I will do everything that the LORD has spoken

And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken. - Exodus 19:8

I want these words spoken by the people of Israel to be my daily decision, but let that decision be based not on my ability, but on God's power.

"I will do everything that the LORD has spoken.’’

It’s not 'I will do some of the things that the LORD has spoken, but 'I will do everything that the LORD has spoken.'

It’s not 'I will listen to everything that the LORD has spoken,' but 'I will do everything that the LORD has spoken.'

It’s not 'I plan to do everything that the LORD has spoken,' but 'I will do everything that the LORD has spoken.'

Lord, help me to be steadfast in that decision, to obey You in all things and at all times.

From my diary,

January 30,  2024

God's people: then and now

Who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)

Peter emphasizes the stark contrast between the past and present of Christians. Once, we were not a people, but now, we are the chosen people of Almighty God—a holy nation, a chosen generation. In our past, we were lost, but now, we have found mercy, and through that mercy, we are saved, justified, and progressing in sanctification. Reflecting on this difference between the past and the present is crucial. This remembrance prevents boasting and fosters humility in the present. Gratitude for the mercy received in the present is a natural outcome of such reflection.

Moreover, remembering the past cultivates faith in God for the future. Thus, the beautiful result of recalling the difference between the past and the present includes humility, gratitude, and a deepened faith in God's ongoing work in our lives.

From my diary,

January 30,  2024 

The Winning Strategy: Submission to God and Defiance against the Devil

"Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

The Apostle James commands two actions for certain victory: submitting to God, who loves us and desires good things for us, and resisting the devil, who hates us and seeks to harm us.

Satan must be resisted at all times because he attacks at all times. The enemy sends temptations unexpectedly, catching us by surprise. Hence, we must be vigilant every second. Satan knows a lot about us; he is well-acquainted with our weaknesses and besetting sins, while we are aware of his cunning, deceitful nature, and strategic skills. He is always ready to attack, so we must always be ready to resist.

Our enemy possesses power, but we have Almighty God. God is our Commander, and His children, the soldiers of His army, are our allies. Armed with tried and tested weapons such as the Word of God, the experience of past victories, and prayer, we are equipped with heavenly armor. It's not enough to admire our armor; we must wear it.

By obeying God's Word, our victory is guaranteed.

From my diary,

January 29,  2024 

 

Moses' Unshakable Faith: A Contrast to Pharaoh's Arrogance

 "So Moses said, 'You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.' - Exodus 10:29

I really like Moses' response to Pharaoh. The hard-hearted monarch had threatened Moses: 'Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face, you shall die!'

Pharaoh's words reveal arrogance, conceit, and self-confidence. In stark contrast, Moses' response is filled with faith in God. Considering Pharaoh's repeated lies and broken promises after witnessing nine miraculous events, Moses knew that God would no longer tolerate his hardened heart. He was confident that God would miraculously deliver His people.

That’s why with unwavering courage, Moses declared, 'I will never see your face again.'

From my diary,

January 28,  2024 

Faith – the sense of sight

 "Jesus replied, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'’ (John 11:40)

Many Christians often say that faith is our sixth sense, and indeed, it is. Faith is the sense of spiritual sight. Just as without the organ of sight, it is not possible to see physical reality, so without the organ of spiritual sight, it is not possible to see spiritual reality. That's why Jesus told Martha that it takes faith to see God's glory.

When there is true faith, there is a healthy sense of sight. If you have faith, you can see the treasures hidden in God's Word, perceive God's mercy and hidden blessings, discern God's solutions in difficult situations, recognize not only our own powerlessness but also God's power, and envision God's promises before receiving them. Faith allows you to see God's ability to make the impossible possible.

Therefore, faith is the organ of spiritual sight, the sixth sense.

From my diary,

January 27,  2024 

Eloquence is not needed

 Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent…” (Exodus 4:10)

So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11)

Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say. (Exodus 4:12)

God's work needs no eloquence. A sermon with all the rhetorical techniques of an eloquent preacher trained in theology, with flawless grammar, may not touch people's hearts at all. However, a simple, even grammatically incorrect sermon, in which the pure Word of God is delivered, will change the hearts of the listeners. The Lord did not tell Moses that He would make him eloquent, but He promised to be with him and teach him what to say.

The fact that Moses was not eloquent was not an obstacle to fulfilling God's commission; it was the opposite. God might have given him the gift of eloquence, but it was not necessary. When we studied rhetoric as students, we learned that rhetoric is the art of persuasion. If Moses had that skill, the success of the work would be credited to him, not to God's glory.

How great is the power of our God that our shortcomings and weaknesses do not hinder His work.

From my diary,

January 26,  2024 

Heavenly occupation

 "And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints." - Psalm 89:5

In heaven, they praise the Lord for His wonderful works, and on earth, the saints of the Lord praise His faithfulness. It is wonderful that the same activity—praise—occurs both in heaven and on earth. It's a heavenly occupation. Those who begin that occupation here will continue it in heaven. Those who have no practice of praising God on earth will not join the heavenly chorus of praise.

If we want to do the same thing as the angels, we must praise God.

From my diary,

January 25,  2024 

The Good Fight: A Life of Faith Modeled by Paul

 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7

Here is the summary of Paul's life: he fought the good fight—not against men, but against evil spirits; not with his own power, but with God's, and he won the victory. He finished the race, reaching the finish line without stopping halfway, and he kept the faith to the end. No persecution, no threat of death could take away his faith. Therefore, the end of life does not grieve him; he knows what awaits him—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord will give him on that day. He doesn't think or assume; he knows he will receive that crown. May I remember that we have a war to fight, a race to run, and something to keep—the faith, and we will receive the same prize as the apostle Paul.

From my diary,

January 24,  2024 

More reasons to pray than reasons to lose heart

 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)

An important reminder for me is to pray all the time without losing heart. There may be many reasons for losing heart: late answers to prayer, worldly cares, and spiritual weakness. When the heart is not engaged in prayer, it can seem like a burden. However, there are more reasons to pray always than reasons to lose heart.

A child of God always has a topic for prayer because a child always has a topic for conversation with his father. The Lord loves to hear our prayers; our enemy tries to keep us away from prayer, and the weakness of the flesh hinders us. The Spirit of God helps us to pray.

So, if I have someone who listens to my prayer, why should I listen to someone who wants to keep me away from prayer? If I have a helper in prayer, why should a hinderer discourage me? If the throne of grace is still open, why should I not hasten to receive the things that are promised to me? And why should I make my enemy happy with my lack of prayer?

If I find commandments in the Bible every day, then I have a prayer topic: I must pray so that I can obey God's commandments. If I find promises in the Bible every day, then I have a prayer topic: I must pray to receive those promises. If I meet people with a spirit of prayer in the Bible or in my life, then I have a prayer topic: I must pray to become a prayer warrior like them.

May I learn this lesson perfectly, become a prayer warrior, pray all the time, and not lose heart.

From my diary,

January 23,  2024 

Avoiding Quarrels on the Way Home

“Do not quarrel on the way!” Genesis 45:24

The words that Joseph said to his brothers when they were going back home, Jesus says to all children of God: ‘’Do not quarrel on the way’’.

We are going to our heavenly home and we should not quarrel on the way. Why?

Because we are members of the same family, the Royal family, the family of God!

Because we are partakers of the same grace. We are forgiven, we should also forgive.

Because we have the same address. So we should agree and be of the same mind. Because Bible says two cannot walk together if thery don’t agree.

Because we are passing through enemy’s territory until we reach home. The enemy will rejoice if we quarrel with God’s children.

Because our heavenly Father does not like His children to quarrel. We don’t want to make Him sad.

From my diary,

January 22,  2024 

 

Obedience to God's Prophecy

 "And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." - Genesis 41:32

Joseph was convinced that there would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine because he knew that Pharaoh's dream was from God. Since it was from God, it was bound to come true. If it was to be fulfilled, then the task related to that prophecy had to be accomplished: to store food supplies during the seven years of abundance.

All that God has said will come to pass. He said the end of all things is at hand (1 Peter 4:7). And there is a command related to that prophecy: "Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

If we believe in God's promises and warnings, we will obey His Word and fulfill the task.

From my diary,

January 21,  2024 

Extraordinary things when Jesus is present

"And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen extraordinary things today.'" - Luke 5:26

When Jesus is present, extraordinary things always happen. In this r scripture, as everyone praised God in amazement, some extraordinary things occurred. Jesus forgave the paralyzed man's sins with one word, read the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees, and the paralyzed man picked up his bed and walked home.

He who has met Jesus always sees extraordinary things: his many sins are forgiven, he is justified by faith, the Spirit of God dwells in him, a person who deserves hell has a home in heaven and finds joy in every situation.

Thanks be to the Lord for the extraordinary things He does in our lives.

From my diary,

January 20,  2024 

Astonished at His doctrine

 "And they were astonished at His doctrine, for His word was with power." - Luke 4:32

The teaching of Jesus was astonishing then, and it is astonishing now. His Word is with power. It has the ability to break bonds, to liberate, to renew, and to sanctify us. His Word is confirmed by His mighty works.

And we have the privilege to hear that Word, to be freed by His power, to be sanctified, to be renewed, and to be strengthened.

From my diary,

January 19,  2024 

In Prayer's Mirror: Reflections of Inner Desires

 "Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." - Psalm 51:7

Prayers reveal the state of a person's heart, showcasing their desires and values. Listen to a person's prayer, and you will discern what is in their heart, what occupies their mind, and what is most desired by them.

The one who prays this prayer longs to be holy, recognizing their need: they have sinned and need to be cleansed. They acknowledge their inability; they cannot purifythemselves. Yet, they also recognize God's power; God can make them whiter than snow. They desire sanctification and know who can sanctify them. No person who loves sin would pray like that; no self-confident person would pray like that, and no one lacking faith would pray in such a manner.

This is the prayer of someone who realizes their sinfulness, longs for holiness, believes in God's power, and relies on God's mercy. This is a prayer that pleases God.

From my diary,

January 18,  2024 

The wise storehouse

 "Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction." - Proverbs 10:14

Reading this verse brought to mind another man who stored up something and God called him foolish. He stored up wealth.

Wise people, on the other hand, store up knowledge instead of wealth. Knowledge isn't acquired in a day; it must be consistently accumulated.

Wise people possess stocks of knowledge that they can use. This knowledge is accumulated through studying the Word of God, meditating on it, applying the things learned from the Word of God, praying, accepting advice and instruction from wise people, and learning from one's own mistakes.

Every day, I want to store up knowledge from the Word of God in my storehouse.

From my diary,

January 17,  2024