Category: Abide in Him

Dip yourself in muddy water


There is a story in the Bible about a general in command of a country’s army but he had leprosy. Thankfully, it was in the beginning stages though. He knew it was a death sentence but he found out that there was a prophet in Israel who could pray for him and heal him.

Naaman, commander of the army of Syria, was a mighty man of valor but he was a leper. His wife’s servant girl told him of the prophet, Elisha, in Israel that he could be healed if he went to him. In 2 Kings 5, the story tells about how he got a letter from his king to be healed and he took many gifts for the prophet with him. Here is the story beginning with verse 5:

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abanac and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Why am I putting this story here? Because, sometimes God asks us to do things that are outside our comfort zones. Not because He likes to make us uncomfortable, but because we need to trust Him in our uncomfortable places no matter where they might be. Regardless of the place that God places you in, He has a plan and a purpose for you and the place you are in. Will it bring a healing or some other miracle into your life or someone else’s life? Only God knows that answer. Go to that uncomfortable place that He is sending you and in faith believe that He will accomplish His purpose…whatever it may be.

The Lord is being slow


God’s patience with us is only to give as many as possible the time needed to make up their minds about their salvation. It seems that many people just aren’t ready to give their hearts to Him. The problem with this is that His patience is running out. Soon, the church will be taken up and the whole world will fall into chaos for seven years. Make sure of your choice before it’s too late.

God gave us everything


We live and breathe because of Him. It is His love and grace that keeps us alive and able to be His every day. God doesn’t need us but we do need Him. Why should we be available to Him for His purposes? Because HE is our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Deliverer and He is enough.

God is working in you


You are saved by His Grace


For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.2.8-10.KJV

There is no other way to be saved from an eternity in hell. His grace and faith in Him is the only way to be a saved child of the Living God! Believe it so that you can be in heaven when your eternity begins. It could be tomorrow or tonight or next year but when it comes you will know it.

We need more respect


Your Father knows but He wants to hear your request


Bible study


That is something that I used to dislike with a passion. Why? Because I thought I was saved and didn’t need to study the Bible. Kinda like having “insurance” against the flames. At the time I thought being saved just meant accepting Jesus as your Savior…period. I didn’t think there was anything that I should do from that point on. But when you truly are saved and you realize that you really needed Him…that is when God truly got your attention. Before you were trying to “do it yourself”. You walked down the aisle and you might’ve even been baptized but you only got wet. There was no change and you didn’t feel the need to change anything.

That is the type of “faith” I had many years ago. It wasn’t real. Even though I thought it was for a while. But eventually, I would go right back to where I was before. As they say, “it didn’t take”. The fact is, I was just trying to do it myself. When God touches your heart and breaks it, He shows you why you need Him and that He can fill that empty place that you’ve known about for a long time. When this happens, studying your Bible becomes real. It teaches you about your Savior and your Creator. The Bible also reads your spirit, because every time you read a chapter or a book in it you will find a pearl of new wisdom or truth that you didn’t see before.

Studying God’s Word is the best way to learn about Him and His voice so you will know when you hear Him speak. If you don’t know His voice then Satan can speak to you and deceive you easily. While I was a pastor, I read through the Bible at least once every year. Since I’ve been away from preaching in a church, I actually read it more than once per year. God’s Word never gets old or stale because it is His Living Word. Give your heart to Him and get acquainted with Him more than ever by reading His Word every day.

The Lord delights in you


Wisdoms beginning


The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: But if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. Proverbs 9:10‭-‬12 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.9.10-12.KJV

This fear is not the kind that you feel watching a horror movie. It is a respectful fear of the Person and the power of God because He is your Creator and your Savior. It is the kind of respect that some of us grew up knowing about. At one time we were taught to respect our elders and our teachers and the police and many others who were in positions of authority. We even respected our parents and grandparents…imagine that? If you were to ask a young person today if they respected their parents or their grandparents many of them would likely laugh at you.

Respect is something that is foreign to our culture and to many in society today. We don’t have respect for people because of their job or position and it seems that we don’t have respect for many things that were respected in society a few decades ago. Why? Because we don’t teach respect or even the reasons for it at home and especially in schools today. God demands respect because of Who He is but people don’t want to hear that today. They don’t believe that He exists and if HE does they don’t think He cares about them. Why? Because they aren’t learning this at home or in churches because fewer and fewer people attend church services today.

Comfort and feelings will cause failure in the future. If you only follow your comfortable life and how you feel about this or that, you will always fail. God’s wisdom is found in the Bible and it is the only book that contains wisdom that is infallible, particularly in regard to money. Seek His wisdom in the use of and the ability to use money in the way that God approves and your life will be more blessed than you can imagine.