of God is so far beyond human ability to understand that we will never comprehend it this side of heaven.(e) But by God’s grace we can experience it! Isaiah, speaking of God, says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”(f) Instead of worrying about the things that are beyond our control, our responsibility is to fix our thoughts on the Lord and trust Him in every situation. I can just hear Satan whisper, “Oh, but that’s so hard!” We must not listen to him. Rather cry out to the Lord for help and choose to obey Him. Whether all is going well or tragedy has struck - whether we are in health or in sickness – in prosperity or financial need – success or in failure – family peace or conflict. If we do our part with His help, without question God will do His part and “keep us in His perfect peace.”

Let’s Pray-
Dear Lord, as we focus our attention on you - grant us the grace to trust you totally!
“Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above;
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.”(g)
Amen

Footnotes:
(a) James 4:1 NLT, (b) Romans 12:17-18 NLT, (c) Romans 5:10 NLT, (d) Colossians 1:22 NLT, (e) Philippians 4:7 KJV, (f) Isaiah 26:3 NLT, (g) W. G. Cooper,


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TRIALS WHICH TEST FAITH

These trials will show that your faith is genuine.
It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—
though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

So when your faith remains strong through many trials,
it will bring you much praise and glory and honor
on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:7 NLT

Let’s Pray:
Father, I can just sense in my spirit that someone reading this promise today is right in the middle of a fiery trial. You know all the details. Grant them grace to see that this is temporary. Help them to focus on the good you promise to bring out of this painful experience.
In Jesus name,

Amen

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CHRISTIANS HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP

We are citizens of heaven,
where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
And we are eagerly waiting
for him to return as our Savior.
Philippians 3:20 NLT

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 - making it the oldest constitutional republic in the world. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

The U.S. of A. has had seasons of great national pride. At other times patriotism has ebbed. Our country has been greatly blessed by God in so many ways. We have enjoyed freedoms and privileges that few, if any, other country has. We all recognize there are many things in our beloved America that are disappointing, but it still is the best country on earth to live in and raise a family.

My grandparents and parents, on both sides of my family, emigrated from Russia to this country in the late 1800’s. It goes without saying, their choice to become American citizens has had a profound impact on my life. Being born in this country automatically made me an American citizen.

Great as it is to be a citizen of the United States, there is a citizenship that is infinitely of greater value than any national citizenship. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior, we are born again, and by that spiritual birth we automatically become citizens of heaven – as Paul says, “we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.”(a) It only takes a brief study of history to learn that earthly nations don’t last forever. They rise for a season, then fall and others rise up in their place. But the kingdom of heaven will never fall. In fact, when Jesus comes back He will rule in heaven and on earth forever!(b)

After World War II, I served with our military in Italy. Before going on leave, my superior officer would always remind us that we were American citizens and were to conduct ourselves in a way that would honor our country. As important as that was, it is much more important to remember that as Christians we are citizens of heaven and need to conduct ourselves accordingly.(c) Being good citizens of heaven will also make us good law abiding citizens of our country. However, if the law of the land demands of us action which conflicts with the Word of God, our highest allegiance must be to God’s Word no matter what that may cost us.

“God Bless America, Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.” (d)

Let’s Pray-
Father, by your grace you have raised up our beloved America. You have blessed this nation for many generations. But now it is drifting from your ways. Help us as citizens of heaven to pray, and so live that a spiritual renewal would once again flood this land from shore to shore!!
Amen.


Foot Notes:
(a) Philippians 3:20 NLT, (b) Isaiah 45:23 NLT, (c) Philippians 1:27 NLT, (d) Irving Berlin.


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