commit – Praying Pint

1.m. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be strong and courageous.

1 Chronicles 28:20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

1 Chronicles 28:10 Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

1 Chronicles 22:13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Joshua 1:6-9 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

It is one thing to be strong and courageous when there are no trials and troubles raining down on our head. It is another to apply when you are neck-deep in them and another huge wave is ready to crash down on you all kinds of anxiousness, worry, heart pain, sleeplessness, unhappiness, and hurt. These attacks come in many forms; financial, health, friendship, family, culture/society approved norms. We normally don’t even get a fair warning that the storm is coming, it just blows up out of nowhere and we are carried away by the currents of each wave that powers over us. So what are we to do? How do we keep from being swept away into an unforgiving sea of worry and doubt?

Stay close to Jesus all the time and trust Him, cling to Him, and rely on Him.

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”

“ Call to me and I will answer you”

“ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?”

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”

The word of God is full of precious promises for our faith to stand firm on. Do not let things of this world and things this side of eternity rob you from a Jesus honoring victorious life through the current and waves of trials and troubles.

163. First or second choice?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall

John 8:31-36 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Is our first choice to trust God, to seek God, to rely on God????? Do we do it on our own pushing forward without waiting for God’s perfect plan? When do I put myself first and God second? Do I even know how to put God first? The real question I should be asking is “do I trust Him”, Do I rely on Him, Do I seek Him and his perfect plan and purpose for my life? To be honest I would have to say yes and no. I struggle with waiting. I struggle in the limbo stages of life. I struggle with not knowing? All of these struggles happen when I truly am in a place in my life where I need to trust in, rely on, and cling to God. Therein is where the problem is. I place more significance in needing and wanting God present and working in my life when things are a bit of center than when all systems are good. If my choice for God is on reserved for times of need then what kind of wretched man am I. Should not my choice be for wanting to honor, glorify, serve, worship, follow, obey, and rely on Him ALL OF THE TIME?

If I don’t establish God first in all things at all time then I will find myself not being fueled up for all times of life. Fuel for life comes from His word but the use of that fuel is a choice, a disciplined choice, an intentional choice, and a commitment that is heart, mind, and soul deep. There cannot be times where I am content enough today without it being all about God, or where I allow myself to think that I can coast today, or that I am good enough today on my own.

Never is it right to think we serve, honor, follow, and obey God on our terms as an alternative way to live for those moments of trying times. If we think this way He will always not be an intentional first choice in our life and more than likely not even a close second.

Here is a hymn that speaks of realizing the heart, mind, and soul-deep need for Jesus each day:

I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford. I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee. I need thee every hour, stay thou nearby; temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. I need thee every hour, in joy or pain; come quickly, and abide, or life is vain I need thee every hour; teach me thy will, and thy rich promises in me fulfill. I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

Let your ear be attentive

Genesis 24:10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah…

Genesis 24:26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”

Genesis 24:42 “I came today to the spring and said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water.

Genesis 24:48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son.

Nehemiah 1:11     O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Nehemiah 2:4    Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Psalms 37:5   Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Proverbs 3:6     In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Abraham’s servant prayed that God would make his way in this matter plain and clear before him. Nehemiah prayed for success and also on how to respond to the King.

Our times are in God’s hand; not only events themselves, but the timing of them. We must be mindful of being over-bold in urging what God should do and when He should do it, rather than seeking to ensure we are honoring God by willing to allow His will and time take place.

How many, of faith, have been weakened by being so bold to speak and leave no room for God’s plans and purposes? How many have lived with God at arms length and seek to define what and when God should do something.

Keep close to God, learn of Him and His ways, and choose to humbly serve and honor Him. You will hear the quiet whispers of God and see His hand at work around and through you. He is able to give you wisdom, courage, strength, patience and confidence in whatever you are facing.

Living for God is intentional

Genesis 6:11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Genesis 7:1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis 13:13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.

Ezekiel 8:17 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger?

Hosea 4:1-2 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Psalms 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

Deuteronomy 6:3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

2 Chronicles 34:27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

Deuteronomy 30:12-14 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

James 2:21-25 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

One would think that the more wrong a person sees being done that they would become more and more concerned about doing what is right. Yet it seems as though the more we see and hear of wrong it just sets a new norm and dilutes and clouds and blinds us to what is right.

In the early 80’s I can remember an older pastor friend telling me that something troubled him. He said that he had realized that the church (christians) always seemed to be 10 to 15 years behind what the culture was adopting. What was not acceptable became questionable which became acceptable over time.

As a culture walks blindly further and further away from God, it seems to drag, pull and entice the church (individual christians) along the same path. The path of what a life of humble service, heart honoring, mind and soul following, and heart deep obeying God, is over grown with false truth, false hope, and false behaviors.

What must happen to capture the hearts of individuals to keep pure to the truth of God’s word. The serpent said it cleverly “did not God say…” using enough of God’s word to make sense of a lie and entice Adam and Eve to sin. There are plenty in this world who can twist the word of God into lies and leave many questioning what is true and honorable in the sight of God.

How do we stay unpolluted from a culture that is running at warp speed away from God? Reading His word with a heart like David when he said

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”

With so much technology and immediate sharing of thoughts and ideas through media outlets, it is no wonder confusion to what is pure, holy, right and true happens. One would think the easiest way to stop this downward spiral would be to get back to a simpler life without all of the technology. History would tell us this is not true, for the heart of man seems to have always been set on satisfying self and denying God.

One would think that seclusion away from interference and influence of others who do not know God might help. We only have to look at Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, and the 40 years of God’s people in the wilderness to know that the heart of mankind, when yielded to, will choose to follow what is right in their own mind and for their own satisfaction whether for good or evil.

Choice has been given to each human. This choice allows them determine to follow their sinful nature or to humbly submit to honoring, serving, following and obeying God.

Spend time in His word – live for Him – seek Him – desire Him – love Him -learn from Him – honor Him – follow Him – obey Him – listen to Him – worship Him – glorify Him – want to be lead by Him – Grow in knowledge and understanding of Him.

Living for self is natural. Living for God is intentional.

Followed Me fully

Psalms 90:16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Psalms 44:1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

Numbers 14:22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

Joshua 4:22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”

Joshua 23:14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

Psalms 68:28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

Psalms 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Psalms 110:3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.

Psalms 118:25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Job 22:28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Isaiah 26:12 O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
But only God who gives growth. We wonder why some or all of what we do seems purposeless and without life meaning and satisfaction. It is time to learn from Him and seek him like given in this scripture “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,” Everyday the choice we get to make concerning serving Him is given to us. We get this choice and should we make the right choice we find peace, hope, love, power, courage, strength, comfort, joy and life with fulfilling purpose. If we make the choice to follow self and the world we void all of this. We may find these in short term bursts but they do not last and they certainly do not fulfill. Do you want to see growth in what your purpose is this side of eternity? Seek and desire God. Choose to honor, serve, follow and obey Him. How can we lose sight of what Jesus Christ freely did to redeem us from a path to eternal hell? He allowed Himself to be beaten, whipped, nailed to the cross, mocked, spit upon and stabbed with a spear. He could have stopped any of this happening at just a single word. He chose to redeem. He chose to call to Himself a people who come to Him with desire to humbly serve Him. What manner of people ought we to be in light of the great sacrifice paid? How should we live? Seek and desire Jesus Christ in and through your life. Be kind, generous, loving, giving, humble, hopeful, joyful, and never forgetting the redeeming price that was paid for your salvation. Follow Him fully.

They follow Me

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.”

Joh 9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Ecclesiastes 9:1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.

Luke 13:2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Acts 4:21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

Isaiah 26:12 O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

As much as we want to think we are in control and have it altogether, we do not. We make plans, we do this and that many times without giving God a second thought. While living this side of eternity our culture can convince us we don’t need God everyday. In fact we might not even give Him a thought. Satan would love nothing greater than to have us neglect God and become complacent in our walk with Him. Our purpose is to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Him. With this our purpose this side of eternity how is it possible if we neglect to seek Him, desire Him, listen for His whispers of guidance, and spend time in His word. It is not possible and without placing God first in all we do, all the time, we live a lie serving only ourselves. How do we encourage others in their walk if we do not start first with all our heart, mind and soul seeking Him. Spend time in His word and listen for His whispers of guidance.

Fret Not, Envy Not

” Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”

Psalms 37:1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Proverbs 19:3 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

Proverbs 24:1 Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,

Proverbs 24:19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked,

Proverbs 3:31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,

Psalms 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Proverbs 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

It is very easy to find ourself looking at others and being envious of what they have, how they live, and their apparent happiness. This is not something new to man. This is our rooted nature and is a battle with our christian walk. It is not what we have but who we serve. It is not the peace and comfort the world gives but the inner strength, hope, peace and joy we have trusting in the everlasting love, sovereignty, and power of our heavenly Father. Looking at these temporary things of this world it is easy to loose focus and purpose serving God. They will rob us of true peace and comfort which is only found in humble service, obedience, and desire to honor and glorify God. We need to keep our eyes on the author and finisher of every thing created. We need to encourage each other to remain focused, stay the course, and grow in our knowledge, understanding, faith and commitment to God. Great words from an old hymn;

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

I have found a ransom

“What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?”

“His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Psalms 49:15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.

Psalms 31:5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

Psalms 56:13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Hosea 13:14 I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Psalms 16:10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Psalms 86:13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

It is clear that those who are redeemed by his might, mercy, and grace will not see the death reserved for all mankind – Sheol(Hell). The question is asked – “What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?” No man can live and not see death. This is our end. But the question more important is who can deliver us from hell? What are the requirements for this deliverance? That too is clear. Believe in the redemption in and through Christ. Too many stop at this and say I believe but there is no deliverance in the way they live other than going to church once per week. They are consumed by the things this world has to offer and so easily lose sight of humbly serving, honoring, glorifying, following, and obeying God each day. Little time is spent in His word, meditating on it, or listening to Him speak through His word into their heart, mind, and soul. Ask yourself how much do you want God into your daily life. if the answer is more – then commit to spend more time in His word and living each day as He directs.

Gladness and Satisfaction

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

“Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Psalms 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalms 90:16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.

Psalms 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Psalms 36:7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

Psalms 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

Psalms 65:4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

Psalms 103:5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

What gladdens your soul? What satisfies your heart, soul and mind? What do you see as blessings in your life? I have been blessed with colleagues who come from other corners of our globe. They have seen so much more about life outside of the United States. The struggles of existence, lack of means, minimal opportunities, and disparity are all familiar to them. When they see the culture of the US and what people complain about they are put back and see much of these complaints as foolishness. This should not surprise us. When our eyes are on what the world can offer, what we can take, and what others have these outcomes of thought are manifested in our lives. However, scripture is always pointing us to be thankful to God, trusting in God, hoping in God, believing in God, relying on God, clinging to God, loving God, serving God, honoring God, glorifying God, praising God, obeying God, and praying to God. Our culture and natural focus on the “here and now” robs us of a fulfilling, abundant, and purposeful life. Do you want to satisfaction, blessings, and gladness in your heart, mind, and soul? Choose to focus on Him alone who can – God