Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

John 7:38-39 ESV, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” (When he said, “living water” he was speaking of the Spirit who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not entered into his glory.).” NLT

In John 7:38, Jesus summarizes the meaning of several teaching passages that picture the Holy Spirit’s inward work in a believer as a river of water flowing out to bring blessings to others. The Holy Spirit empowers us and is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus promised in John 14:15-16, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” Every believer has the Holy Spirit within them (Romans 8:9). By faith, we have access to the Holy Spirit’s power each day. But how often do we access this as we go about our day-to-day duties?

Rivers have a course they follow. Rivers are natural streams of water that flow from their source to larger bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans, and have a defined path or channel that flows toward a lake or another river. A river always flows downhill. Much like our emotions, desires, actions, and motives flow from the source from which all our actions flow – our heart. Proverbs 4:23 warns us, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

For the one who puts their trust and faith in Jesus, He offers a perpetual river of living water, due to the gospel. “Essentially Jesus said, “Put your loving trust in Me, enthrone Me in your heart, and life and abundance will flow out.” Blue Letter Bible, David Guzik Commentary. We should become channels through whom the overflowing rivers of blessings we receive can be passed on to others in need through us, from the Holy Spirit. Whatever your spiritual gifts and talents are, be it leadership, encouragement, showing compassion, serving, etc., use them so that the blessings flow through you to others for God’s glory and reflect His grace.

Every day, we get one day closer to what God wants us to be to finish well, and it is an ongoing process called sanctification. May we not dam up how we can impact others by keeping the blessings in our lives, given to us by the Holy Spirit, lest we become stagnant, cynical, and mean-spirited. We need to have our blessings flow like a river, for the freshness is in the flow, as we guard our hearts, for which all our actions flow. Live on your daily dependence of the Holy Spirit to fill you continually and give you a whole new way to look at life. Ask Him to keep your rivers flowing from living a cross-centered life, from which the source of life flows out of the heart – “rivers of living water (John 7:28).” True faith in Jesus leads to a profound spiritual transformation. It emphasizes that believers will experience a flow of life-giving water from within, symbolizing spiritual vitality and abundance, carried with refreshment, joy, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledging that the power comes through you, not from you (quote from Fred Smith).”

Listen to I Speak Jesus (feat. Steven Musso), Charity Gayle.

Numbers 12:1-3, “While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too? But the LORD heard them (Now Moses was very humble – more humble than any other person on earth).”

What do you remember about Miriam in the Bible? Don’t courage, bravery, a prophetess, and quick thinking under pressure all come to mind? When I read Numbers 12 about a year ago in my Chronological Bible reading, what struck me was how well it illustrated the problem of sibling rivalry, especially when a younger sibling is more successful than the older one. Critical conversations of, “It’s not fair!” But last week, as I was reading Numbers 12, I saw something I hadn’t fully realized before in this chapter. It points to the sin of jealousy, envy, slander, and gossip that Miriam and Aaron committed against Moses’s position and influence. Miriam and Aaron (Moses was their brother) desired recognition. They couldn’t find fault with Moses, so they chose to attack his character by criticizing his wife and marriage which Miriam took the lead in. God shows His wrath against their criticism of attacking Moses’ character in marrying a Cushite woman (prejudiced remarks) and was spiritually proud in presenting himself as the only spokesman of God to Israel, which was not true. God rebukes them in verse 7b-9, “Of all my house, He [Moses] is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?” God was angry with Miriam and Aaron, with their sin that motivated them to make their accusation from their selfish pride, and for rebelling against His authority and sovereignty.

Miriam was the instigator, and her brother, Aaron, followed her into their jealousy of Moses’ top position as God’s spokesman for the Israelites, even though they were prophets as well. They were both foolish. Yet Moses didn’t fight back at their unjust criticism. It is thought that Moses may have just trusted God to handle this family drama, or he may have been so emotionally drained that he was too tired to deal with it. Have you been unjustly criticized at times? That is a hurt that can go deep, yet we cannot control other people’s thoughts, desires, words, choices, actions, and responses. We can only control our own.

So, God punishes Miriam with the physical disease of leprosy for punishment of her insubordination, which reflected her heart. Numbers 12:11-12, we see Aaron recognize the gravity of the situation, was swayed by his sister, and pleads for God’s mercy for his sister and is humbled as, “He cried out to Moses, “Oh my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed. Don’t let her be like a  stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.” Then Moses adds, who has been silent all this time: “So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” Numbers 12:13. Both brothers had deep compassion for their sister Miriam. So, God punishes Miriam for her smug attitude toward not only Moses but also against God’s authority, with leprosy for the whole nation to know it, and then orders her to be outside the camp for seven days. The punishment was lenient, showing God’s mercy while exercising effective discipline.

How we need to pray for ourselves not to be foolish, as Miriam and Aaron were in this situation, which caused them much grief. The sins of jealousy, envy, and lack of contentment can often lead to making wrong and selfish choices. Miriam and Aaron were not perfect, and we see they had flaws, too. They made a pretty dramatic mistake in Numbers 12, and Miriam received God’s mercy for her sin through God’s discipline. Miriam and Aaron put their past sin behind them of “why him and not me?” after this situation and moved forward in God’s freedom and forgiveness to be used by God, alongside Moses, to lead the Israelites to the promised land. Miriam is listed in Micah 6:4, along with Aaron and Moses, as the ones God used to bring the Israelites out of Egypt—her reputation God restored.

Listen to I am a testimony of the goodness of the Lord! Crystal Gayle.

Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD your God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

There are somewhere between 71 and 81 verses in the Bible that speak of God as our shield, emphasizing His ability to protect us and provide help when needed, which gives us hope as we find refuge and safety in Him. We see God’s character of warmth and guidance from the imagery of the sun. The sun helps us see clearly where to go in the daytime, just as His Word directs our paths. In Psalm 84:11, “This is the only place in the Bible where God is explicitly called ‘a sun.’ It is because he shines on us and is the brightness of our days.” (Boice) Blue Letter Bible, David Guzik Commentary.

God is our overall protection, serving as our shield, pointing to God’s protection and defense against harm. God told Abraham not to be afraid in Genesis 15:1, “Fear not Abram, I am your shield, your reward will be very great.” ESV. Think about the normal shields you use every day to protect yourself: seatbelts while driving, SPF lotions that protect you from sunburn, antivirus software that protects you from malware (hopefully), umbrellas that shield you from getting wet when it rains, etc., etc. Tony Evans wrote in His book, “Praying The Names of God”, “The LORD My Shield – Jehovah Magen, you are like an umbrella, shielding me from rain. You don’t make the rain stop all the time. Sometimes you allow it to continue. But when I am under you as my umbrella, you stop the rain from falling on me. Forgive me for stepping out from under your covering and seeking my own.”

How has God shown you His grace and glory? God gives His undeserved kindness and goodness to those, even when we don’t deserve it, which is His grace. Mercy is when God gives us His undeserved kindness and goodness when we are suffering. What a dynamic combination! God illuminates, protects, and provides as we trust in Him.

Do you understand and reflect God’s glory? How would you define this? The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 5:1-2, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” God’s grace and His glory go hand in hand.

When we obey God, He will not withhold anything that will help us serve Him. This involves guarding our hearts above all else, for everything we think, say, and do flows from our hearts (Prov. 4:23). If my heart is right, I can be absolutely and confidently assured He will not hold back anything that is good for me. If it doesn’t come my way, it means it wouldn’t have been good for me. As it states in 2 Peter 1:3, “By his divine power, God gives us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”

 The theme of Psalm 84:11 is that God’s living presence is our greatest joy. His radiant presence (symbolized by the sun) helps us grow in grace, strength, and God’s glory. God is saying He is our protector, our shield, stronger and better than any SPF lotion out there, our defender, and our provider. He is our strength. Have courage and let the glory of God shine upon you as you reflect His character and grow in your continual sanctification, reflecting the glory of God. “Hold up your shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” Ephesians 6:16b. We are assured that we will, with firm courage, achieve victory as God is right beside us as our “sun and shield.”

Listen to Songs of Wisdom – His grace will carry you. Official Lyric Video.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13, “If you think you are standing strong be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” NLT

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” ESV

Reflect on the biblical examples of the Israelites’ mistakes, such as idolatry in Ex. 32 with the golden calf and doubting God’s provision in Numbers 14, to inspire self-awareness and trust in God. Recognize that, like them, we are vulnerable to similar temptations and need to learn from these lessons.

Maybe you lost your temper and didn’t respond with love, patience, gentleness, or self-control. Then you may have dwelt on depressive thoughts, which can grow into jealousy, envy, and even bitterness. Remember, God’s faithfulness remains steady, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, urging us to stay alert and to trust in His strength to resist pride and selfish desires, so we do not fall as we rely on Him. J.B. Philipps’ New Testament states verse 12 as, “So let the man who feels sure of his standing today be careful that he does not fall tomorrow.”

Jesus was tempted as Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” “Jesus was tempted in all points. No matter what the sin, Jesus does not look with disgust at the person struggling with it and say, “How could you?” He looks at him with compassion and says, “I know what you’re going through.” Jon Courson’s Commentary New Testament. “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18.

The good news is that God will show us how to resist our bad actions that affect our behavior and the steps to victory when we seek His counsel to live a cross-centered life with the gospel poured into our lives, by following His example. Romans 2:4 declares, “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” God shows us His kindness and mercy through our own sinful choices as we learn from the Israelites’ bad examples we read in the Old Testament, giving us hope.

Our defensive arsenal is Scripture, staying in the Word, and prayer. Examine the source of any temptation before it gains momentum. Trust in God’s faithfulness, choosing obedience by transforming your mind through Scripture, worshiping the Lord, and living daily, Romans 12:1-2: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Any temptation can be resisted. You are not alone. Recognize who and what gives you trouble. Run from anything you know God wants you to resist in your heart, from Him transforming the way that you think by reading His Word to speak out loud – speak the Word as Jesus did to Satan when he tried to tempt Jesus, because that is where the power is, obeying and submitting to the Word of God which is a wide-open door through which we can escape when faced with temptations to sin. Choose to do what is right due to the verses of Scripture you have learned, taking heed “lest you fall.”

Listen to Cece Winans – Goodness of God (Official Video)

Exodus 17:15, “Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner).” NLT

“And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD is My Banner.” ESV

Throughout the book of Exodus, we see the Israelites complaining about many things. How quickly don’t we forget all God has done for us and blessed us when a troublesome circumstance arises, and we fall apart in fears and doubts brought on by our self-inflicted anxieties? I wish I could say I have trusted God in every moment, but I haven’t, and then we read about the Israelites, and we judge them harshly due to our emotional feelings. Reflecting on how we can practically develop greater trust in God’s provision during trials can inspire us to deepen our faith and self-examination.

These people had been miraculously rescued in crossing the Red Sea and saw their Egyptian enemies drowned and died right before their eyes. They witnessed the water crashing down on their enemies (verse19). They sang a song of deliverance recorded in Ex. 15. However, right after that, they complained about the water being bitter. Moses cried out to God for help, and He again miraculously provided for their needs. In chapter 16, we see that the Israelites encountered shortages of food and inconveniences, and God provided manna and quail for them. However, when they arrived in Rephidim, there was no water to drink. So, they complained again, dissatisfied and lacking trust in God. Moses had had enough of their negative complaints and shouted, “Quiet! Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?” Ex. 17:2b. Moses goes again to the LORD for counsel in what he should do with these people. In our situation, how could we change our outlook by using prayer to calm our minds and listen more clearly to God’s guidance? Prayer helps reduce our stress and opens our hearts to God’s voice. This is what Moses chose to do as their leader.

God brought a major victory to the Israelites, demonstrating His power and inspiring confidence in His ongoing support, which should reassure the audience of God’s unwavering strength and faithfulness. Their defeat of the Amalekites, descendants of Esau, who had a reputation for being fierce and relentless enemies of Israel, shows God’s faithfulness. This victory highlights the biblical theme of faithfulness to God’s commands and serves as proof that God was with them, as He had promised, through every situation. After this victory, “Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”). Ex.17:15.

The lesson for us is:

• When we face trials and troubles, we need to remind ourselves that God is our shield, our protector, our guide, and the supplier of all that we need. Philip. 4:19.
• God will bring victory, as our identity is found in living a cross-centered life.
• We need to remind ourselves of all Jesus has done and be confident that He will do so again. Heb. 13:8.
• Like Moses, we should let everyone know we belong to God. He is our banner. Ex. 17:15; Ps. 60:4, “You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.”
• Worry does not bring solutions – only prolongs the stress. 1 Pet. 5:7.
• When we seek God, He will find us when we seek Him with all our hearts. Jer. 29:13.
• As God defeated the Israelites’ enemies, God will stand with me, even in my regrets, because God is sovereign and works everything according to the counsel of His will. Ephe.1:11.

My emotions may be fragile, but I trust that the Holy Spirit will transform me into a new person by changing the way I think through the truth of God’s Word, re-educating and redirecting my thoughts as I learn to wholly worship my God (Rom. 12:1-2), be in His presence, and serve Him, as Moses did for the Israelites. This banner, symbolizing God’s guidance and support, serves as a visual reminder for you and for me of His presence and promises in our lives, reassuring us and inspiring trust in His plan.

Listen to Matthew West – Good (Music Video)

Exodus 3:14, 15, “God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.”

When you feel inadequate, remember Moses. Picture in your mind the most powerful, wealthy, influential, lying, verbally and physically abusive person in a high office that needs to be confronted, who is anti-Christian, and has caused and done unjustified harm to fellow believers in Christ. How would you react if God chose you alone to bring freedom and stand up to this government official? This was Moses who felt hindered and insecure, so he lacked confidence in his ability to speak and lead the Hebrew Israelites out of the land of Egypt, in order to stand up to Pharaoh as God instructed him to do. So, he argued against God’s chosen intention for him in freeing the Israelites and bringing them to the promised land.

Moses had insecurities with his inability to speak well, and his fears were an attack on God’s character due to his arguing and protesting against what God told him to do. Moses had sinful fear controlling his thoughts when it tempted him not to follow the revealed will of God (Ex. 4:10-14). We see in Ex. 4:10, “But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then God asks him, “Well, who do you think made your mouth – I did!” God reassures Moses that He will be with him as he speaks and will instruct him in what to say. Moses was overthinking everything out of fear, worried about people’s reactions and how they might respond to him, and that he would embarrass himself. Sinful fear was controlling Moses’ thoughts when he was tempted to fear man more than he feared God. Moses failed to focus on God’s attributes – grace, deliverer, sustainer, omnipotence, sovereignty, and ability to do anything consistent with His desires as God, omniscience – has complete knowledge of everything, even before we say it, omnipresence, and He is righteous. God is always present everywhere with the fullness of who He is -Yahweh -the great I AM.

Moses was a strong leader in the end and God allowed his brother Aaron to help him. But at first, Moses was fearful, insecure, had false pride, low self-esteem, and lacked the courage to be God’s sole mouthpiece to Pharaoh, the political king. We must not make that mistake. We must be mouthpieces for God as Moses was. God will provide us with strength and ability where needed because He can see the end of our journey and knows the best and safest route to get there, just as he did with the Israelites, so that we will know that He is the LORD, which God declared throughout the book of Exodus, to Moses and regarding Pharoah.

Yes, we have modern Pharaohs in our time, as Moses had in the book of Exodus. Not willing to concede that there is a divine creator whose power is higher than themselves will be reckoned with at God’s appointed time, which gives us hope. Jesus stated in Matthew 8:28, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” Then in Hebrews 13:8 we read, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”

Human leaders have much to offer and answer for in their governmental responsibilities, yet we, above all, must keep our eyes on Christ, our ultimate leader. He will never change as He is the great I AM, Yahweh, Lord, Jehovah, The Self-Existent One. Ask Him to show you something new about Him today that you have never seen before. Remember He is the great I AM, the Self-Existent One, the promise keeper!

Listen to Thank You Jesus for the Blood by Charity Gayle.

Genesis 39:21-22, “But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.”

Joseph’s life is an example of someone who experienced disappointments and betrayal. His hardships were the training ground for repeatedly severe setbacks that ultimately positioned him for God’s ultimate purpose for Joseph, a role he could not see at those times of suffering, which shows us God’s omnipotence, who works everything according to His will.

When Joseph was young, he wore his special, king-like robe, which his father Jacob had given him, around his brothers. However, it was a type of robe, primarily worn by royalty in those days, that indicated status. It was ankle-length, long-sleeved, and colorful. This display of favoritism may have contributed to Joseph’s perceived arrogance and boastfulness, which created tension with his brothers. The robe was a symbol of Jacob’s favoritism of his son Joseph, which aggravated his brothers. In that day, most people wore a knee-length robe, like a jacket or coat, that could be used to bundle belongings for a trip, wrap up babies, and serve as a knee-length blanket to sit on. So, you can see the difference between Joseph’s robe and the robes his brothers would wear.

 Joseph’s brothers never spoke kindly to Joseph due to their hearts that were filled with anger, envy, jealousy, hatred, and the eventual plot of murder (Gen. 37:21-22). But Reuben, recognizing the gravity of their actions, convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph and had a plan to rescue him. Judah realized that if they killed Joseph, they would have to cover up their crime, so instead came up with the idea to sell Joseph to a group of Ishmaelite traders, which they did. Their actions teach us about the destructive power of envy and anger, and how God’s mercy can still work through human mistakes to fulfill His divine plan.

Now fast forward to Genesis 39:21-22. Joseph learned the value of righteousness, loving God with all his heart, soul, and mind, and endurance in his faithfulness to God, despite unjust circumstances. Joseph’s brothers tried to cover up their sin with trickery, deception, and lies against Joseph to their father, Jacob. Still, God saw it all and had His divine plan for them, showing God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and wisdom in guiding Joseph through his trials, and integrity in Joseph’s life.

Joseph’s talents and knowledge came from God, as they also do for us. Joseph had specialized training (while in prison, of all places) that prepared him for the future position God had in store for him all along. While in prison, he learned a new language (Egyptian), a new culture, gained new intelligence and skills, had a positive attitude, and did his best to do the best job he could, no matter how small the task. But he also saw the spiritual blindness around him. Joseph then grew in discernment, which prepared him for his eventual promotion to be the king’s governor. He went from being Joseph, the favored son of Joseph, to a slave in Egypt, a prisoner, and ultimately the governor in Pharaoh’s court (Gen. 41-42). Side note: Egyptians considered themselves superior to Hebrew shepherds, calling them uncultured and lower in rank. Joseph’s family were Hebrew shepherds.

Are you feeling great disappointment? Do you feel you are being treated unjustly? Trust that God’s presence is with you, guiding and strengthening you through every challenge. Above all else, guard your heart, for it determines what flows out of your mouth– Proverbs 4:20-23. Kill those seeds of sin that will destroy you as they did to Joseph’s brothers. God sees your efforts as he saw Joseph’s: to have integrity and to work hard, doing his best even in small tasks, while he was in prison. Those efforts paid off: they pleased God and earned Joseph recognition and advancement for his diligence, and he was promoted to prison administrator. Joseph’s reputation was enhanced, his confidence grew, and he gained more experience, knowledge, and spiritual maturity. The warden, in the prison where Joseph was kept at this time (Gen. 39:21-22), “had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.” Remember, you are not alone, and trusting in God’s presence will bring comfort and hope during your struggles because you are secure in God’s almighty hands.

Listen to Aware Worship – Trust In God (Featuring Mark Gutierrez).

Genesis 22:14-15;18, “Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed – all because you have obeyed me.”

Abraham was not a perfect man, as we see in the book of Genesis. But Scripture clearly shows us God’s mercy, holiness, omnipotence (God is Sovereign), omniscience (God never faces any of the limitations we face), and omnipresence all throughout the life of Abraham. He listened to God’s instructions and obeyed Him, steadfast in his faith in God’s character.

God provided a substitute for one of the most difficult assignments, which was a test to deepen Abraham’s capacity to obey God and to develop his character: offering Isaac as a sacrifice. All because of Abraham’s trust and obedience in complying with God’s instructions, God provided a substitute for Isaac, a ram, as Christ was offered as a substitute for us on the cross, whereas God did not spare His own son, Jesus, from dying on the cross for us. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

As you go about your day, when hit with stressful challenges, and feeling you need wisdom to carry out whatever is seemingly impossible being required of you, remember Gen. 22:8 and Gen. 22:14, where Abraham tells Isaac “the LORD will provide,” and names the mountain, Yahweh-Yireh in verse 14, Yahweh-Yireh (which means, “the LORD will provide”) NLT. The KJV uses the word Jehovah Jireh, which translates to, “The Lord will provide.” How will He provide? All because God can do anything consistent with His desires as God, He will provide if you have asked Him to. The point is, God is omnipresent -He is always present everywhere and is always there for us. All because He is God, just as He was with Abraham in Genesis 22 with His son, Isaac. God will be with us, and our responsibility is to do what God wants from us – to have faith and trust that He will work out everything for our good (Rom. 8:28). Abraham believed that God was sufficient for all of his needs, no matter how big or small they might be, so we must as well.

So don’t get discouraged. The trials we all go through are part of the process of sanctification in our lives, bringing us opportunities to see God’s character, expose any sin in our lives, grow in our faith, and trust in God no matter what, all because Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. That is living the cross-centered life.

Now look at what we learn from Abraham’s oldest servant, who was given the job of finding Isaac a wife, from Abraham’s homeland. This man asked Abraham, “What if I can’t find a young woman who would be willing to go back with me?” Abraham’s response was, “The LORD in whose presence I lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful.” Gen. 24:39,40a. Again, all because of God’s character, what God has done for you in the past, He will do for you again, all because He is the great I AM – Yahweh-Yireh, Jehovah Jireh, which signified God’s provision and foresight in the life of Abraham.

Listen to Matthew West – Good (Lyric Video)

Job 23:11-14, “For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.”

We see the character of God throughout the book of Job, yet Job was never told God’s motives for his suffering. Trust and time spent with God is how we will get to know God better, as Job did. We may not understand the why, but we get to understand the who – the great I AM better.

The omnipotence of God is shown in Job 23. Despite the suffering Job was going through, he maintained that God is able to do anything consistent with His desires, as God is sovereign. The doctrine of God’s omnipotence teaches us that any power we have is derived from the sovereign God, the source of all power. Job firmly acknowledged that God is able to bring about what we need and has complete knowledge of everything, pointing to His omniscience. But we should not measure our circumstances by our own goodness or God’s. Sometimes they are related, but not always, as was the case with Job, because our feelings will often lead us astray.

“The reality Job brings to light is that our lot in life isn’t a good barometer for the state of our heart. Good things do happen to wicked people, and it doesn’t seem fair.” Tara-Leigh Cobble, The Bible Recap, page 34. So how should we look at ourselves and others when going through trials? Eliphaz, Job’s friend, was a poor example of one of his counselors. He lacked humility in his words to Job, thinks he knows it all, and states in Job 22:21, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.”  Eliphaz based his opinions on the general assumption that Job needed to repent of some sin. His advice did not explain Job’s circumstances and was taken out of context. His words were not “apples of gold” in any encouragement for Job and had limitations of human understanding in assuming that troubles are a sure sign of God’s judgment, as Job’s other friends did as well in their harshness to Job.

The way we respond to our personal struggles shows our attitude towards God. Job shows us his attitude in these verses in response to Eliphaz’s wrong judgment of why he was going through these trials. Questions about God, life, and justice are not as simple as Eliphaz and his other friends assumed. Job’s life, as he states in verse 11, was one of faithfulness to God. Psalm 17:5 is how he lived, “My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.” Job’s response to Eliphaz in verse 10 shows us his steadfastness in his faith in God despite his circumstances as he declares, “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

In our struggles, as we see Job had through no fault of his own, we have to trust God’s character. Satan tried to drive a wedge between Job and God by a lie – that God’s governing of the world was not just and good. However, Satan had to ask permission of God to take Job’s wealth, children, and health away. He cannot exceed the limits that God sets. God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God never faces any of the limitations we face. He is wise and understands what is wrong and what we need.

God knew the backstory of Job’s trials but never explained it to Job. Despite this, Job never gave up on God. He never placed his hope on material possessions or personal success. God understood Job when none of his friends did, and Job pointed to God as the source of all wisdom. Job didn’t know the backstory, yet in his heart, he knew God controlled his destiny. Walk closely with God daily, talk to Him, and acknowledge God’s sovereignty – ultimate control over your life. Trust God for who He is for He is providentially working in all things for His glory!

Listen to Phil Wickham – “God I’m Just Grateful”

Ezekiel 1:26, “Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.” NLT

Ezekiel 10:1, “In my vision I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue lapis lazuli above the crystal surface over the heads of the cherubim.” NLT

Exodus 24:10, “There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.” NLT

Ezekiel is rich in prophecy and revelations about present-day Israel and the end times. The book of Ezekiel gives a vivid picture of God’s unchangeable holiness and reminds the people of Israel who they were – God’s chosen people. “Jerusalem and their country were about to be leveled and their sin was the reason . . . He [God] needed a nation that would allow Him to show the world who He was through the display of His merciful attributes of grace, long-suffering, and forgiveness.” Exploring Ezekiel. The Next Big War, Earth’s Final Days, And Your Eternal Destination, Amir Tsarfati with Dr. Rick Yohn, p. 8 & 10. The books of Ezekiel and Revelation are parallel. The end-time application is judgment before Christ’s return, so that no one will escape.

We see the theme in Ezekiel of:

• God’s holiness and sovereignty, as it says, “the hand of the Lord was upon him.” Ez. 1:3b, to deliver God’s message – that of the prophet Ezekiel.
• Ezekiel’s vision continually influenced his thoughts, and that was understanding the knowledge of God, who is holy and sovereign over all creation, no matter how great Babylon and her gods seemed.
• Ezekiel did not live by his environment’s predicaments. He lived by how great God is, despite overwhelming surroundings and circumstances.

 What is the gemstone lapis lazuli? It is an azure-blue semiprecious stone. It is mentioned in Ex. 24:10 where Moses and the elders met God for a meal after the people reconfirmed the covenant, and the lapis lazuli gemstone reflected the glory of God and His superiority over all other beings. It was one of several gemstones that God created and chose for the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 28:17-20). “God made a prophecy about Lucifer, the “anointed guardian cherub,” before Lucifer was filled with pride that led to his downfall, all prior to his temptation of Eve, “Thus says the LORD God; . . . “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx and jasper, sapphire [Hebrew – lapis lazuli], emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. (Ez. 28:12-13).” Quote from: Answers in Genesis, Dr. Andrew A. Snelling on September 6, 20-25. This gem is also seen in the description of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:19-20. So, this gemstone, lapis lazuli, amongst others, was present in the heavenly garden where Lucifer dwelled before he pridefully rebelled and was cast out of heaven. These gemstones were on the high priest’s breastplate as a reminder of these heavenly realities. To think that God, who already had this and other gemstones beautifying His heavenly home (Ex. 24:10), replicated them in His creation on earth in our earthly home.

Most Bible commentators today believe that Bible translators mistranslated both the Hebrew and Greek words as “sapphire” rather than as lapis lazuli. It has a crystalline structure and is deep blue to greenish blue. Today, it is mined in Afghanistan. In recent years, the Taliban used lapis lazuli mined there to fund its military campaign. Substantial amounts are also produced from mines west of Lake Baikal in Russia and in the Andes Mountains in Chile. Smaller quantities are mined in Pakistan, Italy, Mongolia, the United States, and Canada.” Answers in Genesis. Dr. Andrew A. Snelling, Lapis Lazuli – The Forgotten Heavenly Gemstone. September 6, 2025. 

The figure in Ezekiel 1:26, “whose appearance resembled a man,” revealed God’s presence, who sat on the throne in all His holiness, and prepared Ezekiel for what God was about to tell Him. Ezekiel’s prophetic message was to condemn the sinful actions of seven nations.  Ezekiel saw a vision that revealed God’s absolute moral perfection in judgment, and God had him be the prophet and the watchman who saw the glory of God on the mighty throne of God in his visions of sin and impending judgment. The people, unfortunately, doubted God’s ability to defend His people and the city of Jerusalem. However, God was and is superior to corruption and will judge with righteousness.

Think of the magnificent beauty of blue lapis lazuli that we will see in the new Heaven and new earth, where the sun is not needed, Satan is defeated, sin is banished, God’s city is glorified, paradise is regained, death is defeated, and believers live forever with God. The foundations of the city will be adorned with every kind of jewel, such as lapis lazuli, amongst many others, as it is declared and promised in Revelation 21:10-20.

So, will we keep our eyes fixed on God rather than on our trials and struggles in life, as Ezekiel did? Stay faithful and reflect on God’s holiness and who works all things in accordance with the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11) – omnipotence. Eventually, all will kneel and be accountable before God out of reverence or fear of His judgment, and it is one day sooner than it was yesterday.