Today’s Thought “Preparing for Chaos” G. Ward

 

Proverbs 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

 

While many congregants are being taught how to anticipate blessings, pain and sufferings of sorts remains the elephant in the room and whereas Jesus taught those first disciples how encounters involving the marketplace (i.e., within the city gates) would offer agonizing moments, particularly upon having been chosen by an unpopular Savior, along with a message contrary to the religionists of that day, that teaching, compels every generation hereafter. It’s therefore most necessary to practice ahead, that to what the testing presents; for those oppositional need an example that won’t typify a common reaction, but an inordinate affection we have in being owned by the Magnificent Savior – Jesus, while portraying kindness in a harsh world, along with joyfully exemplifying how easy it is to absolutely rely on HIM in every way.

 

Father God, it’s Your lovingkindness towards us that grants us endurance to stand amidst trials. So, may we know that building our faith is the necessary component in not rendering “evil for evil.” As we journey to proclaim knowing You as completely satisfying; may our compassion rise to know how You won’t initially afford us insight on who You’ve chosen before the foundation of the world, while inevitably knowing them by the fruit they bear; proclaiming, use us Lord, for Your glory, In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Greatest Care Forsaken?” G. Ward

 

Matthew 6: ²⁷ And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?

 

Whereas birds awaken to a quest for food and won’t be disappointed, for their Maker provides all they’ll need, He’ll do the same for us. We, however, have been given more intelligence and that was never meant for our detriment, but we’ve selfishly and arrogantly pulled away from our Creator, even storing up things we’ll never utilize, while commanding ownership of moments ahead with no guarantee, even endeavoring great bouts of planning to lack thorough assessment that counts the cost in such decisiveness. Are we (as followers of Christ) to remain idle, even robotic; waiting on an audible instruction from our Lord? No. As the birds work to discover food here and there and whereas great storage isn’t their consideration, but a reliance that the morsels will exist if a tomorrow is granted, we’re higher than they; with an eternal manual to guide us unto the peace our Savior gives.

 

Father God, we’re given life to represent a Home our Lord Jesus prepared for us. Yet, a practice of owning moments, even those not presented, dishonors Your lead and causes grief and even then, when we cry out through godly sorrow, You keep rescuing us. What a Mighty God You are! May we remember more each day provided to cast all our cares on You, for Your care for us is greatest and won’t cease; all because of our Lord Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Security Force Provided to Any” G. Ward

 

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 

Our prayers can encompass great supplication that seeks to inform Holy God about earthen realities and whereas our Lord Jesus would teach every follower of Himself. a rightful practice, worthy to embody at Matthew chapter 6, He’d first invite us to know “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Moreover, we must insist on greater trust by furthering, “Your will be done.”

The Almighty has proven to be the safest refuge and although troubles have potential to overwhelm our souls, to know of HIS continued presence, overwhelms our trials, extending greatest comfort to know HE remains present.

 

Father God, confidence in this reality is established by a daily pursuit of desired adherence to Your written Word. It’s there that we’ll find characters once horribly occupied in horrendous sin, to then call on Your Name through repentance and find grace. So, may we know a continued comfort exists for us, particularly that to which grants us peace, while trials persist, to know You won’t ever forsake us, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “All That I AM” G. Ward

 

Psalm 16:8, “I have set Yahweh continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

 

The study of man, anthropology, involves a holistic approach in assessing who we are and have been historically and whereas the psalmist acts as an anthropologist would, and thereafter never desire a repeat of living on his own whim and desire, he’d express an urgent need towards intimacy with his greatest Treasure, Holy God. Moreover, his recall of an old life, with all its ebbs and flows, that is, its pattern of coming and going, or rising and falling, more craved a life closer to God that brings true stability and peace; to then proclaim a spiritual, imaginative vision, fixated on the Almighty – standing there at his side.

We’d all do well to know as the psalmist portrayed at division 139, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

 

And Father God, we don’t ever want to imagine Your presence vacating ours; so, may we learn more of Your omnipresence and decide that every deed, along with our every word from this journey You proposed for in through Christ – rise to grace presented, that we’d be useful and productive enabling Heaven’s delight in each day granted, and never let go of Your unchanging hand, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Walking and Talking Zombies” G. Ward

1 John 5:12

He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have that life.

 

Believing in Jesus realizes HE is All-Wisdom and desiring HIS forgiveness for oversight in thinking I could rightly govern myself; after all, HE gave me a brain syndrome and although that epithet holds true, it’s contained in great limitation. Therefore, it’s incumbent on my limited ability to know what’s best for me; particularly since mankind is more taught by a hit and miss presumptive practice appearing to know, but is with comparability in playing roulette, to then lose considerably over and over again. Instead, to know HIM, trusts in His sacrifice, and welcomes Him into your heart, desiring to sin no more. If I come as I’ve been, there must be expectation in how He’ll change me and that change will come incrementally, when I investigate that Sacrifice made for me, despite my ongoing feud with flesh.

 

And Lord God, I’m so entirely thankful for this reflection point offered, knowing it’s not merely a great idea, but a lifestyle of depending on the Perfect One, who absolutely knows what’s best and whereas HE’S my Hero, my meditations rejoice for having HIM on my side. I know more than ever before, HE won’t leave me, creating in me a rightful spirit to remain in HIM. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “No Need to Explain” G. Ward

 

Proverbs 10:19 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who holds back his lips has insight.”

 

It’s said “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” meaning, people who complain the loudest or make the most noise are the ones who get attention, help, or what they want, while quiet people get ignored and whereas believers seek to follow Christ’s example, who embodied ensuring HIS words would draw attention to the Father’s regard, even modeling prayer early each morning, lending endurance to the many trials ahead (Mark 1:35) and thereafter compelling every learner to know we’re not made higher than HE (John 15:20), it’s become our charge towards a rightful perseverance through/in HIS example; avoiding every opportunity towards being defensive, even expectant to critical behaviors from others, prepared to pardon their indiscretions as HE did ours; remembering, HE told us, our war is not with others as we suppose (Eph.6:12).

We won’t convince others of this peaceable surrender by our many words, perceived so eloquent, but our love demonstrated may certainly persuade them to know HE desires their repentance also (Matt.5:16, John 13:34-35).

 

Father God, from the beginning You knew of our fragility, proposing Perfect guidance and whereas every generation of man sought relying on their insufficiency and landing in all sorts of troubles, You sent our Perfect Example- Jesus. Our desire is to never rebel against this Savior; by unfolding, daily so, along with praying HIS Spirit of endurance, the words of eternality – that disquiets our verbiage and relies on HIS presence to cheer and to guide, in Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “I’m Resembling My Savior More Each Day” G. Ward

 

Matthew 6: ¹⁶ “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ¹⁷ But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

 

A personal relationship with God through Christ never meant one should keep their strongest conviction to oneself, but that any would absolutely proclaim their complete dependence on the Lord Jesus. However, that trust, is with a spiritual ratio significantly more weighty on the front (which maintains an insistence to not be seen along with Christ, but ensures HE receives all the glory, as HE grants you and me life in earth to proclaim HIM), versus a wrongful back end, replete with religiosity with boasts in how I made it and whereas Christ knew HIS audience had some zealous members, eager to share with everyone how they were fasting, even with appearances so entirely skeletal, Jesus’ instruction insisted they do all they could to not be seen for what they do, but all grace and mercy would offer from the Almighty’s Throne.

May we disquiet all our accomplishments, to more exact – “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal.2:20).

 

Father God, may that desire, rise to the day’s occasion which includes Your imposed instruction for us to become Your teachers in accordance to all we know about this Wonderful Savior and may we never regard how little we know against who perceivably is a greater theologian, but teach every portion with eternal significance, for Your Word is great and You remain greatly to be praised, through Jesus, Amen.