Hebrews 8:5

Who serve unto the pattern and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was warned by God when he was about to finish the Tabernacle. See, said he, that thou make all things according to the pattern, showed to thee in the mount.

Psalm 119:9

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

Blueprint for living

We see in Hebrews 8:5 that when Moses was instructed to construct the tabernacle in the wilderness he was given very specific instructions as to how to build it. He was commanded to build exactly according to the pattern that was shown to him by God. We see from the book of Corinthians that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (Know ye not that ye are the temple of the holy ghost). How much more do we need to pattern our lives according to the precepts and principles of God's Word. As we see in Psalm 119:9 we need to conform our lives to His precepts. God did not drop us off in the middle of the wilderness of this world and leave us as orphans, rather He gave us the Holy Spirit as well as his word the Bible to provide us with a pattern for living. As any seamstress knows if she does not follow the pattern in sowing a dress the dress will not fit as it should and will not look as it does on the picture. Similarly if we choose not to pattern our lives according to God's precepts outlined in the Bible our lives will not follow God's plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to give you a hope and a future. Sometimes if we see that things are falling apart in our lives we need to reevaluate and see if we are conforming to the pattern outlined in His word the Bible. As it has been said the Bible can be considered as the following Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. In closing pattern your lives according to God's Word, the Bible, and you will soon see His plans and purposes being accomplished in your lives. Amen

2 Chronicles 20: 1, 3 15, 21, 22, 29

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them others besides the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord,

And he said, “Hearken ye, all Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat! Thus saith the Lord unto you: ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord who should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth for ever.”
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were smitten

And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel

Victory through worship

In the passage above we see that Judah, God's people, were surrounded by enemies. The King decided to fast and seek God for strategy. The Lord commanded the worshipers to go ahead of the army. As the sang the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever, the Lord defeated their enemies.

We as children of God are frequently surrounded by enemies so to speak in this world. Whether it be a difficult medical diagnosis or other challenges facing us we sometimes find ourselves being overwhelmed by what life brings across our paths. If we choose to respond to these challenges the way the King of Judah did in the above passage, by seeking God for the answer, He will provide a strategy to overcome the challenges we face daily. The strategy is frequently to take our eyes of the problem and to refocus on praising and worshiping God and proclaiming His goodness and love and mercy. This not only lifts us up but also brings the victory as God fights on our behalf and changes the circumstances around in our favor. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith we involve God in our problems and He provides the answer.

Hebrews 11:10, 16

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God

Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a City

Philippians 3:20

But we are citizens of heaven, and it is from there that we expect a Deliverer, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world.

Looking above

We see from the above verses that our hope is eternal and is not limited to this world. Sometimes when we focus on the world around us we can become overwhelmed by the ravages of sin and destruction that is so prevalent. However we need to refocus on what God has in store for us. The book of Colossians says that we set our minds on things above. Abraham gave up everything because he was looking for an eternal city whose builder and maker is God. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price that he who finds it sells everything he has in order to obtain the said pearl. The Lord does not require us to sell our homes and live on the streets however He does require us to lay aside every thing that hinders our walk with Christ. Jesus knew His destiny was the cross and the bible says He set his face as flint and was determined to go to Jerusalem to be crucified for our sins. In this world we need to mimic Jesus and set our face as flint and pick up our cross daily to follow him. We need to always remember that we are like strangers and aliens passing through this earth and our home is in heaven, the city whose builder and maker is God. We need to ensure that we are not cumbered with the cares of this world so much that we lose sight of our eternal destination. As long as we have our eyes focused on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith we will be able to run this race with patience laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. Our eyes tune in to the grace and glory of God manifested in the world around us. Keep your eyes fixed on your eternal destination as you enjoy your journey through this temporal world.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 (Amp)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Elite group

Singular is defined by the Websters dictionary as follows:
distinguished by superiority : exceptional : being out of the ordinary : unusual : departing from general usage or expectation exceptionally good or great; remarkable.
"the singular beauty of the desert"
synonyms: remarkable, extraordinary, exceptional, outstanding, signal, notable, noteworthy; rare, unique, unparalleled, unprecedented, amazing, astonishing, phenomenal, astounding; informal fantastic, terrific. God has called us out of this world to be Singular or in other words distinguished by superiority, exceptional, out of the ordinary. We need to stand out by our deed, actions and character from the norms of the world around us. We are called to represent Christ in this world. As we know Christ was exceptional. He exemplified what is expected of us while He was on the earth. Now we as His ambassadors need to represent Him and reflect His glory to those around us. He has chosen and singled us out to be singular or exceptional. We do not strive to fit in with the world around us but rather to the contrary strive to stand out from the crowd. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore: ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you’. ‘I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty’. We are the Ecclesia or the called out ones. We go against the tide of popular opinion to represent Christ as His ambassadors. An ambassador is not governed by the local laws but rather by the laws of the Kingdom he represents. Likewise we as ambassadors of Christ are not governed by the worldly mindset by rather by Kingdom principles. Let the King of Kings have dominion in our lives and our families.

Genesis 32:24-30

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved

Prevailing

In the passage above Jacob was between a rock and a hard place and was alone. Verse 24 says "there wrestled a man with him till the break of day" Sometimes at night when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances it would be wise to strive until we get the revelation of who God is. Jacob discerned he was wrestling with God. He asked to be blessed. We all need God's blessing on our lives and sometimes we need to strive for it. God asked him what his name was. The name Jacob means trickster or in today's language con man. God came to him and changed his name to Israel: meaning you have prevailed and have power with God and man. There comes a point in our lives where we have to wrestle with God so to speak until we prevail and have our nature changed. When we are alone with God in quietness clearing out the clutter and the hustle and bustle of life we need to come to a point where we realize that what we need is God's blessing and not just a new car or a house but a change of heart, a change of our wicked sinful nature to one as it says" as a prince you have power with God and man and have prevailed". We need that transformation of our natures to one created in the likeness of God. We need to cry out to God saying yes I am a con man a trickster a cheat a liar; please change me to be more like you. When that is the cry of our heart God always answers. He sent His Son to die a cruel death so through Him we could have our sins forgiven and our natures changed to one created in His likeness and in His image.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

Unto us

As an old gospel song says " God sent His Son and called Him Jesus. He lived to die heal and forgive. On the cross He bought my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future. My life is worth the living just because He lives." God sent His son born of a virgin and the reason He came on this earth was to redeem us and reconcile us to His Father. He lived an exemplary life and on the cross He cried out "It is finished" He accomplished what He came to do. Now it is up to us to accept His forgiveness and commit our lives over to His capable hands. Have a blessed Christmas.

Romans 8:37

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us

John 16:33 AMPC

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

John 16:33 CEV

I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.

Overcoming Challenges

We face challenges and difficult circumstances every day of our lives. As I have said before, this is no garden of Eden we are living in. Although God's original plan for man was to live in the garden of Eden due to Adam's disobedience all was lost and the world was under a curse. However Christ redeemed us from the curse because He took our sins upon Himself and nailed them to the cross. Because of Christ's completed work in us we become over-comers. We are able to fly above every storm and every difficult challenge just as an eagle flies above the storms of life. We are no longer living "under" the circumstances however we rise above them and do as Jesus did walk over the stormy seas of our lives. It is so important to spend time in God's Word the Bible to know our rights as a Christian and enforce God's laws over our circumstances. The Word says At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow. We are to enforce sicknesses to bow to Jesus name and enforce worry and cares to bow to Jesus name and enforce lack to bow to Jesus name. Regardless of the challenges we are facing we need to take authority over them in Jesus name and declare the victory from the Word of God. This is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith.

Numbers 13:33

We saw there the Nephilim (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We saw ourselves as grasshoppers, and that’s how we appeared to them.”

Self image

To give some background information on the above verse, the children of Israel were given instructions to scout out the land God had promised them. Their instructions were not to see if they would be able rather than to determine the best way to posses the land. However the Lord says the spies returned with an evil report. They saw themselves as grasshoppers and the enemies as giants. How does that apply to us today? We are facing enemies on a daily basis and I'm not referring to your neighbor next door. Whether it be an insurmountable burden of debt or a medical diagnosis which changes your life we need to be able to stand firm and tackle these. Our perception of ourselves in light of these situations also changes the way we appear to the enemy. (Our enemy is satan) The last sentence in the verse above says " we saw ourselves as grasshoppers and that's how we appeared to them" We need to stand firm rooted and grounded in the Word of God and take possession of God's promises in our lives. God promises to prosper us, heal us, strengthen us and care for us. We need to declare His Word over our lives and stay strong knowing we are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We need to hold our head's up in the face of adversity and declare our victory in Jesus name.

Deuteronomy 8:18

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth

Exodus 16:16-18

This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

Gathering Bread

In the text above we see God provided daily bread for the people of Israel, His chosen. They were in a wilderness or a dry land and yet God rained down manna from heaven on a daily basis. This relates to us today when living in a time of economic recession lack and job scarcity. This is especially true during the Christmas season. The commercialization of Christmas has made it a very expensive season. Even if we are not on the commercial band wagon we would still like spend some money on those we love. In Exodus we see that God instructed them to gather enough for the day, however we need to note that some gathered more and some less. For those who gathered more did not have any left over and those who gathered less did not lack anything. I see it this way. In this world there are some mega billionaires raking in the money in large amounts and others with a modest salary. As long as we remain God's chosen we can rest assured that even those of us who are earning less will lack nothing. We may not have the billion dollar houses and cars however we do not have the billion dollar bills either. If we as His sheep follow the Good Shepherd, he promises us in Psalm 23: We shall lack nothing. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding and He will make your path straight.

Mark 11:22-26

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Faith

An old gospel song says "Faith in God can move a mighty mountain, faith in God can calm a troubled sea, Faith in God can make the desert fountain, Faith in God will bring the victory. have faith in God." God is not looking for us to do landscaping and change the topography of the planet. However we are facing "mountains" every day of our life. Whether it be a mountain of doubt and unbelief, a mountain of debt and financial need, a mountain of sickness and symptoms or diagnosis. We need to have faith in God and in His word to be able to move those mountains in our lives. Read the excerpt about the power of the tongue to see how our words bring us the victory or defeat. We use our faith speak our solution into being using faith filled words. Although it is God who will ultimately bring the victory, He expects us to take steps to walk in victory. As the song says Victory in Jesus my Savior forever, He sought me and He bought me with His redeeming blood. Speak faith filled words, move the mountains hindering your walk with Christ and proclaim the victory over the battles you face.

Genesis 39:21

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Psalm 5:12

For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Finding Favour

In the passage in Genesis, Joseph was wrongfully accused and imprisoned. However God's hand was upon him and he found favour with those in charge. When we have God's favour on us good things happen. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His ways as proverbs says the Lord will surround us with favour as with a shield. We use a shield as a means of protection and God's hand of favour upon us acts as protection to ward off the enemies attack. The Bible says Thy anger lasts for a moment but thy favour lasts for a lifetime. Having God's favour upon us will make us to stand out in a crowd among other things. The book of Luke says about Jesus childhood "He grew in wisdom and stature and favour among God and man" As we see in Proverbs we should choose God's favour over riches. God's favour on our lives will not only protect and shield us from the enemy's attacks but will also bring us promotion and the ability to get wealth. We obtain God's favour by walking in His ways. Psalm 91 says A thousand shall fall at my right and ten thousand at my left but it shall not come upon me. Having God's favour on us also helps us to avoid calamities. In this age of terrorist attacks, natural disasters, road rage and whatever else, we need to seek to have God's hand of favour upon us to avoid calamities. In closing a word of advise Choose God's favour above all else.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Boon

This season there is an emphasis on gift giving. However the greatest Gift ever given was from God to us. God gave us His Son so we would have eternal life. Our life here on Earth is short when compared to eternity. Eternity is a long time to be wrong about something. God has done all He could do. He sent His son to die on the cross as a penalty for our sins. We are bought with a price, not silver or gold but the precious blood of Jesus His son. However God does not shove salvation down our throats. Rather He offers us the gift of eternal life and it is then up to us to either accept His Gift or reject it. Once we reject the Gift we cannot obviously have what was offered to us in the gift, such as life abundantly, healing from sickness, salvation of our souls and spending eternity with God. All we have to do is open up our hearts and accept His sacrifice and forgiveness. As the father in the parable of the prodigal son saw his son returning home from a distance and ran towards his son with the best robe and ring, God our heavenly Father is looking to reintegrate us into His family the moment we decide to turn to Him. He throws a party in heaven so to speak each time one soul repents and turns to Him. Do not reject God's Gift to you. Open up your hearts and accept Him.

Nehemiah 9:15

And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them

John 6:51

I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”

Living Bread

We see in the book of Exodus God rained down bread (manna) from heaven to feed the hungry Israelites. The people were in an arid wilderness with no natural food or water. However as Nehemiah recapitulates God rained bread down from heaven for their hunger and provided water from a rock for their thirst. The Israelites were in wilderness after following God's instruction. God led them there and He provided for them in the place where He led them. God always provides for us as long as we trust Him. Sometimes our faith is stretched however we need to trust God in a dry land. We need to cry out to God when there is no natural solution and appeal for divine intervention in any difficult situation. Jesus is the Living Bread who will satisfy the hunger of our souls and the only Spiritual food which will give us eternal life. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" We need to accept God's gift of eternal life if we want to enter into His rest. God sent His son as a baby in the manger. He lived to die on the cross to purchase our pardon. He will return one day as He said in the Bible. Accept God's gift of eternal life and let your Spirit feast on the Living bread which came down from heaven. Enter into the promised land flowing with milk and honey which speak of abundance. There is no lack at the Father's table.

Luke 2:10-14 KjV

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men

Luke 2:10-14 CEB

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

Good will towards men

We see in the above verses the announcement of Jesus' birth. The angel said I bring you good news of great joy. The birth of Christ was good news to us. It is through Christ we are reconciled with God. Romans 5:10 If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. In the garden of Eden Adam enjoyed God's company. However as a result of their disobedience that fellowship was broken Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Adam sin caused us as men and women to be born with an inherent nature to sin. This separated us from fellowship with God our creator. However Jesus restored broken relationship with God. Isiah 58:12 " and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Through Christ God restored the breach between God and man. We now have like Adam in the garden the opportunity to fellowship with God. The ball is our court so to speak. If we take the first step and accept Christ as our Savior we are forgiven and a broken fellowship with God is restored. John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name. To summarize Jesus man's broken fellowship with God is restored and we can once again enjoy God's company.He is our helper and we can go to Him in any situation. That is the good news or the gospel in brief.

1 Peter 3:4 CEB

Instead, make yourselves beautiful on the inside, in your hearts, with the enduring quality of a gentle, peaceful spirit. This type of beauty is very precious in God’s eyes

1 Peter 3:4 CEV

Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.

Character

In this world there is an inordinate amount of emphasis on outward appearance, shape and size and external superficial "beauty". However when we look at what God considers beautiful, it does not have anything to do with outward appearance. God considers a character beautiful and sees our virtue as valuable. It is more important to cultivate an inner beauty that God values rather than focus excessively on the external appearance. People are obsessed these days with shape and size and completely neglect developing a Godly character. Although there is value in appearing neat and tidy and cultivating a healthy lifestyle, developing Godly character supersedes the external appearance greatly. Yes our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should not abuse it by filling it with junk food and alcohol and cigarettes. On the other hand we should not be so obsessed with our diet and body image that we completely ignore developing Godly character which is far more valuable. Here are a couple more verses which emphasize the importance of character over external appearance. Proverbs 31:30 Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! Colossians 3:12,14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love... Isiah 66:2 I myself created the whole universe! I am pleased with those who are humble and repentant, who fear me and obey me. Focus on building Godly character which lasts for eternity rather than on external body image which fades away.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

Matthew 11:28-30 Amplified

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will [a]ease and relieve and [b]refresh [c]your souls.]
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ([d]relief and ease and refreshment and [e]recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, [f]good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

John 16:33 Message

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Rest for your souls

As we read in the above verses Jesus says Come unto me all who are burdened and heavy laden. In this world we are burdened and heavy laded. As it says in John 16: 33, In this world there is tribulation. However the rest of the verse says Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (deprived it of it's power to harm you.) As we live our lives we have a tendency to become burdened and heavy laden. This is the result of living in a fallen world. As I have said before this is no garden of Eden. Satan is out on a rampage to steal kill and destroy. Our only hope in this world is to return to Jesus wholeheartedly. Once we do that we can cast our burdens upon Jesus for He cares for us. We are instructed not to be anxious but to bring everything to the Lord in prayer. We roll our cares over unto the Lord. As the song says 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. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? Jesus Lord our precious refuge. Take it to the Lord in prayer. We need to take our cares to the Lord in prayer and leave our cares there. We do not return from our place of prayer and pick up our burdens again. The Lord is able to keep that which we commit unto Him. In closing remember to be yoked together with the Lord other wise you will be bearing the full load of your burdens. Amen.

Daniel5:12

because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Diligence

in the above verses we see that God values an excellent spirit. He wants us to do our work excellently and with all our heart. The last verse in the Amplified version is as follows: Go to the ant, O lazy one;
Observe her ways and be wise,
7
Which, having no chief,
Overseer or ruler,
8
She prepares her food in the summer
And brings in her provisions [of food for the winter] in the harvest.
Even the ant brings in her provisions for food for the winter. Just because we are advised in the bible not to stress over our daily necessities it does not mean we should not work and lazily expect our needs to be provided for automatically. The culture these days is to either go overboard and focus on career advancement or to be lazy and see what the government doles out and live with that. It is important to find a right balance. God requires us to work excellently and wholeheartedly and wisely. Excellence is greatly valued by the Lord and also by our employers. An excellent spirit is something worth developping.

Matthew 6:28-29

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:26-29 Amplified version

26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying can add one [a]hour to [the length of] his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these.

Do not worry

As people living in this present age a lot of time and effort is spent on "gathering into barns" or in other words accumulating wealth and building up our careers. Although the Lord requires us to work and support our families He does not want us to be preoccupied and worried about the daily necessities of life. God is our heavenly Father and if we focus on serving Jesus, God will make sure we are cared for. As we read in the section on Duty below to Fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man. We need to start each day by committing our lives over to Jesus and spend our lives looking to bring His life and joy to those around us.

Psalm 19:7

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

James 1:5

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5 (Amplified)

If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 2:6

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding

Making us wise

In the CEV version of the first verse it says: His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people. We need this Wisdom from above to navigate through the different circumstances and decisions of life. As we read James 1:5 in the Amplified version it says " If anyone lacks wisdom to guide him through a decision or circumstance" We need godly wisdom daily to guide us through our daily decisions and circumstances. Sometimes worldly wisdom contradicts Godly wisdom. 2 Corinthians 1:12 says "And we were guided by God’s wonderful kindness instead of by the wisdom of this world." The worlds standards and way of doing things change according to popularity .Where as God's Word never changes and His Laws are constant. His Word and Laws are steadfast through the ages. What was forbidden then is forbidden now. We all need an unchanging steadfast standard by which we can live and that is only found in God's Word. These days anything goes and people make up their own ideals to suit themselves. However to we cannot alter God's laws. His word is unchanging. The Word says " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise wisdom and instruction" As Solomon said in the last verse of the book of Ecclesiastes "Fear God, and keep his commandments"

John 10:10

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Psalm 23:5

... my cup runneth over.

Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, ...

Overflowing life

The amplified bible translates the first verse as follows: I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. Another version says: but I came ·to give life [L that they might have life]—life in all its ·fullness [abundance]. Having life in all it's fullness and till it overflows is why Jesus came. Religion makes life a drudgery however Jesus goes against the grain and does the exact opposite. He came so that we could enjoy life in it's fullness and have abundant life. The living bible says: My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. It is only through Christ we can live and experience abundance and fullness in life. Life is not about the amount of wealth we accumulate or the number of awards and accomplishments we obtain rather it is in being able to be fulfilled in doing what we have to do each day. The Lord enables us to experience the fullness and the joy in living our lives. Another version of this verse says: I came to give life with joy and abundance. People look for joy in diverse ways, however true joy and fulfillment comes through Christ alone. Granted living a christian life is not without it's challenges. However we always have a shoulder to lean on. We never walk the christian walk alone. We just need to hold on to the Lord's hand in difficult times and we overcome every obstacle. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge Him and He shall make your path straight.Proverbs 3:5-6.

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mark 8:36

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Matthew 16:26

... or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Priorities

Our lives these days revolve around our jobs and family responsibilities etc. However our top priority has to be to ensure the health of our soul and spirit. As we read the above verses we see that putting God first is the only option for us. By focusing on seeking God first, we establish our priorities. As the first verse says once we do that everything that we need will be provided for us. Read Matthew 6:24-34 in the passages section. The Lord knows we need to eat and clothe ourselves and provide for our families. However by taking the time to honor Him each day He ensures that we are fed and clothed and cared for. The day passes better and opportunities come our way if we take the time and effort to honor God first in our lives. The Lord is our shepherd and we shall lack no good thing. If we are not careful the enemy will keep us n the treadmill of the pursuit of success and we lose our joie de vivre. In the worst case this could lead to burnout and at best suck the joy out of our lives. God wants to fill us with his joy and help us lead fulfilled lives. Please check out the section on passages.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Divine Duty

As we see in the above verses the Lord requires us to to live justly and keep His commandments. Keeping His commandments is not a grievous endeavor however it is something we need to strive to accomplish. He helps us and equips us to do what He requires of us. He is a good God and His love for us never fails. He has given us His laws to help us stay on the right path. He is our heavenly Father and longs for us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers. He has loved us with an everlasting love and has drawn us with His loving kindness. The very least we can do for all that He has done for us is to obey Him. He walks with us all the way and lifts us up when we fall. Let us do our duty of obeying Him and walking in His footsteps for all the days of our lives.

John 3:17

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool."

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

A clean slate

We as people are born with a sinful nature. It comes naturally to us to disobey God's laws. Sin is simply disobeying God's commandments. God gives us His commandments only because they are good for us and in keeping them there is great reward. However by nature we rebel against God. it comes naturally to us because it is in our spiritual DNA. We need to come to Jesus to have our nature changed. He puts His spiritual DNA in us and subsequently we train ourselves by the word of God to obey Him. When we come to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us we bring with us all our sins. However as we read in the above mentioned verses, He cleans us up and does not hold us accountable for our sins and disobedience. He gives us a clean slate. He gives us a new spirit recreated in the image of God. As we strive to obey His Word and continue in prayer our new spirit grows and eventually leads our lives in the paths of righteousness. Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Stay in the straight and narrow path. It determines our eternal destination.

Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Experiencing Jesus

Jesus wants us to come to know Him in a personal way. He does not want prayer to be a monologue but rather a dialogue. In order for us to experience fellowship and communion with Him we have to ask Him to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He is a righteous and Holy God and can only fellowship with those whose sins have been forgiven. He offers His forgiveness to all however only those who have accepted His sacrifice on the cross as being the penalty paid for their sin can experience a true friendship with Jesus. All we have to do is to receive His forgiveness and invite Him to take control of our lives. As we surrender our lives over to Him, He steps in and sets things right between God and us. A broken relationship is restored. He is a repairer of the breach. A builder of bridges. He sanctifies us by His word. Once communication is restored we get to know Him better and change is on it's way. As you know we cannot understand the taste of a fruit until we actually bite into it, neither can we experience Jesus without having our sins forgiven and our relationship restored. Partake of the forgiveness of Jesus and experience life everlasting and joy unspeakable and full of glory.