devotion

From the Quiet Place…

Posted on 8 Nov 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

God wants to live among His people. He wants to protect them. That has always been His desire since the beginning of time. He desires to commune and have that fellowship with His children. However, His people have rejected Him as their Lord and their God. Those who have claimed God as their own have defiled their own bodies and have exchanged the Most High God for other gods, the creation created by God Himself and the things created by man.

The Church has exchanged what is holy for what is evil and exchanged the truth of God for lies. Rather than seeking the God Who Provides her with all her needs, she seeks after that which is temporal such as power, prestige, wealth, popularity, and the like.

God is not welcomed in most places of worship, and His Word has been dissected and chopped up to the point it is unrecognizable. The Word has been made to suit the lifestyles of the people instead of the people seeing themselves in light of the Word of God, repenting, turning from their evil ways, and humbling themselves before God.

God desires a relationship with His people, but they have kicked Him out of their lives and their hearts. They have kicked God out of their homes and places of worship.

The consequences of their sin are falling on their own heads, and they are blaming God for their suffering. Their choices have them on the broad road to destruction. They are headed to Hell. Their consciences are seared and their hearts calloused.

The anger of God is set against all sinful and wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. The creation clearly shows the invisible qualities of God and so they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Everything is exposed before the eyes of God. He sees all and yet His children don’t believe He sees all they do and hears all they say. They are clever at doing wrong, but they are stupid when it comes to doing what is right. They have chosen death instead of life. They have chosen to be cursed rather than blessed.

To all those who have believed Him and accepted Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God. Those who do His will and walk uprightly before Him, they belong to Him.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor has sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who see Your face.”

Peace With God

Posted on 5 Nov 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7(NLT)

Peace with God is so important that the ceremonial law for peace offerings is detailed in Leviticus 3. The peace offering was an expression of gratitude, and it was a way for the people to maintain fellowship with God. Part of the offering could be eaten by the one who was presenting the offering because it was symbolic of peace with God.

Peace is a fruit produced in us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Peace with God comes by having faith in God and His promises. Peace with God is not cheap, but it comes through a sacrifice of praise and joying in the God of your salvation. Because of the peace of God, you are able to drink deeply from the well of salvation. Peace comes from knowing that your enemies cannot prevail against you and that God upholds you with His victorious right hand. Peace of God comes from waiting upon the Lord, fully trusting in Him. As you wait on Him, He will renew your strength, and you will mount up with wings like eagles. This is the kind of peace you can experience and should be experiencing as a child of God. Remember no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, no matter how many enemies you have surrounding you, you must know fully that God has established His relationship with you. Because God has fully established His relationship with you, you have peace with God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of All Peace and You are the Peace That Surpasses All Understanding. Father, thank You for establishing my relationship with You. You are the Peace-Giver. Let me always remember to cast all my cares on You because You care for me, and help me to always remember You, O God, are my Protector. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

Are You Weak or Strong In Obedience?

Posted on 26 Oct 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. ‘Look,’ they told him, ‘you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have,'” (1 Samuel 8:4-5NLT).

Israel was never meant to be like the other nations. Israel had a set of laws from the hands of God and God had chosen them as His very own, specifically set aside to do the work had for them to do, set apart as a holy nation. Israel was not to be like the other nations, and we can see this throughout the entirety of the Old Testament.

In this passage, Samuel is getting counsel from the Lord. The Lord God was to be their King, but they pushed God aside and wanted a mortal man as their king so they could be like all the other nations. So God had this to say (1 Samuel 8:7-9NLT), “‘Do everything they say to you,’ the Lord replied, ‘for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.'”

Israel’s sin can be put into one word: DISOBEDIENCE.

Understand Saul had already been chosen by God to be their king. God knew what they were going to do, that they were going to insist on getting their way, and Samuel did tell them what having a human king would be like. Saul ended up being their king. However, their problems still continued just under a human king. What was Israel’s sin that the problems still continued only under another administration? DISOBEDIENCE. They were defiant towards God. They continually disobeyed, and they had no regard for God or His laws. Because of their disobedience, their problem worsened, and they ended up getting paid the wages of the sins they had committed.

Who is your king? Are you serving God or yourself?

If you are not obeying God and you are defiant towards God continually, you are weak because you are relying on self and dependent on your own will. God will not force Himself on you. If you love God, you will obey Him.

REFLECTION: “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him,” (John 14:23KJV).

As a child of God, you are made holy, set apart, and to live by the standards God has set. As a child of God, you do not live as the world does, and you are not to live as the world dictates. Remember there is hope for those who choose to repent and turn from their wicked ways. When you are obeying God and truly loving Him, blessings will follow as you enjoy a right relationship with the Father. If you want God to rule and reign in your life and you want God to guide your family and your personal life but are living by the world’s standards, then you are not truly obeying God nor are you honoring Him. Honoring and obeying God must be a part of every area of your life, not just in the areas you want. Are you truly obeying God, honoring Him in all you do? If you are not truly obeying God and honoring Him in all you do, what is holding you back?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of faithfulness, and You expect no less from those who are Your children. Father, help me not to be like Israel. I am sorry for disobeying You. Please forgive me, and renew a right spirit within me. I surrender myself into Your hands. I ask that You teach me how to honor You and ask You to instruct me in Your ways. Discipline me, O Lord, when I sin. Lead me on Your paths of righteousness that I may become more like You. Show me Your ways, and reveal Yourself to me that I might know You more and more. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4(ESV)

Don’t Forfeit Your Blessing By Grudgingly Obeying God.

Posted on 25 Oct 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

Having God’s favor upon your life is priceless. You cannot put a price on His favor because it is so costly, and yet God lavishes His favor upon His true children because He is the God of Goodness. He gives good things to His children, but did you know that if you grudgingly obey you can forfeit the blessings/rewards He has for you? Let me explain this way: The Word of God states, in Deuteronomy 6:7, “Love the LORD Your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength.” Note the words ALL of your heart and ALL of your soul, and ALL of your strength. ALL of your being must desire to do the task you are doing for God. ALL of your being must be upright and pure before God while you are obeying Him.

IT REALLY IS A MATTER OF THE HEART.

“Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not wholeheartedly.”

2 Chronicles 25:2(NLT)

Amaziah did what was pleasing to God, but he did so reluctantly. He had paid for troops to come from Israel to help him go up against Edom when a man of God came to Amaziah and told him God would not give him victory if Amaziah used the troops from Israel no matter how well he did at fighting. Amaziah’s heart attitude was not blameless. He complained about the money he had paid, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?” God had sent him a warning through the man of God in order to let Amaziah know God was not with the troops of Israel, and instead of giving thanks to God for the warning or thanking the man of God for giving him the message God had for him, Amaziah complained and said, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?” The man of God told him, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.” He reluctantly obeyed God, taking the warning the man of God had just given him, and he discharged the Israeli troops

Amaziah may have done what was right and obeyed, but in his heart, he was grudgingly compliant. By the way, Amaziah did go into battle and win. After having the victory in the battle, he had taken the idols of the people of Seir and he set the idols up as his own gods and bowed down before them, offering sacrifices to them. By worshiping these idols, Amaziah angered God. When you are obeying God halfheartedly, you are opening the door to other sins. Amaziah may have done what was right, but in obeying God halfheartedly, it was a slippery slope and his heart led him right into idolatry.

Are you obeying God with ALL your heart? Have you ever done something God told you to do and you did it reluctantly simply because God told you to? When we do not put our whole heart into obeying God and doing His Will, then we will find ourselves exhibiting ungodly behavior such as complaining about having to do His Will or complaining about His perfect timing. We can find ourselves exhibiting anger because when we do God’s will halfheartedly, we resent having to obey Him.

Obeying God is not just about doing what is right. It’s about loving God. How you obey God and how you do what He tells you to do matters. Do you truly love Him with your WHOLE heart? Will you love Him with your WHOLE heart as you obey Him and do His will?

Don’t Forfeit Your Blessing By Grudgingly Obeying God.

PRAYER: Sovereign LORD and KING, You are worthy of my best, not my leftovers. You, O God, have been very good to me. Thank You for all You have done in my life, for providing for me, and for being my protection. I’m sorry for obeying You halfheartedly and for being reluctant in carrying out the tasks You have set before me. Forgive me for these sinful attitudes of the heart. Forgive me, Father, for offending You, and I ask that You cleanse me of these sins as only You can do. I bow my heart in surrender to You and ask that You take control, giving me new desires and attitudes pleasing to You. I ask that You, O God, rule and reign in me. Show me what I need to change in my life and what I need to get rid of. Take me along Your paths of righteous because what You approve of and have to say is the only thing that matters. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Love the LORD Your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength.” -Deuteronomy 6:7(NLT)

It Will Cost You Everything

Posted on 2 Oct 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“‘I have not troubled Israel,’ Elijah replied, ‘but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.'” 1 Kings 18:18(BSB)

Will serving and loving God cost you anything? Yes, it will cost you everything (Luke 14:25-34), but the results are so worth it. It is not enough to call yourself a believer. It is not enough to be exposed to the Word of God. You must be loving the Lord Your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. You must be applying His Word to your life and obeying God and His Word out of that love for Him. It really does come down to choosing whom you will serve.

When leaders choose to worship other gods, it causes problems for the nation or church or organization or households. Why? Because whatever the leader’s spirit is will be what the leader will be ministering with. Don’t get me wrong. God used a donkey to get His point across to Balaam the prophet in Numbers 22:28. After all, nothing is too difficult for God.

Either a leader will lead with the guidance of the Holy Spirit or a leader will be leading by the flesh. When one leads with his/her flesh, there will always be major issues and problems.

With that being said…

There is one God, but Ahab and Jezebel worshiped Baal (most popular of the Canaanite gods). However, Elijah was in the midst of the people, and eventually, Elijah challenged the people to take a stand. Either they would choose God or remain Baal worshipers.

When people have to give up their sinful pleasures in order to serve God, you can see their reluctance and walking away because they are not willing to surrender to God. Their actions will make it quite clear whether they served God or not. If you take a stand for God, you cannot live the way you want to.

You may be thinking, “I’m not a leader.” Yes, you are. All of us lead someone at some point. Even if you think you are not a leader, you are being watched by someone (children, spouse, professors, teachers, supervisors, co-workers, list goes on). How you act, what you say, and whether or not you stand for truth matters to whoever watches how you are living your life. There are those who will watch to see if your walk and your talk line up with each other. Make sure you keep yourself in right relationship with God, keeping Him first in all things.

Just like Elijah had challenged the people so did Joshua. The Word of God gives this account in Joshua 24:24-27(BSB):

“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

The people replied, ‘Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!’

But Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.’

‘No!’ replied the people. ‘We will serve the LORD!’

Then Joshua told them, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.’

‘We are witnesses!’ they said.

‘Now, therefore,’ he said, ‘get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.’

So the people said to Joshua, ‘We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.’

On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem, he established for them a statute and ordinance. Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.'”

Taking a stand is never easy. However, either you will choose to serve God and live for Him, or you will reject Him. When it comes to living for God, there is NO neutral ground. This is not the time to be backing down. It is time to rise up and move forward doing whatever task God has called you to do. You may be in this world, but you are not of this world. Be a godly influence in this world, but do NOT let the world influence you.

Linda A. Knowles

“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” –Isaiah 50:7(NLT)

Truth Will Protect You

Posted on 27 Sep 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“May integrity and honesty protect me,

for I put my hope in you.”

Psalm 25:21(NLT)

Since God is the God of Truth, He expects His children to be truthful. If you lie and you get caught in that lie, you lose your integrity. Integrity once lost is very difficult to get back and that’s if you get it back at all. How would anyone trust you again if you choose to lie instead of telling the truth? Since God says in His Word, “Do not lie,” why would you deliberately disobey what God says in His Word? The truth will always protect you because the truth will stand the test of time. The problem is when one chooses to lie. Lies are always exposed. When you do your part in telling the truth, God sees your faithful obedience to Him and His Word, and God will protect you.

REFLECTION: “No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others,” (Psalm 25:3NLT). Disgrace will always come to those who choose to practice sin. Maintain your integrity by preserving truth, by speaking truth. Don’t set out to lie or deceive others. Prove yourself to be a trustworthy person. Lies and deceit will always destroy unity and cause division amongst the children of God.

Integrity and honesty are your friends. When you are honest, you will say that the Lord is right and that you shall walk in His ways. When you have integrity, you shall consistently walk in His ways and set your face like stone determined to do His will and obey Him. Those who lie and deceive are disgraced because their sins of lying and deceit have brought them disgrace. Those who trust in the Lord and put their hope in Him will not be disgraced. God will preserve those who are faithful and live in truth.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God who expects faithful obedience to You and to Your Word. You expect Your children to speak the truth. Lord, help me to walk upright before You with a spirit of humility and to always walk in truth. Teach me how to maintain my integrity, and show me how to walk in holiness as You are holy. May Your truth be my shield and my guard. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Don’t lie to each other,

for you have stripped off

your old sinful nature

and all its wicked deeds.”

-Colossians 3:9(NLT)

BEFORE You Turn Your Life Into A Mess

Posted on 25 Sep 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

King

King David was very old, unable to keep warm, and Abishag was taking care of him. It was also around this time, Adonijah had taken it upon himself to begin boasting, “I will make myself king!” Making a claim to the throne was an act of treason and was never taken lightly. Adonijah got greedy, craving the power and wealth, and Kingship, and he made himself king when it was not his place to do so nor did he have the authority to do so. Adonijah gathered together chariots, charioteers, and recruited 50 men to run in front of him (1 Kings 1:5). Adonijah then went further by having the best animals sacrificed, inviting his brothers, the other sons of King David, and all of the royal officials throughout Judah. Adonijah had two people helping him become king as shown in 1 Kings 1:7-8(NLT), “Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.”

Adonijah did things HIS way, not God’s way.

Can you understand the magnitude of the disaster Adonijah’s life was about to become? He commits an act of treason by claiming the throne which did not belong to him, betraying his own father. He then proclaims and declares himself as king, going against King David who was still on the throne, appointing himself. Then he finalizes it with a celebration. However, Adonijah’s evil schemes were exposed, and it would cost him his life unless the King decided to have mercy on him.

Nathan the Prophet went before King David when Bathsheba told him what was going on. Adonijah’s act of treason had been found out and reported to King David who then immediately made his decree (1 Kings 1:33-35), “the king said to them, ‘Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

Treason was punishable by death. Simply put, by Adonijah’s foolishness in having to do things his way because his heart was not pure before God, he could now be put to death for treason. He may have been King David’s son, but being King David’s son did not exempt him from the death penalty for the act of treason.

Had Adonijah sought God’s counsel before acting out and speaking prematurely, he could have avoided the disaster he made out of his life.

REFLECTION: We, at times, do things that we think we will not be caught doing, but that’s not the case. God sees everything we do and hears everything we say. There is no escaping His presence. Eventually, what is done in the dark comes into the light. He is the God who sees all, and everything is exposed before Him.

“Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, ‘Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!’ Solomon replied, ‘If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.’ So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, ‘Go on home,'” (1 Kings 1:49-53NLT).

Solomon had granted mercy by allowing Adonijah, giving him a reprieve by saying, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.” Adonijah was given a chance to make things right. Unfortunately, Adonijah fashioned another evil plot. He committed another act of treason by requesting to have Abishag as his wife. To ask for the King’s concubine was the equivalent to making claims to the throne (1 Kings 2:19-22).

Adonijah had not learned his lesson the first time, and his sin made him pay far more than he ever expected to pay, “Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: ‘May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised. So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!’ So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death,” (1 Kings 2:23-25).

Grab on to the horns of the altar before going forward with your plans before you turn your life into a mess. Seek God and consult God first. Get His counsel. Take a lesson from Adonijah’s evil scheme. He didn’t grab on to the horns of the altar UNTIL he knew he had been caught. Sometimes, a person has to get caught in the act before he/she gives up his/her sin. Sometimes, a person has to get caught before he/she comes clean. Just go before God and seek His face where you can find mercy. Seek out God’s perfect will, His ways, and His counsel. Consider what God wants rather than what you want. When you do things your way, you will not succeed. When you do things God’s way, you will be blessed, successful in your ways, and you will have peace of mind. Before you go off on your own and do things your way, ask God what He wants you to do and how to do it. Do not wait until after you’ve done things your way and created a disaster.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of All Wisdom and the God of All Truth. I ask that You always help me to think before I act and speak. Give me the understanding and insight to always look at the long-term consequences of my actions. Empower me with the Spirit of the Living God to walk uprightly before You with a pure heart that I might bring honor to Your name. Let me seek You out for Your counsel and give me your words to devour, guiding me in Your righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” –Proverbs 4:23

You Rescue Me

Posted on 15 Sep 201810 Mar 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

psalm 113

YOU RESCUE ME

Written By Linda A. Knowles

I will praise You in the morning,

And I will praise You in the night,

even when it seems there is no hope in sight;

For You, O God, are my Deliverer,

And You are my Strength;

And You, O Lord, are the One Who Rescues Me

from the hands of my enemies.

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation, I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.” –(Psalm 34:1-7NLT)

Our Cornerstone

Posted on 24 Aug 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ ‘Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.'” -Luke 20:17-18 (NLT)

These words are comforting for those who are in Christ. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, Our Sure Foundation as we can see in Ephesians 2:20 (NLT), “And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.” Those in Christ will inherit eternal life while those who reject Christ are already judged and the wrath of God remains on them as told to us in John 3:36(NKJV), which states, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Those who reject Christ will not be able to stand when judgment falls on them, and they will be crushed under the weight of it.

When you have Jesus, you have all that you need. The world could fall in around you and as long as you have Jesus, you have all you need. He is your All-In-All. Let me say this again: WHEN YOU HAVE JESUS, YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED.

“In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.”

-Isaiah 33:6 (NLT)

As you walk along the Narrow Road, you may find yourself struggling, but keep your eyes on Jesus. Continue to let Jesus be your Guide. Let the Lord instruct you. He is your Sure Foundation, and when you allow your life to be built upon Him, you will NOT be disappointed. Whatever is holding you back, give it over to Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-30(NLT), Jesus tells you, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me the privilege to be able to come before You. You are the Good Shepherd, and I thank You for being my Guide and my Instructor. You are my Rock, the Chief Cornerstone, my Sure Foundation. Lord, these days are evil and are becoming worse and worse. Give me discernment to know right from wrong. Fill me with the wisdom that comes from You alone. Teach me the Fear of the Lord and how to revere You. Lord God, this world has nothing for me. Nothing compares to You for You are glorious and majestic, worthy of all praise and honor. You are the One I long for. Help me to always see Your Word is Truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.'” -Isaiah 28:16

Let The Holy Spirit Guide Your Lives

Posted on 17 Aug 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” -Galatians 5:16

Yes, you are a new creation in Christ, but just because you are a child of God does not mean you will not have issues, problems, or struggles. Your sinful nature is in direct opposition to the new nature given to you by Christ.

As a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit living within you, and the Holy Spirit will lead and guide you. However, the sinful nature will war against the desires the Holy Spirit has given you because the sinful nature wants to do evil.

REFLECTION: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NLT). You are under no obligation to do what your sinful natures urges you to do because the Holy Spirit empowers you to live a pure and holy life before God. Every day is a choice to submit yourself to God to live in accordance with His Word. Therefore, since you are in Christ, you no longer live by the dictates of your sinful nature. Now you are letting your mind be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and because you are letting the Holy Spirit have His way in your life, you are being led by Him. When the Holy Spirit convicts you letting you know something is wrong, stop what you are doing and listen to Him. It is important to be aware that if you compromise on one sin, it will be easy to fall into one sin after another. You will not be able to show a life of victory in Christ if you continually compromise and give into temptation. Keep your eyes open to what the Spirit has to show you and keep your ears open to hear His voice.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth. Help me to learn from You what You want me to learn. Let me sit at Your feet to hear You speak. I ask that You continually fill me with Your Spirit to overflow so that I might be able to do Your will and carry out whatever it is You ask me to carry out. Thank You for guiding me this far, and I pray that You continue to guide me as I follow Your ways. Help me to remain steadfast in You so that I will not compromise. May I always seek Your truth and walk uprightly before You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Keep watch and pray,

so that you will not give in to temptation.

For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

Being Tempted Is Not A Sin

Posted on 15 Aug 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him..” -Mark 1:12-13 (NLT)

Psalms_119-11

Temptation always comes, and while being tempted is not a sin, giving in to the temptation is a sin. The Word of God goes so far as to say that if we are tempting someone that is sin as well and states, “…Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting,” (Matthew 18:7 NLT). We are never to use someone’s weaknesses against him/her to tempt him/her to commit sin against God. In other words, look out for the best interests of others and encourage them to progress in their walk with God.

We are not to rejoice when someone trips up and falls into temptation. We are, however, to spur each other on, not play on the weaknesses that the other has.

With all that being said, Jesus gave us an example of how to handle temptation and what we should do when faced with temptation. We are to respond with “It is written,” which is why it is so important to daily be in the Word of God studying, thinking about the Scriptures, applying the Word to our lives, and hiding God’s Word in our hearts in order to combat temptation and to live a life pleasing to God.

Let’s look at how Jesus handled temptation:

“Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ Jesus responded, ‘The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” -Luke 4:9-12

Jesus made it very clear for us to know that the devil is the father of lies and no truth can be found in him, and that is recorded in John 8:44 (NLT), which states, “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

The devil twisted the Scripture to tempt Jesus when he said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.'” Jesus knew the Scriptures well and knew Satan was twisting the Scriptures. God does protect, and that is truth. God will command His angels to watch over and guard us; However, we are not to take the promises of God lightly nor should we ever be so careless in thinking that if we jump off a building that God will keep us from going splat on the ground. Jesus, rightly dividing the Word of God, gave us this clear demonstration of how to wield the Sword of the Spirit when we’re faced with temptation. Jesus responded by saying, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.'”

REFLECTION: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You,” (Psalm 119:11 BSB). Do you have daily time reading and studying the Bible? Do you truly know the Bible? Do you walk in obedience to the Word of God? The bible is not a buffet where you can choose what you like and what you don’t like. You need the entire counsel of God, not just some of His counsel. The Word tells you how live a holy life, tells you everything you need to know to inherit eternal life, and the Word of God teaches you how to handle temptation, and instructs you as to what God has given you to overcome whatever may come your way. “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15 NLT). As a child of God, hiding God’s Word in your heart and clinging to His truth will help you in your life. However, it is absolutely vital for you apply the Word of God to your life, to live the Word of God out loud in your life, not just when temptation strikes. It is not enough to be exposed to the Word of God. It is not enough to read the Word of God. You must be applying the Word, and you must be living out the Word in every aspect of your life. You must be obeying God’s commands especially if you claim to love God and claim to be His child. When you truly know the Word of God, you will know when half-truths come your way and know if someone is twisting the Scriptures. Hide His Word in your heart so you might not sin against Him.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of all Truth. I ask You to help me remain steadfast in You, to keep my feet from slipping. Lord, teach me Your ways and Your truth. Help me to always rightly divide Your Word. May I always hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” -Isaiah 50:7 (NLT)

Satisfaction In GOD Alone

Posted on 14 Aug 201825 Oct 2019 by Dr. Linda Agnes Knowles

“The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.” -Proverbs 10:3 (NLT)

When you trust GOD, you do not need to worry. You have no reason to because the LORD your GOD takes care of you and He is the One who meets every need you have and sees the deepest desires of your heart. The Word of GOD says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need,” (Matthew 6:33 NLT). When you are delighting yourself in the LORD by loving Him with all your heart and following Him wholeheartedly, you are blessed of the LORD.

Satisfaction cannot be found in anything or anyone else. Satisfaction can only be found in GOD. Those who depend on GOD and rely upon GOD alone will always find themselves satisfied. Because of GOD, through CHRIST, you have been made complete, made whole, which means you have all you need in GOD. He is your All In All.

The other side of that: GOD does not satisfy the wicked. The ungodly are self-reliant, do not have reverence for GOD, and live for themselves. Living in disobedience to GOD and His ways and showing disdain toward GOD and His Word brings destruction. “Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.” (Psalm 25:3 BSB).

For all who are led by the Spirit of GOD are children of GOD. The Spirit of the Living GOD (Holy Spirit) has been given to you to guide and lead you into all truth. He is your Comforter, residing in you, a child of the Most High GOD, “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him,” (Ephesians 1:14 NLT).

REFLECTION: Are you finding satisfaction in GOD or do you look to other things to satisfy you? Do you truly understand that satisfaction is found in GOD alone and He is the only One who can satisfy your every need and longing? “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing,” (Psalm 34:9-10 NLT). Having reverence for GOD and the things of GOD begins first with the fear of the LORD. To fear GOD is to have deep respect for Him. The deepest need every person has is his/her spiritual need for GOD. The Word of GOD says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” To be poor in spirit is to recognize your need for GOD and your need for the Savior. When you fear the LORD, you have wisdom because the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the Only One Who Can Satisfy the deepest longing of my heart and soul. You are the Only One able to breathe life into me. Draw near to me as I draw near to You, and let me learn true reverence and holiness in Your presence. With joy, let me drink deeply from the Well of Salvation as I cling to You and Your truth. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might be able to discern what is pleasing to You and what is not pleasing to You. Guide me into all truth, and open my eyes to see what You want to show me and open my ears to hear You speak clearly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” –Psalm 63:1-5

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