Is God's army ready for battle?

“Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones; and those who have knowledge than those who have strength; for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 24:5-6)

“Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; for their minds desire violence, and their lips talk of mischief. Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker. The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to all.” (Proverbs 24:1, 8-9)

“If you faint in the day of adversity (trouble), your strength being small; does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?” (Proverbs 24:10, 12)

God sees all, knows all. It is in His strength, His power, His wisdom that we are enabled to overcome evil. Wisdom and knowledge will take us farther than any strength we alone possess. Wisdom, His wisdom, guides us. In wisdom we can discern right from wrong. We can defeat the enemy.

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)

“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice; but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.  Do not be ashamed … join (with me) in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:7-9)

“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; share in suffering like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.” (2 Timothy 2:1, 3-4)

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

If we endure, we will also reign with him;

 If we deny him, he will also deny us; 

If we are faithless, he (STILL, YET) remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

“Remind them, … warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good  … do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.  Avoid profane chatter. … God’s firm foundation stands – The Lord knows those who are his. Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness. (2 Timothy 2:14-16, 19)

We can be ordinary or we can be special. We can continue in former ways and neglect, reject God’s call on our hearts or we can reject the world’s tug and pursue God’s righteousness, faith, love and peace.

“Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. ” (2 Timothy 2:22-24)

“You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

“Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient; equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13, 16)

Beware of those who oppose but don’t give in to them.

“Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching, for the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, … they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

God’s battle … and ours, for He abides in us who abide in Him. .. We put on the Lord Jesus, His armor, to do battle in the world.

“Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.” 

(Romans 12:11-12 NLT)

“The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness … Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:12-14 NLT)

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God … Take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand, to resist the evilness, and thereby, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13)

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:14-18 NLT)

And may God grant you peace.

(All Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible except where noted.) 

"Count it all joy"

What we read in a given day we may read again a few days later. It may all connect.

Sunday, I thought about grumbling.

When things upset us we grumble. Everyone of us. When along the path we go and there are no irritations there are no complaints. But watch what happens when we get irritated over what another has done or said or some event. We react. We have nothing good to say about the other. We put them down, push them out of our way, stick pins and needles in them like one of those demon dolls.

Is that how Jesus acted? No.

So why do we? Because we're human? Jesus too was human. He too was irritated at others, but he wasn't disrespectful to another at anytime.

Of what point is it to read and study God's holy word if we don't live it, obey His teachings? Conflict situations are never one-sided. It takes two to fix it or destroy it. Each person is responsible for their own behavior, then own action.

There are always trials to undergo. Some we come through and are that much better for it. Other times we have learned nothing and have become embittered and stay that way.

In the book of James we are told in 1:1 to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials." Yeah right. We see nothing joyful in any trial. Our patience is always being tested. Our bursts of anger or irritation always undo us. We do not look to God for wisdom. We look to ourselves and think we know best for any and every situation.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting..." (James 1:5-6 NKJ)

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless." (James 1:19-24, 26)

Jesus said the second greatest commandment was "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18)

"but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:9)

We must not judge another. We cannot see into the heart of another. We only know ourselves and all too often we are unsure of that as well. God alone sees into our hearts. God alone is our judge.

Don't allow feelings of animosity toward another to become a dangerous foothold and bring you down to a level you really don't want to be. Look up. Seek the Lord your God. Do as He instructs.

"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials."

Monday, I thought about dreams, our heart's desire.

Get involved. Do what you love. It isn't always about money. Money should not determine our desires or whether we will go after them. God gives you the desires. He doesn't say you have to get a degree to pursue it. Man has said that. To earn a living you have to accomplish this and this and that.

But God doesn't tell you that. He says Go. Are you willing to go? Are you willing to follow His will for you? If you are, then be obedient. Simply go. Simply do. Don't let the ways and rules of man prevent you from following through on His will for your life.

"If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask him, and he will gladly tell you ... But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer..." (James 1:5-6 New Living Translation)

God's presence with us is one of His greatest presents to us.

A "mere happening" may be God's design.

"For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places." (Psalm 18:31-33)

"For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me." (Psalm 31:3)

Wednesday, I thought about wisdom.

In 1 King 3:7a, David's son Solomon says, "...but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in."

Solomon isn't talking about his age, but of how little he knows. He asks God for wisdom, for discernment, for answers to challenges he is or will be facing.

When we ask, we must believe God will supply us with the answers. If we lack faith, if we doubt God can or will take care of, what does that say about our allegiance?

Where are we? Where have we gone? Where will we be if we do not look to God for wisdom but to our own wayward ways of thinking?

Again, I hear "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials."

For it is in the testing of our faith that we gain patience ... endurance ... perseverance ... and God is with us.

Where is the fruit?

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His, And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness; and light dwells with Him." Daniel 2: 20-22

God brings the results
We do His bidding ...
we share the Gospel message and give testimony of Him in our lives
But He alone brings forth
the fruit of our labor.

It is not our personal fault
If another turns their back
It is not us personally they say no to
But, sadly,
They say No to God, No to Jesus, No to salvation, No to life eternal.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God." (2 Corinthians 3: 5)

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." (John 6:29)

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, 'that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.' " (John 6:40)

We are not all wise nor do all have complete understanding. God sheds His light on what we are to know in His time. If we remain in God's word, study, pray, continually, we will come to know and understand what is. That is the wisdom and knowledge.

But when we do not listen, do not hear, but instead murmur and complain, veto what God the Father / God the Son say, we are effectively turning our back upon Him and going our own way. Where is then the fruit?

We labor for the Lord to bring another, but when you turn away from God, when you determine in your heart that your yourselves know better, that you have waited long enough for answers that have not come ... you are not walking in the Spirit. The fruit is absent. We walk in the flesh instead, in the ways of self.

Yet, God's true child continues to do the Lord's bidding, continues to share the Gospel message, continues to give testimony of Him in their life.

"And let us not grow weary while doing doing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 5: 9)

For Jesus died to bring life to us all.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3: 16-17)

"Hear the instruction"

Proverbs 1: 1-12, 3: 21-24

"hear the instruction of your father" (Proverbs 1:8)

To know wisdom and instruction
To perceive the words of understanding
To receive instruction of wisdom
To give careful thought

You must hear
to increase learning, to know
You must listen
to understand
You must be obedient

Verse 8 in Proverbs 1 says, "My son, hear the instruction of your father,..." but if you're earthly father is absent, then listen to another who has your best interest at heart.

One who is wise
who knows the wisdom of God
Who follows in His footsteps
Who trusts in Him
Who puts His hope and faith in Him

Do not give in
Do not become enticed by others who look for ways you might fall into a pit and not climb out.

Do not falter at the gate thinking it is better on the other side.

Life here and now and life to come is what you make of it, and with God at the center of your life, He will enable you to be all you are meant to be. But without Him, there is only you, and that is not enough.


"Keep sound wisdom and discretion; ... Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet." (Proverbs 3: 21, 23-24)

Lord, give us ears to hear advice
from loved ones wise and humble,
So when life's challenges appear
We will not have to stumble.
-- David Sper, Our Daily Bread

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

Remember the saying, "healthy, wealthy and wise?" What is being wise, wisdom? It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with longevity or maturity or tenure.

In Proverbs 1: 2, it is "to perceive the words of understanding."
-- To be able to understand, discern meaning

Verse 5 says, "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel."
-- To listen intently, gain knowledge.

Wisdom, I have found, begins with the Lord.

Proverbs 1: 7 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"

Job 28: 28 -- "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding."

Psalm 111: 10 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever."

Proverbs 9: 10 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Proverbs 15: 33 -- "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility."

Ecclesiastes 12: 13a -- "Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man."

Fear ... Not as in being afraid, scared, frightened, tormented; but showing reverence toward, being in awe of, the Almighty God.

I Timothy 1: 5 -- "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith."

Hebrews 12: 28-29 -- "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."

1 John 4: 12, 15-18 -- "If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this; that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

John 3: 16 -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

The fear of God ... to be committed.

Deuteronomy 10: 12a-13 -- "What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes. ..."

Psalm 27: 1-3 -- "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, in this I
will be confident."

Fearing the Lord ... is not being afraid of Him, but being in awe of Him.

Psalm 34: 4, 7, 11, 13-14 -- "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile (untruths, lies). Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

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

A spirit of fear ... a sense of awe, but not being cowardly. Of sound mind ... having good sense

Proverbs 24: 21 -- "... fear the Lord and the King; Do not associate with those given to change; (those in opposition to civil authority) for their calamity (distress, adversity, troubles) will rise suddenly," meaning, as it says in verse 17, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles."

1 Peter 2: 17 -- "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King."

Wisdom begins with God, is reverence for God, being in awe of God, abiding with God, trusting God, serving God, loving God, following God, obeying God.