GOD IS WORTHY

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” – Psalm 95:6-7

     As we live each day of our lives we see the wonders of God’s creation all around us. God is majestic in His power and great in His mercy. How can we not bow down before Him to worship and praise His name? It is a matter of faith and trust. If you say you believe in God, then give yourself wholly to Him and allow Him to alter the path you are on. Let His Holy Spirit perform spiritual surgery on your heart so that you are truly the new creation God intended you to be when you received Christ in your heart and life in the first place. We are God’s children. He acts as our shepherd, with us being His flock. We are under His care and can rely on Him to work on our behalf in all things, provided we are properly focused on that which is eternally important. See God for who He truly is and know that He is worthy of all praise. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GRAFTED IN

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” … “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, … .” – Ephesians 2:13,19

     The Jews were God’s chosen people and still are to this very day; however, it was due to their rejection of Christ as the Messiah that the non-Jew or Gentile was able to enter into the family of God. Since God knows all things, He had foreknowledge of the Jews rejection. He knew that they were as described in scripture, a stubborn and stiff-necked people (Exodus 32:9; Acts 7:51). The olive root is symbolic for God, the olive branches are those who believe. Romans 11:17-24 tells of Jews who because of their unbelief were broken off. As believers today, we should never become arrogant because of our right standing with God, for as scripture declares, “… if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” Living for God should be considered a privilege. Always remember and never forget that God loved us prior to our even acknowledging His existence. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

BEING ZEALOUS

“It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.” – Galatians 4:18

     Paul was writing the Galatian brethren to defend the gospel he had preached. Outsiders had come in and put doubts in their minds regarding not only his message, but his apostolic authority as well. Paul asked them bluntly who had “bewitched” them that they would fall prey to such teaching. In the course of his letter Paul speaks of being zealous. He points out that it is fine to be filled with zeal as long as the purpose and cause is good.     

     In this day and age there are many causes that people become quite zealous about. Same sex marriage, animal rights, gender or racial equality are all causes that are important to those who believe in them. Being zealous for the gospel of Jesus Christ, while frowned upon by a secular society, is a cause with eternal implications. In the eyes of God it is a most righteous and worthy cause to be zealous towards. As Christians we must choose our battles wisely and always stand tall in the defense of the gospel message we have embraced. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO?

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:66-69

     When faith kicks in and a person realizes for the first time that God is real and Jesus is the way to salvation, exhilaration fills their soul and their spirit is ignited. Time and life’s circumstances will test that exuberance. Difficult teachings from scripture may give them reason to give pause, leading them to question their beliefs. However, when push comes to shove, that person will no doubt echo the words uttered by Peter; ‘Where else can we go? To whom shall we turn?’ Christ, the giver of life, is the only one who has come and is coming that can wash away the sins of the past and make a person brand new. He alone allows a person a ‘do over’; a second chance. Peter realized that Jesus of Nazareth was God’s Son; the only One we can turn to for forgiveness, peace and hope. Do you? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

BEING STEADFAST

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” - Isaiah 26:3

     In a world that is filled with chaos, we read these comforting words. Because we have placed our faith in God, it stands to reason that we will trust Him as well. If we trust God then we can be at peace. Why, you may ask? God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our tendencies and in knowing that God knows that we are prone to worry about things that we can either do nothing about or won’t even happen. Steadfast is to firmly fix something in place; therefore, if we firmly fix our minds on the Lord and His Word, He shall keep us at peace. Nothing can come against us that is not either caused or allowed by God. So if He is in control of everything in creation, He must be in control of all the things that affect us. The logical conclusion to all this is to stay close to the Lord and allow His Holy Spirit to minister to our hearts, minds, souls and spirits so that we remain at peace in all situations. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

SHUN EVIL & DO GOOD

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” – Romans 12:9

     It is said that man is born with a sense of right and wrong. Through experience we know that man also has a natural leaning towards that which pushes the envelope. Man seems to want to walk that razor thin line between right and wrong, between what is evil and what is good. The devil has a litany of tantalizing temptations just dangling in our path as he attempts to lure us away from the path of truth.

     For the Christian, these temptations are real and fly in the face of all that is Godly at times. Some things may be innocent fun, but make no mistake about it; the devil is operating at full tilt to trip us all up. The only way to know the difference between what’s evil and what’s good is to immerse ourselves in the Word of God. In scripture we find words that bring life, peace and hope. This world has nothing to offer us but death and sorrow. Love one another, turn away from evil and do that which is good. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S ANSWERS TO PRAYER

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” - Psalm 116:1-2

     While no specifics are given as to what David’s prayer was for, God heard him and because of that David was grateful. We can be assured that our Lord hears us when we pray. Our answers may not come instantaneously, but they will come. The thing that we as Christians must realize and understand is that time means nothing to God. He will answer our prayer when He knows it’s the right time. He will also answer it in a manner that He knows is perfect for us. Beware of expecting a certain answer because it may not be what you were expecting; however, it will come. Patience is required when awaiting God’s answers. Never take a lack of an answer as a denial. Your answer lies in what I refer to as “the land of the not yet”. In the end, your answer will be just what you needed and arrive exactly when it is needed the most. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD KNOWS US INTIMATELY

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” - Psalm 94:18-19

     Just as David, we may be assured of God’s personal observation of man’s comings and goings. God is mindful of all things for He is all-knowing. His unfailing, unconditional love will carry us through any distressing set of circumstances. When we are filled with worry, our consolation comes from the Almighty. You see, God knows us intimately. Scripture tells us He has the very hairs on our head numbered (Luke 12:7). He knows everything there is to know about each one of us. It’s only when we draw close to God that we will begin to grasp the concept that there’s nothing that He will not do for us. Our belief is based on faith and trust. We must be sold out on the fact that God is real and His Word is absolutely flawless and true. Once we have accepted that we can move forward into a closer relationship with God. As our desires and will begin to line up with His we will start to see things more as God sees them. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LINING UP WITH GOD

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” - Romans 8:32

     For those who are dead in their sins a gift was given. God gave up His Son to pay the debt we could never pay. It was the greatest gift ever given. Everything else is of less value. Therefore, if He had given us the most precious gift, how could God possibly withhold anything else from us who believe? The key to the question is what we ask for. Desires and wants are two distinctly separate things. God has promised to meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19). Those who have drawn close to God in the form of a personal relationship have seen their desires begin to fall in line with God’s will for them. It’s a growth process that takes time; however, know this: God doesn’t play games with us. He knows all that we need and desire and shall never short change us. It is not He who must line up with us, but rather we who must line up with Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

RENEWING YOUR MIND

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

     Do you desire to know God’s good, pleasing and perfect will for you? You can know God’s perfect will for your life by allowing yourself to be transformed by the Holy Spirit of God. The spiritual surgery that He performs is ongoing. It’s progressive in nature and will never end if you allow it. You can ignore the call of God and the changes that He wants to make in you; however, that’s not how spiritual growth takes place. Drawing near to God and drinking from the well of wisdom that is His Word will cause you to achieve that which you seek; that being knowledge and discernment. There’s nothing the Lord will not do for you if you will simply surrender to His will for you. You can know it by striving to be of one mind with Him. Turn from the ways of the world and cleanse yourself in His truth. That is the renewing of your mind. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

UNWAVERING TRUST

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6

     When we cry out to the Lord, do we truly believe He hears us or are we just hoping He does? When we pray to God for answers we may receive an immediate response, as David did or the answer may be delayed. It can be frustrating waiting for our answers to come, but delays are not denials. Delays are designed to strengthen our faith. When we ask anything in faith, trusting God, we will be rewarded with an answer. God knows all things; therefore He certainly knows the best time and best way to answer any request we may have. Our responsibility is to stay close to God so we recognize the answer when it comes. David cried out to God because he knew God was over all things and was the only One who could save him from his calamity. Once we arrive at the place where our trust in God is unwavering, we too will recognize our answers when they come. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OBEYING GOD

“… this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, …” – 1 John 5:3

     There are plenty of people who claim to believe in God, yet don’t allow Him to change them from the inside out. Notice that they say “Oh, I believe in God” but never “I love God”. The devil himself believes in God so what does simply believing accomplish? If we believe in God than we should love Him and if we love Him we should keep His commands. If we have entered into a genuine relationship with the Lord, we will begin to live out the commandments of God as a natural outcropping of our new faith. We are not bound by these commandments in that they no longer determine our eternal destination, but we will live them just the same. It’s because our outlook has become different. That which is important to us has shifted. We now seek to please God whereas before our conversion it was the last thing on our minds. Obedience is the evidence of our love for the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

HUMILITY

“But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” - 2 Corinthians 10:17-18

     Humility is a desirable trait for a Christian. We are seen by the world as arrogant and judgmental to begin with, but when we show others a true sense of humbleness and humility they might just begin to pay attention to us. In all honesty, we have nothing to brag about in and of ourselves. We were created and any abilities we have acquired were given to us by the Lord. If God is who He says He is, then all things belong to Him and are just on loan to us. So let us live for God without a shred of haughtiness and seek His leadership in all we do. Any attention we receive for something we’ve done should come from the Lord and not ourselves. If we are to be humble as Christ was humble, we must draw close to God and allow Him to teach us to be so. Give Him all glory for all things. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR COMFORTING GOD

“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, … .” - 2 Corinthians 7:6

     Are you downcast today? Has life gotten the better of you? Know this day that Almighty God, creator of the universe and man’s first breath is a comforter. When we are at our lowest point God scoops us up and holds us in the hollow of His mighty hands. He favors us over all His creation and desires to see us prosper, even as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). There isn’t anything God wouldn’t do for us to stabilize our lives and bless us. Though rocky times come to us all, God is mindful of them, for He has allowed them to grow our faith. Place your faith and trust squarely on the One who can change your circumstances with one solitary word for in Him lies peace, comfort and lasting fulfillment. God can be trusted for the Bible doesn’t chronicle one incident where He has failed to do that which He has promised; therefore, release yourself into His care. In the end, we can say with Peter (John 6:65-69) “To whom shall we go Lord. You have the words of eternal life.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

HEAVEN AWAITS

“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’— the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

     Here Paul tells us that the Spirit of God reveals the wisdom of God. It’s obvious from these verses that the Holy Spirit knows the deepest things in God’s mind and shares them with the faithful as He deems it necessary.

     The main encouragement comes from the fact that we have no conception of what awaits us in heaven. There is nothing in this created world, as beautiful and majestic as it is, that can compare with what is in store for us. We can rest in the fact that God is not prone to exaggeration, nor would He deceive us into thinking we would be receiving something we will not. We can count on the fact that we have something that human words cannot even describe awaiting those who faithfully live for God all their days. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

BUILD YOUR FAITH

“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” - Jude 1:20-21

     We are called to build ourselves up in our faith as we move through this life. To not do so is to become stagnant. A stagnant pool of water obtains a foul odor and become filled with undesirable elements. We too will stagnate spiritually if we don’t read God’s word and pray.

     As we go through this life we encounter many twists and turns that can frustrate us in our faith. We must feed our spirit man regularly to remain spiritual fit and ready for anything that attempts to drag us down. The devil works night and day to trip up even the most ardent believer. Love God and live out His mercy and grace by offering it to others outside the faith. Shun evil and thus negate the devil’s attempts to lead you astray. He has no effect on the dedicated believer for our faith is a shield that deflects all that would come against us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

UNDESERVED FAVOR

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

     Everyone enjoys getting gifts. The nature of a gift is that it is purchased by someone other than yourself. The gift of God is salvation; the forgiveness of sin. It is offered to us all though we are not deserving of it. That is what grace is; undeserved favor. You can’t do good works to get into heaven. Good works should be an outcropping of your faith in God, nothing more. A personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe is needed to attain heaven. This personal relationship is acquired once we accept our sinful state and receive the gift that is being offered.

     God shares His glory with no one; therefore, there is nothing we could ever boast about, for we have done nothing to save ourselves. What a blessed thought; our sins have been paid for and all we have to do is believe and receive, then allow the Spirit of God to mold us into all He knows we can be. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

WE ARE NOT ARE OWN

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

     The church in Corinth was a veritable melting pot of different socio-economic strata, having Jew, Greek, slave, free, rich and poor as part of their congregation. Many of the Corinthian believers were former idol worshippers, hence Paul’s admonition in 6:12 and 10:23. It is there the church proclaims that they can do all things to which Paul responds that not all things are beneficial or constructive. Here we see the Apostle instructing the Corinthian believers to honor God with their bodies for they are not their own. The same could be said of us today. We were also bought with the same price that was paid for the believers back then. The cost has never changed and the price paid hasn’t either. Wherever we go as Christians, the Holy Spirit of God goes with us. He is in us and wishes to mold us into all that God knows we can be. We must allow Him to do so. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR EVER-PRESENT GOD

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1

     Psalms were songs written largely by King David; in fact, he wrote more than half. Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), the great British preacher, refers to Psalm 46 as “The Song of Holy Confidence”. The Hebrews placed all their hope and trust in their God. Their armies were not their refuge and strength, nor were their mighty fortresses, but rather Jehovah God. As believers in the Most High God, we too are to place that same level of trust in Him today. Scripture is clear; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) and “… the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) God never changes. Being no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35) means God shows no favoritism towards any one person or groups of people. What He did for the Old Testament patriarchs He will do for us today. We can rely on Him to see us through any difficulty and cause us to shine like the sun at its conclusion. Righteous lives are what we’re to live; lives that honor and glorify our God. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

YOU ARE OF GREAT VALUE

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. - Luke 12:6-7

     My friend, do you feel that you have been forgotten by God? Are you in the midst of circumstances that are wearing you out and you are beginning to wonder where God has gone? Let me reassure you that God has not forgotten you but rather knows you so well that He has each and every hair on your head numbered. If He cares for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, how much more will He take care of you. There is nothing that can thwart His plans for you. There is no one who can stop Him. God cares for you so deeply that there is nothing He wouldn’t do for you as evidenced by His allowing the death of His own Son to pay for your sins. Trust in God today. Know that He is intimately aware of your comings and goings each moment of every day and rest in that knowledge. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

PRAISE THE LORD

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. - Psalm 150:6a

     Let us consider the following: the breath that we have in our lungs and our ability to breathe it in is due to God creating us from dust. If it weren’t for Him we wouldn’t exist. Without God there would only be nothingness. Instead, He has seen fit to not only create man, but this bountiful and beautiful land that we have been given as well. Who else could be given credit for such a feat? We didn’t create ourselves. In the name of progress we have destroyed far more than we’ve created. No, God and God alone stands as the lone creative force who deserves to be praised. He alone can heal. He alone can forgive. He alone can save. There’s nothing this side of heaven that can match His power and majesty. Why is it that we balk at given praise to such a loving God? Is it pride? Is it ignorance? If we reflect on all our God has done in general and for us as individuals, how could we not give Him praise? He is definitely worthy of all glory, honor and praise. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR SOUL

Your rigging hangs loose: The mast is not held secure, the sail is not spread. – Isaiah 33:23

     The prophet Isaiah is comparing the people of God to a drifting ship. Think of a schooner at sea. How prepared would it be for the storms that inevitably come if it’s rigging's were loose, the mast was not secure and the sail was not spread? How could it maneuver at sea? How could it change direction? It couldn’t, that’s the point. Trusting in Almighty God at all times keeps our ‘ship’ trim and ready for anything. The ship is our life and without preparedness, we are without question adrift with no direction, nor compass to lead us. The Lord does not desire that any would be cast adrift. It certainly doesn’t have to be that way. Let go of the wheel and let God captain the ship. He is far more capable of knowing which way to go than we are. He knows our tendencies and would not steer us onto the reef. Give control of your life over to the captain of your soul and let Him take you where He knows you will thrive in every aspect of life. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

WORDS OF TRUTH

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. - Psalm 119:160

     In a world with so much deceit and lying goes on as a regular part of life, we see these words in scripture. The word of God is true. In fact it is the essence of truth. It is a truth that everything else can be judged by. Can I prove it’s true? No more than I can prove God exists. It too is a matter of faith. Christianity is a faith-based belief system. I have chosen to believe God exists and I have chosen to belief His word is the absolute truth. I believe God’s righteous laws are now and forever. I believe He provides the one true standard that we can live by. It doesn’t work for some and not for all; it works for all who believe. Don’t just believe in God, let Him change your way of thinking, the way you do things; let Him change you from the inside out. The word of God stands as a testament to the fairness and mercy that is God. If He were not fair and merciful would any man be left standing in the end? Choose to believe. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

SCRIPTURAL UNDERSTANDING

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. - Psalm 119:130

          It is surmised by commentators of this verse that ‘the unfolding’ could refer to the “initial act of revelation, the process of interpreting God’s word, or applying the law to his heart.” When a soul is dark, it needs light shone into it to bring true life. The word of God is that light. While we are all not gifted Biblical scholars, we can understand scriptures intended meaning through the study of Bible customs, the scriptures themselves and much prayer. The study of Bible customs gives us fine nuances of meaning that may have significance in Jesus’ day. It takes work on our part to understand God’s word. Revelation can take place as we simply seek its meaning from the Holy Spirit. God’s intent is not to conceal things from us, but rather to provide wisdom and knowledge to all who ask. Diligence is required on our part. He knows those who can be trusted with imparted truth into their spirits so that they might become valued ambassadors of Christ. Becoming more like Christ does not come to us by osmosis, but rather by us counting the cost (Luke 14:28), then doing that which is required of us. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

          God had rejected Saul as Israel’s king and sent the prophet Samuel to hand pick Saul’s successor. God sent Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem to find him. Once there Samuel had Jesse send for all his sons. The prophet inspected each one and although they all appeared to be a good choice in Samuel’s eyes, God rejected each one. Samuel seemed perplexed, yet God sees the character and motivation of one’s heart and had picked the young son who was tending to the sheep as the anointed one. Therefore David was summoned and anointed to be the next king of Israel once Saul was removed.  

          A flaw humans have is that we look at the outward package and never delve into what is inside. We deem people unworthy to associate with because of what we perceive rather than what we know for a fact. God looks upon the heart of a man and deems him worthy of His grace. Go and do likewise. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

LIVE THE WORD

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” - James 1:22

          I have encountered and perhaps you have as well, people who listen to what is said then do what they want anyway. Wise advice is ignored. Discernment is not utilized. They know better what course to take. It’s a malady that can befall the strongest believer, as well as those who never walked with God. For the Christian, it is foolhardy to read scripture than cherry pick those verses which fit your life agenda. Read it in context and apply it to your daily life. I have met people who say they believe in God and even read the Bible, but their life is in shambles and there have no direction. How is this possible when they have read the word of truth? They read it, but do not apply it to their lives. We must read it, chew on it, swallow it and digest it as we would a delicious meal so as to fully take it into our spirit. Then we must allow the Holy Spirit to begin to apply it to our lives. Live the word. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

UNWAVERING TRUST

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” – Psalm 119:114

          A refuge is a place of safety and a shield is used for protection; descriptive words for Almighty God. They paint a picture of an impenetrable castle and a large, thick, steel armor plate. This is who God is to us; a person we can turn to at any and all times for safety and protection. Our hope is found in God and Him alone. Nothing this side of heaven can provide the security God can provide to those who have placed their unwavering faith and trust in Him. We must not allow the trials of this life to diminish our reliance on God for He is stronger than any calamity that may befall us. Our God shall sustain us though the winds may howl about us and the rains may do their worst. He shall provide the protection we need when it is needed. Hebrews 10:23 tells us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Trust in God for He is worthy of our trust. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!