Religion & Spirituality

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Guard your heart and mind

I am the protector of my household. If a wild animal comes into our yard, I am the one that will protect my family, pets, and property.

The same goes for people. Given the nature of today’s society, I am suspicious of people I don’t know that drive up to my house.
Are they merely lost and want to know where someone lives?
Are they casing my home to see what cannot be seen from the road?

I believe in God. I believe in his protection over me.
But God has also given me some common sense and I cannot let my guard down!

God told Abram,

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Gen 15:1

That’s some great assurance from God in that one sentence and the events that follow.

But Abram let’s his guard down some time after this declaration and fathered a child by a handmaid.

The Bible encourages you not to let your guard down.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant;
1 Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
1 Thess 5:6 let us watch and be sober.

Abba, I trust Your promises to me. I believe You. Help me to always keep a guard on my heart and mind. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Here is your reward!

You walk into a business and see a notice taped to the window. There’s a picture of the cure little dog and the words “lost” and “reward”.

As you leave the store and drive home you are surprised to see a dog running loose that amazingly favors the one you saw on the window.

You stop and gently speak to the little dog. It wags his tail and slowly comes to you. You pick up the dog and place him in your lap. He licks you and happily settles down while you drive home.

You call the number you saw on the poster in the window. The owner meets you, thanks you over and over and wants to give you $50 for finding the dog.

You hesitate to take it but the owner insists! It is your reward.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Abram was definitely a man of faith. But even people of faith can have those moments of doubt. God assurance to Abram –

Gen 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God, Himself, is your reward.

He rewards with forgiveness. Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

He rewards with salvation. Rom 10:9-1o if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

He rewards with eternal life. 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life.

Abba, I found You and I am rewarded. YES&AMEN

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Proven, Pure, & Powerful Protection

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God did not stop with fear; He also gave reassurance.

“I am your shield!”

A shield is used for protection and in this case it’s very appropriate since it may be an armed adversary is Abram’s concern.

You can take God at His word – it is proven protection. Ps 18:30-As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

His word is pure protection. Prov 30:5-Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

And His word is powerful protection. Eph 6:16-above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

God is your protection also. I’m sure Abram isn’t going to run over to the other kings and taunt them with a “Na-na-na, you can’t get me!”
God’s protection comes with your responsibility to be where God wants you and doing what He has asked of you.

Abba Father, I feel Your shield of protection everyday as it guards my mind and heart. YES&AMEN

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Do not be afraid!

Abram’s concern over 4 different military forces seeking revenge is soothed by God Himself.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God first told Abram, “Do not be afraid!”

There are several things that can bring on fear.

Sin can bring fear. After sinning in the Garden of Eden Adam hid in the bushes because he was afraid! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:31
Meeting God with sin on your hands is a fearful thing.

The unknown can cause fear. Not knowing what tomorrow holds. Not knowing what is in the closet or not knowing what animal is growling in the dark. David said,

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4

Though he did not know what was lying ahead or what was unseen in the shadow.

Fear can also be caused by doubt. If a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain then I think a mustard seed of doubt can keep it there.
The night Jesus came walking on the water only one man had the faith to get out of the boat – Peter!

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink. Matt 14:30

He did the impossible but then doubted and became afraid that he could not do it.

Any fear you have doesn’t come from God.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7

Maybe your response is you are afraid of snakes, spiders, or swimming at the beach.
That’s not fear, it’s just common sense. It is best to have respect for those things.

A Christian should never be afraid of spiritual matters.

Abba, with You I have no fear. You give peace. You give life. You give comfort. In Jesus’ name, I receive that! YES&AMEN

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Already Victorious

With only 318 trained servants, Abram had a great victory over four kings. That victory may have been short-lived as the reality of revenge from those kingdoms set in.

How embarrassing to be sent home running by a seemingly inferior force. There was a good chance that the kings or their families would look to return and teach Abram a lesson.

But Abram is a man of faith and God came and reassured him in a great way.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

You, also, have an enemy and your relationship with Jesus has put him on the run. He would like nothing more than to seek revenge on you – to destroy your testimony or worse, make your turn your back on God.

What God said to Abram is the same words He would say to you – do not be afraid. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward!

Have faith in His assurance that He is already victorious over the adversary. Satan is absolutely powerless against the blood of Jesus.

Abba Father, I do have times I feel victorious. And then the enemy tries to knock my feet out from under me. My deepest desire is to keep my eyes on You and not worry about the enemy. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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A Bribe from the Devil

Gen 14:21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”

There are some people, companies, and organizations that you should not take anything from. Don’t take a bribe from the devil!

Abram gives us this example when he was willing to give the recaptured hostages back to the king of Sodom but then he refused to keep anything else.

Abram would pay tithes to Melchizedek and, at least in principle, it look as if Bera wanted to do the same to Abram.

He refused it.

I think we need to be careful with where our money comes from.

For years the Italian mafia has been a part of the Catholic church. Now I’m not here to disrespect the Catholic church but if a mobster comes to church and puts something in the offering plate, what is the history behind that money – how was it earned? It would be a hard temptation to turn away from a large amount of money in an offering plate, even if you know it may be from illegitimate or sinful means.

Gen 14:22-23 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours!”

Abram refused Bera’s offer. And so there are times you should too!

Let your blessing be from God Most High and not the devil!

Abba, give me discernment over the gifts given to me and the strength to refuse those that would curse and not bless me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Cheerful Giving & Grateful Getting!

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

I was filling the lawn mower with gas the other day. The liquid gurgled right up to the cap. I put the gas can down and went to put the cap back on but my knee bumped the back of the mower and the fuel in the tank burped and the level lowered.

I picked the gas can back up and poured a little more gas while shaking the lawn mower. I got all the trapped air bubbles out that I could to assure a full tank of gas.

Shaking settles things and can allow ingredients and small particles to move closer together allowing for the most volume of the substance. Pressing and packing it down can often achieve the same result.

Jesus says that when you give, you will receive back and it’s been shaken, pressed, and packed down to give you the most!

Jesus wants you to have more than you can handle – not just packed to the top but overflowing!

Cheerful giving leads to grateful getting! And the more you receive – the more you will be able to give.

Abba Father, I believe Your word but sometimes I don’t have faith in it. Increase my faith, in Jesus’ name. YES&AMEN

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Hard Work and Cheerfulness

2 Cor 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver.

I experience it. My children experienced it – the act of giving.

When I grew up and could buy and give a gift. I felt so good to buy my parents or Linda’s parents something for anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas.

My children have felt the same joy with giving to us.

The ability to give comes with hard work and talent; the harder you work, the more you earn, the more you can give.

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Cor 9:6
In the world of agriculture it takes hard work to sow bountifully – to plant many seeds. It’s easy to plant one or two seeds and gather the harvest from them. It’s easy to keep the weeds away from one or two.

Plant an acre of seeds and it’s a totally different story. You will have to work hard to plant and to keep invasive predators and plants under control. You will work hard to gather the harvest but what a bountiful harvest you will have.

You have worked very hard and have more than you need. What a joy to give to someone else! You have become a cheerful giver.

And so it should be in church. You work hard to earn your pay but what a joy it is to give and see your church prosper and change the community. What joy to see your missionaries be blessed by your giving.

You become the cheerful giver.

Abba, though the sacrifice of Your Son has cost you much and it must have grieved You so – You must also have great joy at the response of sinners that have found the forgiveness in what was done. I for one thank You for giving. I pray I may do the same for others – give of myself. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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Unlimited Giving

Heb 7:1-2 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,

I admit that tithing was required under the Law of Moses but Abram and Jacob practiced it before the Law demanded it.

Giving to support the work of God is supported by God and by His people.

God doesn’t move backwards but forward; He doesn’t lower the standard but raises it. He didn’t move from the blood of bulls and goats down to the blood of chickens or squeezing blood from a turnip – He moved the standard up and gave the blood of HIS OWN SON!

So if God once demanded 10% from His people, do you think He would now be happy with 5% or 1%?

But you do how you feel led to do! The early church did and they did not limit themselves.
Acts 4:34-for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

But you do how you feel led to do!
2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Abba, I don’t want to give just 10%. In Jesus’ name, I want to give all I have for Your service. I want to do it cheerfully. I know Your blessings for me will far out-weigh any anything I can give back. YES&AMEN

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The Heart of Giving

Gen 14:20 And he gave him a tithe of all.

Tithing is a hot, debatable topic in the church. Some say it was Law and therefore Christians are not bound to it; this despite the fact that Abram giving tithe to Melchizedek was before the Law.

Giving is not mandated by a law – giving comes from the heart and a need to help someone.

In my research on the subject one commentator said that Abram did not tithe to Melchizedek of his own resources but with the spoils he took in the rescue of Lot.
The Bible does affirm this but can you make it a legitimate excuse not to tithe because of it?

Years later, Abraham’s grandson, Jacob said, “…of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Gen 28:22
His decision also predated any law to do so.
His decision was also based on the resources God would bless him with.

There is no easy answer to whether you believe in tithing or not. You either do or you don’t.

Despite the fact that it’s in the Law, do you think God would demand less of His people today – the people He fills with His own Holy Spirit?
If God demanded 10% from His people under the Law – do you think He would now be happy with you giving 1% under Christ?
Does God move backward or forward?
Does He lower His standards or raise them?

There is more to be said and so I shall.

Abba, I ask for guidance in giving. You have abundantly blessed and I should never be stingy or greedy with what wasn’t mine to begin with. I am just a steward. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN