Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Philippians 1:6, “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.” NLT

Aren’t we all in need of hope when we go through the struggles in life? Some days we sail along pretty smoothly, basking in the peace, and then something comes up that is a serious dilemma, and we have to figure out what in the world to do. Wouldn’t life be grand if we had more days without stress or discomfort? It is then easy to feel we shouldn’t have to go through anything unsettling. Yet Jesus told His disciples before He was betrayed and arrested, in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

As Christians, we can claim the peace of Christ even in the most tumultuous struggles, for we are not alone. Christ’s presence is with us at all times as we have the promise of Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the LORD who goes before you He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” ESV. Moses declared this to Joshua, who would take over leading the Israelites, since Moses was 120 yrs. old and was no longer able to lead them. God has given us this promise today as well, which gives us hope.

So what about the common slogans that sound spiritually comforting but are not found in the Bible:

• This too will pass.
• Things are going to get better.
• God helps those who help themselves.
• Everything happens for a reason.

Biblical hope is anchored in the Word of God, which addresses the heart issues behind all of our behavior. These slogans sound good, but do not measure up to Scripture. Perhaps you made a wrong decision – it is not the end of your story. You can choose to follow Romans 12:1-2 and transform your mind by intentional choices to obey God. This is the hope of the gospel: living a cross-centered life and making Jesus the Lord of your life. Jesus promises Himself as the solution. Since God initiated our salvation, He will continue to transform our lives and hearts throughout our lifetimes amid our trials and sorrows. We need to ask, “God, what do you want me to learn from this?” This is His responsibility to each believer: to realign our hearts’ desires, motives, and emotions.

God is sovereign and works all things according to His will (Romans 8:28-29). Sin, suffering, and our own choices will bring consequences, is what the Bible teaches. Romans 8:28-29 does not say all things are good or that we will always know why we are suffering. Look at Job, Joseph, and Paul in the Bible, who were all afflicted. Yet God protected them for His divine purpose and for their good due to their faithfulness to Him. God never told them why – what the reason for their suffering was.

Truth shapes our faith anchored in God’s Word. Suffering in our trials exposes the idols of our lives, reminding us of God’s faithfulness. Biblical hope anchors us in Christ, who is the solution. Stay confident in God’s promise over your life from Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” LSB. This is both true and comforting.

Listen to CeCe Winans – Come Jesus Come (Official Video)

2 Timothy 3:16,17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” NLT.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for corrections, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” ESV.

Where do you go to find answers for your dilemmas in life? Some are turning to counterfeit sources that may appear appealing, but God, who created us, knows what is wrong with us, sees the condition of our hearts, and has His diagnosis for all within the Bible. God’s prescription and solution is to have faith in Christ, which is revealed to us in His Word. The Bible is a textbook that has the answers to solve the source of any problem and transform lives to coming to a saving faith in Christ and then to tranform believers in to His image. Romans 15:4 declares, “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

But you may feel your trial is overwhelming you. Is it at times consuming you? Do certain things or people drive you crazy? I have been there too. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow, it exposes our inner most thoughts and desires.” God’s Word reveals who we are, what we place our identity in, our desires and motives, and why we have anxiety, frustration, and disappointments when we try to control what is God’s responsibility versus what is ours. God’s Word, hidden in our hearts keeps us from sin and is our divine counselor, and the means to our sanctification (John 17:17), built on God’s grace.

The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is a recording of events of writers who were inspired by God, through the Holy Spirit, who wrote down God’s message. The purpose of the Scriptures is for us to know God, have life through Jesus Christ, and be fully equipped to do His will.

Some of us go to our chiropractor for a needed spinal realignment. Our hearts need regular realignment through God’s Word, which is filled with instruction to correct us when we are wrong and to expose our innermost thoughts and desires. Pastor Josh Howerton posted a recent YouTube video titled “A Stunning Study Reveals the Supernatural Power of Reading the Bible in the Life of a Christian, by the Institute for Biblical Research. Suppose someone reads the Bible once a week; there is not much difference. If someone reads it 2-3 days/week, it is negligible but not significant. But if someone reads the Bible 4 or more times a week, everything begins to change: a 50% reduction in anxiety, 407% start to memorize Scripture, 59% less likely to view pornography, 228% more likely to share their faith, 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness.” As you read the Bible, ask God to give you wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Any knowledge you gain may that help you love others more and be humble. God’s Word will transform your heart and guide your conduct in living a cross-centered life that becomes more Christ-like and equips you for whatever life throws your way by God’s abundant grace.

Listen to Phil Wickham – It’s Always Been You.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ESV.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong in Christ Jesus.” NLT

Do you ever wonder what God’s will is for you? These verses put it very simply, as Paul wrote them to strengthen the Thessalonian Christians in their faith and assure them of Christ’s return. We need to express gratitude and thank God for His faithfulness and goodness in our lives in ALL things, and then to “never stop praying.” So how can we be more prayerful? “There is a simple yet effective way for the soldier of Christ to neutralize the prince’s air defense and attack system: When you get a negative thought, pray a positive prayer. It sounds simplistic, but it works. It will neutralize the enemy . . . The enemy will continually put things before our minds to try to cause us to stumble. If you pray every time this happens, you will turn a negative into a positive.” Quote from Idiotic Things People Did In The Bible, Ray Comfort, page 51.

Despite any Sauls or Goliaths we may have going on in our lives, we can combat our fears and bitterness by living out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, because we can have joy because of God’s sovereignty. Nothing occurs outside His knowledge and permission, as Psalm 103:19 declares, “The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.” God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence should reassure us that He knows all things and is right there with us. Psalm 139: 2b & 4 states, “You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.” Yes, God knows our hearts, and that is always the issue. There are things we get “concerned” about that are beyond our control and therefore God’s responsibility, so we can pray and trust Him for the salvation of friends and family, health/illness, feelings of others, friendships, our future, to name a few. When we attempt to control what is God’s responsibility, it results in anxiety, frustration, and disappointment. Our responsibility is to honor God, be obedient to God’s Word, meditate and study the Bible, pray, be involved in a Bible-preaching church, not be lazy, have time with friends, have proper effort at work and home and live out Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

If a particular fear keeps popping up in your mind, pray a positive prayer each time it occurs. That is how to keep praying continually. Trust is the opposite of fear, as Jesus taught and said in Matthew 8:26, “Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith! Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”

Praying a positive prayer when I get a negative thought has been transforming for me this past week. Try it – suddenly God will give you a great calmness, just as He did with the wind and waves to the disciples in that boat when that storm struck. Give thanks to Him and don’t stop praying. Pray a positive prayer.

Listen to Matthew West, Don’t Stop Praying (Music Video)

Psalm 139:23-24 ESV, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

LSB, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any hurtful way in me. And lead me in the everlasting way.”

NLT, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Would you dare to pray Psalm 139:23-24? I was recently challenged to do so in order to biblically understand idolatry and how it drifts us away from the gospel and the Savior that should be the center of our lives. Our idols effect the way that we live and can detract us away from glorifying God. I have been reading in the Old Testament and seeing how often the Israelites turned from God and worshipped other idols. It says in Judges 2:17b, 19b & 20a, “How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commands. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. So the LORD burned with anger against Israel.” We ask ourselves, how could they do this after all God had done for them? Yet don’t we do the same when we are tempted in our desires as we demand, “I want, and I will do whatever it takes to get it, no matter what, in order to be happy, fulfilled, etc.” Anything that becomes excessive and out-of-balance desire is an idol. “Remember that an idol is anything or anyone that begins to capture our hearts, minds, and affections more than God.” Brad Bigney, Gospel Treason. Betraying The Gospel With Hidden Idols, page 131. Praying Psalm 139:23-24 is an honorable challenge to pray and delve into.

We all need to weed out our “bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-20), “Put-Off”- negative choices resulting from our idols and actions of temptations we have given into and needing to navigate to “Put Off” and “Put On”, mirroring Christ’s love in obedience to His commands.

PUT OFF – Galatians 5:19-20

• Hatred, bitterness, fears, anger, quarreling, jealousy, envy, moodiness, irritability, impatience, frustration, depression, and immoral behavior.

PUT ON – Galatians 5:22-23

• Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In praying Psalm 139:23-24, the ESV says, “see if there be any grievous way in me.” The LSB says, “see if there be any hurtful way in me.” The NLT says, “point out anything in me that offends you.” These are valid questions to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal as we pray these verses, to grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord and to follow Him faithfully.

Each of these versions in the Bible depicts having stressful thoughts – “anxious thoughts.” The solution is to hand over to God anything that causes us to be “anxious,” as Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When we focus on God, we find clarity and strength to overcome anxiety. Let’s face it, anxiety robs us of joy, and no matter what age one is, a teenager to those living in the “mature” ages of life, when we attempt to control what is God’s responsibility, it results in anxiety, frustration and disappointment. It requires focusing on affections that have taken our focus away from God – drifting away from the gospel, of any goals, motives, desires, cravings that we allow to become entrenched and to rule in Christ’s place.

So, think about what you desire to pursue and what you look to for fulfillment? What do you pray for? How do you define success or failure in a given situation? Remember, anything, even a good thing, can become an idol when it is excessive and out of balance when it becomes and defines my very identity and sense of worth, rather than who I am in Christ. It could be our spouse or boyfriend, our children, grandchildren, our career, material stuff, and even our own ministry.

Praying and meditating on Psalm 139:23-24, I challenge you, as I have been challenged, to pray these verses as your prayer. Then keep your focus on Jesus and the gospel, delight in Him and what He has done for you on the cross.

Listen to “Where Can I Go – Psalm 139” Ellie Holcomb.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30 was part of Moses’s final address to the Israelites, a final instruction before his death. Moses was 120 years old and was about to die and would call on Joshua to take over the leadership of Israel and guide the people to the Promised Land. Moses gave them God’s message: choose life or death; obey God, and you will therefore continue to receive His blessings. He told them that this command (verse 11) was not too difficult, not beyond their reach, and already in their hearts because God’s laws are written in the Bible and evident to all. God has told us everything we need to know; therefore, disobedience comes from an act of our own will, not a lack of knowledge.

God gives us the choice to obey Him and does not force His will on us. Whether to follow or reject Him, He lets us decide, and He wants everyone to choose life. Truly loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt. 22:37) is essential, fostering devotion and wholehearted commitment in our daily walk with Him. It requires a daily reaffirming commitment to obey God, and our heart’s desire must be to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt. 22:37) in all of our motives, desires, goals, and cravings.

The life that is found in a relationship with God gives one peace and joy, as is promised in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Note how this verse connects joy and peace with trusting in God.

Jesus offers everyone a unique peace that is different from any other source, as John 14:27 promises, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus encourages us not to fear, as fear magnifies the enemy and diminishes our perception of God. But the peace He gives, poured into our hearts, is filled by His grace and mercy. Yes, we all face challenges every day. But our emotions must be deeply rooted in our relationship with God, reflecting His character in our motives and interactions with others. Moses commanded the people in Deut. 30:11,14-16: “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways.” God will come to us wherever we are. Come to Him. Obey Him, honor Him, commit yourself firmly to Him, then love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind, to continue to receive His blessings. However, God is not like Santa Claus. He is looking for ways to make us more Christ-like and wants to show us how to respond when we don’t get our own way. God’s Word brings us back to the Savior, back to the gospel. This is the key to your life.

Listen to Phil Wickham, Jamie MacDonald – Flowers

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)