As children of God who are walking in obedience to His will and His ways, God does heal. We can be assured our God heals. God doesn’t go against His Word, and God is faithful to His promises.
The confidence that we have is this: If we ask anything according to the will of God, He hears us, and since we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions we have asked of Him.
What are you believing God for today? Are you in need of healing? Are you in need of being saved from an impossible situation? God is able to deliver you. Do NOT give up because God has NOT given you the spirit of fear but of love and of power and of a sound mind.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God who heals and delivers. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You for always being there for me. You, O God, have never let me down, and You have never left me alone. You have been my Guide, and You have been my Light. Father, be my Deliverer, as You always have been, in my circumstances. Show Yourself faithful as You always have for You are my Deliverance and my Song. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
You are not alone. The Lord Your God has not left you, and He has not forsaken you. Your God knows you by name, And He hears you when you call.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, You are the God who never leaves me, and You are the God who never fails. I know You are with me and that You know my every tear, You know my every weakness; But, Father, I put my hope and my trust in You because You are faithful, and Your promises are true. Help me to remain steadfast, and constantly remind me of Your promises. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
“He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.
It never ceases to amaze me the levels of stupidity people will resort to. People will interfere in someone else’s argument without having all the facts. Without having all the facts, unwise judgments are made, which results, most of the time, with people flapping their gums and spreading gossip and slander to anyone who will lend them a listening ear.
If some people are gossiping about you, it should be understood that if they are not gossiping about you, they are gossiping about someone else. Those who are flapping their gums are getting all up in your business because they don’t have a life of their own. They will badmouth, backbite, slander, and lie because they have nothing better to do. However, when they do so, they are involving themselves in something they have no business getting involved in. They are too wrapped up in flapping their gums because they are filled with hatred, anger, and jealousy. What they do not realize is that they have no self-control as they are salivating looking for the next dainty morsel to share with others who are all too eager to listen.
It is shameful and embarrassing when gossipers do not have all the facts but will pontificate as if they have all the facts. Has anyone considered that gossiping and interfering in someone else’s argument is like yanking the ear of a wild dog and expecting it not to take a bite out of him or her? If they should attempt to yank on the ears of a “wild dog,” why should anyone feel bad for them? They are simply reaping what they have sown, and they deserve whatever consequences they get.
Linda A. Knowles
“Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” -Proverbs 18:13NLT
Those who leave God and His ways have abandoned the very God who created them. King David spoke of meditating on the law of the Lord, that the commands of God were his delight. He pondered on the law of God all day long. We are to be careful to keep from making a practice of any sin, whatever sin it may be which would easily entangle us. When we keep ourselves pure and holy before God and walking uprightly before God, and obeying His commands, that is evidence of our love for God. If we love God, we’ll obey Him.
He turns our darkness into light.
When we are putting our faith in God, we are trusting in Him, and we can stand on the promises of God. God is faithful, and He proves Himself to be true. God is who He says He is, and God does what He says He will do. His words are certain, and when His Word goes out, His Word does not come back void. His Word goes out and accomplishes the purposes it was sent forth to do. We can depend on His Word, and we can delight in His Word. Anyone in direct opposition to God will find that God is contrary to them.
“If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey me, I will inflict disaster on you seven times over for your sins. I will send wild animals that will rob you of your children and destroy your livestock. Your numbers will dwindle, and your roads will be deserted. And if you fail to learn the lesson and continue your hostility toward me, then I myself will be hostile toward you. I will personally strike you with calamity seven times over for your sins. I will send armies against you to carry out the curse of the covenant you have broken. When you run to your towns for safety, I will send a plague to destroy you there, and you will be handed over to your enemies,” (Leviticus 26:21-25NLT).
God opposes those who are proud and haughty, but He gives grace to the humble and those who truly delight in Him and His ways.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are my Light and my Salvation. You have turned my darkness to light. Just as You are a light for me, be the Light for those who are discouraged and fill them with the strength and boldness they need that only comes from You. I ask that You be my Guide and instruct me in in the way I should go that I might not fall into any trap set by the enemy of my soul. Grant me the opportunity to be a light for You in this dark world and give me opportunities to serve You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” -Psalm 37:4NLT
Our Lord is great. He is bigger than any problem or struggle you have. He is the One who catches you, not permitting those who belong to Him to slip and fall. This old hymn of the church says it all, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.”
Remember the Lord hears you calling out to Him. He hears you when you cry out, and anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Written By Joseph M. Scriven In 1855
Copyright Status Is Public Domain
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What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
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Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
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Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
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Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
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“Then Jesus said, ‘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.'” -Matthew 11:28-30NLT
You are a child of the Most High God, and He has created you with purpose. He has plans He has designed specifically for you. As you go through this season, ask Him what He has planned for you. Seek His counsel and His ways.
If the Lord has laid on your heart to do something and if you have been putting it off, then let me encourage you to rise up and do what God has called you to do. Do whatever task God has told you to do.
What is stopping you from moving forward into the plans God has for you? May I encourage you to lay whatever is stopping you before God? Surrender yourself to God and submit to His will. Let Him do His work in you, and let Him use you for His glory and to further the Kingdom of God. Let Him use you to be a blessing to others.
Rise up, Child of the Most High God! This is not the time to sit back! Wait on God, and as you wait on Him, do His will. Obey His Word. Follow through with whatever God is calling you to do and do whatever He has told you to do.
Heavenly Father, You are the Most High God, and You have created me with purpose and significance. You have called me according to Your purpose that I might go forth and do Your will, to do the tasks You have called me to do. Lord, I surrender myself to You, asking You to show Your will and Your way that I might walk into the destiny You have specifically designed for me. Continue to be my Light and my Guide. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord said to Moses, ‘Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.’ And they fell facedown.” -Numbers 16:42-45(NLT)
Let’s begin with this: There is absolutely nothing wrong with being ambitious. The problem is in the motive and intention of that ambition especially when mixed with greed. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram had seen for themselves the benefits of the Egyptian priesthood -Wealth, position, leadership, prestige, influence in politics, and the like.
Rather than understanding that God Himself chose the Levites, they decided to go against Moses as shown in the account in Numbers 16:1-3(NLT), “One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?'”
Korah and his followers felt they should be upheld like the Levites. They wanted the power. They were greedy and wanted to appoint themselves. Moses had done nothing wrong. The Levites had done nothing wrong. Moses and the Levites were doing the task God had called them to do. They were doing what God had anointed them to do. The Levites were responsible for the spiritual leadership and the teaching of God’s laws. It wasn’t that the Levites and Moses were held above everyone else. They simply were set apart from the rest of the people and were consecrated to God for His service. God raised them up to positions of leadership for the great nation of Israel. Korah and his followers did not recognize that. What they saw was what was in it for them. They wanted what the Levites had. They wanted the position Moses had. They were greedy and failed to realize that God is the One who appoints people to leadership. Korah and his followers’ greedy ambition was not godly; it was downright evil.
Moses’ ambition was to do what God wanted. Moses’ ambition was to serve God. Moses did not have the ambition to control people or lord his leadership over others. Moses simply was a servant of God, that God called out in order to lead the children of Israel. He was devoted to God. Moses’ ambition was a good ambition.
There is no room for greed when you are a servant of the Most High God.
In this passage (Numbers 16:8-11NLT), Korah’s motives are exposed, “Then Moses spoke again to Korah: ‘Now listen, you Levites! Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?'”
God doesn’t play games, and His desire is that the Body of Christ understand that all parts are necessary. We are called to use our gifts and talents. God has anointed each of us for a particular position or place within the body. It’s not about us. It’s about God and where He has put us at this place in time. We are not to be like Korah and his followers, trying to overthrow others out of their position because we are greedy for power or envy another’s position as leaders. Leadership is ultimately about servanthood. Each of God’s children are servants of the Most High God, and we are to conduct ourselves in accordance with the Word of God.
What are your motives for desiring a position of leadership? THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE YOU ARE MODELING FOR WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT. That point cannot be emphasized enough. What example are you setting for others around you? You do not have to have the position of pastor or teacher, parent, or some other authoritative position. There is someone always watching what you say and how you conduct yourself. This is why it is so important to make sure we are right with God so that those we model for do not stumble because of us. We must be living what we preach and teach. We cannot live our lives in a state of rebellion.
Don’t be like Korah and those who followed his example of rebellion. It didn’t end well for Korah and his followers as recorded in Numbers 16:28-35(NLT), “And Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I have done—for I have not done them on my own. If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.’ He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. ‘The earth will swallow us, too!’ they cried. Then fire blazed forth from the Lord and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.”
The line has been drawn in the sand. Will you choose to serve God or will you choose to live in opposition to God? Might I suggest you choose to serve God and to do so wholeheartedly? Complacency and indifference toward God is not acceptable nor pleasing in the sight of God.
Live your life to influence others for God. Don’t let the world influence you.
For those who choose to serve God and continue to live for Him, they will live a life of blessing and enjoy true joy and peace that comes from God alone.
Rebellion will only cause you problems, and rebellion will only bring about the consequences of sin which is destruction. Remember it is not a title or position that elevates you. When you walk in a spirit of humility before God, God is the One Who will lift you up. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time,” (1 Peter 5:6).
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, there is no one like You for You are the Eternal God who reigns in majesty. My desire is to please You in all that I do and say so that I might be able to influence others for You. Help me to always remember that there is nothing worth losing my soul for, and help me to stand firm that I don’t let the world influence me. May I constantly be reminded that You require me to walk humbly before You, to love mercy, and to act justly because that is good. Father, let me be a beacon of light for You in this dark world. Teach me Your ways so I might not rebel like Korah and his followers, and let me be able to lead others to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.” -Deuteronomy 3:22(NLT)
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You do not need to be afraid of those who are against you for you have been made more than a conqueror. God is the One who is taking care of all your enemies in accordance with His promises. He is the One who has made you victorious, has made you and overcomer, and He protects His own.
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Those who are your enemies are the enemies of God because they do not love God, are of this world, and do not know God. Your enemies are not worth your time or effort. Remember your time and effort is best spent doing what God wants you to do and focusing on the tasks He has placed before you.
You need only to stand steadfast, be firm, and as you are keeping your hope and trust in God, placing your confidence in Him, He is the One fighting for you. You will see your enemies begin to fight one another. Remember your God has promised to fight with and for you.
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Heavenly Father, You are the God of victory, and You have made me victorious. Thank You for being my Shield and my Defense. My confidence is securely placed in You, and I know You help me stand against my enemies and that You are the One who fights for me. With You, O God, I can crush an army and scale a wall for You are the One who has strengthened me. Continue to help me to stand firm in Your ways as I continue to obey You and keep my eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stained Glass Confessions 