Philippians 4:4-9

[4] Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
[5] Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
[8] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
[9] Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

For this part I would like to break down key verses into points:

Verse 4

This verse is directing towards having thankfulness for anything. Another good way to say that is to be thankful and satisfied with all of the good things that come in our lives.

Verse 6

The verse here calls for us to be the devoted Christians that we know we can be and to have prayerfulness for anything!

Verse 7

This has two important key pieces to note:

1)    A sense of carefulness for anything

and

2)    Knowing in great depth the peace of God

The good way to think about this would be to have a mindset that is less worrisome over everything. This will allow the peace of God to do its wonderful work.

Verse 9

Reading this should let us know that as we are ready to give ourselves to God that His presence pours out upon ours! How do we know? By the experiences and lessons that we learn over the course of our lives!

2 Samuel 16:5-13

[5] And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
[6] And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
[7] And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
[8] The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
[9] Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
[10] And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
[11] And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
[12] It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
[13] And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

Shimei (by the favor of what he felt from Absalom being in power) went with a boldness to come against a man (David) that he saw at the time as the man who wronged him for the death of Saul (the mistakes he had made.

Often times we jump out into irrational decisions or words without reason, words with a given reason, or words followed by action. What David demonstrated by letting him alone was the great beginnings of a showing of the mercy and love of God through people. Saying the Lord might requite him is another way of saying, “I will trust the Lord with my affliction”. This is a great example of the love of God prevailing over our natural perspective or point of view (flesh). Abishai is also a great reflection of our flesh attempting to get in the way!

2 Samuel 19:16-23

[16] And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
[17] And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
[18] And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
[19] And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
[20] For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
[21] But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?
[22] And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
[23] Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

Shimei had been moved to confess to David that he wronged him and wanted it to be essentially forgiven. No doubt David could have dwelled in high-mindedness and remembered what had happened prior to make him behave the same way. We could have been reading about a motive of revenge, wrath or other irrational behavior. Yet, the love of God is shown again!

John 15:17-27

[17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
[22] If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
[23] He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
[24] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
[25] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
[27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:1-3

[1] These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
[2] They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
[3] And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

The promise of the comforter gives us the ability to not only show love but to have mercy for those that sin and do not have an intimate relationship with God.

Here is a devotional about faith and the many wonderful things it does for you when it is applied!

Now that I am older and working, I cannot help but admit that sometimes I imagine myself at the very top of a company just to realize what sort of favor comes with that. Other times I imagine myself at the very start of a traffic jam so I can be the first one out. In harder times I imagine myself trying to find some end to the present distress. In all reality, the possibilities of where you can take yourself in your mind is two-fold.

So where are we getting at?

When we allow our imagination to be mixed with faith, then believing for the future success does not seem so far off. The most important thing is to take your imagination and creativity and mix it with the best teacher in our lives, the word of God. When we are in a strong, focused commitment with God then the things that we begin to imagine not only include the well-being of ourselves but for others! Instead of just praying and calling out for my immediate loved ones, I can begin to call out faithfully and reach out to a place where I see the victory for someone else. Example? There are many around me in my life that though they are in hard times I see SO much more than where they are (or what they complain about). Through faith you can begin to take action and do amazing things!

1) A lack of separation, or being “too close” to what holds you back.

So let us say that I am going to have some prayer time because I want to quick smoking. If I literally just got through having a cigarette and am about to start praying while I am next to the ash tray and can still smell the smoke, the chances are of having a supernatural faith is very small. Why? If I am being hindered literally by the very thing I want victory over, then I must separate myself from it. Smoking is a very physical example as you can touch and feel what is afflicting you. Your situation may be a person, place or emotional object that is getting in the way. Remember before you begin to get yourself as separate from the things that are hindering you as you can. You would be surprised at how much of an effect having a quiet place is. This is not to say that you could not put on some praise and worship music to help you, but please do not be moved by a song: be moved by the faith that is in you to petition to God!

2) Little willingness to be humble or give up pride.

For our second example, let us say that there is a major problem with a person controlling the content of inappropriate language. If this person was asked if they had a problem, the answer can indicate where pride is in two ways. The first way would be to admit there is a problem, or being humble enough to admit that it is something that is a problem to your well-being. The second way is when a person will not admit the problem and to give the paraphrased “I’m fine”. This is a great indicator of having too much pride to be humble to any issue. Victory in God begins when we come and confess. God wants to mold each and every issue you have, and without the acknowledging the failures we have pride always wins over prayer! Be willing to simply admit that, “I need help”. This is a great step in the right direction to start a prayer!

3) Missing a habit or the continuing effort to pray every day.

For my job, I am driving myself back and forth each and every day. Driving is a habit that through continual practice is able to be kept and retained so long as I am willing to do so. However if I just stopped driving all together for great lengths of time I cannot imagine that I would get behind the wheel with the same confidence or willingness to “take off” that I would have when it happened frequently. With that said, there is definitely something to praying every day! Praying every day will keep you from having the “first-time” anxieties each and every time you try. Making it a habit will only build up the faith and confidence in God therefore creating an easier feeling to get the first word out!

There are so many more examples and things to be said here, but I want the mission of this word to be simple: Separate, Be Humble, and Pray Often!

James 1:1-15

[1] James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
[3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
[4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
[5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
[6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
[7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
[8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
[9] Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
[10] But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
[11] For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
[13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.We need to learn to count it a privilege when we have a chance to be as tried, and not always either in-between or never making it through the trials of life.

Hebrews 13:5-6

[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
[6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

How that we need to be content with such as we have! If we cannot ever say that we are thankful for what God has done or is doing, we will never get into the place where we can faithfully say “such as I have, I give unto thee”. It is that living substance that goes SO FAR BEYOND any possession that we find of worth.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The reality of it all is that there will be things items and issues that come up in your life. There is no safe zone! However I am happy to say that God will always provide the means for you to be able to make it through with gladness.

Hebrews 2:1-4

[1] Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
[2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Unless we abide in the presence of the most High we may lose the very thing that will keep us in our love and works: faith! As the spirit will continue in our hearts, it will help us in not only keeping our salvation sweet and cherished but our mind to a peaceful place of rest.

One of my favorite things about God is the way He is proven continually through every trial of my life. At the end of my every success, God’s glory shines through. When I am in the middle of something awful though it is hard for me to see the work that is being completed in my heart. As I am striving to keep walking the path for God I have personally came to realize some of the small moments where it all makes sense:

There were many times in the completion of my work in college that I certainly did not see the end for any classes I was going through. At the time I was working against myself simply because I did not believe in my own abilities. There was too much against me for me to handle this on my own. I find that in those times that I chose to put my inability in God’s hands that He became the strength in my weakness. God was the part of me that would encourage me to “keep trying” and to “not give up”. Even as I say this now I can feel such a wind of encouragement speaking to each one that is reading this. I not only made it through every class at that time but came out with high recommendations from those who taught me. It is wonderful now to realize when God’s glory shone in my victory that it entered when I surrendered to that which was attempting to lift and bring life to me.

Here is the bigger picture of it all: the difference between the encouragement of self and of God is that there is a supernatural change that brings you forward past all of your prior and future doubts. God helps you to not have an earthly vision that often projects failure but to have the sight for success. Success is not something that happens with ease; it takes a great work, motivation and belief! Today is not just another day! As long as you continue in the love of God that has been and will be shown in your heart you will be propelled into the success you never thought could be achieved!

Matthew 8:2-4

[2] And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
[3] And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
[4] And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Christ is found with the leper, those so ill all had forsaken them. The spirit of God wants to perform works to where the needs are, yet when we are not in the place to let it dwell within our temple (personal life) we may miss that very season of time to see it done.

John 5:5-8

[5] And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
[6] When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
[7] The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
[8] Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Jesus is found where friends neglect and religion and tradition loses its ability to have compassion. I am so glad I was not saved by the church service timesheet structure. I am glad that when we break our own rules sometimes that we come to realize that God is neither on a timeframe nor structure. There is a Holy appointed structure; it is called the will of God! There is also a guide to following it as well? It’s the word of God that lives in you and that which you read from the pages of life (bible).

Matthew 9:27-31

[27] And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
[28] And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
[29] Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
[30] And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
[31] But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

Jesus is found where the blind will not only walk in faith but believe!

Matthew 18:28-35

[28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
[29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
[30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
[31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
[32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
[33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
[34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
[35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Christ is found where the poor are persecuted and are put under bondage!

Let us break out of the box just for a minute. As we all know that Jesus Christ paid the price for the sins that were before us, there was a (what I will call my R&R) redemption and revival! I was not only redeemed for the past or at-the-time present I could not repair (or even get through) but was also given by the power of the spirit of God the ability to be delivered from all temptations!

So today, I am in praise for our savior not just for what we know about in our present sight and perspectives but the things we never see. I praise God for the quick resolutions before a conflict, peace-making events that divert from harm, the healings unseen before sickness takes its terrible turn, the words that come through spontaneous sources that are the right now word, all of those things! God put so many more ways of showing us His love than we often recognize. I just want to be thankful (and grateful) this day for how my life has turned around from what used to be such a  life bound by darkness and misery! Praise the Lord for the ever-continual flowing gift of not only being able to be saved, but safe as well.

Press on when others are telling you just to “hang on”. It is easy to just grab your seat on the ride of life and just coast, but God wants you to propel into forward motion! Coasting eventually comes to a halt when you reach the hills, right? When it becomes tough around you is when God is looking for you to be propelled by His presence!

Press on when others would discourage you. One of the greatest blessings that I have personally experienced in my entire life was when I could not have felt more alone. In the poor state that I was in I had no vision of holding on, let alone pressing forward. I was just trying to “exist”. However, the sweetest move of the spirit of God came for me and let me know just how real the word that we read about the promise of the comforter is. Now? Whether I am discouraged, rejected, or even to the magnitude of persecuted I NEVER have to fall that low ever again. I can stand confident in the comfort in the spirit of God!

Press on in your obedience. If I could emphasize one act more than the rest, I would say that this emphasis needs to be on prayer. We simply are not praying enough (none of us). There might be a few of you out there that are on the Daniel plan (3 times a day), and I commend you for it! But I hope that we know that it is not so much in the number as much as it is what you pour out and dedicate during the times that you do. Remember this: 5 minutes of heartfelt humble surrender to God goes so much further than 2 hours of requests for “stuff”.

Most of all, press on for the mark. There is a place that God wants us to aim for. It is a place that in more depths of study reveals the perfect love of God within us. It shows the like-mindedness of Christ within our thoughts. It shows through our acts the charity that came out on its own that no one had to beg out of you. It’s a mark that once someone strives for that others begin to be drawn by. In other words, press on to put down our doubts and fears that lead us not to believe in the living spirit of God within us! Live and let live the word of God within you!