LIVING HOPE

By -
Written yesterday this is another not so brilliant attempt to boil down the gospel of Christ into four simple rhyming stanzas. Putting them in the proper order took must of my energy  Today's GDWM devotional reading provided the opening verse and much more food for thought, thanks Steve. Hope you will enjoy, Jeff


 Romans 15:4 
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,
so that through endurance and the encouragement
of the Scriptures we might have hope.

LIVING HOPE

A shining star
A virgin birth
The love of God
Has come to Earth

A spoken truth
A perfect life
The written Word
Preserved in Light

A living hope
An eternal home
A two-edged Sword
To guard the soul.

An empty cross
An open grave
Jesus our Lord
Came to save

J E P
2012


God's Daily Word Ministries

  A Defeated Enemy

When we trust Him with all our heart, we truly face a defeated enemy.


As we study God's Word, we should be reminded of how fortunate we are to have so many stories and testimonies upon which to build our faith. This is particularly true of the multitude of Old Testament stories; "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). One of the great encouragements is shared through a prostitute named Rahab.

As Joshua led the Israelites out of the desert and into the promised land of Canaan, the first enemy they faced lived in the mighty walled city of Jericho. When spies were sent to Jericho to determine the enemy's strength, Rahab told the spies, "all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you" (Joshua 2:9). Rahab said the people of Jericho had heard how God parted the Red Sea and how He had been with the Israelites in previous battles.

Joshua 2:11
"When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

God caused the walls of Jericho to collapse and allowed the Israelites to take the city, but the first enemy in the promised land was conquered long before the Israelite army even arrived. The people of Jericho knew of God's miraculous power and were already defeated. The only thing necessary for victory was for the Israelites to show they were willing to walk in the strength God provided.

God does not desire for us to remain in the desert. He has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). But in order to enter the promised land, we must be prepared to face our enemies and trust in the strength of our Heavenly Father.

The enemy "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This enemy is very real and ready to attack our areas of weakness. But the enemy is also well aware of God's power and will turn away any time we make a stand; "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). The enemy's fate has been sealed - his end has already been determined - but we must daily resist by getting dressed for battle and then trusting in the power of God for our strength.

Let's submit our lives into the loving hands of our Heavenly Father and boldly enter the peace-filled land He has promised. The lion will continue to roar and try to bite, but we must never forget that Jesus has already assured complete victory. When we trust Him with all our heart and daily walk in His strength, we truly face a defeated enemy.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

 

**** Reading Plan ****

Sep 10 Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalms 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3

http://gdwm.org/index.php/resources/ 

 

*****************************************************

 

  

Facebook Logo  Find us on Facebook  Facebook Logo 

  

 Mail from GDWM is only sent to those who subscribe (free of cost) or
by invitation from friends.  Please unsubscribe if these messages are
no longer desired.  We absolutely do not support unsolicited E-mail.

Scripture references: The Holy Bible: New International Version. 
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
 
 

 

*****************************************************  
This email was sent to jepollock61@gmail.com by closerwalk@gdwm.org |  
God's Daily Word Ministries | PO Box 190 | Lorena | TX | 76655

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LIVING POETRY

By -
Image
LIVING POETRY I've heard it said God wakes the dead and fills them with His Holy Spirit If you will listen with your heart I trust by faith you too will hear Him He cuts the darkness with pure Light And makes us holy in His sight Jesus knows who are His own He's the ONE who brings us HOME I've heard and read God saves the dead and is THE ONLY HOPE to live again When we finally reach the end of ourselves He continues His work that never ends God's poetry is always perfect His promises never forgotten Every circumstance of life benefits those for whom His Son was sent I've heard it said God wakes the dead and opens the eyes of their blind hearts Give your heart to Him and you will truly live Evening's Meditation ----------------------------------------------------------- "Now on whom dost thou trust?"—Isaiah 36:5. READER, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian's answer, a...
Read more

LOVE WILL WIN

By -
Image
On Dec 7, 2012 10:26 AM, "Jeffrey Pollock" < jefffree@hotmail.com > wrote: ONE FOCUS FAITH HOPE & LOVE IN YOUR EYES World English Bible But now remain faith, hope, and love: these three. The greatest of these is love. Read 1 Corinthians 13 WEB  |    Common English Bible Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love. Read 1 Corinthians 13 CEB Three things will stay to guide your heart, Into true joy God planned from the start; Faith, hope and love - the pillars of life, Support every soul found in pure light.   LOVE WILL WIN In the end love will win, In the end love will conquer; In the end love will rise again O'er sin and consequences. In the end hope will see, In the end hope will persevere; In the end hope will be amazed, O'er the splendor of God's glory. In the end faith will stand, In the end faith will be victorious; In the end fai...
Read more

I THINK

By -
Image
Think on These Things One of the tragic casualties of our age has been that of the contemplative life--a life that thinks, a life thinks things through, and more particularly, thinks God’s thoughts after Him. A person sitting at his or her desk staring out the window would never be assumed to be working. No! Thinking is not equated with work. Yet, had Newton under his tree, or Archimedes in his bathtub, bought into that prejudice, some natural laws would still be up in the air or buried under an immovable rock. Pascal’s Pensees, or Thoughts, a work that has inspired millions, would have never been penned. What is even more destructive is the assumption that silence is inimical to life. The radio in the car, Muzak in the elevator, and the symphony entertaining callers "on hold" all add up as grave impediments to personal reflection. In effect, the mind is denied the privilege of living with itself even briefly and is crowded with outside impulses to cope ...
Read more