Category: Weekly Thoughts

LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

Prov 3:5 KJV Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

After becoming the king of all Israel, David decided to bring the ark of the covenant in the land of the Philistines back to Israel. 
2 Samuel 6:2-3 KJV
[2] And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. [3] And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

David again brought together 30,000 chosen men out of Israel. They set the ark on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab. David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
They were returning the ark to its rightful place when tragedy struck.
2 Samuel 6:6-7 AMPC
[6] And when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled and shook it. [7] And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for touching the ark, and he died there by the ark of God.
Uzzah reached out his hand and took hold of the ark of God because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah for his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died beside the ark of God.

Question is why would God have struck down a man who was trying to serve his king and God?

David and his men had leaned on their own understanding.
They brought the ark upon an ox cart, which is just how the philistines had done it. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:2 “They are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge “
The will of God was plainly revealed: the ark was to be covered, staves were to be inserted in the rings in its ends, and it was to be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites.
Nothing has been said about placing it on a “new cart” that was a humane invention, and contrary to the instructions of the Lord. David’s desire was holy, his motive was pure, but he went about it the wrong way.
You are not free to serve God the way you chose to serve Him. To please Him you must do it His way and according to his word.

See where you are leaning on your own understanding, and repent today. Then determine, with God’s help, to trust in His ways in all that you do.
God’s primary concern is not results, but obedience.
God cares more about being quoted properly and having his Word applied correctly than about immediate effectiveness.
and lean not unto your own understanding; or trust not to that; for it stands opposed to trusting in the Lord.

Men should not depend upon their own wisdom and understanding, in the conduct of civil life, but should seek the direction and blessing of Providence, or otherwise will meet with a disappointment;
a natural man has no understanding of spiritual things, of the things of the Gospel, nor indeed any practical understanding of things moral, Romans 3:11 KJV
[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Jeremiah 4:22 AMPC
[22] [Their chastisement will continue until it has accomplished its purpose] for My people are stupid, says the Lord [replying to Jeremiah]; they do not know and understand Me. They are thick-headed children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge [and know not how].

The understanding of man is darkened by sin; yea is darkness itself; it is like the first earth, covered with darkness, till light is let into it, and therefore not to be leaned unto and depended on, Ephesians 4:18 AMPC
[18] Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the in-sensitiveness of their moral nature].

There is a necessity of a new heart and spirit, of an understanding to be given, in order to understand spiritual and divine things,

Ezekiel 36:26; for though these are not contrary to the reason and understanding of men; yet they are above them, and cannot be discovered, reached, comprehended, and accounted for by them, Matthew 16:17. Nay, there are some things in the Gospel, which, though plain to an enlightened understanding by the word of God, yet the manner how they are cannot be apprehended: as the doctrines of a trinity of Persons; of the generation of the Son of God; the procession of the Spirit; the union of the two natures in Christ; the resurrection of the dead.

but the word of God only is our rule of judgment and the standard of our faith and practice, and to that, we should have recourse and be directed by it, and not lean to our own understandings.
It’s about God’s word, it’s in the details. According to Heavenly pattern. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Heavenly father wherever I have not trusted in you wholeheartedly, wherever I have leaned on my own understanding, I repent today, have mercy, let your mercy prevail over judgment. Create in me a pure heart Oh Lord and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 
Thank you for making me a new creation in Christ, old things are passed away; behold all things become new. I promise to acknowledge you in all my ways so you can direct my path.


HAVE A FRUITFUL WEEK!

Restoring all things

TRUST IN THE LORD! A NEW HORIZON IS HERE! 

I was watching television and I saw mayhem across the United States of America.  Chaos and destruction everywhere in reaction to the soul of yet another black man taken at the prime of his life. This lockdown has provided an opportunity for some people to reflect and put a certain perspective into reality. It could be good or bad depending on whose side you are on. God wants us to be on His side. Life after COVID-19 lockdown for Christians will be a victorious one. We are about turning the page, the siege is over! Jn 10:10 After the destruction, there is a recovery. There is a new horizon, there is a fresh start. Just like the day of Pentecost, expect the power of the Holy Spirit to take control. God has invested so much in us that He expects us to take control by praying and commanding the work of His hands and deploying the power of the Holy Spirit already inside of us. There is still fear and apprehension everywhere because of the increase of the number of people infected by a so-called coronavirus. We hereby command the unconditional release of those appointed to die by the blood of Jesus. May the Lord show mercy to those trapped by fear.
Brethren, we must put our trust the Lord for the benefits of a new horizon:
He will give you the desires of your heart according to Psalms 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
*Trusting in the Lord brings greater happiness and joy in life –Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
*Our mind stays in peace when we stay focused on the Lord. Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in You.
*Fruitful in all times, not anxious in the year of drought or famine according to Jeremiah 17:5-8  Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. NKJV
*Those who trust in the Lord will be delivered from wicked schemes and plans of evil people Ps 37:39-40  But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them Because they trust in Him. NKJV 
 *The mercy of the Lord surrounds those who trust in Him –Psalm 32:10-11 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

*Those who trust in the Lord will be prospered Prov 28:25, 26 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

*Those who trust in the Lord will be safe and secure –Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

A new Horizon is here. Trust in the Lord and claim all His benefits.
The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion for all his creation. All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will bless you. They will talk together about the glory of your kingdom; they will celebrate examples of your power. . . . For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule generation after generation. Psalm 145:8-11, 13   He is compassionate (“to all his creation”). He is gracious and generous, loving and all-powerful, righteous, watchful, protective, near to us, great and good, and ever faithful. 

Think of the Savior: Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, our Counselor, our Good Shepherd. Prayerfully studying and meditating on the character traits and names of God is one of the most faith-building, encouraging things you can do for your spiritual life. It will dispel your anxiety and boost your faith. It will enable you to trust God more. Knowing the true character of God will renew and transform your mind with the truth, dissolve doubt, and breathe life into your soul. Saying aloud the attributes of the Lord and thinking about how you’ve experienced different aspects of his character can be a powerful act of worship. 

Dear Father, as we enter the month of June, we thank you for preserving our lives, and for the Grace and Blessing you pour out continually upon us. We choose to look with our eyes of faith past our present circumstances and happenings around us to the good future you have pre-arranged for us, our hope is not misplaced because we rely on and trust in you for you are El Shaddai, the Almighty One, the All-sufficient God. El Elyon, The most sovereign.

The Grace of the ALL MIGHTY & ALL SUFFICIENT GOD will work mightily in your life. The mercies of God will speak for you. His goodness shall be revealed in your most difficult situations in Jesus’ name.

HAPPY NEW MONTH! THE MONTH OF A NEW HORIZON!

Trust all your concerns to Jesus

Brethren, Are you still asking why you are going through tribulation and trials and distress and frustration;? Do you know that Its time to look upward to your Heavenly Father and behold Him pure and Holy knowing that one day you will be like Him?. To be easily conformed to His image you will require much refining in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10) to purify you. Remember you were once a servant of Satan and no king will willingly lose his subjects.

EXPRESSING LOVE: Putting Other’s First.

Most of the time we’re selfish because we figure we can’t make much of a difference on our own, anyway. Today we can. The coronavirus pandemic is making us more aware of others and how we can help.