Marching Forth!

" Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word ." Isaiah 66:1-2 God has revealed His eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him ( 2 Chron. 16:9 ).   Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a snapshot of such a person:  one who is humble of heart, with a contrite spirit, who trembles at His Word.  Does God's Word have such an effect on you?  In the New Testament, there is a lovely fulfillment of this passage when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray.  The disciples, bless their hearts, were overcome with sleep.  They aw...

Many are duped into thinking if God has called them to something, they will feel confident or up to the task.  This is not the case.  In our service of God He always makes an allowance for faith in Him.  If we felt confidence in ourselves to accomplish anything for God, we will ultimately fail because without Him we can do nothing.  The truth is, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness facing what we believe God has called us to do puts us in great company.  We are not sufficient, but we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us. This came to mind when reading Jeremiah 1:4-7 :  " Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." 7 But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, a...

The Bible is God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  It is a primary means God uses to speak to His people.  Certainly God is not limited in His ability to communicate to those who have ears to hear, and He employs others means to speak as well.  He can speak to us through dreams and visions.  Circumstances of our lives can be open doors which beckon us to take another step of faith.  God also uses others to confirm what we believe God has said to us. Have you ever had an impression you were unsure of whether it was merely a thought in your mind or God was speaking to you with His small, still voice?  I remember when God impressed upon me during prayer He had called me to be a pastor.  Since I had no desire to be a pastor, nor was it a calling I ever imagined for myself, I knew this idea was not a product of my own thoughts.  This idea from outside almost intruded upon my thinking, and it surprised me.  I was not immediately convinced th...

I am so grateful for the wisdom of God in His Word.  It exposes the incorrect and foolish views we have been convinced of.  God speaks the truth, though it may hurt.  Receiving God's truth and aligning our hearts with it is a key step in spiritual maturity.  If you are wondering what truths I possibly could be speaking of, here are three examples of lies we tell ourselves exposed by God's Word. " When I sin, it is out of character ."  I recently read a news article about a man who was caught after he installed cameras in public toilets.  He claimed he wasn't a bad man, but he just did a bad thing.  Quoting the man convicted in the article, " While he understood nothing would make up for what he did to up to 90 women and children recorded by his devices , he hoped it helped that he had never done anything similar and never would again. "It was out of character," he said. "I am a human and have made many mistakes ."  The Bibles says no one...