"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Romans 9:15)

God is a sovereign God—something we all know but something we truly have a hard time grasping! His plans for each of us are very unique; the lives we live are very individual. God has set His holy, righteous plan into motion with purpose and determination in order to accomplish His final goal to provide a pure and spotless Bride for His Son, Jesus Christ.

It is easy to be "jealous" over someone who has had an easier life than you. When I was less than two years old, my mother gave me up for adoption. I was adopted by a wonderful, loving family who saw to my every need through life. They protected me, loved me, provided a stable family for me to grow up in . . . not perfect, but good.

Many years passed; I married and had my own family. One day I came home and found that my birthmother had sent me a letter sharing her love for me after all the years; a series of events occurred until the day arrived that I met her face to face. What a marvelous gift from God to finally meet the woman who had given me physical life while still enjoying the love and support of the parents who invested their lives into me.

One thing I was not prepared for, however, was the reaction of my half-sisters who had been raised by my birthmother. They were jealous. I had been given to a family who could lavish their love and affection upon me in a protected, stable environment. On the other hand, however, they were raised in a very different set of circumstances—a very unhealthy lifestyle, having been the victims of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Although they said they were glad for me, their question was, "Why?" Why was I "spared" the hurt? Why was I singled out? Why was my life allowed to be "good" and theirs "bad?" Hard questions, at best, questions for which there were no good answers.

God's sovereignty is the only answer that can explain situations like this. "Trust" is the door to finding peace with God's sovereignty. I had to trust that God knew what was right for my life; my sisters have had to learn to trust that God was working in a unique way in their lives as well, ultimately to draw us all to Him.

Are you struggling with difficult "Why's" in your life, contemplating those questions for which you can find no answers? Assign those problems to God's sovereignty and trust Him that He knows what He is doing in everyone’s situation. Know this of a certainty...our lives are indeed "according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:11b).

Praise God for all He has done in our lives; give Him the glory and honor due His Holy Name.

Father, how can I say thanks for all you have done for me, in me, and through me? Lord, many times I get all wrapped up in the "why's" of life, those things that are too difficult for me to understand. Lord, forgive me for not trusting Your sovereign will. Help me to remember that I don't have to understand everything that has happened to me or my loved ones, but only understand that "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Your sovereignty, O Lord, is far beyond my comprehension; help me remember that You have my life in the palm of Your very capable hand, amen.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever." (Psalm 136:1)

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"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)

Have you ever stopped to listen to what comes out of your mouth and suddenly feel ashamed for the words you've uttered? Most of us have and regret ever opening our mouth.

Our words minister to those who hear them ... they either minister grace or they cause people to turn away hurt, dejected and may even bear the scars from our words for an entire life. Words, once they are released from our lips travel at the speed of sound; nothing can be done to reverse their affect once they’ve been spoken. Your words bear witness of what is truly in your heart: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt. 12:34)

Next time you open your mouth to react to something, think twice and minister grace! Great will be your reward. You may never know the impact your gracious response will have on the person with whom you're talking!

Father, help me by putting a guard over my mouth to speak those things which only minister grace to the hearer. Help me remember that as a representative of my Lord, Jesus Christ, that it is my obligation to point everyone to Him in everything I do, everything I say, and everywhere I go. Help me minister grace to all I come in contact with! Amen!

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

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"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." (Proverbs 16:6)

Have you ever wondered why there seems to be so much evil in the world today? According to today's verse, it could be that the answer is quite simple: There is no fear of the Lord.

The "fear of God" referred to here indicates much more than reverential awe and respect. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 25:14 that we can't know the revelation of God's covenant until His fear is deeply rooted in us: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." This verse connects an understanding of the covenant with the fear of God. In short, revelation is tied to His holy fear.

Mankind cannot truly fear God until they know Him and His nature. Because this age we live in is so self-centered, self-sufficient, and self-serving, few are found who truly set their heart to KNOW God as He reveals Himself to us in His Word.

Is your heart set to KNOW God? Is your desire for Him stronger than your desire for anything this world can offer?

Separation. Consecration. Desire. These three will open the door to an ever-increasing revelation of Who He Is!

Seek Him. Serve Him. Love Him. Fear Him.

Father, my desire for You is growing day by day as I spend time in a loving relationship with You. Lord help me to further consecrate my life for Your use; I long to be a vessel fit for Your use! Lord, teach me your Word, teach me Your ways, help me to understand the depth of Your love shown through Your covenants, your promises, your Word. I am like a child eager to learn from You! Teach me, Father, till this world has no more hold on me and I am totally Yours in every way. Father I love you with my whole heart, amen!

“Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” (Psalm 25:4-5)

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"The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun". (Psalm 74:16)

A declaration of God's faithfulness to His covenant!

Ask yourself this question: If God is faithful to His covenant with the earth, the sun, the moon, the seasons, and even time, will He not be faithful to His covenant with me as His child? The answer is easy, of course He will.

He promises never to leave us or forsake us. His Word is true and unchanging. That which He promises, He will of a certainty perform for you and for me.

And what is the sign of His covenant with us? The written Word, signed and sealed by the blood of Jesus, affirming His promises to us that His love and mercy endure forever.

What a totally awesome God who keeps covenants through His abiding love.

Oh Majestic Father, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth. You, who own the day, who prepared the light and the sun, are also able to keep me in the midst of all my circumstances. Help me, Lord, to remember how magnificent, how awesome, and how great Thou art, amen.

“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:11-13)

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"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)

Are you walking in obedience to His commandment? Do you love others as our Lord loves you? Are you willing to deny yourself everything including your very life for your friends?

Have you ever thought about how deeply you love your own children – even to the extent of giving your own life for them? It would be hard, but if it were necessary most parents would willingly lay down their lives for their children. But this love that Jesus talks about in our verse today demands an answer to a much harder question: Could I ever be able to give of myself to such an extent for someone I don't know, or for someone whom I don't really like? This is what the Lord is asking us—how much are we willing to give out of love for others? That kind of love requires far more than most are prepared to give.

There was a secular song years ago that asked, "How deep is your love?" These words can also be applied to what the Lord is asking us . . . "How deep is your love toward each other…how deep is your love toward Me?" Is it deep enough for you to be willing to lay down your life for your friends? The Lord did it for us; how could we be satisfied to give any less?

We all need to take time on a regular basis to examine our lives, our hearts, our motives, and our level of love for one another. Then ask, “Just how deep is my love?” Meditate on the depth of God’s love for us; it will put things in perspective FAST!

Dear Father, my love for my brothers and sisters needs to grow deep. Help me develop and maintain a loving spirit, gentle and kind yet firm and unwavering toward my friends and loved ones. Help me be an extension of Your love on this earth by loving all those I interact with, putting their needs ahead of mine. Touch through me, work through me, love through me . . . that You may be glorified in me. In Jesus' Precious Name, amen.

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19)

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"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)

Praise the Lord!

All through the Bible we are encouraged to praise the Lord and it is not without reason that we are called to this duty time and time again. Praise serves a two-fold purpose: When it is directed toward and centered in Him, it pleases Him beyond measure. Secondly, praise is in our best interest because it blesses us.

God's love for His people is overwhelming; He takes care of us and makes provision for every need. It is His pleasure to comfort the broken hearted, to bind up the wounded, to set free the captive. He is motivated by merciful love . . . not by anything we could ever do on our own to deserve it.

If you're broken hearted today, if you've been wounded by life's circumstances, take time to praise Him. Press into Him and praise Him with all your might! He's worthy of all your praise.

Father, thank you for your undeserved merciful love. When I am broken hearted, when life deals me a deadly blow and I walk away wounded, it is good to know that You are there ready and eager to heal my broken heart and to bind up my wounds. Father, I love You and praise You . . . just for being You. Amen and Amen.

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8)

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"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" (Ruth 2:10)

How many times have we asked the same question: "Why have I found grace in thine eyes?"

As we look into His holiness, we become so very aware of our unholiness. The closer we grow to Him the more we realize how far we are from what and who He wants us to be. His desire for us is to be "holy even as He is holy." Yet, we live in flesh that is corruptible, flesh that is as filthy rags in light of His righteousness and holiness. Isaiah summed it up well with his reaction to seeing the holiness of God. His words were, "Woe is me for I am undone . . ."

It is necessary for us to realize that we are absolutely nothing without Him for in Him and Him only do we live and move and have our being. Without Him we can do no good thing.

Keep pressing into Him as He continues to draw you closer into a relationship that grows more and more intimate as each day passes.

Why have you found grace in His eyes? He loves you more than you can ever know.

Father, I continually question why I have found grace in Your eyes, yet I somehow know that it's because of a love for me that I can't comprehend. All I know is that I am so thankful that You have blessed me with Your grace. I stand in awe of your unfathomable love, amen!

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

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"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

David knew where His strength lay. He had seen the Hand of God move in his life time and time again, from a youth until he drew his last breath. His relationship with the Lord was such that he understood Who God was in every area of his life—he knew God as the Strength of his Life.

Could you pass the relationship test? Do you have a revelation of who God is in every area of your life? In every need in your life? In every situation in which you find yourself? See if you can pass the test:

1. To whom do you run when there is a crisis in your life?
   - Your spouse?
   - Your best friend?
   - Your parents?
   - Your Lord?
   

1. When you are faced with a sudden emergency, who do you call upon first?
   - The paramedics?
   - Your spouse?
   - Your best friend?
   - The Lord?
   

   
    

2. When you awaken in the middle of the night and cannot sleep, what do you do?
   - Take a sleep-aid.
   - Watch television?
   - Pray?
   

Without going any further, it's easy to see that sometimes we might fail the relationship test. Our first thought is not "Father!" but it is someone or something else. Admittedly, many of us eventually get around to calling on the Lord, but many times it's only after all else has failed…as a last resort.

David gives us a good understanding of passion and relationship. God was the Strength of his life and he knew it, he acted on it, and he wasn't afraid to admit it.

Let's make a commitment to seek His face. Let's put aside worldly things, and allow the light of God's Word to illuminate our soul in such a way that we, too, will come to know Him as the Strength of our Life, amen.

Father, You truly are awesome. Without You I can do nothing. Without You I am nothing. Lord, teach me to be so closely knit together with You that You are the first One I call upon when in need, the only One able to meet my need. Teach me to grow in relationship with You and acknowledge Your presence every minute of every day. Father, You are the strength of every fiber of my being—You are the Strength of My Life. Help me to dwell in faith knowing that You are all I need, amen.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." (Psalm 28:7)

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"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." (Genesis 9:13)

Covenant: An agreement, alliance or pledge between men or between God and man; a divine ordinance with signs or pledges. The Bible records more than one covenant God made with mankind, each of which ¬¬¬represents promises God made to man.

The word "promise" seems to have lost its impact in modern days. People make promises day after day and break them on the in-between days.

"Promises are meant to be broken" is a familiar phrase. With this mindset it is difficult to comprehend the depth of God's love and commitment to us through His covenant with us, simply because we know how untrustworthy we are ourselves.

When God initiated a covenant, He kept (and still keeps) His promise. Nothing pre-empts the promise of God. In this we have the basis for a solid foundation of faith. If we believe His Word and take His promises as truth, we will be on our way to begin to comprehend the depth of His awesome commitment toward us. We have nothing to fear, nothing to dread, and nothing to do except rejoice in the fact that His Word—His covenants never fail.

The next time you begin to doubt God's provision, His leading, His hand in your situation, remember He is a God of covenants and that which He said He would do, He WILL do.

Just ask Abraham: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

Father, forgive me for doubt and disbelief. Forgive me for not allowing You to have Your way in my life because of FEAR. Help me to cling to the truth of the Word of God and to Your promises, Your precious covenant promises. Lord, help me to trust You both when it's easy to trust You and when it's difficult. Thank You for being a keeper of promises, dependable, and true. Lord, You are truly awesome, amen!

"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9)

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"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." (Psalm 89:9)

Such awesome power that when the waves of the sea rise up, He can still them. No small miracle, for who else can claim to control even the winds and the rains? None . . . no one but our God.

But the waves and rage of the seas are not the only tumults He calms by the mere raising His hand. As you go through difficult times in your life, it is His arm that stills the waves of depression, poverty, sickness, disappointment and disillusionment. Take a few moments and meditate on today's verse. Our God is so mighty! He's so powerful! He loves us so much!

Quit trying to control your own circumstances. Rather, allow God to intervene; allow Him to still the hand of the enemy, to calm the storm, the winds and the rains. The battle isn't yours; it belongs to the Lord. He will lead us through if we will simply allow Him to take the reins and guide us through every storm, no matter how difficult.

Whatever you're facing, the Lord is with you, waiting to lead you through the storm. Let Him have His way and trust Him to rule your raging seas. He will speak "Peace!" in due time. Trust Him … He won't let you down.

Father, I face waves in my life of various magnitude. I pray, though, Lord, that I would be quicker to recognize the waves and the roars of the seas as a means to inch my way in closer to You. Help me, Lord, to quit trying to control my circumstances to meet my own needs. Teach me to wait on You by letting go and once again giving You the place of Lord of my life. Father, all I need is You. All I want is You, amen!

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:39-41)

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"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Have you ever looked closely at a stained glass window? The hand blown, manually cut leaded pieces fit together to form a unique piece of artwork which very often tells a story. When the sun beams its radiance through the carefully structured window, the sight is breathtaking. While no two hand-made windows are alike, each also tells a story of its own.

Our lives are much like the stained glass artwork. We once were fractured pieces of glass, disjointed scattered meaningless fragments lacking any type of beauty. But, as the Lord picked up each piece one by one, and applied His grace and His mercy as the "lead" securing the pieces together, a beautiful picture began to form.

Day by day, moment by moment, the Master Artist is fitting the pieces of our fragmented and fractured lives together. As He shines His glory through us, a most magnificent scene is being revealed. It's a picture of Grace and Mercy; it's a portrait of a Father's Love for His child.

If your life seems a bit abstract or fractured at times, it's only because another piece of the picture is being put in place and secured by the mercy of God. Remember that whatever you're going through, God will use every little fragment of your life to complete the incredible artistry He has purposed in His mind. It is then when you will radiate His beauty, His glory, and His love as His brightness shines through you for all to see.

Father, thank You for picking up the pieces of my life, applying Your mercy and grace, and forming my life in such a way that Your glory can be seen through me, Your radiance can shine through me, and Your mercy can flow through me. I can't say it enough, Lord, You are truly awesome and I love you, amen!

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

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"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever"....."When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up." (Psalm 23:6 and 94:18)

Mercy follows us all of our days.

God's Mercy is greater than our worst sins. The Psalmist paints such a beautiful picture of Mercy in its application to our lives.

God's Mercy is manifest in the life of David. Even though he was a "man after God's own heart," David knew the extent of God's Mercy; it had everything to do with God and nothing to do with him.

Today's verses also paint a picture of God's character, of His total provision for us in our less-than-perfect state.

Psalm 23 shows us that Mercy follows us all the days of our lives. As we journey through this life, we all have a tendency to slip, to mess up, to fall short. But as Psalm 94:18 points out, when we fall, His Mercy is there –it follows us and holds us up.

When I was a child, my Dad loved to take me ice skating. The field behind the house would flood and freeze over, making the perfect place for skating. I can remember when I first learned to skate; he would be right behind me, so close that if I began to fall, he'd reach out and hold me up helping me I had my balance once again.

The Mercy of God is much the same. He's never far from us. And, when we lose our balance and begin to fall, He reaches out and holds us up, helping us to once again get steadied on solid ground.

No matter what the circumstances, no matter what the cause, if we are pursuing God's will for our lives, His Mercy will follow us all the days of our lives so when we do slip, His Mercy will hold us up.

Are you wobbly? Are you unsteady on your faith-feet? Remember, Mercy is following close behind and will hold you up … God's Mercy will never let you fall!

Father, Your Mercy is unsearchable, yet such a treasured gift. There are so many times I fall short of your glory, so many times my foot slips on my path toward You. Yet, Your Mercy is there to hold me up and set me back on my journey. Thank you for showing me Mercy when I deserve it the least, and thank You for reminding me that Mercy has everything to do with You, nothing whatsoever to do with me, what I do, where I go, or who I am, for I am nothing—absolutely nothing without Your Mercy, amen!

"For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me." (Psalm 108:4-6)

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"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7)

The sacrificial blood of Jesus is the most precious gift ever given to mankind. Purer than the purest gold. More precious than the finest silver. More costly than any jewel. More significant than any man's accomplishments could ever hope to be.

The blood of Jesus which was spilled at Calvary is the most unique, complete, perfect, sufficient, and effective sacrifice ever made or ever could be made.

The blood of Jesus saves, heals, delivers, cleanses, purifies, washes, redeems, restores, renews, atones, and totally provides for mankind whatever is necessary for total and complete redemption and restoration. And, it's all available to any who would repent of their sins and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

A simple transaction, 100% guaranteed – surrender all and lose nothing but gain more than words can describe.

Oh, the blood of Jesus . . . it still washes white as snow!

Father, I thank you for the blood of Jesus for without it I would never have had access to You, I would never have experienced a relationship with You, and I never would have had anything to celebrate. But because of the blood that Your precious Son spilled, I can celebrate the new life You have given me through its cleansing power. Thank You, Lord, again and again and again for the Blood of the Spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, my Redeemer . . . my Lord, amen!

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11)

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". . . for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee . . ." (Hosea 11:9)

As long as God is with us, we will make it!

He is in our midst. It's a hard concept to comprehend. He is in your midst, He is in my midst . . . He is everywhere!

We all encounter problems, many of which seem earth-shattering and even insurmountable at times. We are plagued with pain, discomfort, problems of every sort. But our comfort comes from knowing He's already in the midst of the problem even before we know the problem exists.

The Christian walk may be a rough one at times, but our comfort comes from knowing that He is so intimately acquainted with us that there is no place where He is not.

He is our Peace—Jehovah Shalom!

Be at peace knowing that He is aware of everything that concerns you and that He is in your midst . . . yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Praise Him, love Him, and thank Him for being "God, the Holy One in the midst of thee!"

Father, thank you for Your presence, for being in our midst yesterday, today, and tomorrow! You are Holy. You are wonderful. You are worthy. You are in our midst. Hallelujah! With You, Lord, nothing is impossible, amen!

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

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"According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they have done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." (Exodus 39:42-43)

God had commanded Moses to build a Tabernacle for Him to dwell in. He gave Moses specific directions to follow, details that likely seemed overwhelming, but Moses understood that when God speaks it's time to listen. The Lord does nothing without purpose, says nothing without reason, and reveals nothing without a plan. He never utters an empty word and we can be assured that there is a reason for everything.

Moses understood the importance of obedience. He was a man sold out to the will of God. He was completely and fully obedient to the instructions and revelation of the Tabernacle, fulfilling God's instruction to the letter. In fact, we can find a progression in Moses' actions . . . we can learn something very important:

1.    Moses did "as the Lord commanded". If you carefully read through Exodus 39 and 40, you'll find at least seventeen times we're told that Moses did "as the Lord commanded Moses".

2.    Moses finished the work. Moses didn't start and then quit, he didn't have his own timetable or agenda. He finished what God instructed Him to do, in God's timetable, according to God's specific instructions.

3.    The "Cloud of Glory filled the Tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-38). The reward was God's presence.

God can only fully bless and be glorified in that which is done according to His Word and divine pattern. Moses carefully followed the Word of the Lord. How careful are we? We expect the same results, but we want it our own way. We expect God's blessings, we expect to glorify God, but we take shortcuts, or at the very least, do things our own way.

If all of these three qualities were so necessary in building of a temporary dwelling place of God, how much more are they requirements in the building of the dwelling place of God, a sanctuary not made by hands? In other words, if God blessed Moses and His glory was seen in that which Moses built according to God's design, how much more will God's blessings be with us and His glory seen in us if we build our "sanctuary" according to God's design – the Word of God.

Let the Lord of Glory dwell in you richly. Let your life be built on the Solid Rock as you prepare for Him a dwelling place fit for the presence of the King by closely following the pattern given to us in the Word of God.

Father, may my heart be fashioned and formed after Your will, a suitable dwelling place for Your holy presence. Teach me to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ Jesus, the Spotless Lamb offered once for all. Take my heart, Lord, and form it into a Tabernacle pleasing to You. Take my will, Lord, and conform it to Your will and purify me. Take my mind, precious Lord, and renew it and wash it in the Water of the Word. Make me a sanctuary for You, my Lord, that Your glory will be seen and all will know that You are Lord. In the precious name of Jesus, the Brightness of Your Glory . . . amen and amen.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

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"And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you." (John 20:26)

The disciples were locked up in a room. Eight days the doors were shut. Their faith was being tried. They wondered why things happened the way they did, recounting the incredible miracle of His death and resurrection. Then, suddenly, as if from no where, He appeared to them. No door opened. No window opened. Yet, He was in their midst.

How many times have you been in the midst of circumstances which seemed confusing? You knew the Lord heard your cries, you knew He answered prayer, yet you felt so far from Him. But then, in the midst of "closed doors", in the privacy of your "prayer closet", you suddenly realized you were there in His presence. He opened no door. He threw open no widow. He just appeared. And, suddenly, the peace that testified of His awesome presence flooded your heart, mind, and soul. You knew without a doubt that He was near, that He cared, and that everything was going to be alright.

Each encounter with the living God is one that leaves an imprint through answered prayer and increased faith. His presence is where confusion cannot remain, where doubt and unbelief are dispelled, and where faith is nurtured and cultivated. But, why is it that we resist the drawing of His Spirit? Why do we continually attempt to work things out on our own? Why do we busy ourselves with fretfulness and frenzied worry rather than scheduling time in our prayer closet to meet with the One who holds the key to our victory?

Why not schedule some time there today and every day. And, when you need to meet with Him, when you're desperate for answers, you'll find everything you need "behind the closed doors" of your prayer closet.

Lord, I long to meet with You, to fellowship with You. I long to know You more and more every day. Although my schedule is busy, Father, help me set aside time each day to meet with you "behind closed doors" for it is there that all my doubts will be dispelled as Your presence is made manifest in the midst of my circumstances! Amen and Amen!

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:6)

© Jan Ross
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"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." (Psalm 143:8)

There are so many lessons for us to learn in the Psalms. The psalmists, whether David or others, are very open about their real life situations as well as their dependence upon the Lord for strength, support, guidance, comfort, etc.

In today's verse, the psalmist makes a point of daily submitting his will to the Lord and declaring his trust in the Lord for that day. But not only is he praying asking for God's guidance, he is letting us know that God speaks to him daily as well. "Let me hear thy lovingkindness in the morning" indicates there's a relationship, a two-way conversation occurring every morning when he arises.

Intimacy is a part of our relationship with the Lord; but it cannot be a one-way street. There has to be two-way communication. That small, still voice which speaks to our innermost man. Talk to the Lord. Listen intently as He allows you to hear his "lovingkindness" in the morning and anytime when you pray!

Don't be in such a rush that you forget to "be still" and hear the voice of your Shepherd leading you step by step, day by day, causing you to know the path wherein you should walk.

Father, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." Lord, I am depending upon You to lead me, guide me, and show me how to walk today. I pray that my heart be attentive to that small, still voice of Your Spirit which speaks as I learn to be still in Your presence. I love You, Lord, for Your mercies are new every morning, amen.

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." (Psalm 63:1-4)

© Jan Ross
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"Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

If you want to know what the will of God for your life is, this verse outlines it perfectly. Prayer and thanksgiving are not only isolated words of petition and gratefulness to the Lord, they are a lifestyle; they are the will of God for your life.

This verse has always been one to raise the defense mechanism in the heart of the believer. How can I pray without ceasing? I have work to do and I have my family and other things to tend to!

But prayer is a lifestyle, being in constant communion with the Lord, aware of His presence, talking with Him, and loving Him moment by moment throughout the day and even through the night hours.

Much the same with thanksgiving. We are admonished to live a life of gratitude and praise to the Lord for His mercy and His goodness. So often in the morning the words don't come to pray for things, but to simply be amazed at God and His goodness and mercy. My heart pours out thanksgiving and praise for Who He is. What's on your mind first thing in the morning? Throughout the day? When you lay down and close your eyes at night? Praise and thanksgiving should be constant on our lips, amazement at our God should be in our hearts day and night. Surely we must never become complacent and unmoved by His goodness! Offering ourselves as a sacrifice holy and acceptable to Him certainly includes living a lifestyle of prayer and thanksgiving.

So, pray without ceasing, and in every thing, and at all times live a life of thanksgiving and praise. He is so worthy!

Father in heaven, although I set my petitions before you when I pray, Lord help me remember to keep my mind stayed on you, to commune with you day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. May I never lose my amazement and gratefulness for all that You do and all who You are. What a priceless privilege I have found in living a life of thanksgiving to You, for You are worthy of my total praise. You are worthy of all the glory. You are worthy! Amen.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)

© Jan Ross
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"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16)

If you had to convince an unbeliever that Jesus Christ is the Risen Lord, the Son of the Most High God, the King of all Creation, could you do it? What would you say to someone who had been taught differently all their life or perhaps had never had any teaching at all?

Jesus Christ. Who is He? First off, there is not one man in all of history that has caused such controversy throughout the ages with the exception of Jesus the Christ. From the Genesis account of the fall of man to the last words of the prophet from the Isle of Patmos recorded in Revelation, the scriptures testify of Him before, during, and after His ministry here on earth. The Old Testament paints a detailed picture of His conception, birth, life, death, burial and resurrection and it is proven through the detailed account of the same in the New Testament. One only needs to look and Jesus, the Son of God, is found. The statistical chances of every Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah being fulfilled in the life of one solitary Man are astronomically absurd.

There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about Christ. These include:

1. Christ will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

2. Christ will be preceded by a messenger, John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1)

3. Jesus would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zech 9:9)

4. He would be wounded in his hands and betrayed by a friend (Zech 13:6)

5. The betrayal would be for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12)

6. The silver would not be returned and would be given to the potter (Zech 11:13)

7. He would not defend himself at trial (Isa 53:7)

8. He would be crucified (Ps 22:16)

. . . and the list goes on to include over 300 prophecies.

If each of those prophecies had a chance of one in ten (and many of them are very specific and would have much higher odds) the total odds become 10 times 10 times 10 (continued for 298 more times) or written in mathematical short hand is 10300. Given the odds of one in 10300 that one man would be able to fulfill all the prophecies from the Old Testament, which were written over thousands of years, and we know from history that one man did fulfill those prophecies - the evidence is clear. Christ is the Messiah, He is Lord.

Of course, this is just one way to build a case for Jesus being who He says He is. We can spend hours upon hours, day after day, recording specific arguments leaving no room for doubt. But ultimately the proof is seen in the lives of individuals who have been touched by His love. If someone wants proof, all they need to do is peer into the heart of one who has been transformed by His power and cleansed by His shed blood. The proof is in the heart of man, bearing witness to the Truth.

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me." There is no other truth . . . Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Resurrected and Risen Lord is TRUTH HIMSELF.

Father, teach me to let the proof of the Resurrected Christ be evident in my life to all who cross my path. Let Your light shine through me unhindered by disobedience or rebellion. I need to know you more intimately, I need to grow closer to You, to fix my gaze upon You and not take my eyes off You. Father, let me be like the moon that has no light of its own but only reflects the light of the sun ~ may my life reflect the brightness of the glory of the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ the Only Begotten Son of the Most High God. I love you, Jesus, amen and amen.

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23)

© Jan Ross
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