A new thing in the New Year

As we conclude another year, the Verse of the Day for December 31, 2018 reveals the creative power of God Almighty who declares:

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 (NIV):

This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

We reflect upon blessings of the past year with gratitude and anticipate even greater blessings awaiting us in the coming year, as each New Year represents a fresh start, as God reminds us once again that He makes all things new. As we considered deeply the concept of a new beginning or another chance, think about these simple lyrics:

It’s new, new, new–brand new.
God is doing a new thing.
Lift your voice and sing His praise.
Bless the Lord and glorify His name.
It’s new, new, new–fresh as the morning dew.
God is doing a new thing in our midst.

If we do not faint, we shall reap in due season.
Open your eyes and see, it’s a brand new day.
God is pouring out His spirit in this new season.
Open your ears to hear what the Spirit has to say.

It’s new, new, new–brand new.
God is doing a new thing.
Lift your voice and sing His praise.
Bless the Lord and glorify His name.
It’s new, new, new–fresh as the morning dew.
God is doing a new thing in our midst.

As we embark upon this new season unfolding before us, we pause to reflect upon God’s goodness and mercy that sustained us through the most challenging circumstances of the past year. We also recognize that in the coming year we may encounter even more challenges and more difficult situations that seem impossible to resolve on our own. We are assured that if God triumphantly came through on our behalf before, He can and will do it again. During this time we also savor the present reality that in all our circumstances “we conquer more and more.” Finally, we look forward even greater triumphs in the days ahead, as we move from faith to faith, glory to glory, and victory to victory. Here is a word of encouragement that we all might be

Strengthened for the Journey

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen your heart;
wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:14

Let us pause to reflect upon the past,
Not with longing to relive bygone days.
Though some were fine, such moments cannot last
A lifetime. The budding rose never stays
The same but unfolds in lovelier ways.
Let us linger to absorb the essence
Of this moment’s triumph. Another phase
Of growth we note within our lifetime since
We first began the quest toward excellence.
Let us look ahead with vision and strive
Toward greater goals, for each day we commence
To grow toward our perfection, as we thrive.
May we see clearly where our paths have led
And be strengthened for the journey ahead.

Michael John Poirier offers a song of encouragement to remind us that the Lord provides “Strength for the Journey.”

Still perfecting the art of patience

A recent blog entry examined a passage from James 1:2-4 which ended by focusing on patience. The discussion of this timeless topic also brought to mind my newly published book: Embracing Your Life Sentence: How to Turn Life’s Greatest Tragedies into Your Greatest Triumphs. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 8 which opens with this statement from Brian Adams:

Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success.ing

Throughout the entire healing process of my encounter with prostate cancer, I have been learning to perfect the art of patience by waiting on the Lord. The closing verses of my favorite psalm also come to mind.

Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV)

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD; be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

In the Bible the word for patience has been translated to mean endurance or perseverance, steadfastly bearing up under and remaining faithful while waiting. Patience or perseverance is a fruit of the spirit that should be evident in our lives, as we wait on the Lord.
When we examine one of the words translated—patience—we see a compound word meaning “to stay, remain, abide,” literally abiding under. The verb form means to stay under or behind, remain; figuratively, to undergo, that is bear (trials), have the fortitude, to persevere—abide, endure, take patiently, suffer, tarry behind.

The root idea of the noun is that of remaining under some discipline, subjecting one’s self to something which demands the yielding of the will to something against which one naturally would rebel. It means cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). It is a bearing up in a way that honors and glorifies our heavenly Father, not merely to grin and bear it.

James 5:11 provides an excellent example of the word for patience being used as a verb and as a noun in an individual who embodies the character trait of patient endurance. The New Living Translation offers this rendering containing a familiar phrase that encompasses a character trait most often associated with Job—

We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him in the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

The Book of Job is a classic example of the principle of first usage and first spiritual principle, which highlights as particularly important the first time that a concept is mentioned in the Bible. E.W. Bullinger and other Bible scholars surmise that the first book written was the Book of Job, believed to have been composed by Moses. Job, whom Chuck Swindoll described as a “man of heroic endurance,” was a real person, and his story is one of the first demonstrations of many spiritual principles, one of the first being that God is “full of compassion and tender mercy” and that He rewards those who demonstrate patience. Although it is said that patience is its own reward, God also rewards patience, as so clearly demonstrated at the end of the Book of Job. Recall Job 42:10—

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the
LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

After being introduced to Graham Cooke and his book on crafted prayer, I recall reading a statement he made regarding prayer and patience, part of the introduction to the psalm that closes Chapter 8—

A Prayer for Patience

My suggestion for people in a season of birth or upgrade
is to write out a prayer for patience and pray it every day.
—Graham Cooke

For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance,
so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God,
and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
—Hebrews 10:36 (Amplified Bible)

We look back and pause and then look ahead to see
Clearly who God is and who He has called us to be.
We still journey down the road less traveled by
And pray that patience may serve as our trusted ally.
We must say “No” to the pressures of this life
And say “Yes” to the rest God gives, despite the strife.
As we stay our mind on Him, we abide in peace.
When we praise God, works of the enemy decrease.
May we remain and not fall by the wayside as some
But like Job wait until at last our change shall come.
Patient endurance seems delayed for some reason,
But fruit abounds to those who wait in their season.
We pray that in this time of transition and shift
We will embrace waiting as a wonderful gift.

We close with encouraging from John Waller:
“While I’m Waiting”:

Embracing Your Life Sentence: How to Turn Life’s Greatest Tragedies into Your Greatest Triumphs is now available wherever books are sold and online. For more details check out https://lonnelledwardjohnson.com.

Psalm 103:1-2: Reading with a new mindset

The Verse of the Day for December 27, 2018 comes from Psalm 103:1-2, one of my favorite psalms posted in its entirety:

Psalm 103

[A Psalm] of David—Amplified Bible]

1 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—
3 Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!
6 The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.
9 He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.
10 He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].
14 For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children—
18 To such as keep His covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who [earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on their hearts].
19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.
21 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, all you His hosts, you His ministers who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion; bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul!

Although I had previously read the entire psalm many times, this morning’s reading impacted me deeply as I viewed the passage with a new mindset expressed in this original psalm with the Verse of the Day as its introduction:

A New Mindset

1 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not [one of] all His benefits—

Psalm 103:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

That you called us and chose us, may we never forget.
In response we vow to serve and honor the Lord.
Like David, we declare we will not forget your Word.
Transformed into the image of Christ with a new mindset,
Like Jacob, we walk by faith despite our circumstance.
Just as the Good Shepherd richly provides for his flock,
So you will feed us with sweet honey flowing from the rock,
For God is faithful to provide yet another chance
To demonstrate once more the power of God to change.
Though we may not see them, we father countless hosts of sons,
Future heirs of Kingdom salvation, His chosen ones:
Endless influence only the hand of God could arrange.
We shall soar to new heights far beyond where we have been
And behold our true selves—as giants among mighty men.

We close with a musical rendering of Psalm 103 by Zach Jones:

Simeon’s song and our new song

In the blog entry for December 26, 2018, we encounter an illustration of God’s perfect timing in an occurrence taking place eight days after the birth of Jesus Christ, as recorded at the end of chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke. Here we find a remarkable man who comes into the Temple in Jerusalem at the same time as Mary and Joseph, who are bringing the newly born Christ-child to be circumcised, according to customs described in Luke 2:22-24 (AMP):

22 And when the time for their purification came [that is, the mother’s purification and the baby’s dedication] according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord [set apart as the Firstborn] 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy [set apart and dedicated] to the Lord)” 24 and [they came also] to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord [to be appropriate for a family of modest means], “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

The passage goes on to relate more information regarding Simeon, who offers a magnificent prophetic declaration in response to what he has seen:

Luke 2:25-32 (AMP):

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him the custom required by the Law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said,
29
“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace,
According to Your word;
30
For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,
31
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32

A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown],

Sometimes referred to as “Nunc Dimittis,” translated from the Latin phrase meaning “you can now dismiss,” Simeon’s psalm of praise has been set to music by Michael Card and other composers. Indeed, Simeon was a witness to the Salvation of the all nations revealed in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. This amazing bond-servant of the Lord received personal assurance that he would not die until he had seen this promise fulfilled in “the Lord’s Messiah, Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).” Being led by the Spirit of God, Simeon was in the right place at right time, and he sang his “swan song” before he departed from this life.

In a similar manner, our heart’s desire is to witness the Return of Jesus Christ in the same way that those who witnessed his life on earth, his death, burial and resurrection. We who are alive and remain will also see the Lord return in same way that believers saw him ascend to his Father.

Thinking of Simeon’s song also inspired this new song:

Our Rendezvous with Destiny

As Simeon sang, so our new song resounds in beauty:

The return of Christ–our rendezvous with destiny.

The Daystar shall arise, even as we watch and wait.

Though circumstances may hinder, we shall not be late,

But we shall behold the unfolding of this mystery.

 

Past, present and future all merge in eternity

Before the Lamb of God, in all of His glory,

Transformed into this transcendent and perfected state:

Our rendezvous with destiny.

 

In the new heaven and earth where we find no more sea,

Where we shall all know the fullness of God’s sovereignty

And shall receive our reward, our heavenly estate.

But until then we fill our lamps with oil and await

As the Savior shall descend to gather you and me

When we shall savor God’s love for all eternity:

Our rendezvous with destiny.

Sandi Patti reminds us of the glorious day of Christ’s Return when “We Shall Behold Him”:

Adversity is good

Instead of the usual Verse of the Day, the blog entry for December 22, 2018 takes a close look at the benefits of the adverse situations we face each day with an original Quote of the Day:

“Adversity is good. It may not seem to be good to us at the moment, but ultimately it will be good for us if we wait and see what God had in mind.”

In thinking about the topic, James 1:2-4 came to mind, rendered this way in The Voice translation:

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.

I also recall a previous post discussing this same passage where Bishop Charles Mellette of Christian Provision Ministries in Sanford, NC explained that as we face trials on every hand, we are “Coming through Stronger.” He reminded us that we will encounter various trials; however, “The problem is not the problem but our perception of the problem.”

He went on to explain what he meant by trials: the “trying, testing, the putting to the proof of something.” They are experimental actions applied in order to obtain results. Trials involve being subjected to intense and challenging times that test our motives and values. In the same way that God sent the Children of Israel through the wilderness for an extended period of time in order to test or to prove what was in their hearts, the trials we face prepare us for the next level of service to God. He went on to say, “You will shorten your season of testing or trials if you will only allow your trials to make you stronger.”

The message concluded with a reminder of the blessings and benefits of trials which are a way of life for every believer. Trials forge humility and give birth to perseverance. Indeed, we have the capacity to persevere to see God’s promises come to pass in our lives.
Hebrews 10:36 also offers this reminder in the New Living Translation:

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Knowing this, we can count it all joy when we encounter various fiery trials that test our faith and build patient endurance.

Reflecting on the Quote of the Day and the related verses inspired this response:

Advancing in Adversity

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19

Advancing in adversity is not easy.
As we fight the good fight and patiently endure,
We learn to discern the source of adversity.

We face the common foe of all of humanity.
Like Abraham, we walk by faith, strengthened and secure.
Advancing in adversity is not easy.

No longer in bondage, for we have been set free
And stand in His presence with a heart that is pure.
We learn to discern the kind of adversity.

Judge the source, whether of God or the enemy;
Recall we live in a fallen world—that’s for sure.
Advancing in adversity is not easy.

Does a predicament or problem confront us?
In every test and trial God reveals His purpose.
We learn to discern the kind of adversity.

Each day we design and refine our strategy,
Following in the steps of Christ as we mature.
Advancing in adversity is not easy.
We learn to discern the kind of adversity.

We close with this scripture memory song based on James 1:2-4:

Winter Solstice 2018: Full moons and more

Sunrise on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the longest night of the year.

In the United States and the rest of the northern hemisphere, the first day of the winter season is the day of the year when the Sun is farthest south (on December 21st or 22nd). This day is known as the Winter Solstice. The term solstice means “sun stands still.” As the Earth rotates on its tilted axis and circles the sun each year, the sun appears to change its position very little during this time of the year.

This astronomical event officially arrives this Friday, December 21, 2018 at 5:23 p.m. EST. At this time of year, each day is about 24 hours, 30 seconds long. The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, is the shortest day of the year and the longest night of the year. It occurs when the sun appears at its most southerly position.

This year’s winter solstice is unique since a full moon will appear full both Friday and Saturday nights. According to Michelle Ganney, the names of the moon originate from the Native Americans, who marked December’s full moon as the beginning of the coldest part of the year. The Long Night Moon is named after the longest night of the year on the winter solstice.

In addition, a meteor shower will be on display in the nighttime sky. The American Meteor Society points out that the Ursid meteor shower should be visible in the mid-Northern Hemisphere. At the peak there should be about 11 sporadic meteors per hour just before dawn. The shower gets its name because its meteors appear to emanate from Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper. Unfortunately, the full moon makes the meteors hard to spot.

A few years ago an observation on the winter solstice inspired this response which has implications for today.

Winter Solstice

And there will be signs in the sun; and in the moon,
and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

Luke 21:25

In the clear azure of the Eastern sky
Arises the winter solstice with its signs,
Marking out the shortest day of the year:
A full moonstone pin sets off Dawn’s velvet dress;
Like diamond clusters set in the ear,
Brilliant meteors linger to impress.
Wonders appear to those with eyes to see.
Out of darkness has emerged a great light,
Revealing a more sure word of prophecy.
Until the day star shall arise in our hearts,
Let us fix our eyes toward the Eastern sky.
And look up, for our redemption draws nigh.
Let us not just see signs each season brings
But understand the meaning of these things.

Third Day offers this reminders of the God we serve: “God of Wonders”

Divine do-over: Another chance

As this year is winding down, I am beginning to think about the coming year and preparing to develop my game plan for 2019. Recently I came across a prophetic Word of the Lord from Apostle Gabriel Cross posted on Pure Glory, website of Crown of Glory International Ministries. The message is re-posted here:

As I rose this morning, I heard the word or phrase (DO-OVER).
“To the one who didn’t do everything right. To the one who became discouraged in their efforts. To the one who became depressed and then procrastinated. Also, the one who just didn’t do what God told them to do.”

The Father says, “I AM going to do a “DO-OVER, WITH YOU.” So quiet yourself before the Lord, and prepare for your DIVINE DO-OVER. A do-over, meaning, a new attempt or opportunity, to do something, after an earlier attempt has been unsuccessful or unsatisfactory.

Unlike life, something inhibits do-overs. However, with God, you can always get things right with a pure heart, craft, and persistence. The Lord says, “Get Up! You can do it! Rise and Shine!”

“ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! (Zechariah 8:23.) For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. (Isaiah 60:19-22; Malachi 4:2; Revelation 21:2, 3.) And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 2:2, 3; Jeremiah 3:17. Isaiah‬ ‭60:1-3‬).

“The Double-Door opportunities I have opened for you, no one can close what I am opening for you. So go forth, come forth, in the name of the Lord. There is no need to worry about how, for I have already prepared the way for you. There is no need to fear anything, for I have already covered you and secured your future. Provision, is not your problem. Providence, is not your problem. Prosperity, is not your problem. Because you have My Divine Provision, Providence, and Prosperity!”

In My Do-Over, I don’t just give back what you have lost, but I give that back, and MORE THAN YOU ASKED FOR.
Behold, the Spirit of the Lord says, “DIVINE DO-OVERS FOR YOU!” 2019 will be the year of Divine Do-Overs, Double-Door Opportunities, and the Best of the Best, being released to you Nowww!”

The message inspired this response which I am planning to incorporate into my personal vision casting for 2019:

A Divine Do-Over for 2019:

“Do not remember the former things,
Or ponder the things of the past.

“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (Amplified Bible)

The old ends–the new begins, as we uncover
The riches of God’s perfect will and discover
Our gracious Father provides one more “do-over,”
A fresh attempt to succeed and thrive moreover.
As living letters we embody the vision
Assured God will also supply the provision.
The hand of the Lord perfects each new revision,
Thus we arise, shine, and act on our decision.
God prepares the way to display His Providence,
As we walk by faith, having not seen evidence,
We access a new reality—no pretense:
We have won the battle, no matter how intense.
God’s divine design fashioned for prosperity
Goes beyond all we may have seen previously:
The fullness of all God intends for us to be
As we act on the Word in its simplicity.
Promotion awaits us as each day our lives advance:
God provides not just a second but another chance.

We “seal the deal” with music from Lisa Page Brooks: “Another Chance.”

“When your battle is fiercest, your victory is nearest.”

From time to time, the blog entry for the day will focus on the Quote of the Day rather than the usual Verse of the Day. Such is the case for the Quote of the Day taken from Kary Oberbrunner’s comments about the need for encouragement while facing the struggles not merely to survive but to thrive despite the resistance we face each day.

He reminded us:

“When your battle is fiercest, your victory is nearest.”

The quote also brought to mind the encouraging words of this classic anonymous poem:

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,:
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit –
Rest, if you must, but don’t quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

In Chapter 3 of my newly released book Embracing Your Life Sentence: How to Turn Life’s Greatest Tragedies into Your Greatest Triumphs. I recognized that life is a battlefield, and the battlefield is the mind. In actuality, I really came to grips with the intensity of a battle to fight when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000. I described my encounter as “the fight of my life” as well as “the fight for my life.” In sharing my battle plan for combating cancer, I examined many scriptural references to the verb fight.

In 1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV), Paul speaks about fighting:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I thought of other scriptures related to fighting in those instances where the Lord fights for His people. Think about this seemingly impossible situation where the words “no way” echo through the mind. Take a look at the account in Exodus where the Children of Israel in their escape from bondage in Egypt run right into the Red Sea with the armies of Pharaoh in hot pursuit behind them. You can imagine the concern they expressed to Moses, their leader and spokesman for God, who offered these word of assurance:

Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV):

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

We find a similar exhortation in Deuteronomy 20:4 (NKJV):

For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Here is another reminder of the same truth in Joshua 23:10:

Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.

We also find wonderful words of encouragement from David in Psalm 144:1–2:

Blessed be the LORD my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle—
My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield, and the One in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.

Throughout the Old Testament and beyond we see instances where the people of God are grossly outnumbered by forces that appear overwhelming, but God reminds His people of who He is and what He will do. In an encounter with “a great multitude,” “a vast number” of the enemy, Zechariah offers these strong words of encouragement to Jehoshaphat, the King and to the people:

2 Chronicles 20:15 (Amplified Bible):

He said, “Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The LORD says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Yolanda Adams offers a musical reminder of this truth:

 

We close with a related quote from Les Brown to end on a victorious note:

“The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.”

As believers we are on the winning team and must remember this:

1 Corinthians 2:14:

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Embracing Your Life Sentence: How to Turn Life’s Greatest Tragedies into Your Greatest Triumphs is now available wherever books are sold and online. Check out my website for more details: https://lonnelledwardjohnson.com.

Thanks again for your prayers and support that made this possible.

Yes and amen: powerful combination

Each word in the Word of Life is an expression of power. Luke 1:37 in the King James Version says, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” The American Standard Version offers this translation: “For no word from God shall be void of power.” Indeed, there is life-changing power in a single word from the Word, as the Poet notes:

. . . the power
of the printed word,
the power of a single light,
like a cloven tongue of fire,
to shatter the darkest night.

One of the most powerful words in the English language, in my estimation, is “yes.” With regard to Jesus Christ, Paul makes known this profound truth in 2 Corinthians 1:19-21 (New Living Translation)

19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says.
20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our ““amen”” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,

Used to express affirmation or assent, “yes” is often indicates as an affirmative reply. Certainly we are aware of that the word as a strong expression of joy, pleasure, or approval. When a player scores the winning shot in an overtime game, often excited fans respond with a vigorous “Yes! Way to go!”

Another expression of affirmation is the word “amen”, a term appearing hundreds of times in Bible. Transliterated from the Hebrew word “amen” and pronounced “ay-men” or “ah-men,” it serves as a verb throughout the Old Testament, meaning to take care, to be faithful, reliable or established, or to believe someone or something, according to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary. We note Israel used the word ““amen”” as part of the expression of praise to God in the Psalms of David.

Psalm 79:19

Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen!

“Amen” is commonly used following a prayer or formal statement of belief, expressing ratification or agreement and means “it is so” or “so it be.” The term also means “certainty,” “truth,” and “verily.” As used in the last two verses of the Bible, “amen” reveals God has “the last say-so.”

Revelation 22:20-21(Amplified Bible):

He who testifies and affirms these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus (the Christ, the Messiah) be with all [the saints—all believers, those set apart for God]. Amen.

We close with a musical rendering of Habakkuk 2:2-3 with a chorus of confirmation: “It is so!” . . . And all the people said. . . Amen.