“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24 NIV)

Someone has said, “There are three types of people: 1) Those who make things happen, 2) Those who watch things happen, and 3) Those who stand around and say, ‘What happened?’” I have often found myself in the third category because I didn’t anticipate a problem coming until it suddenly happened. This week, for instance, one of the faucets on the outside of my house was dripping water onto the ground, and no matter how hard I tried to turn off the spigot, it continued to leak profusely. It was beyond my skill level to repair, so I called my son, John, who had previously fixed pipes for me that had frozen and broken during a cold snap. As soon as he looked into it, he found that it had been leaking back into the wall for a while, doing damage. So, he replaced the bad facet, wet insulation, and repaired everything.

This incident reminded me of sin, which often lurks unseen deep within our minds or hearts. The psalmist in the passage at the top recognizes this problem and asks God to “search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” When you seek God this way, He brings help to you where needed, often bringing the perfect Scriptures with solutions to your remembrance.  

Therefore

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Tim. 3:16)

“For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.” (Psalm 63:7)

“And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.” (Job 8:7)

My how we’ve grown!

While getting together with our family during the recent holidays, Susan and I marveled at how large our family has grown—and is still growing—from just two of us over fifty years ago to having adult children with children who are also growing up with partners of their own to add to our numbers. We feel so blessed to watch it happen! All of this didn’t happen overnight, even though it does feel like it happened in a flash. Life is like that; little things eventually grow into bigger things if we simply keep at it and don’t quit.

New Year’s Resolutions

At the beginning of a new year, it's common to make resolutions such as losing weight, breaking bad habits, and resolving to accomplish big things. But it usually doesn't take long for reality to sink in and old habits to creep back in, and soon they’re abandoned out of discouragement.

It doesn't have to be that way with your relationship with God!

God promises to help you have a growing relationship with Him which will in turn affect every other area of your life in wonderful ways! Look what this verse says about God’s faithfulness to make it happen.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil. 1:6 NLT)

“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thess. 5:24 NLT) 

Therefore

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (3 Peter 3:18 ESV)

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isa. 43:19 ESV)

Happy New Year!

We just ended another year and are now starting a brand new one. Traditionally, the old year is depicted by artists as an old man wearing a banner from last year (he’s old and leaving) and a baby wearing a banner with the date of the new year (he’s new, innocent, and ready to grow into a productive future). Simply put, it’s time to let the past go and start a brand-new future.

No one knows the future accept God

Because God knows the future and what’s going to happen, the better you communicate with Him, the better your future will be! (See Matt. 6:33).

A future and a hope

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

New every morning

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lam. 3:22-24 ESV)

Therefore

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isa. 43:18 ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

A Prayer for the New Year

Heavenly Father, praise your holy name. Thank you for the past year and for providing for my every need. As I begin this new year, help me to remember that your kingdom is coming soon and that I must be watching for it. Give me what I need for each day. Help me to have a forgiving attitude toward others in the same way that you have forgiven me. Help me to resist temptation and to be delivered from evil. Give me vision for the future in line with your perfect will. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. In Jesus name, amen.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Gal. 6:9 NLT)

There’s an old story about a person who tried and failed many times to create a new lemon-lime-flavored drink. He called his first attempt 1 Up (it failed). And he called his second attempt 2 Up, and it too failed. And time and time again, he tried and failed, and finally, feeling completely defeated, he quit at 6 Up! He never knew how close he had come to success when he gave up. Although this story is obviously contrived, it does present a valid point. Many give up too soon. Thomas Edison, on the other hand, tried hundreds of times to find the right material that would work as a filament for the lightbulb, and he finally succeeded because he didn’t quit until he did. Another good example of perseverance was Babe Ruth, one of the best baseball players ever, who hit 714 home runs in his career, a record that stood for almost 40 years. But he also struck out 1,330 times. Among his many successes were twice as many failures, but he wasn’t defined by his failures but instead by his amazing successes. 

Therefore

As you end this year, do a personal survey of the successes you had this year and praise God for them. Also, as you see negative things that may have happened over the year, make a list of the good things you have learned from them. Finally, set your sights on the next year with a fresh determination to put God first in everything you do. 

“For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” (James 3:2 ESV)

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31-33 ESV)

Continuing on from yesterday and our look at David’s Psalm 145 about endless praise we learn more about God’s character and why we should continuously offer up praises to Him.

The generous help and free gifts of God are always available to all his creatures.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand;” (Psalms 145:13-16)

The Lord is near to all who call on Him

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.” (Psalms 145:17-20)

Therefore

All creation, and in particular his people, should bring him unending praise.

“My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:21)

Continuing on in yesterday's Psalm 145, about unending praise, which was written by David, we learn even more about God’ character: He is gracious. Compassionate. Slow to anger. Rich in love. Good to all. And He has compassion on all He has made. These are more reasons to offer up daily praise to Him!

“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalms 145:8-9)

 Therefore

Show your gratitude by praising him and telling others about Him.

 “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generation. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.” (Psalms 145:10-13)

The end of the year is a great time to reflect on God’s greatness and the many reasons to praise Him. David does this in Psalms 145, which is an acrostic poem of endless praise. He begins each verse with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet and provides an uplifting reminder of God's enduring faithfulness, mercy, and compassion. In the midst of life's tribulations, we can find solace in His majestic greatness and the knowledge that His love extends to all His creations. This psalm invites us to actively participate in a continual, daily chorus of praise, reminding us of the power of our individual and shared voices in celebrating His majesty.

“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (145:1-3).

Therefore

Meditate on God’s greatness and proclaim it to others.

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds.They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” (Psalm 145-4-7)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)

Such an exclusive statement made by Jesus may confuse, surprise, or even offend, but it is still true, nonetheless. The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than through Jesus Christ!

Jesus said

Jesus spoke of Himself as the only way to heaven in several places besides John 14:6, at top. He presented Himself as the object of faith in Matthew 7:21–27. He said His words are life (John 6:63). He promised that those who believe in Him will have eternal life (John 3:14–15). He is the gate of the sheep (John 10:7); he is the door to salvation (John 10:9); the bread of life (John 6:35); and the resurrection (John 11:25). No one else can rightly claim those titles.

There is no other way!

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Therefore

“I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin.” (Acts 13:38–39) 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20 ESV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thess 3:5)

Are you glad Christmas is over?

The day after Christmas, a pastor stopped into a big department store to purchase something he needed. He struck up a conversation with the manager who happened to be helping him, and he said, “Are you glad Christmas is over?” And the manager replied, “Well no, because it’s my job to remove every trace of Christmas in the entire store until the next holiday season, and that’s a daunting job.” The pastor said, “My job is the exact opposite: to keep Christmas strong in the hearts of my congregation for the entire year, and that too is a daunting job.”

Yes, it’s definitely hard for that pastor to keep Christmas in the hearts of his congregation once all the holiday reminders, such as decorated trees in every window, wreathes on doors, carols playing everywhere, and the colored lights on buildings suddenly disappear. Once gone, it all goes away quickly.

Remaining steadfast in Christ

I heard about a child who fell out of bed in the middle of the night. His parents asked him what happened. And he said sleepily, “I must have stayed too close to where I got in.” That’s a picture of what happens to a new believer who fails to grow. They will eventually become weak, lukewarm, and fall away if they don’t grow by surrounding themselves with the things that will move them forward and focus on Christ, like Bible study, spending time in prayer, attending a Christ-centered church, and fellowshipping with other Christians.

Therefore

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58 ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV) 

“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Heb. 3:14)