Ps 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;… NIV
This plain passage of scripture is from the Psalms. It says, "Be still…" The Hebrew word here means "to relax, be sedate, or to be calm" and while we are doing this take comfort in "knowing" God is in control. We have an entire Bible written with story after story of God being in control of human affairs. Then why is it we many times lose sight of God's power?
Paul says it this way in 2 Corin 11:3, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray…" NASU The devil tries very hard to deceive us as he did Adam and Eve. Don't let your minds be led astray but let your minds dwell on Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God…"
The question is "Can we let God be in control?" I have to admit this is not always easy for me. I have a very hard time sitting and waiting. In fact, it is many times almost impossible for me. I like to make things happen, but God's word is telling me I need to chill. I need to be still. I need to relax and get out of God's way. He is in control. He has thousands and thousands of years of prior experience in operating this world without me. If we will trust Him, He will manage the affairs of this world just fine without us.
You know I was not able to get my daughter's temperature to break. It was out of my hands. I had no control over this situation. So I did what I knew was best for her and me. I prayed. I admitted to God this was something I was not able to control, but I knew He was not helpless like I was. The fever broke and I learned a valuable lesson that day. There are a lot of areas in life where we are going to be helpless, but there is no area of life where God is helpless. Do you want to experience a better life? Be still and know that God is in Control. Think On These: God is more interested in inner grace than outer space. When we let God guide He will provide. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Exo. 3:11 - But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”
God has informed Moses He has chosen him to lead the children of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage. Moses is stretched out of his comfort zone with God’s plan.
Moses doubts that he was the one who could be used to help free the Israelites. He says to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh…?” Moses doesn’t realize it yet, but he is the one who God has chosen and there isn't any way God will change His plan. We probably all have been chosen by God to accomplish a task and we thought like Moses, “Who am I?” If God chooses you, God will help you to complete the task.
1. Stop Doubting Yourself. The way to accomplish this task is by feeding your mind positive thoughts. You need to realize that you have been chosen by someone to complete this task. God, your boss, your close friend, your spouse or one of your children may have chosen you. The exciting thing is you have been chosen. You want to see this as an opportunity to achieve a project that you haven’t done before. 2. Start Preparing Yourself. What can you do to prepare yourself to fulfill this project? Are there any books you can read or is there a website you can visit? Do you know someone who has done this type of job before that you can contact for some assistance?
One evening while we were working I asked Jack, “If he would teach me how to weld?” I grabbed a welder’s hood and within a couple of hours he had me welding. I continued to practice everyday and on the next job site I took the welder’s test and passed. I was now a certified welder, thanks to Jack McAvoy. Find someone you can associate with who can teach you what it is you’re trying to learn. Obtaining knowledge will help you in times when you’re being stretched to accomplish a feat for which you don’t feel qualified. Think on These: You must first be a believer if you would be an achiever. Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Podcasting of Serago's Pump Ups Started Sept. 20th Josh. 2:11 - “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained…”
In the text above, Rahab is confessing to the two spies sent into Jericho by Joshua exactly how they felt upon hearing the news that the Israelites were coming. She informs them that their hearts melted and no courage remained in any of them.
Maybe you walked into a doctor’s office and while sitting there he informed you that you had a disease or a loved one you had accompanied into his office had a disease and upon hearing the news your heart melted within you. Maybe you received a call or a police officer knocked on your door and informed you, a loved one died in an accident and your heart melted within and all your courage departed. Or maybe it was the time one of your children was lost at the amusement park and for over an hour you know your heart stopped.
We were talking after the ceremony and he asked if he could come into my office and talk to me. I agreed and he came in next week and shared with me what was going on in his life. David told me that his doctor informed him he had a very aggressive type of cancer and that he didn’t have long to live. Then he went on with his story. He came home and told his wife what the doctor had said. Within days he came home and found a note from his wife that she was leaving him. He said he checked their bedroom closet and all her clothes were gone. He said, “My heart sank.” In Rahab’s day they said, “Hearts melted.” The meaning is the same and that is: what you are about to experience is going to be extremely painful. WOW! What a punch in the gut and a knee to the face. You talk about your heart melting and all courage departing from within you.
She confessed that the Israelites' God was the true God and David did the same thing. When you get knocked off your feet, and you are laying flat on your back, you are in the perfect position to look up and see where your help will come. Your help will come from the One who created the ‘heavens and earth." David’s wife never came back and he lost his battle with cancer but I never met a more courageous man. I truly met one of God’s Special Warriors.
What we have to do is follow in the footsteps of Rahab and David and that is put your faith in God. Here is what the Hebrew writer says about Rahab, “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.” By Faith you and I will not perish along with those who are disobedient.
The trouble with some people is that during trying times, they stop trying. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt 27:46-47 - About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" NASU
Moses says, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deut. 31:6 NASU Moses is dead and God speaks to Joshua as the leader of the Israelites. He tells Joshua, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5 NASU God also told Jacob and Solomon He would be with them and He would not forsake them either.
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" Heb 13:5-6 NASU Christians today have the same promise made to us about God and the promise is He will NOT Ever Desert or Forsake us.
Here is my belief about what Jesus was saying on the cross. First, this is an Old Test. quote and one must return to the original quote and study the context where it is used. Once you do this I believe the answer becomes clear. This quote comes from Psalm 22. Jesus is hanging on the cross when He speaks these words. The only scriptures they had at this time was the Old Testament. The OT was not divided into chapters and verses. Therefore, Jesus couldn't say turn to Psalm 22 and you will find the answer. The first entire Bible in which chapter and verse divisions were used was Robert Stephanus' edition of the Latin Vulgate (A.D. 1555). When Jesus quotes the first words: "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" He was telling His disciples to read the Psalm that begins with those words. When you read that Psalm the truth will be revealed: Ps 22:3-5 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. Ps 22:23-24 You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. NASU In verses 3-5 the Psalmist is saying, God is holy, and the Israelite fathers trusted in God and were delivered. In verses 23-24 he is saying God has not hidden His face from this person who is suffering. In fact, this person cries out for help and God heard His cry. This Psalm is considered a Messianic one which means it is about the Messiah and I would agree. Therefore, Jesus is NOT saying God has forsaken Him, but the exact opposite. God had heard His cry for help and helped Him.
Think On This: When we do what we can, God will do what we can't. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Kings 19:11-12 - So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. NASU
God had Elijah go and stand on the mountain. The Lord passed by Elijah. Elijah saw a strong wind, earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of them. Where does the Lord have you standing right now? Is the Lord trying to get your attention as He was with Elijah? In our world today we know that strong winds, earthquakes and fire all bring about destruction. God wasn't in the destruction. God was in the peaceful and refreshing gentle blowing. God wanted Elijah to really know Him. Could God have been in the strong wind, earthquake, or fire? Yes, He could have been in them. He was behind the wind at the time of the Israelite's Exodus from Egypt and He was in the fire that burned up Elijah's sacrifice. God wants all of us to see Him. He wants us to be His helpers. Elijah was helping the Israelites to be free from the false prophets and the lies they were expressing about God.
You will be able to stand where God wants you to stand when you know more about Him. The best way to really get to know God is by learning about Him through reading the Bible. God may have you standing right now in the fiery trial and tribulations like He did Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. They were being tried because they would not worship anyone or thing. They would only worship the Almighty God, Maker and Creator of Heaven and Earth. You may be standing in some fiery trial in order to help your faith become stronger. If God has you standing in a trial then you need to know that He is watching over you and it is your faith in Him that will get you through it. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Heavenly GPS installed at our baptism and every time we got off course we could hear this voice tell us to make a U-Turn as soon as it is legally possible? Has God been telling you to make a U-Turn or stay the course you are doing great? God gave Elijah some work to do. He had to go and anoint three men. What is it that God wants you to do? Do you know some people that need to be anointed by the Lord today? The best way to forget about your own struggles is to get busy serving other people and that is exactly what God had Elijah do.
Think On This: The person who is all wrapped up in himself is overdressed. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word To Read Other Pump Ups You Can Go To My Website. www.SeragosPumpUps.com |
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