Do as You have said

 

’’ … do as You have said.’’ (2 Samuel 7:25)

You said, I believed,

You promised, I prayed,

This prayer found in my heart I brought

Your precious promises, o faithful Lord, I sought.

My assurance is in Your Word alone,

Therefore, with faith I run to Your throne,

And humbly ask: ‘’Do as You have said,

Grant Your blessings upon me, as You have pledged.’’

May 31,  2024

The Sleepless Guardian and His Unceasing care

"Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." - Psalm 121:4

When I don't receive a positive answer to some of my prayers or the desires of my heart, let me not think that the Lord has forgotten me. He watches over His people without rest. He neither sleeps nor slumbers. He sees everything, knows everything, and cares for everything.

God's children need not endure sleepless nights of worry, for their Keeper is ever vigilant.

From my diary,

May 30,  2024

 

Understanding Before Speaking

 "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works."- Psalm 119:27

The psalmist desires to speak of God's works, but he first seeks to understand the way of God's precepts. Without understanding, one cannot accurately convey the works of God. Therefore, he prays for the Lord to grant him insight into His precepts. His prayer is sincere, and his intent is pure. Speaking without understanding is misguided, which is why he asks his Teacher to instruct him before he teaches others.

From my diary,

May 29,  2024

Do Not Envy the Wicked

 "Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked. " - Proverbs 24:19

If the Bible commands us not to envy the wicked, then such a temptation can happen to the righteous. It often seems that the wicked prosper and are successful. A person who earns a daily living through honest work, with great effort, may see that fraudsters and defrauders have luxurious houses, drive expensive cars, and think that the wicked are more successful and happier than the righteous.

We should not focus on the apparent success of the wicked; it is temporary. They mistakenly believe they are happy. It is unfortunate that the righteous might also think the wicked are happy. In the next verse, Solomon tells us why we should not envy them: "For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished." (Proverbs 24:20).

We know their future; they do not know ours. Do they have streets of gold, gates of pearl, walls of precious stones? What God has prepared for us, the human mind cannot imagine. The wicked should be pitied, not envied.

From my diary,

May 28,  2024

Rejecting the desire to be rich

 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Proverbs 23:4

Our own wisdom gives us wrong goals. One such goal is the pursuit of getting rich at any cost. Human wisdom often suggests that wealth can solve your problems, ensure a long and enjoyable life, and guarantee happiness.God's wisdom, however, says that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts (1 Timothy 6:9). The wisdom of God teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil, and because of it, some have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). The desire for wealth can lead to materialism, envy, neglect of relationships, wrong priorities etc. God's wisdom warns that a thief may steal your wealth, that your life may suddenly end, and you will not get to enjoy it. It also reminds us that money does not solve problems but can create many more.

Therefore, one must reject one's own wisdom and the desire to be rich.

From my diary,

May 27,  2024

My teachers of singing

 

“By them the birds of the heavens have their home; They sing among the branches .” - Psalm 104:12

In this psalm, with its beautiful depiction of nature, I found "teachers" for myself: the birds perched on the branches and singing. There is lesson to be learned from them. Birds sing even in the harsh cold of winter, when the world is blanketed in snow and food is scarce. The carefree chirping of sparrows reproaches me when, amidst troubles and tribulations, the song of praise falls silent in my heart. Let me learn peace from them, to be content in every situation, and to sing always.

The psalmist, hearing the song of the birds, made the right decision: "I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." (Psalm 104:33). He did not say, "I'll sing as long as I'm happy, as long as I'm healthy, as long as I don't have problems and worries..." but rather, "I will sing to the LORD as long as I live."

As I live, I look to the birds, my "teachers of singing," and resolve: "I will sing to the Lord all my life..."

From my diary,

May 26,  2024

Gladness in Service: Knowing Whom We Serve

"Serve the LORD with gladness…" - Psalm 100:2

Serving our Lord is not a burdensome duty; it is a privilege and an honor. Therefore, it should be done with gladness.

We serve the Lord with gladness when we truly know whom we are serving: the God who saves us, sanctifies us, cares for us, and loves us. We serve Him with gladness because we understand that our service is never in vain. Our joy is in Jesus, and we seek no joy elsewhere. Recognizing the great honor of serving the King of Kings fills us with gladness.

If the Queen of Sheba called Solomon's servants happy (1 Kings 10:8), how much happier are the servants of Him who is greater than Solomon. I know whom I serve; therefore, I serve Him with joy.

From my diary,

May 25,  2024

 

Do You Believe? The Key to Eternal Life

 

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” - John 9:35 

“And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:26

In today's Bible verses, Jesus asked the same question to the man born blind who was healed and to Martha who had lost her brother: Do you believe? Both responded positively. The man born blind heard this question after receiving his miracle, and Martha before receiving hers, before her brother's resurrection.

This question is crucial because if we sincerely answer it with a "yes," if we believe in Jesus, His words, and His works, we will have eternal life and receive His promises.

Woe to those who cannot answer as Martha did. Jesus did not ask Martha, "Do you understand this?" but rather, "Do you believe this?" Faith is essential. Understanding can come through faith, but faith cannot come through understanding.

We have countless reasons to believe in Jesus' power, works, and promises, and no reason to doubt Him.

From my diary,

May 24,  2024

Imperishable Bread of Life

 

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” - John 6:35

This is the first of Jesus' "I AM" statements. He said this after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Just as physical bread is necessary for life, so believing in Jesus is necessary for eternal life. The Bread of Life satisfies the hunger of the soul, never goes stale, gives eternal life, and is free. The bread that Jesus multiplied was perishable food, but He is the Bread of Life, and those who believe in Him feed on that imperishable Bread of Life.

From my diary,

May 23,  2024

The snare of the tongue

"A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul." - Proverbs 18:7

It is well-known that the wrong words we speak can hurt others, but this verse says that the wrong words can also hurt the person who speaks them. The slanderer damages not only the reputation of the person he slanders but also loses his own good name. To ensure my own words do not become a trap for me, I must speak little, be quick to listen, and slow to speak. I should only speak good words about others and always praise God.

I will pray like David: "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." - Psalm 141:3

From my diary,

May 22,  2024

 

Fighting the Lord’s battles

 "...fight the LORD’s battles." - 1 Samuel 18:17

Saul spoke these words to David with the wrong motive, but the Lord speaks these words to us, the soldiers of His army.

Let me remember, we must fight the Lord's battles, not our own. We must surrender our own battles to the Lord. We must fight the Lord's battles: fighting against sin, the works of the flesh, wrong thoughts, desires, and unscriptural teachings. We must fight the enemy, not cooperate with him. We are to fight the Lord's battles, not merely watch them.

Victory is God's. He who dwells in God has victory.

From my diary,

May 21,  2024

The Incomparable God

 "Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?" - Psalm 71:19

O God, who is like You? This rhetorical question, filled with admiration, reverence, and adoration, resonates deeply within the soul that has experienced God's mercy and salvation by His grace. No one is like our God. Incomparable are His works: creation, our salvation, sanctification, His daily guidance, and protection. His attributes are incomparable: His holiness, power, wisdom, goodness, mercy, and beauty. He is incomparable, and there is nothing like the joy experienced by His children. Incomparable is the inheritance awaiting us in heaven, and incomparable is the peace that we have even in tribulation. No one is like our God, and no one is as blessed as His children.

From my diary,

May 20,  2024

Jonathan's Faith: Victory Beyond Numbers

 "...for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." - 1 Samuel 14:6

I desire to have faith like Jonathan's. He, along with his armor bearer, won a victory against the Philistines, causing the enemy to flee in panic. Though they were only two, those with them were more numerous than the enemy, for God's heavenly host was with them. God is not limited by the number of people.

If God is with us, the number of those on the Lord’s side does not matter. God is always victorious, and if we are in His army, we will share in His victory.

From my diary,

May 19,  2024

Praying to Become a Praying Person

"Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. " - Luke 11:1

One of the most important topics of prayer is to pray to learn how to pray. When you hear someone's fervent prayer, without hypocrisy, without selfishness, and with the right focus, you want to become such a praying person. The disciples heard the prayer of the Lord Jesus, the best praying person ever. Obviously, they wanted to pray like Him. Their desire was not passive; they turned their desire into prayer because they knew the need for prayer, their own weakness in prayer, and that God wanted to have praying children. They knew who was the best teacher to teach them to pray. They knew that John the Baptist had taught his disciples to pray, but they did not seek to learn from John or his disciples. They knew that no one could teach them better than Jesus.

Their prayer was answered immediately: Jesus taught them the right subjects of prayer, the priorities in prayer, and the things that hinder prayer. If I am not happy with my prayer life, I will go to Jesus for a lesson.

The disciples had the right example of prayer: the prayer of Jesus. This instilled in them the right desire: to learn to pray. They expressed this desire in the right way: through prayer. They turned to the right person, Jesus, the best teacher. They learned to pray the right way and about the right subjects. He who learns to pray from Jesus finds that his life becomes right, his thoughts become right, he thinks about things above, and he has the right priorities, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

I have that desire too. Therefore, I will take prayer lessons from Jesus, ask for the spirit of prayer, and be a constant visitor to the throne of grace.

From my diary,

May 18,  2024

 

Witnessing God's Works and Trusting Him

 "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me." - Psalm 57:2

The psalmist has witnessed God's works in his life, giving him reason to trust and cry out to Him. The mercies, favors, and miracles granted by God are a guarantee that He will continue and complete His good work. Therefore, the psalmist made the right decision: I will cry out to the Most High God. I will not look for a way out, I will not call on people, nor will I despair, but I will cry out to God. This is the decision of a person who has faith, a habit of prayer, and a grateful heart.

In every distress, problem, hopeless situation, and temptation, let my first thought be this: "I will cry out to the Most High God, to the God who performs all things for me, who gives me victory, helps me in trouble, guides me, and teaches me."

From my diary,

May 17,  2024 

Teaching through Experience

"Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You." - Psalm 51:13

No one can teach sinners the ways of God unless they themselves have been freed from sin. No one can share the miracle of forgiveness of sins unless they have experienced it firsthand. A person liberated from sin experiences true joy, which cannot be hidden but will be shared with those who mourn their sins. Such a person, understanding the repulsiveness of sin from personal experience, will compassionately aid those who hate sin and seek liberation. They will not boast of their victories for they remember being once enslaved by sin, freed only by the grace of the Lord. Having tasted the joy of victory, they can impart the secrets of victory to those struggling against sin.

From my diary,

May 16,  2024 

 

Humility, a sin-killer

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3

If I fulfill this commandment, I will have fulfilled all the "one another" commandments.

Humility is also a sin-killer; it mortifies many works of the flesh: envy, anger, strife. It eradicates backbiting, selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, grumbling, and gossip.

If I consider all of God's children as better and more important than myself, I will not sin against them.

From my diary,

May 15,  2024 

Surrendering My Battles to God

 "For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me." - Psalm 44:6

Where there is self-confidence, reliance on one's own strength, there is no faith in God. The psalmist trusts in God for victory, so he does not trust in his sword and bow. These words of the psalmist I can also say, because I have often relied on my bow and sword and been disappointed.

Since I cannot rely on my bow, I will rely on the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Since I am sure that my sword cannot deliver me, I must turn to Him who can deliver, who can always be trusted, and I must surrender the battle to Him who never loses.

From my diary,

May 14,  2024

Beyond Expectations: Hannah's Prayer and God's Provision

 "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him." - 1 Samuel 1:27

This testimony of Hannah strengthens my faith. She had waited a long time to have a son. Being childless made her very sad. But when she promised to dedicate her son to serve the Lord, her prayer was answered in a manner surpassing all expectations. She waited a long time, but the answer to prayer was more glorious than expected. She wanted a son, but she did not know that her son would have such an important ministry among God's people.

Because the prayer was not motivated by selfishness, the Lord answered better than expected. When my request is for the glory of God, there is sure to be an answer, and much better than I can imagine.

From my diary,

May 13,  2024

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus: "Before" and "After" Spiritual ‘’Photos’’ of Bible Heroes

 "Before" and "After" Spiritual ‘’Photos’’ of Bible Heroes

Today, I want to remember several biblical heroes who had "before" and "after" ‘’spiritual photos. ’’

Saul
Before: A blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man
After: A fervent preacher of the Gospel.

Zacchaeus
Before: A dishonest tax collector
After: A man repenting of his sins and giving generously to the poor.

Mary Magdalene
Before: A woman possessed by seven demons
After: A devoted follower of Jesus and a witness of His resurrection.

The Samaritan Woman
Before: A woman living in sin
After: A witness of Jesus who shared her encounter with Him and led many in her city to believe in Him.

The Demon-Possessed Man in the Region of the Gadarenes
Before: A man possessed by a legion of demons
After: Completely changed, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, eager to follow Jesus.

These heroes' lives serve as powerful reminders of the transformative power of encountering Jesus. Just as they experienced radical change, we too can be transformed by His love and grace.

Topical meditation 2024

May 12

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus: Once Walked in the Desires of Our Flesh, But Not Anymore

Once Walked in the Desires of Our Flesh, But Not Anymore

"Among whom we also all walked once in the desires of our flesh, doing the wishes of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath—as also the others." - Ephesians 2:3

"We walked in the desires of the flesh." This applies to all people, but blessed are those about whom it is said, "once." For those saved by grace, that is in the past. They walk no more in the desires of the flesh.

The born again walk in good works prepared by God (Ephesians 2:10), in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1), in love (Ephesians 5:2), as children of light (Ephesians 5:8), and carefully (Ephesians 5:15).

Let what happened "once " remain in the past, and in the present and in the future, I want to walk with God. I want to walk in love, in the light, with caution, and faith.

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus: Once enemy of God, but now reconciled

 "Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence." - Colossians 1:21, 22

In these verses, Paul reveals a profound transformation: from being enemies of God, we are now reconciled to Him. Formerly, our minds were consumed by hostility and our deeds were evil. Yet, through the sacrificial death of Christ, we have been reconciled to God.

This reconciliation is a miracle. Through Christ's death, we have been made holy, unblemished, and blameless in the presence of God. It is a transformation that surpasses human understanding and emphasizes the depth of God's love and grace.

Topical meditation 2024

May 10