Sharpen Your Tools

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. - Psalm 28:7

The Lord is your strength and shield. He’s in control and victories rest with Him. The thought brought out in the post “Victory Rest with the Lord” is that we need to focus on God’s Way. We need to use the instructions of His Word like instruments to guide our life. The principles of God are like tools and we need to make sure these tools are sharpened for the challenges ahead.

We live in a confusing world but God is near to help clarify the Way. When we fight against evil, we need the strengths God has given us to win our battles. Our help is from God. One tool to win our battles is prayer. We can go to Him in prayer which is our greatest power because we are speaking to the ONE who already has the answer.

Another tool in our battle is music to praise God. Take inspiration from today’s song Shoulders – For King & Country and the poem below it has inspired.

Lord, our help comes from You

In a world of chaos

You pull us through.

You carry us high

Up on Your shoulders

And Your Word we do apply.

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Keeping the Name of the Lord

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;

   The righteous run to it and are safe.

One of my favorite takeaways from the study of Proverbs 18 and posted in “The Power Like a Strong Tower” is that our words have the power of life and death. By keeping the name of the Lord in our everyday living, we not only have power in our own life but also give power to those around us as we encourage them.

Keeping the name of the Lord shelters us like a fortified tower providing safety from the wind and high ground above the floods. As pointed out in the song Strong Tower by Kutless, keeping the name of the Lord provides strength when we are weak and courage if afraid. When the storms of life rage, the Lord is our strong tower and His mercy sets us free.

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Renewed Strength

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31

The post “His Strength in Me” contrasted positive and negative qualities in our daily living. Contrasting the bankruptcy of a world with dishonesty, pride, gossip, and material gain to the rewards of integrity, humility, and eternal riches.

Let us seek to ingest these positive qualities so they are in our heart. As long as the Holy Spirit is in us, no one can take that away. The Spirit of Christ is with us everywhere we go.

As the song In Me by Casting Crowns points out, when we are weak, God gives us strength and brings victory because of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Share the Evidence

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. - Psalm 89:1

In the post “Hear and Apply, discussed is Paul pointing out that all are given evidence of God’s power and divine nature but some still do not believe. There are various ways to receive knowledge of God. We can read His Word, learn from our experiences, and learn from others who have knowledge and experiences to share.

Going out in the backyard either at night before going to sleep or in the morning before sunrise with my dog Marlee, we can hear the sounds of a night. Marlee loves just lying in the grass, listening, and enjoying the cool breeze. I look up in the sky and see the stars and enjoy the amazement as God has painted another masterpiece to communicate His glory. The time in the back yard gives inspiration and hope; confidence that that God is with me and will be with me always.

Another way to receive inspiration and hope is through music as in this video: Light Up the Sky by The Afters.

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My Strength and My Song

The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. – Psalm 118:14

In the post “Use Your God Given Talent”, mentioned were the skilled people that made the priestly garments. God has given each of us talents and abilities to serve others. The challenge for us is to discover our specific talent or ability and be thankful.

Sometimes when an athlete makes a good play like a touchdown or hits a homerun, they point to the sky; humbly pointing out that it was power from up above that made it happen.

In whatever we do today, let us also do amazing things by using abilities and skills from God to serve others. It may be to inspire others just like a great athlete or singer. It may be in our job or in how we serve others. Here is an inspiring video as we step ahead: There is Power by Lincoln Brewster.

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Notes to Your Younger Self

The Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. – Joshua 21:43

As brought out in the post “Follow Instructions”, God is continually requiring His people to follow instructions and when they follow, He is faithful to fulfill His promises just as in the scripture at the top of this post.

As His people, we sometimes get complacent and instead of continually seeking His excellence, we give in to the negatives promoted by the enemy. Everyone needs God's grace and once received, one can gain wisdom to live the way life is meant to be lived.

Take some time to look back on life and write notes to your younger self. Here’s a video to inspire: Dear Younger Me by MercyMe. Take these notes to not only help provide a brighter path for your own future but to share with others so their future path is much brighter too!

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Getting Through the Storms of Life

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

God stopped the flowing river of the Jordan so the Israelites could cross over to the Promised Land. Studying Joshua 4, I shared in the post “Step Ahead with Faith” about the Lord telling Joshua to instruct twelve men to gather twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River. These stone memorials became a reminder of what God had done and will do to help them get through the challenges in life.

 We face difficult challenges in our world today but we can be assured that we have what we need in getting through the storms of life if we step ahead with faith. The storms we face can serve as a testimony of how God can pull us through just as highlighted in today’s video Eye of the Storm – Ryan Stevenson.

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Our Glorious Destination

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8

The post, “Obedience and Achievement” has some thoughts about the benefits of knowing and applying God’s Word. If we take on challenges along the journey of life one day at a time using God’s Word, we will find our glorious destination.

Let us know the plan and carry it out on a daily basis. Let us pray for direction each day as we daily work to fine tune and improve. Then every challenge will become possible.

There is freedom in obeying God’s way because He cares for us more than we care for ourselves. Let’s start our day with this inspiring song called One Day at a Time by Jeremy Camp. God understands our needs more than we do so let’s accept His guidance as we journey through life one day at a time.

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Praise Be to the Lord

Praise be to the Lord,

   For He has heard my cry for mercy.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

   My heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

   And with my song I praise Him. - Psalm 28:6-7

God is our strength in difficulties. He protects and leads in the right direction so our true potential is realized. Provided are opportunities for a bright future because our experiences can be our stepping-stones as the Lord carries us along the path.

Let us be an overcomer even when things happen that should not or when those you thought you could trust do something that makes you not trust them anymore. Be able to forgive, step ahead, and be grateful for what you do have. Like in the song Carry Me by Josh Wilson, the Lord can carry us from sinking sand to solid ground.

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Be a Miracle for Someone Today

For in the day of trouble

   He will keep me safe in His dwelling;

He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent

   And set me high upon a rock. – Psalm 27:5

As explained in the post “No Fear since He is Near”, David prayed for God’s power to get him through his difficulty. He desired God’s presence and His protection from enemies. David trusted in God and went to Him in prayer for strength. He was confident that God would pull him through.

Many of us in life, fear rejection from friends or relatives. But we don’t have to fear because like David, we can go to the Lord for strength. We may be rejected on earth but rejection is never permanent. What is permanent is our acceptance by God when we follow His Plan for Us. Be a miracle for someone today and reblog or forward this link. Always remember, by accepting Christ as Savior, you are never rejected in heaven.

David said in Psalm 27:6 that he would sing and make music to the Lord. Let’s do the same today as we praise Him with today’s video: Good Fight by Unspoken.

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Sure Victory

In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - Romans 8:37

As written about in the post “Provision”, David constantly acknowledged that his victories in battle were due to God’s provision. Just as with David, God reflects and magnifies who we are. Faith in Him gives us confidence and hope that we will be enabled with strength, a secure future, and the needed resources to meet each challenge.

Let us give credit to God for each victory and give thanks for His love through Christ. We start today with praise for the sure victory: Grace Wins– Matthew West.

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Hope Remains Because He Reigns

God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. - 1 Corinthians 6:14

The vision written about in the post “Life Has Strains but Hope Remains”, reminds us that there is always hope because Christ brings changes in life. Just like Israel that was destroyed and then transformed, there is a redemptive purpose in God’s judgment that changes the future for the better.

Even in hard times, hope remains because He reigns and we can have joy because of the inspiration we gain in the events around Easter. Throughout life, there will be difficulty but hope remains in front of us just as in this video: Hope in Front of Me – Danny Gokey and we will come out stronger on the other side.

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He Is In Our Midst so Persist

There are days we may be tired, confused, or kind of down but if we keep going and make some progress for that day, we can wake up the next day with some momentum that eventually gets us back up to full speed. This day with God can be amazing because of our faith in the possibilities He gives.

Persistence like a stream of water eventually cuts into a rock and if we remain persistent at focusing on the possibilities God gives, we can cut into and go through any obstacle in our way.

With God, we have something amazing and there is no need to add anything extra; just highlight the amazing and keep it simple. That’s what I like about this song: Press On – Building 429

So you must be brave. Don’t give up! God will honor you for obeying him. - 2 Chronicles 15:7

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No Fear - He is Near

The post “Strength for the Journey” is about Paul sharing with the people that our God is an Awesome God. He is our strength and our greatest asset is not in being like everyone else but in being who we are; a precious child of God.

We are never alone because He goes before us, He is with us, and His Spirit lives in us. Because of these facts, we have unlimited potential because of His unlimited potential. It is up to us to realize how God can use us to spread the Good News.

Today’s inspirational video is about this help God gives to pull us through anything. He takes our burdens and puts them on His shoulders. There is no fear - He is near: Shoulders - For King and Country.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1

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Leadership Is Not A Popularity Contest

Written about in the post The Trial of Jesus, we get a lesson in leadership. Jesus demonstrates leadership with poise, courage, and strength. On the other hand, Pilot and Herod demonstrated poor leadership skills. They couldn’t make a decision because they lacked the courage to stand up and do what was right.

With God, we can be assured of a promising future and this gives us confidence to face our challenges with confidence. We know that He is faithful. He is like a mountain; standing rock solid over time and protecting us in our time of need. We can take courage, for God is there for us. Today’s inspirational video highlights these thoughts: Whom Shall I Fear – Chris Tomlin.

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1

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Ideas To Deal With The Stuff In Life

Written about in the post “Overcoming the Pressures of Life” was how Jesus went through the pressures of life on earth by praying and submitted to the purpose for which God had sent Him which was to die for our sins. In the Garden of Gethsemane, sweat was falling from Him like drops of blood to the ground. We may not face this type of pressure but we face stuff in life that can get to us. Maybe it’s trying to meet impossible deadlines at work, maybe it’s a health issue, or a relationship that’s not working out.

What can we do to deal with these challenges we face? Some ideas might include keeping positive, praying, planning out each step, and taking action with faith that God will provide the resources needed to get through anything. Another idea might be to set out each day to memorize scripture and try to internalize them so they can be used in time of need. With the Word of God internalized, we have more poise in stressful situations like talking in front of an audience or taking an exam or going through a medical procedure.

Each day has its challenges and that’s why we want to seek God first thing to help us take on these challenge the best we can. Today’s video is about this stuff of life: how God can use these moments to help us appreciate that maybe our stuff is not as bad as we think and we can step ahead with faith: This is the Stuff – Francesca Battistelli.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:10

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Flourish with Hope

Explained in the post “The Hope that Christ Gives”, there will be difficult times but we should never get down. Remember that the resistance only makes us stronger. There is resistance when we exercise to build up our muscles. There is resistance of the wind that helps an airplane to be lifted high in the sky and travel to faraway places. What we go through in life, only makes us stronger on the other side.

God will provide the resources needed to get through anything. Use His Word to help in difficult times. Examine your hopes and dreams and let God take them to a level that you never dreamed of. This day with God will be amazing because His light will illuminate even greater in dark times. Take inspiration from this video: Hope in Front of Me – Danny Gokey.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope! - Romans 15:13

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Always Pray And Never Give Up

In the post Maintaining Faith Over The Long Haul, I wrote how Jesus teaches a lesson on perseverance. He teaches about the need for us to press on like the widow who continued to go to the judge and plead for justice until it was granted. The lesson is to always pray and never give up. Here’s a video to inspire us to keep going today: Building 429 – Press On.

We may not feel good at times, we may feel lonely, we may feel inferior or just physically worn out but these are the things that create resistance and ultimately make us stronger; the resistance like lifting a weights to build muscle. The resistance of water as we swim laps to burn those extra calories or the hill as you run to the top. Without resistance, the wings of a plane can’t produce lift and fly through the air. Without resistance to fear, there is no courage. Next time your day is filled with some resistance, smile at it, say thank You God, and press on.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:1-3

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In the post Rise Up several parables are told by Jesus to inspire us to be productive. Like the man who still had hope in the unproductive fig tree, we can go the extra mile to work on the things in our life that are unproductive and need a little extra care.

We may not feel good at times but other times, we may feel lonely or we may feel inferior. Sometimes, we may just be physically worn out but these are the things that create resistance and ultimately make us stronger. Like the resistance when lifting weights to build our physical muscle, we can also build up our spiritual muscle.

Examples include the resistance of water as we swim laps to burn those extra calories or up a hill to the very top. Without resistance, the wings of a plane can’t produce lift to fly through the air. Without resistance to fear, there is no courage. Next time your day is filled with some resistance, smile at it, say thank You God, and keep going.

Remember, persistence like a stream of water eventually cuts into a rock and if we remain persistent at focusing on the possibilities God gives, we can cut into and go through any obstacle in our way. This day with God, ask that He keeps making you stronger and receive inspiration from this video: Keep Making Me – Sidewalk Prophets.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. – Romans 5:3

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His Word Makes a Way so it’s Okay

In the post Receive Direction From His Word, I wrote about the circumstance of Joseph while in an Egyptian prison. During the time of Joseph, God spoke through dreams but today God speaks to us through His Word.

Think back to days when things are not going your way. A day may start out with a challenge and that’s why we want to seek God first thing to help us take on the challenge the best we can.

Many challenges may seem like mission impossible but then as we take a jump of faith and meet the challenge, it is extremely rewarding. God’s Word makes a way and it will be okay. Here is a video I made from a poem I wrote that’s about overcoming bad situations: Jump

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. - Revelation 3:21

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