Daydreaming

On April 27, 2018   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 27: 4

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.

Many years ago, I heard Joyce Meyer say this was her favorite scripture. I was surprised by that statement. Of all the great verses in the Bible, verses filled with promise and victory, why was she so fond of this one? Years later, I get it.

It will not surprise you that this is a psalm of David. David had a different relationship with the Trinity than others we find in the Old Testament, especially. He had a New Testament relationship with Father, Son and Spirit. He seems to be one of the few that had any knowledge, especially a working knowledge, of the Holy Spirit at all. His relationship goes further, though. He trusted God. He had a love relationship with Him.

Here we experience David saying that nothing is better and that he seeks nothing greater than staring at the beauty of the Lord. The longing of David’s heart was simply to hang out with God. What do you suppose David would meditate on? Perhaps his thoughts turned around the beauty, majesty and splendor of the Lord such that he just wanted to sit in the temple and meditate on the Lord’s glory all day.

This is the one thing he asked of the Lord. We all have that one thing which is not a numerical value as much as it is a priority number. What is the most precious thing to you? What is it that you want from God above all things? Is it to stare at His beauty? Probably not. Most of us think differently than David. Most who read this are westerners in thought and philosophy. We have to produce something daily. We can’t just sit around and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. We say, “Lord, what do you want to DO today?” That is, if we bother to ask at all because we are in a hurry. We are busy, but as I have said before, “Busy is a four-letter word.”

Maybe you can take a few minutes to meditate on God’s gloriousness and grandeur. Maybe you just want to meditate on David’s words to see if you can make any sense of them. It’s kinda deep but I would say this is THE one thing. This is the thing that Jesus would not take away from Mary when Martha wanted her to help with the chores. Being in the presence of the Lord may be the one thing you have been searching for too.

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TV Bomb

On April 9, 2018   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Joshua 1: 8

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Joshua was about to take over the leadership of the nation of Israel from Moses. How would you like to follow in those footsteps? Yahweh God went to Joshua. This is the advice the Father gave him. If you were about to take over the leadership of an entire nation of people, the nation of God’s people, wouldn’t you expect the advice God gives will be the most critical piece of advice available. Perspective on the situation Joshua found himself in when God gave him this instruction gives great insight into its importance.

Should we expect God’s guidance to us to be any different? Of all the things God could tell us, this is the one bit of wisdom He chooses for us. Keep this Word in your mouth; meditate on it day and night. Well, one would easily conclude that to keep the Word on our lips constantly, we will have to read it and meditate on it continually. How else will we know enough of it? We have major impediments in modern life, though. Joshua didn’t have television or the internet. He didn’t have a video console or an electronic tablet. He didn’t run his kids to soccer practice or any of the many other distractions we have.

We are busy people, over busy really. Somehow we have to learn to control the chaos so that we do as Mary, Martha’s sister did, put first things first. If we don’t have time for prayer, mediation and time in the Word, then we are too busy. Most of us, I find, have time for TV and few of us miss many meals. If I had a red button that, when pressed, would blow up every television, I bet many of us would find more time for contemplation and our Bibles. There are just too many things demanding our attention and who doesn’t enjoy sitting in front of the TV to relax? Perhaps we could have our time with our beloved and then turn on the TV. I know that I am much more productive if I don’t turn it on. Once on, it is hard to pick up my book and read or to pray.

God gave Joshua the secret to success and prosperity. In truth, He has revealed this key to us as well. What do we have to do in order to find the time necessary to engage this all important principle? Each of us must decide for ourselves but I would suggest we each have that button which will disable the television, at least for a while. Push the button. Go ahead. You will find some time you didn’t have before. Here’s to your success and prosperity.

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Acceptable Meditations

On March 9, 2018   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 19: 14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

This scripture may be familiar to you. Check out this one too, “Let my meditation be pleasing to Him, (Psalm 104: 34). I have read Psalm 19: 14 for years. When I do, I think about the words of my mouth. How much thought have you given to what you meditate on?

Two thoughts occurred to me as I compared these scriptures. First, God’s interest is not in what we think but rather that which issues from our hearts. Do we even consider that we can mediate in our hearts as well as in our minds? We do take things to heart though, don’t we? Those are the issues that are of central importance to us whether they be instances of offence or gifts of kindness to us. We hold those things in our hearts and roll them around and around in the very spot where they can do the most harm or the most good. That is why forgiveness is so important. We can take someone’s bad deed and instead of forgiving them and sending that offense away, we deposit it into our hearts where it can fester and grow. And we wonder why we have health issues.

Another revelation from these scriptures that may startle you when spoken out loud is that our heavenly Father can see the meditations of our hearts. Whoa! Is that a bit scary? That bad thought about someone that we have held onto is now buried in the tender tissue of our hearts AND Father can see it. Jesus revealed this to us in Luke 16: 15, “And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts.” Still, somehow it just doesn’t register that God is looking on those thoughts and meditations of the heart. Does that make you hold your breath for a moment? It does me. Those thoughts are not good for us nor are they good for anyone. The Spirit living inside us certainly does not enjoy them. Paul said it best, “Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable,” (Philippians 4: 8 GW).

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Multiply, Amplify

On October 13, 2017   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Mark 4: 24

And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.”

This verse has almost unlimited application. It applies to your giving, to judgment and even the way you treat others. One other application is in regards to the Word. The measure of thought, study and attention you give the Word will determine how much you get out of it.

The first part is easy. I send you a morsel of the Word every day. You don’t even have to go mine those nuggets for yourself. Then here is your part. The amount of thought and meditation you give to that word is directly related to how much you will ultimately get out of it. It reminds me of school. The amount of effort you put in is directly related to what you get out of it. Have you ever taken a class and then at the end of it weren’t sure what you learned? You retained enough for the final exam but then it flew from you.

It is the same with the Word of God. What you read, even in the Word of the Day, is only the appetizer. There may be great inspiration in the Sunday sermon but what makes it stick is the thought you give to it afterwards. The Word of the Day is meant to feed you but the thought you give it is what will change your life. If you meditate on them and integrate them, these tidbits from God can revolutionize your life.

You know, this is not far afield from the singular principle which guides a life with God, sowing and reaping. What you put in is multiplied and then returned to you in the form of a harvest. It works with food. It works with money. Now we find it even works with revelation from God. If you will take the bit of inspiration and revelation you get from your devotionals and services and sow it into your own heart by thinking about it and meditating over it, you will find the multiplication factor works there too. You will get back more than you put in.

Now, go back and read the verse one more time and be blessed!

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Answer the Phone

On January 12, 2017   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 42: 9

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

It seems like every time I have opened my Bible this week, my eyes have fallen on Isaiah 43: 19, which reads, “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth.” Today I found Isaiah 42: 9 quite by accident. Do you think God is trying to say something? Are you the person to whom God is speaking; for whom God’s insistence is palpable?

God has a message for you. Behold, old things have passed away. He is doing a new thing in you and with you. It is the beginning of a new year and your Father has good plans for you. He wants to do something new in your life this year, something grand. There is more for you, bigger and better things.

Allow me, please, to remind you of Psalm 46: 10, which says, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” The King James says, “Be still.” If I were in your shoes, I would very much want to hear what these new things are that Jesus wants to proclaim to you. The best ways I know to hear these plans and revelation is to slow yourself down, be still and let your heart and mind ruminate over the scriptures. The Word gives you a foundation, a structure for your musings. Without it your mental wanderings will sometimes be vague and unanchored. I also find that the Word helps me to be still and ponder God.

I know from Jeremiah 29: 11 that God has a good plan for you this year; a plan for your well-being. He wants to encourage you and give you a hope for new and great things. Get alone with your Father and ask Him what it is that He wants to tell you, show you. He is loudly calling you. Are you listening? Answer the phone!

(See also Isaiah 48: 6, 2nd Corinthians 5: 17)

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God’s Success System

On May 30, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Joshua 1: 7 – 8

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 


Here is a success kit. All you have to do is cut and paste this into your life and success will have to follow you. God’s word cannot be denied and here is His word on success, loud and clear. Perhaps we do not know how to believe as we should but we are all changing that day by day. But, God’s word works and it works all the time. We have lost the ability and or knowledge of how to receive in this country. Maybe it is because we have so much and really have not had to rely on God for our basic needs. In other countries, amazing miracles are taking place. We need only to put our faith back in God’s word and believe that what He says will come to pass. Then we meditate on it, we speak it out of our mouths and we do according to all that is written there. When we do that, we cannot fail. All that you want, and or need, is sure to follow.

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Literal Love

On January 4, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 119: 97 – 98

O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies for they are ever mine.

It is the Word of the Lord that instructs us, protects us and guides us. It is life to all who find it. It is refreshment to their bones. All who wish wisdom, peace and success can find those things in God’s word. When we put his word in us, we are literally putting life into our very being. We also find the wisdom we need for these trying times. God said that we are to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. He gave us his word so that through it we would rise to the top. He sowed success and peace and every good thing in the pages of his word. All we have to do is read his word and believe that which we read is truth. He does not wish us to be uninformed so he gave us the book. In it lies the wisdom of God and it is all ours for the taking.

If we ever understand the truth of this passage, if we can utter these same words with the same passion and conviction of the psalmist then I know that we will rise above our circumstances. We will finally live in and exhibit the glory and the power of our dear lord. Let these verses sink in a bit deeper today. Meditate on them until they become integrated with you. There is victory in Jesus and he is the word. Seek him.

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