God seemed to come to my door one day and ask if I would start walking with Him by getting up early in the morning for prayer and Bible reading. At first I thought it was something I had to do. I dragged my feet because I found I didn’t want to sacrifice the extra few minutes of sleep! He was so patient as He waited for me to understand that it wasn’t something I had to do; instead it was a personal time of fellowship where I could just grow in my love relationship with Him.
One reason I have maintained my walk with God is that no one else – not my beloved family or my close and loyal friends – really understands me. No one else truly knows my fears and longings and hurts and dreams and failures. But He shares my feelings, my loneliness. Spending time with God as I “walk” with Him meets needs that are in the deepest part of me. He Himself is the solution to the loneliness of the human spirit.
He who is mighty has done great
things for me, and holy is His name.
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? § Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. § Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. § Hallowed be Your name.
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. § Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” § I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us … be glory.
Luke 1:49; Ex. 15:11; Ps. 86:8; Rev. 15:4; Matt. 6:9;
Luke 1:68; Isa. 63:1; Ps. 89:19; Eph. 3:20–21
The dew of Hermon.
Mount Sion (that is, Hermon). § There the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.
I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon.
Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as rain- drops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. § As the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
God does not give the Spirit by measure. § And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. § It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard … of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
Ps. 133:3; Deut. 4:48; Ps. 133:3; Hos. 14:5; Deut. 32:2;
Isa. 55:10–11; John 3:34; 1:16; Ps. 133:2
Just as certain physical characteristics are passed from one generation to another, so truth that leads to faith in God is passed from one generation to another. This is subtly revealed by the fact that Adam’s life is not recorded in the genealogy of his firstborn, Cain, but in the genealogy of his third son, Seth. (Gen. 5:5-31) It was Seth’s descendants who relayed faith in God while Cain’s descendants rebelled against Him and therefore wasted their lives.
Age is not mentioned in the list of Cain’s descendants while in Adam’s genealogy the years of each man’s life are carefully recorded. God lovingly counts the years of those in the righteous remnant, because they glorify Him.
Are you a spiritual descendent of Adam as well as a physical descendant? If the Lamb’s book of life were opened today, would your name be found there? If you have been validated as an authentic child of God, your life has eternal meaning and priceless value in His sight.
He calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out.
The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” § Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” § The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. § Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. § The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 10:3; 2 Tim. 2:19; Matt. 7:22–23; Ps. 1:6;
Isa. 49:16; Song 8:6; Nah. 1:7; John 14:2–3
She has done what she could.
This poor widow has put in more than all. § Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. § If there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. § If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? § He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”
Mark 14:8; Luke 21:3; Mark 9:41; 2 Cor. 8:12;
1 John 3:18; James 2:15–16; 2 Cor. 9:6–7; Luke 17:10
The world sees Jesus as a man, perhaps even a good or great man and possibly even a prophet, but still a man. It is the Holy Spirit Who opens our spiritual eyes of understanding so that we see Jesus as much more than just a man. We see Him as: our Creator – the Jehovah of the Old Testament – the long-awaited Messiah – the only Son of God – the Redeemer of Israel – the Lamb of God – the Savior of the world – the Good Shepherd – the risen Lord – the Judge of the universe – the reigning and ruling King of kings!
The only way we can be convinced of Who Jesus is, is through the enlightenment we have received from the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:13-14, NIV). So . . . the next time you read your Bible, pray first and ask the Spirit of Truth to open your eyes to Jesus.
