Tag Archives: A W Tozer

Skip to 42

Job 42
Job 42

Wouldn’t it be nice just to skip to Job 42?

Instead, we gotta complain. We gotta whine. We gotta give God our 2 cents on the matter. We call a buddy and have them confirm that we’ve got it bad. Then we definitely feel the need to enlighten the All -powerful Creator of the known universe with the way we would’ve done it.

Job did that. He had finally had enough. Job said enough of the boils and scabs, enough of the terrible advice from his “friends,” and enough of taking it. So, he let God know.

And God let him speak his little mind.

Then it was God’s turn. God said, “Brace yourself, I will question you and you shall answer me.”

By the time Job 42 rolls around, Job’s story has changed, hasn’t it? He realized that he spoke of things he didn’t understand. He pontificated on matters he couldn’t possibly understand. Finally he repents.

The LORD blesses the latter part of Job’s life more than the former. Way more! In fact, Job lived for another 140 years for crying out loud and saw his grandchildren’s grandchildren.

There are times when we shake our fists at God and feel like we’ve been dealt a crumby hand. However, there are things we don’t understand. Couldn’t understand. But God does. All He asks is that we love Him, believe in His Son, and leave the rest to Him.

I need to skip to Job 42 and just thank God.

May God’s Love be with you

The LORD Sits

Psalms 29:10
Psalms 29:10

For our honeymoon my wife and I were blessed with a trip to Paris. While we were there, we visited the Palace of Versailles. Once the center of political power, Versailles is now France’s foremost tourist attraction. Besides it’s sheer grandeur, one thing stuck with me about that palace: the thrones.

It is there that I learned what a throne represents. I mean, of course I knew that a throne represented power. It is obvious that to have people come to you is a demonstration of power. But, it is absolute power to have people come to you as you remain seated.

Ever thought of that before?

The Throne of God is mentioned several times throughout scripture. I won’t bombard you with all of them. Most famously it is described by Ezekiel (chapter 1). I’d like to mention also that the angel Gabriel refers to the Throne of God in Luke 1:32-33 because… he should know, he’s been there. He’s actually seen it!

God is mentioned as “sitting” multiple times as well.

• “The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.” – Psalms 29:10

• “He that sits in the heavens laughs” (at the futile efforts of man’s rebellion) – Psalms 2:4

• “Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high?” – Psalms 113:5

Sitting on His Throne, God is The Absolute Power. He is the Power of the Power. There is none above and all below. Yet, He makes Himself low to guide and love His fragile creation.

In your quiet time with the LORD today, reflect on our God’s astounding ability to speak stars into being and also whisper encouragement to His children all in the same all-powerful breath. He does so with perfect love from His magnificent Throne.

God Bless!

Let Go and Let God

Psalms 55:22
Psalms 55:22

Well, I’ve done everything I can do. Nothing left for me to do but pray, I guess.

Ever hear that? Ever say that? To be honest, I have. I’ve thought and/or said that very same thing myself many times.

Psalms 55:22 says “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

My wife said something the other day that really struck a chord with me, “Let Go and Let God!” How simple. How true.

But, how difficult!

Let Go

and

Let GOD!

Give God the reigns of your life. He is a much better driver anyways. Letting go is hard for us humans, isn’t it? We have to be in control of everything. It’s almost as if we’re admitting defeat if we let someone else take over. If someone is more qualified, then why not? And if anyone is more qualified, it’s the LORD. Why is this such a struggle?! It’s OK to let God in. It’s OK to let Him be the deciding factor.

Allowing God full access to your life doesn’t mean you will be without hardship. In fact, it all but guarantees it. The more the world senses you are a Child of The King, the more it will hate you. The more it will sniff you out. The more it will try to crush you. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18. “You will be hated because of me” Matt. 10:22.

So, be ready.

Think of it this way, Jesus was the first to say Let go and let God! He prayed the hardest prayer: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42

Submission to the Father is scary but it’s the only thing that leads to ultimate peace and joy. John 16:33 says it all. Look it up. Memorize it. Live it.

Let go and let God! God Bless!

#LetGoAndLetGod #YHWH

You Remain The Same

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Sometimes I’m irritable. Other times I’m patient. But I’m hardly ever consistent. Hebrews 1:12 tells us that God “remains the same.”

That could be bad if God were capricious or unreasonable. But here’s the thing – He’s not.

He’s constantly and reliably good. He is Love and love always loves. The fact that He’s “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8) should give us great comfort. It means He will always hold us, catch us, save us and forgive us… even when we least deserve it.

May you experience God’s steadfastness today!
God bless!

2 Minute Dynamite

tntCan you spare 2 minutes? Who doesn’t have 2 measly minutes?

That’s all it takes to read Romans 12. And let me tell you: this chapter is straight up dynamite! Every single line is perfect for meditation. Some highlights:

• Appropriately, it starts out with a fuse: Present your bodies as a living & holy sacrifice (Let that one burn. You could contemplate on that all day!)

• Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind!

• Don’t think too highly of yourself.
• We are parts of the same body and as such have different roles.
• Hate what is evil / Cling to what is good.
• Be devoted to each other.
• REJOICE IN HOPE!
• If someone comes after you, bless them!
• Try your best to be at peace with all men.
• Leave room for God’s wrath to clean up the trash.

So, do your soul a favor and take 2 tiny minutes to dive into this explosive chapter! I hope that you do. Here, I’ll even make it easy for you: biblegateway.com

Arm yourselves with the God’s Word. This TNT could be your weapon in the spiritual war raging all around you today!

God bless!
#christian #livingsacrifice #Jesus

Continuing Debt To Love

Romans 13:8
Romans 13:8

Love is a debt. Wait, I owe you love?!

Paul tells us in Romans 13:8 that we have an outstanding “debt” to love one another. I’m not indebted to love you, am I? One loves because one loves, right?

Is Paul being unreasonable?

Like everything else in scripture, look to Christ. Whenever in doubt, the answer is Jesus. Always.

Our Savior lavished us with such a gushing, pouring, drenching, and FLOODING love that it could never possibly be duplicated. It could never possibly be repaid. In fact, the only way to even scratch the surface of His tremendous love is to look out for one another. That’s it.

We are not instructed to do some incredible feat. We are just asked to show simple kindness to people who are in the same boat as ourselves. We are commanded to show our fellow man just an inkling of the likeness of Jesus. Our job as Christians is to point people to Christ. Then the Holy Spirit steps in. That’s it.

If Jesus felt it important enough to give his life for others, the least we can do is honor that great sacrifice by showing others that we care for them.

In this, we remind people. We remind them that Jesus lives, that He loves them, and that He loves us. How could He not? After all, He is love.

Thank you, Jesus for showing us what love is and how to love!

So, yes – I owe you love. You owe me love. We owe love to each other. It’s a debt neither one of us can repay. We are always in hock.

I love you. Put it on my tab.

God bless!

#Love #LoveOneAnother #DebtToLove

The LORD Will Fight For You

Exodus 14:14
Exodus 14:14

I get tired.

Far too often the struggle gets the best of me.

I’m so human and humans are weak and flawed. However, there is someone we can turn to who is not weak and who is not flawed. Exodus 14:14 tells us that the “LORD” will fight for us. When you see the Lord written in all caps like that, it means YHWH; the one true Creator God. It’s refering to the God through which all things are. (Thanks to Rev. Dr. David Cyphers for that explanation.)

If the Author of the Universe will fight for us, let’s let him. God has never, nor never will fail and He won’t fail you.

God Bless!

#YHWH #AuthorofSalvation #GodMyRock #GodMyStrength #GodMyShield

The View From The Valley

Mark 9:22
Mark 9:22

I am not the wise man on the mountaintop dispensing knowledge. Far from it! I am the exhausted guy caked in dirt trying desperately to climb that very mountain as it repeatedly kicks my sorry butt back down to the valley. I am in the trenches, just like you.

The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God (Oswald Chambers). When you are on the mountain you can believe anything. But in the valley, you only have Jesus to get you out!

Pray with me Mark 9:22 – “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!”

God Bless!

#walkthroughthevalley #JesusSaves

Be Alert

1 Peter 5:8
1 Peter 5:8

Make no mistake, the devil is out there. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be alert. He roams the earth like a roaring lion looking for people to devour. He cannot rest. He is constantly, relentlessly seeking to destroy you.

The roar of a lion is meant to do one thing: strike fear. Lions can literally scare some animals to death with just that terrible roar. However, the devil’s power only exists for the unbeliever, he cannot harm anyone born of God (1 John 5:18). So the next time he rears up, imagine him with no teeth and nothing but gums. See? All roar, no bite.

*thanks to my Pastor, Rev. Dr. David Cyphers
#SpiritFilledLife #JesusSaves

Pierced

Acts 2 and Psalms 28:7
Acts 2 and Psalms 28:7

After Peter’s first powerhouse of a sermon*, it says the people “were pierced to the heart.” Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like someone has stabbed you right in the chest by their words? Sometimes you read a scripture or you hear someone preach and it hurts your very heart! It’s as if the words cut into you and expose you. That is the Holy Spirit at work in you! God sees the heart. He pierces it to revive it. He pierces it to wake it up! It’s like a spiritual defibrillator!

To build muscle, you have to break it. Only God can create a new heart. Only God can grow your heart. Your heart has to break for what breaks His and then it will grow. Pray for Him to sing a new song over your heart. Psa 28:7

They were pierced and then asked, “What shall we do?”

Simple: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a GIFT and Peter also calls him a PROMISE. God would never offer a gift and not give it. God would never speak a promise and not fulfill it. All you have to do is ask.

If God pierces you today, please allow him full access your heart. Repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. It’s a win-win!

God Bless!

*Acts 2:14-47