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Seeing It Clearly

Then work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:24 NASB

The work of God always has opposition. Satan will do whatever he can to frustrate and slow the work of God.

When those who returned from Persia were determined to rebuild the temple, with permission from Cyrus the Great, non-Jews who lived in the area opposed it.

They resented the Jews and the work of God so much, they sent a letter to the King, a different one at this time, about how rebellious the Jews were.

On the surface, it seemed like the others just resented the Jews. But in truth, this was spiritual warfare. Satan doesn’t want God’s people worshipping in God’s city in God’s temple.

The same is true today! Satan opposes the work of God in any way he can. Satan won’t look like a red guy with a pointed beard and a pitchfork causing trouble. It will look like regular issues causing a slowdown or a hold on the work of God.

Spiritual warfare means battling in the spirit. This happens by prayer, standing on the promises of God’s Word, faith and trust.

But if you’re not spending time with God, real time, not just a few minutes here and there, you’re not going to see the real battle, the real enemy.

Not every issue is a spiritual battle. But when God’s work and His Kingdom are involved, you can bet there is going to be opposition.

Are you ready for that?

Father, help me to see clearly, with spiritual eyes, the path Your work needs to take.

Peace, Todd

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Everywhere and Anytime

In my trouble I cried to the Lord,
And He answered me. Psalms 120:1 NASB

When trouble comes, do you go into “fix-it mode?” Do you size up the situation and come up with a good plan to deal with it?

God gave us a brain to use, critically think and figure out complex problems. But there are times when you just need to turn to Him!

Times of overwhelm and stress can get our focus off of the Lord. Problems become too big, the load becomes to heavy. But these are exactly the times when we should turn to Him!

The promise is, He answers His people, He comes through for us!

But the key is to go to Him. Is this a practice of yours?

Most definitely, this practice of going to the Lord needs to be established, not only in the tough times, but also in the good times. You are establishing a relationship with your Heavenly Father, not a Cosmic Santa Claus that give you what you wish for.

When this relationship is established, you’ll find yourself going to Him at all times of the day, in short whispered prayers between meetings, in the hall, in your vehicle, walking down a grocery store aisle.

He becomes close, a God who cares to be with you and enjoys you as much as you enjoy His Presence.

Establish this relationship today. Don’t wait for the crisis. He is always there for You!

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Presence wherever I am and wherever I go.

Peace, Todd

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The Scene

Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Revelation 19:6 NASB

The scene in Heaven is unlike anything we will have ever experienced. You cant compare it. We just know it is going to be awesome!

But it’s not going to be live steamed on social media. You won’t find a video on YouTube. You won’t be able to subscribe to it on Netflix.

You will have to be there in person! And the only way to be there is if Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

And the thing is, this isn’t a one-time event. You don’t experience it one day and then go home. Heaven is forever. We can’t even wrap our heads around it.

Until the big day, you have an opportunity to get right with God so you can be there.

Your relationship with God is the most important thing you can do and maintain here on this Earth. Everything else is a far, far, far second place.

Don’t let anything in this world distract you from living for God. It just isn’t worth it!

Where are you in your relationship with God? Take time to do a relationship check today!

Father, the things of this world do not compare to You. Help me to always seek You first.

Peace, Todd

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It Will Be Done!

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah… Ezra 1:1a

It had been 70 years! Jeremiah was long gone. But God still fulfilled His word!

Jeremiah prophesied that the Jews would be exiled, but would return in 70 years. The prophesy was fulfilled when King Cyrus of Persia released the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of God.

Not only did he make a proclamation, he provided materials and asked others to do so too!

We can be assured that God’s promises are true. But we need to understand that they are not on our time. God knows what He’s doing and He has His own timeline. But He will do it!

We don’t always understand why! We don’t always see all the reasonings. But we need to trust that He will do it!

And we can trust, because He is faithful and has accomplished His Word over and over.

So this brings up the issue of knowing His word and trusting Him. Are you doing it?

If His Word is true and He sees it through, don’t you think you should know His promises found in His Word?

Father, thank You for Your Word and that You always accomplish what You say You will do.

Peace, Todd

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Discernment and the Word

Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments. Psalms 119:66 NASB

Being able to look at an issue and come up with good solutions or at least understand it is important. We like to call that good discernment.

But the foundation for good discernment in God’s eyes is His Word.

If you just try to use your intellect or what society thinks is right, you are going to miss what God is really doing!

Why? Because God’s ways are not our ways. His ways don’t make sense to us sometimes. For example, why did He have to send His Son to die on the cross? Most just say, “why couldn’t God just wave His hand and say everyone is forgiven?”

We need God’s Word as a basis for godly discernment. If you’re not in His Word daily, you’re missing it!

There is no excuse! We have more ways to read or listen to the Word of God today than ever!

The Word of God needs to be a priority in your life. How will you make sure that happens?

Father, thank You for Your Word. Help me to discern Your will as I read it.

Peace, Todd

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The Wrath of God

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. Revelation 15:1 NASB

When people get overwhelmed by the current state of affairs, I wonder what will happen to them when the real sparks begin to fly?

The world is experiencing an unsettling. Covid, the economy, protests, division, anger, on top of all the regular stuff that happens in a given season, on a given day, should make people wonder what is going on!

But there will be a time that is far worse than any time this world has experienced, ever! It will be the time of God’s wrath! And, believe me, you don’t want to experience that!

The good news is that Believers won’t be around when God’s wrath is released on the Earth. Christians aren’t appointed to wrath!

But for those who don’t take God seriously. For those who don’t believe, things will be unbearable.

The wrath of God will be poured out on this Earth and it will not be good. I’m not talking about an active hurricane season! I’m not talking about a pandemic that keeps you in your home! I’m talking about utter devastation that the world has never experienced!

Is this a scary scene for you? If it is, then you might not be right with the Lord. Those who are Believers won’t be around. There is no fear for Christians.

So the warning is for those who are not right with God! Don’t mess around. Seek God while you can! Seek Him while other Believers can point you in the right direction and help walk with you in the Holy Spirit.

It’s all there in the Bible for you to know if you want to!

You don’t want to be here for God’s wrath!

Father, I look forward to the day when You send Jesus back. Help me a light till then.

Peace, Todd

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Seeing Past It

Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:8 NASB

We don’t always see the big picture. If we did or tried, there is a real good chance that we would see God’s activity all over it!

When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, Joseph probably didn’t see the hand of God moving on his behalf.

When Potiphar’s wife lied and accused him of attempted rape, he probably didn’t think that was God either.

But God was there, in the background, setting it up!

If you belong to Jesus, you need to trust that He knows what He is doing, even when things don’t look like it!

You might go through some pain and trouble, Joseph was in jail for years, but He has a plan for your life! God plays the long game.

The key is to seek Him. Let His peace reign in your heart. Be led by the Holy Spirit! And remember, this world isn’t all there is. Christians are not of this world. This world is temporary.

Until then though, what does He have for you? What are you supposed to do?

Save your family? Save a nation? Joseph did both!

Look past the troubles of today and know He holds your future!

Father, help me to not dwell on the issues and circumstances I’m in. Help me to see past it all to Your glory!

Peace, Todd

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Looking Forward

Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32 NASB

God sent angels to Sodom to remove Lot, his wife and two daughters. They didn’t want to leave. The city and that lifestyle had such a pull on them that that the angels had to pull them out of the city.

They were running for their life. But in all the chaos, Lots wife turned back to look at her precious life that she was leaving behind. And as she did, she turned into a pillar of salt.

Jesus, in talking about living the life of faith, and in the middle of talking about the Second Coming, says to remember Lot’s wife.

Why? Because He knew how much of a pull this life has on us. We shouldn’t let it though. Our lives should be so tied to Jesus that we never want to look back at what was.

Do you find yourself doing that, looking back? When you do and you long for those days, you minimize the future God has for you.

Start looking forward! Start expecting what the Lord has for you now and in the future.

What He has for you is far greater than you can imagine!

Don’t look back, look forward!

Father, thank You for taking care of my past and for what is waiting for me in the future.

Peace, Todd

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Do You Know?

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, Revelation 3:17 NASB

When Believers don’t stay close to God, they start to get a wrong estimation of their relationship with Him. It’s easy to think everything is fine, when in actuality, things are not!

This happens when we get so busy doing things that we don’t prioritize spending time with the Lord. And this happens faster than many think.

One day here and there…turns into a week, turns into a month, etc… The Believer doesn’t think anything is wrong, but what they are saying is that they don’t need God!

Are you dependent on Him? If you are staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you know when you’ve been neglecting time with the Lord. He desires your time. Your heart wants to be where He is.

But He doesn’t force you! If you allow everything else in life to speak louder and draw your attention from Him, you will drift. You are then saying, “I don’t need Him! I can do it on my own!”

And that is a sad place to be! That is a dangerous place to be!

What does your time and attention say about your relationship with the Lord today? Every day?

Father, let my thoughts and attention continually go to You.

Peace, Todd

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First Love

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4 NASB

Are you too busy? We all are! But are you too busy that you are neglecting your relationship with Jesus?

The church in Ephesus was doing a good work. They were busy. It looked very religious, very spiritual.

But they became good at doing and forgot how to seek and spend time with the Lord.

The Lord didn’t give them a minor rebuke, it was a big one! They needed to get back to Him or He would remove their lampstand!

Nothing can take the place of seeking and drawing close to God. It would be better to do less “work” and spend more time with Him. You will actually accomplish more if you do.

Don’t get sucked in to being “busy” all the time. Seek Him and His work will be made evident to you. That way, when you hear from Him, you are at a place that you can actually do what He is asking you and not trying to figure out how you will work one more thing in.

Father, show me Your ways as I desire only to do Your will.

Peace, Todd

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