Posts Tagged ‘spirituality’

Proverbs 3:21-26 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 3, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 3:21-26 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your site; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
 
What is the difference between sound judgment and discernment? Discernment (or discretion) is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct choices. Sound Judgment, however, he give only to those who follow him. Sound judgment includes discernment, but goes beyond it. It also includes the knowledge that comes from instruction. Training, and discipline, and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truth.

Proverbs 1:7-9 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 2, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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 Proverbs: 1:7-9

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.  Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching, they will be a garland to grace your head and chain to adorn your neck. 

 In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce.  Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot.  It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of life.  The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord –to honor and respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his word.  Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes and your actions.  Thrust in God-he will make you truly wise. 

Spiritual Training 02 July 2012

Posted: July 2, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

 Judges 8:22-23 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us – you, your son and your grandson – because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”  But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The LORD will rule over you.”

 The people wanted to make Gideon their King but Gideon stressed that the LORD was to rule over them.  Despite his inconsistencies, Gideon never lost sight of the importance for both a nation and an individual of putting God first. 

 Let’s Bring It Home: Is God first in your life?  If he is, he must affect every dimension of your life not just what you do in church. 

Spiritual Training 29 June 2012

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 8:15-17 The Gideon came and said to the men of Succoth, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me by saying, Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?  Why should we give bread to you’re your exhausted men?”  He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Succoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers.  He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town. 

 Gideon carried out the threat he had made in 8:7.  It is difficult to determine whether this act of revenge was justified or whether he should have left the punishment up to God.  Gideon was God’s appointed leader, but the officials of Succoth and Peniel refused to help him in any way because they feared the enemy.  They showed neither faith nor respect for God nor the man God had chosen to save them.

Lets bring it home: We should help others because it is right, regardless of whether we will benefit personally.

Spiritual Training 28 June 2012

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 8:4-9 Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.  He said to the men of Succoth,  “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the officials of Succoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession?  Whey should we give bread to your troops?”  Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”  From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Succoth had.  So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”

The leaders of Succoth and Peniel refused to help Gideon, probably fearing Midian’s revenge should he fail (Gideon’s army was 300 men chasing 15,000).  They should have realized that victory was certain because God was with Gideon.  But they were so worried about saving themselves that they never thought about God’s power to save.

Lets bring it home: Because of fear for ourselves, we may not recognize God’s presence in other people and therefore miss God’s victory.  Then we must face the often bitter consequences of failing to join forces with those God has chosen to do his work.  Because God will prevail with or without you, be quick to join others who are engaged in his work.  Lend support with your time, money, talents, and prayer.

Proverbs 27:21 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 27:21 – The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.     

Praise tests a person, just as high temperatures test metal.  How does praise affect you? Do you work to get it? Do you work harder after you’ve gotten it? Your attitude toward praise tells a lot about your character.  People of high integrity are not swayed by praise.  They are attuned to their inner convictions, and they do what they should whether or not they are praised for it.

Spiritual Training 27 June 2012

Posted: June 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 8:1-3 Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?”  And they criticized him sharply.  But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?  God gave Oereb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands.  What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided. 

 Ephraim’s leaders felt left out because Gideon had not called them to join the battle, but had left them in place to “clean up” the escaping Midianites (“the gleanings”), and so they angrily confronted him.  Gideon assured the leaders of Ephraim that their accomplishment was even greater than his own clan’s (Abiezer).  His diplomatic explanation pointed out that this rear guard had managed to capture the enemy’s generals, thus cutting off the leaders from their army.  Not every necessary job is a highly visible leadership role.  Much of the necessary labor of any effective enterprise is considered by many to be dirty work.  But such work is vital to getting and big task done.

Lets bring it home: Engineers and millionaires may design and finance an elegant building, but it is the bricklayers who get the work done.  Pride causes us to want recognition.  Are you content to be God’s bricklayer, or do you resent the work God has given you?

Proverbs 25:21-22 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 25, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 25:21-22 – If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 

 God’s form of retaliation is most effective and yet difficult to do.  Paul quotes this proverb in Romans 12:19-21. In Mathew 5:44, Jesus encourages us to pray for those who hurt us.  By returning good for evil, we are acknowledging God as the balancer of all accounts and trusting him to be the judge.

Spiritual Training 25 June 2012

Posted: June 25, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon defeats the Midianites

Judges 7:09-11 During the night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.  “If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp”. So he and Purah his servant went down to the outpost of the camp. 

Facing overwhelming odds, Gideon was afraid.  God understood his fear, but he didn’t excuse Gideon from his task.  Instead he allowed Gideon to slip into the enemy camp and over-hear a conversation that would give him courage.

Lets Bring it home: Are you facing a battle with internal or external foes that have defeated you in the past or appear invincible today?  God can give you the strength you need for any situation.  And don’t be startled by the way he helps you.  Like Gideon, you must listen to God and be ready to take the first step.  Only after you begin to obey God will you find the courage to move ahead.


Spiritual Training 20 June 2012

Posted: June 20, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Gideon

Judges 6:36-39 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised – look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor.  If there is dew only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened.  Gideon rose early the next day, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew-a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me.  Let me make just one more request.  Allow me one more test with the fleece.   This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew” That night God did so.  Only the fleece was dry, all the ground was covered with dew. 

 Was Gideon testing God, or was he simply asking God for more encouragement? In either case, though his motive was right (to obey God and defeat the enemy), his method was less than ideal.  Gideon seems to have known that his requests might displease God (6:39), and yet he demanded two miracles even after witnessing the miraculous fire from the rock (6:21).  It is true that to make good decisions, we need facts. Gideon had all the facts, but still he hesitated.  He delayed obeying God because he wanted even more proof.

Demanding extra signs was an indication of unbelief.  Fear often makes us wait for more confirmation when we should be taking action.  Visible signs are unnecessary if they only confirm what we already know is true.

Lets bring it home: Today the greatest means of God’s guidance is his Word, the Bible.  Unlike Gideon, we have God’s complete, revealed Word.  If you want to have more of God’s guidance, don’t ask for sign, STUDY THE BIBLE (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

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